Sleeping Outside? You're Doing It WRONG!
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- Опубліковано 27 лис 2024
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Sleeping Bags Vs Quilts seems to be dividing people. Some people like sleeping bags, and some people like quilts. Both are great for sleeping outside with pros and cons to both. I talk about some of the reasons I prefer quilts as well as showing how quilts can be used even in cold weather.
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That transition to winter was immaculate- 10/10, well done. Top quality as always!
When I was in the Army, we would slide our Thermarest air mat in our sleeping bags. It was a super hack that keeps you warm from body heat warming the air in the mat, and when you toss & turn the mat stays under you. It was great.
Tried this out last camping trip and loved it
@@bacon349um One of many memories with the Thermarest: I woke up covered in snow sleeping out in a field in Germany one morning, but I had no clue it snowed since I was nice and warm in my bag thanks to that little trick.
Hmm. 20 years in the army ive never tried that trick. I did usually have a nice warm HMMWV hood to sleep on😂
In 2011 in the British army we still used 1cm green foam. Fucking awful, but the plus side was we we're so tired I could have slept next to anything.
In 2011 in the British army we still used 1cm green foam. Fucking awful, but the plus side was we we're so tired I could have slept next to anything.
Ive been sleeping in the backcountry since I was a teenager, and developed a few life hacks along the way. I have since moved away from a sleeping bag during the peak season times for a quilt system. However, in order to push my quilt into the fringe seasons, I started using a Reactor Sleeping bag liner as a "pillow case" for my pad. I would also turn the bag liner inside out, exposing the double brushed fabric for a softer hand-feel on the body & a healthy amount of heat retention. A hack ill definitely push for in the future!
I switched this year to the Zenbivy Light Bed and it is by far the best sleep I have had while on trail!!!!! It is basically a quilt with better attachment points due to the fitted sheet that goes over your sleeping pad. Attaching the quilt to the fitted sheet all the way up actually helps with the draft problem and I'm a 6'5" 260lbs side sleeper who tosses quite a bit!
@Hassan Haider I did get the XL and it is perfect for a big guy like me
I have a zenbivy too. Seemed too expensive for the setup but I really love it.
I have to turn sideways to get my shoulders thru a standard residential door lol. I’ve been carrying a 3lb extra wide synthetic bag around for years because nothing else would zip up. I think the Zen is gonna be my final destination. I got an Aegismaxx 0(C) quilt to try out over the spring. If I like quilt camping I know what my Christmas present is gonna be lol.
I'd like to see this compared to the Draumr from Amok. Both reportedly the best sleep on the great outdoors
Hey, did you go for the 10 or 25 degree? And what temps did you take yours? High five from GB :)
Great explanation. Personally, I used a mummy bag for decades. Only recently did I change to a quilt. I do not like being restricted in my movement when trying to sleep. So I always got terrible sleep in a bag. I’ve had my quilt for about 2 years, and my sleep has improved dramatically and I’ve never been cold. I couldn’t agree more with a quilt’s superiority. But of course, everyone enjoys something a bit different. So do what works for you! There is no ‘wrong’ choice.
Ditto
I’m honestly shocked at how many people don’t understand the “wasted” aspect of back insulation in sleeping bags. I use the sierra designs nightcap bag that actually has no insulation in a portion of the back for weight saving, with its pad sleeve and comforter quilt I find it is one of the best budget friendly options for a quilt-like experience. Another great vid Steven, love ya stuff!
NAILED IT!
I have been a bag guy, a quilt guy, a hammock guy, a tent guy, a Tarp guy & even a cowboy camp guy. The answer is they all work great in different applications for different folks. I have & do enjoy them all but to me it like going out to eat I have my favorite foods but sometimes I enjoy mixing it up. Currently I’m a quilt & tarp guy but I don’t argue with others and try to convince them that my ways better so props to you for educating folks to the differences but they need to think for themselves & do what works for them.
Thanks Steven.
I’ve used both sleeping bags and quilts. I now use only quilts. They keep me toasty, I love the weight savings and I can’t stand having to mess with bag zippers.
I actually started to backpack using quilts. Did the thing where I strapped the quilt to the pad, wore my hooded down jacket, cinched up the top and bottom. Attributed every night of bad sleep to a thing to deal with while sleeping outdoors. I recently picked up a 15 degree sleeping bag and in just one night, I had the best sleep ever in the backcountry. No fussing with pad straps, making sure my head was warm, etc. Trade off is 5 oz extra compared to the 20 deg quilt. I'll be sticking with a sleeping bag from now on!
Yep quilts can't compete with sleeping bags when it comes to warmth. It's misleading to say any different. Not to say you can't stay warm with a quilt in coldish weather but you'll be warmer in a proper sleeping bag. And I'm guessing you'll never see mountaineers climbing mountians like everest breaking out their quilts lol.
@@duncdunc76 Use whatever you like. I have two 40 yr old Camp 7 down bags. Think Western Mountaineering but older. They still work. For a few trips a year I am not changing.
I use a quilt in the coldest temps and highest elevations in the country....I've never used any of what you call "complicated" gadgets made for the fearful and I've never had a cold night. Its that simple - get the right rating for the trip and go to sleep. My lack of sleep has never had anything to do with my equipment (except the pad that pops) but even that night used my backup sit pads and pack and then went back to sleep. if you blame your sleep on a quilt or bag....you're just not looking enough. I get it. I bought 4 sleeping pads before I realized it wasn't anything about them.
@@nedanother9382 Which country? Because I doubt you slept at -40F in the US comfortably with a quilt and definitely not at altitude with the wind whistling.
You started with a quilt? I feel reasonably confident that is not the normal start for the outdoor sleeping experience. Please explain. You do make good points, though.
When really cold, I use an old summer bag as a "liner" for my quilt. This combo paired with my Xtherm keeps me toasty warm all winter long.
That sounds comfy cozy
Trying to determine if a quilt is right for me. Question - do you use the summer bag inside or outside the quilt in colder temps?
@@scottbacon7554 Inside, as a liner. I'm in the bag, and my quilt is on top, staying in place with the pad straps.
Let me say it. For me, you are the god of YT outdoor videos. Straight to the point. High level cinematography. This is not the first video that I see about the sleeping bag / quilt dispute, but I found this to be the more clear and extensive one (other than the shortest probably). Keep it up, great content
Because of your videos, I gave a quilt a try. I've found they are far superior since the temps have began to rise this Spring. Love the channel and thank you for taking the time to review gear and spread knowledge.
I’ve used both, I prefer a sleeping bag. BUT, that’s my preference just like you said! I like quilts for summer and bags for winter 😄
I've had both. Currently using a quilt, and i think it would take a lot for me to want to switch back to a mummy bag. I like the extra freedom of movement inside a quilt, but ultimately it really is preference
I have used an rei igneo 23 degree bag for as long as I can remember I have been thinking of switching to a quilt for a while now for a planed AT thru hike in 2024. Do temperature ratings work the same with quilts or do I need to give myself more temperature cushion also do most quilts come with pad straps or do I need to buy separately? Thanks for any responses all input is welcome
I don't know of any that don't come with their own strap system, and temp ratings are identical. It's really just a difference in form factor
@@connorcarrington-house7770 Although quilts have been proven to be warmer it all depends on the company. Also if you are a ground dweller than get a wide top quilt as standard ones are made for a hammock.
Great video! We used to do a lot of trapping. We used to hear a story about the old timers that would make a quilt out of 250 cottontail pelts. They said that's all they needed in the cold weather no matter how cold it got.
Great video! Most simply put - the quilt offers mobility with the risk of drafts where the mummy bag offers little heat loss at the expense of mobility. 🤷🏼♂️ I’m a mummy bag guy in the winter and a quilt guy the rest of the time..
I learned the hard way that I personally need an insulated sleep pad AND a UL closed foam pad to be warm in cold weather, regardless of whether I use a bag or a quilt.
I have and use both quilts and bags, and I’ve taken both into the backcountry. I like quilts for a few reasons, especially, like you said, because my face doesn’t get covered like in the sleeping bag hood all night. I’m a side sleeper who tosses and turns. My main bag is a 30 degree Nemo Disco which is made for side sleepers who thrash around like me…it’s not a tight mummy fit. I have quilts in a variety of warmths (20, 40, 50). I take a quilt when I need to save weight.And if I want to use my down Nemo bag in colder weather I usually bring the UL synthetic quilt to put over it to help with condensation and added warmth. I have very warm sleeping pads with high R value to keep my back warm. I’m older, and looking for the lightest practical pack weight, so I would usually take my quilt.
Quilts have been a revelation (no product placement intended!) to me! I toss and turn a lot, and seldom sleep on my back, so mummy bags were absolute hell to try and sleep in. I'm fairly cold, but cinching down the pad straps, using a silk liner, wearing a hat or hood to sleep and tightening the neck baffles all combine to keep me nice and toasty in a quilt. It lets me rotisserie around all night without restriction and without letting cold air in. I temporarily lost one of the pad straps and yeah, that did let cold air in every time I moved, but using the quilt as it's designed to be used they're a great way to save weight and they keep even chilly sleepers nice and warm.
Quilt for me. The restrictiveness is my reason. I would be literally insane by morning in one of those straight jacket mummy bags. Never had any trouble keeping warm with a quilt, although don’t typically sleep outside beyond about 20 degrees. Great video!
I hope you mean "below 20 degrees" lol
@@helpfulcommenter yeah, no colder than 20 degrees for me. I don’t like the cold.
I just converted to quilts this summer and I love it! I toss and turn and would find that I would get all tangled up. Was gifted a beautiful 0C down hybrid mummy bag. The synthetic is on the back. Used it for fall camping last year. Every time I would turn onto my side, my back froze and woke me up. Will never use a bag again.
I use a quilt ... but the key to my sleep system is that I also use an SOL Breathable Bivy. I modified it to make larger using donor parts from an older SOL bivy I was retiring. Now I put both the pad and quilt inside the bivy so that I have loft between the bivy and me all the way around. Weighs about 8 ounces. Enclosed so no drafts. Plenty of reflected heat which bumps up the R value of my quilt and allows me to carry a lighter quilt. Breathable so my quilt doesn't get wet from condensation. Admittedly, I'm a 3 season guy. Don't know how this would work in snow. But for the way I use it, it works great. Love it.
Face sleeper with one leg out:
Mummies are impossible. Same with tapered quilts.
Learned years ago to use a rectangular bag as a quilt.
It's really the same thing as a quilt; just shaped better.
Or you could use a "real" quilt, which is always rectangular.
After extensive research, including this video, I went with the Enlightened Equipment quilt called the Convert which is a down-filled quilt that can be zipped up into a bag. I’ve used it as both a quilt that was secured to my sleeping pad with straps and as a bag. I LOVE it! It is super light, super warm, super soft and very convenient. It packs down small. It can be ordered in a wide variety of colors. I highly recommend it!
I love how you spit hot facts at the haters! Lmbo!!! Nothing too bold when it's all true. Keep up the great work 👍
Also love GGG ❤️
I recently transitioned from sleeping bag to quilt and I absolutely am glad that I did. I was so resistant at first but as a side sleeper that likes to have room for my arms, a sleeping bag was just too unforgiving for me. Quilts have given me more room to sleep on my side and given me the same amount of warmth. Pad straps are a must imo.
I think there is definitely merit to both sleeping bags and quilts but i am loving quilts right now especially for below freezing temperatures.
@Adrian T yeah, too much emphasis on that. Point is that i feel like im getting the best of both worlds: comfort and warmth. Though i have concerns if it temperature was -10 or lower. I have no experience with that but i have taken it down to 0 degrees.
I've been using the Nemo Strato Loft 25° sleeping bag. It is very large and roomie but has no insulation on the bottom because they know it is wasted. There is a pocket for a sleeping pad up to 25 inches wide to slip into so your end up more like a quilt strapped down. When you turn the bag stays put. It is absolutely amazing and the most comfortable bag I have used. HOWEVER, I have ordered an Enlightened Equipment Convert Apex in the large XWide size at 40° because the Strato Loft is very heavy and warm in the summer time. At 3lbs 9oz it was worth it to me for the comfort but I want to try a quilt and see how it is, mine should come in around 1lb 10oz, so I'm saving 2lbs. I figure with the Convert I can still zip it up like a bag and being longer and wider I'll have the space I want. Plus I can close the front and have an enclosed sleep area if it gets a little too cold.
I’ve slept in my quilts down below 20°F. Granted I was in a hammock with a top and underquilt, but I’m never going back!! In the air and on the ground, quilts are the way to go FOR ME. Being able to toss and turn and sleep on my side is great!
Enlightened Equipment has a model called “Convert”. Quilt that can covert into a full-zip bag in case it gets cold. I love it. Has pad straps too!
I have the Convert and love it. Rarely need it in zipped-up form but there if I need it in the colder temps. I don't need the option for warmer camps so have the Revelation instead
I am a large person who can not find enough room in a sleeping bag. I also enjoy hammock camping. I use an underquilt for the hammock and a camping quilt in the hammock. The quilt allows me to tuck the sides around me. I stay quilt comfortable down into the 20's. I can also untuck an area to let heat out and cooler air in. It easily works as a thermostat.
I went car camping for 2 nights at Yosemite this past weekend and decided to also do an experiment just for fun. I brought my UGQ 20 degree 850 fill bandit quilt and my Nemo Disco 15 Degree with a comfort rating of 25. The temperature got to 25 by 7pm and 20s in early midnight. After two nights I can say I was warmer in my sleeping bag. I wore synthetic base layers and northface long sleeve fleece top and bottom and darn tough boot socks to bed. Im a quilt guy and it was interesting for me to feel warmer in a sleeping bag.
What R value of your sleeping pad. I went to a pad that is R 5.4 as I had planned to got to using a quilt. I have the Nemo Disco 15 and was looking for a quilt to save weight and space.
its a bit like boots vs shoes, framed pack vs frameless and so on :) they both have pros and cons - depending on your use, your sleep style, your pad, how much you move and so on - will determine what works best for you :) personally the pros of the quilt means i have been using quilts almost exclusively for 10ish years - mainly because of comfort - being a 90% stomach (10% side) sleeper - a sleeping bag with a hood is just annoying (besides the restrictive issue) also i sleep very warm - and a quilt makes using clothes as layers and adjust much easier - i can use my 400g heavy - 250g 900 fillpower quilt all year - from plus 20 in summer down to minus 15/20 is the coldest i have slept with it in winter timer (with layers that i bring anyways because its cold :D ) so comfort and versatility for me is the selling points
Prior to this video, I had never heard of a quilt. You learn something new every day. Thanks for the presentation. I guess it is like worm drive circular saws vs sidewinder circular saws. It is personal preference based on experience and also what you have grown accustomed to using.
I've got both a bag and a quilt. I started with a XXL sized wide mummy bag and found that it allows me to turn around in it with no problem. The sacrifice is of course the 'bulk' when packed. With my quilt which allows a lot more freedom of movement you definitely need a quality sleeping mat with a high insulation value - because of the lack of back protection.
What is a huge deciding factor on the best bag/quilt for you is what build you are and if you are a 'tosser'! (insert your own joke here). As a slim, side sleeping 'tosser' I prefer my quilt most of the time. But for winter comfort it's my XXL bag every time.
I'm fortunate to have both but if I had to choose only one? It'd be my quilt - just.
Team quilt let's go! I discovered them a year or so ago and they're so much smaller and lighter with the same warmth and more comfort. 10/10
Two years ago I switched from a mummy bag enter to an over quilt, it turned out to be a far better solution for sleeping in a hammock. I combine that with the winged Klymit sleep pad and a heat reflective blanket on top of the pad in the double layer hammock. I can synch in the foot box if I need to as well as since in the neck area like you mentioned in your video…..rarely do I have to do that as it gets pretty warm as it is in this scenario.
It also makes getting in and out of the hammock easier as I don’t have to step into the mummy bag prior to getting into the hammock.
I have only used bags. In warmer
weather, I have unzipped them to be used quilt like, but I am convinced enough by your video to give quilts a try. I am one of those people who hate how trapped I feel inside a bag. My only concern is that I also really hate a draft, which seems hard to avoid with a quilt, but I am open to giving them a try nonetheless. Thank you.
Thank you.
I have always struggled to sleep hiking and camping. As a side-moving sleeper the best thing ive done is buy a nemo tensor wide pad you recommended. I just ordered my first quilt from GGG and am greatly looking forward to trying it on my next hike. Thankyou for your advice and reviews. I didnt know these were available before I saw your videos. Keep up the good work mate.
I use both - quilt (EE) for summer and bag (WM) for winter…and I combine them when it’s super cold. Having a warm pad is key in the winter. The bag seems to work better for me in terms of general comfort.
For 3 seasons the quilt is great. The drafts are welcome and keep me from overheating( no sweaty wake ups) The weight savings is huge( 20 oz vrs 32 for 20 degree ratings) I can always add a puffy layer for colder temps. I consider the quilt part of a flexible sleep system, not the whole thing.
For winter?...... I'd rather go somewhere where it's not winter!!Lol. Nice vid.
For those on the fence, get a quilt with a full zip and have it both ways.
I’d like to share my beloved top quilt idea. I got a snugpak jungle blanket for like 40 or 50 bucks, and with the help of my mom who can sew we trimmed down the width and sewed up a foot box, just basically reshaped it to be a top quilt. It works great for 40 or so degrees(depends what you sleep in I guess) and packs tiny. I made a couple more modifications on mine but that’s the basic concept of it lol. Happy hiking.
I use a mummy bag on a thermarest, but as a restless sleeper (flipping over all night) I did find the hood to be inconvenient to stay in place. Now I use an aviators fur hat, the ones with the ear flaps and the big fur flap above the eyes. That flap is snapped in place and can be flipped over my eyes while sleeping. It keeps my face warm but prevents me from breathing into my insulation. I assume that's what that flap is for, but I have never seen or heard of anyone using it that way.
I just recently discovered this, and it keeps light out which helps me sleep.
Im a side/stomach sleeper and I toss and turn. I switched to using a quilt and I am very happy I switched to a quilt from a sleeping bag. I feel that it really depends on how you sleep, if you can lay still on your back go for the mummy bag. Great info here to share with anyone who is undecided on purchasing a quilt.
You have addressed so many negative points I have been dealing with over the years and with mummy bags in general. Thanks for the info.
I have never used a quilt.
Even my Ozark trail down sleeping bag had thinsulate on the back side instead of down because.... Crushed insulation is bad insulation.
What you say here makes total sense.
Good video. I use a sleeping bag as a quilt & sometimes as a bag. I'm also a side sleeper & swap sides often, so have learned how to do this without falling off of my mat. I think if you get on with a system, then that's what you'll use. It would make sense that a proper quilt should work better, but I can't afford a good one, so a cheap £30 (0°c) bage will do me!
Love being outdoors. Hate sleeping in a constricted bag, hood in my face, cold back.. (Im a stomach/side sleeper). Started hiking using sleeping bags because it felt safe, although uncomfortable and giving me poor sleep. I have just switched to Zenbivy Lightbed and although a bit on the heavy side im sleeping better than ever! Also kept me warm and cozy!
Will try a pure quilt as well going forward, possibly shaving some weight.
Not an especially experienced cold weather camper as I live in Northern Wisconsin. I've opted for a quilt over the last 2 years due to restriction of a mummy bag. I'm 61 years old and get very stiff after a day of activity in the wild but a quilt does offer a bit more movement. With a ThermARest Xtherm-pure lightweight comfort.
I switched to a down quilt from Enlightened Equipment and it is WAY better than a sleeping bag. There’s no going back for me - quilts are the only option for me. My quilt along with a Nemo Tensor sleeping pad has radically improved my sleep on the ground. I will also add I have a great pillow that has a strap which secures it to my sleeping pad. Works great for me.
I've been using a Big Agnus Lost Ranger 15° down sleeping bag for fifteen or twenty years. It's design seems to be the best of both worlds and I'm surprised more sleeping bag manufacturers aren't making similar designs.
The Lost Ranger has no insulation in the back. As you mentioned, back insulation in basically nullified when you sleep on it. Big Agnus took this into account and eliminated it. That also helps reduce weight. Instead of insulation the back panel has a sleeve for your sleeping pad. This marries your sleeping pad to the sleeping bag so you don't roll off and it keeps the pad and bag in proper alignment when you toss and turn.
Another feature of the Lost Ranger is a wider body cavity for a mummy style bag. I'm a big guy (240lbs) and a side sleeper and I can sleep comfortably curled on my side inside this sleeping bag. It has a lot of the benefits you mentioned about a quilt but still in a completely contained bag. I love my Big Agnus Lost Ranger.
Looking at Big Agnus's website it looks like the design has had changes over the years from when I got mine almost two decades ago. Now it's a 3in1 system that is different from mine and I can't say whether it's still as good as my old one.
I recently bought a winter quilt and I love it. Also got a nice down sleepingbag for spring/summer, but I don't love it the way I love my quilt.
I have kind of a hybrid. It is a zipper less sleeping bag that has a flap across the front and a foot poker no zipper. The back has insulation but has a sleeve to insert your sleep pad in so it is attached. This makes it very easy to turn in and stay on the pad. I love it! The mummy bag I used to use drove me crazy I am not a small person and I am a restless sleeper.
Great video and you are spot on! I toss and turn and sleep on my side. I have always found mummy bags to be incredibly restrictive and uncomfortable, thus providing for poor sleep. I started sleeping with the Zen bivy quilt system and the big Agnes repeat SL. Fantastic in cold weather and much better than a constrictive mummy bag.
I'm new to this topic, and I think that you are correct. The only way to turn properly with a bag is to have an internal method of securing it to your leg and arm.
I'm 5'2, and I have a men's down sleeping bag that I customized. I swapped the zipper for an ultralight one, removed the hood from the bag, and turned it into a balaclava. I cut about 9 inches in length off of my bag, I use it as a quilt when it's warm and zip it up and where my balaclava whenever it's cold. Also, my bag is roomier for me than a woman bag, and I'm a hot sleepe, so I prefer the insulation ratio of down in a men's bag.
Proper r-value in your pad and quilts are fine for me. I definitely agree with a hood for cold temps and liner. I have a regular wide quilt so I can layer up if needed. And bring water filter and battery bank,phone etc. inside quilt.
I've been using Enlightened Equipment quilts since 2015 and since then I have spent 665 nights under a quilt. Currently I have a 50 degree synthetic quilt, a 30 degree synthetic quilt and a 10 degree 850 down quilt. Like you I sleep much better under a quilt than in a sleeping bag. Right a way in 2015 I modified the EE strap system since I noticed that when the strap is looped around the pad and then the quilt is fastened to the top of the loop the elastic stretches and allows cold are in. Rather than placing the loop around the pad, I place the entire strap under the sleeping pad so the quilt is more firmly attached to the pad and the quilt does not move when I roll over.
I used a mummy bag for years and recently converted to a quilt, and I really don’t feel like I’ll ever go back. It’s warmer - I’ve never had cold drafts or cold spots like I did with a bag - offers more room for movement, packs down smaller, and I can use it whether I’m hammock or tent camping.
I thoroughly enjoy my zenbivy quilt. I’m a side sleeper and the ability to put my leg out makes a HUGE difference.
I'm a 30 plus year backpacker and I gotta say, I absolutely love my new quilt!
Sleeping bags are warmer for you can close it up to better to keep in the warmth. I use a sleeping bag for this reason. The pad straps will let in a draft as you mentioned. In the end the straps, the down balaclava etc. over complicates things. But of course I don’t mind the cocoon feeling my mummy bag provides, in fact it makes me feel cozy and comfortable.
I stand behind a quilt even in dangerously cold weather (-30 F) I stack a 0 and a 20. I toss and turn when on the ground. Ive used -40 F down bag I have the same issues that where talked about in this video. I took my bag and modified it to be used as a quilt..... so much better now
I love the convenience and comfort and packability of my quilt. I have never used it in cold weather, but in warm weather I would use nothing else.
Excellent points. A good arctic winter 'mummy' bag or bag system is going to win out in extreme cold. However, if I look at what I choose down to 15F or -10C, it is my 'quilt' or woobie every time. I use a Kifaru woobie and for really cold, their 'doobie' which is almost twice as thick. It lacks the quilt features you showed, but is very 'drapable' meaning it conforms around you to reduce extra space and helps seal out drafts.
Granted it's car camping when I'm using the rooftop tent, but we generally have a nest of woobies up there to make a very versatile sleep system that isn't constraining and handles temperature extremes we get in the mountains of BC.
Maybe I'm getting old, but I used to just use a toque/beanie when backcountry ski camping, but love me a quality balaclava when it gets well below freezing now. It helps me reduce the temptation of getting my face covered by the sleeping bag/woobie and creating condensation which is very counterproductive.
Big fan of the common AT set up...20 deg quilt on a Thermarest Neo Air Xlite with a sleeping bag liner. The liner helps keep the quilt clean and is easier to wash than the quilt, and the quilt can be unzipped when the temps rise. Pretty versatile
I have a big ag bag (can't remember name) with no insulation on the back and a pad sleeve, tons of room to move/side sleep and no drafts, BUT the hood issue you mention remains. Bonus points for the included pillow barn!
Thank you for the interesting comparison. I probably won't buy a quilt just because I already have a sleeping bag that I really like. I didn't think I would like it as I don't generally like mummy bags (too confining), but I've had a Mont Bell 15 degree bag for a long time that I really love. It is STRETCHY! There is plenty of room inside to move around and after, the bag just cocoons me gently. It has no zipper, so getting in and out is a little awkward which doesn't bother me. It also easily stuffs down into it's sack to slightly larger than a loaf of bread. Maybe I'll get a quilt someday.....well, maybe.😉
for a long time I slept under two winter weight sleeping bags AS QUILTS. that was fine, if heavy.
then I gave up ground sleeping and eventually moved to quilts. then I gave up bed sleeping. I love my hammock and quilts. theoretically I'm good down to -50F, but I've only tested down to -22. Even though I like cold weather camping, I am never camping on purpose below zero.
I'm old and comfort is my most important thing.
I've been a quilt user since 2012, and I still have my old EE quilt. I think you presented the pros and cons well. There may be a few additional nuances you didn't mention, but overall well done.
I've always used sleeping bags and I totally understand the issues with them. However I've never heard of the quilt before. This might be a great option for my brother who is a big guy and has always had problems with bags being too tight for him. I'm gonna have to share this. 😎
I modified my Zpacks 20 degree bag that has a fixed foot box. I simply sewed in four loops at the zippers stitch line, like you find on a quilt and added quilt pad cords from UGQ Outdoors. Now I have a bag and a quilt!
That's a great idea!
Very well done and explained like a rational and cognitive adult.
The Canadian Army issue sleeping bag has a detached hood that allows the user to turn without the face going into the bag.
However, the last few years I have been using it as a quilt even at -40. Much more comfortable and easy to get in and out. Without pad straps you do get the occasional draft but that is easily mitigated.
The growth of thos Chanel is unbelievable. Well deserved 👏 🙌 👌
I did a whole video on getting a high alpine sleeping system that can handle zero degrees (Fahrenheit) at less weight. I've taken it to some very cold parts of the world. Part of that system: a quilt. Do I still own sleeping bags and use them? Yes. There are times for each system. I also like both peanut butter AND jelly.
Wait, you like peanut butter AND jelly? How's that possible? You're claiming the impossible. Next you'll be saying that in the sleeping bag and quilt debate there are times for each system.
@@derrickboyd8632 I wouldn't go that far; I fear a split in space-time.
I own and use both. I prefer my quilt in very cold conditions not so much because of the way it functions but because it is rated for it.
Very good point about the R value of crushed insulation and using an underquilt for a prime example.
I've been a bag user for years, but now that I'm going on longer hikes, I'm switching over to an EE quilt this spring
Quilts for the win! I love my 20˚ Enlightened Equipment and 40˚ Hammock Gear quilts and will never go back to sleeping bags. I just didn't like the restricted movement. I've been camping down to low 30s with my 20˚ quilt with no problem at all (which is all I expect out of a 20˚ quilt - I consider manufacturer ratings of quilts and bags to be survival ratings and add 10˚ to approximate comfort ratings.). I toss and turn a lot and have never had a problem with drafts. I use the straps that come with the quilts. Yes - sleeping mat R-value is an important part of any sleep system in cold weather. Mine is rated 4.4.
i think it really depends on the pad. i toss and turn like crazy, and an oversized bag works just as good as a quilt in my experience. i mainly camp in winter in 0 to subzero and an xl pad and bag give me maneuverability...a good quilt also does that. im not usually concerned about weight in winter as i am in summer and usually pack both if i have a friend of my kids with me.
To solve cold drafts, put the whole sleep sistem inside a large bivvi bag.
Make sure you have enough room inside the bivvy bag for turning around in the lofted up down without cold spots on the hips or shoulders (caused by compressing the down against the goretex)
Yes- I have used both, and will never go back to a sleeping bag. I am a side sleeper that tosses and turns, and sleeping bags make me miserable. That being said, my buddy who can fall asleep and stay asleep on his back, hardly moves, will never abandon his sleeping bag. To each their own, and for me, it will always be a quilt. Is that a CRO quilt I saw in your video? That’s where I got mine!
I use a sleeping bag like a quilt. Zipping it ip when it gets colder.
Also use a foam pad and reflective blanket and try to set it all up on insulated ground (leaves, moss, needles etc.) much as possible.
I also often use a long fire.
My set up is a sleeping pad a wool blanket folded to fit the pad and a down quilt. The wool blanket and pad are key to keeping your back warm, not the pad alone.
My 20 degree quilt is 16 ounces and my Nemo tensor is my back insulation. Both together are about 7 ounces lighter than most 20 degree sleeping bags. Love my quilts
I have a Western Mountaineering Puma -25F and I use a 0degree F Enlighten quilt. I use the WM Puma as a quilt and Enlighten quilt inside for the rollover cold spots.
By the way, the Western Mountaineering Puma has continued baffles. You can shift the insulation to the back or spread it out or move it all to the top. Good sleeping bags have this feature. Cheap ones don’t have the feature.
The hood alone on a sleeping bag is enough for me, as a stomach sleeper, to get frustrated. I end up having to sleep on top of it. The one benefit of it is it keeps my pillow in place. But I LOVE my Katabatic Crestone down hood from GGG. It keeps me so cozy!
I really worried about draftiness of a quilt until I got more experience and tried using my sleeping bag as a quilt for several trips (the darn hood in on my head!). As a stomach sleeper, I've really found that a quilt is a better fit. I can sleep with my legs apart like I do at home, I also really like the flexibility of a quilt, strapping it down or not, opening up the foot box when it's hot, being able to cinch it down if I want to... Not to mention that it's lighter and less bulky than my sleeping bag. I'm glad I made the switch!
As someone that has used a good sleeping bag daily for weeks, this is 100% correct. I do use it as a quilt, but you can tell the difference between the top and bottom side (if it isn't too cold it's fine)
Indeed the back has less filling since you crush it anyway (if used as a bag)
And yes, a mummy sleeping bag is really restricting for the fetal position, which is both the most common and the supposed ideal sleeping position
I finally switch to a quilt after years of backpacking and finally get halfway decent sleep at night. Quilts are definitely the way to go!
A rectangular down bag with baffles & shiftable feathers is comfortable, and the feathers can be shifted to the top to avoid compression and increase warmth when needed.
It can also be opened as a blanket.
In the winter, a roomy mummy shell is light & awesome, as the rectangular bag compacts inside and the heat rating is raised remarkably.
I always have this issues with my sleeping bag, because I toss and turn a lot. So a quilt might help me sleep better. Thank you for your good advice.
I used a mummy bag for years. This past fall I switched to an Enlightened Equipment zero-degree quilt. My first trip out It got down to 22 degrees F. I was perfectly warm and slept well. I'm a side sleeper and move a lot at night. I'll never go back to a bag. By the way, you didn't mention it, but the R value of the pad is what makes a difference with any sleep system in the winter. It cannot be overlooked.
So my husband and I have always used our two Coleman sleeping bags. They’re super thick and heavy. We have recently changed some things but when we used our bags together we basically used the top bag as a blanket and only zipped it up enough for our feet. Since we both toss and turn and we always have a knee sticking out. We are naturally hot sleepers and overheat. We would frequently wake up with the top part half off our bodies due to being too hot… SO we are not true bag sleepers and technically prefer the “quilt” set up.. BUT in our own way.🤷🏻♀️ We have started using cots with an air pad and I use a sheet to keep the pad in place and clean. With our sleeping bag on top we only zip it up about 18” for our feet and we use a light personal blanket over our torso with the rest of the sleeping bag partially covering our bodies. We also tent camp when the temp low is only about 55+.
I am looking into a better, easier set up plus trial and error. Just wanted to share Thanks for reading 😊
One of the most pertinent and well displayed treatises on the subject. Well done!
Thanks. That other comment was spam. Sorry about that.
In the quilt vs sleeping bag debate, you must acknowledge that there are major differences between brands in both categories. I have a Western Mountaineering Versalite 5' 6" bag rated to 10 degrees and it's design is impeccable. It weighs just 30 oz, has a differential cut, and I absolutely love it for backpacking in my part of the country (basically along the Sierras/PCT/JMT area). Similarly, there are quilts and then there are QUILTS. Similarly, you're going to have a different experience in cold weather with say a Katabatic Gear quilt than a lot of other quilts on the market.
In my case, quilts work fine for me in the summer when I'm camping in 40+ F weather, but below that I want my Versalite (or Summerlite at 20 oz if it's warmer but still chilly) and especially when it gets down below 20 F. I've actually been in 0 F and stayed toasty in the Versalite with my midweight wool base layer on, and my experience with quilts is that I just do not sleep as warm.
While it's true that wherever you're compressing the bag all the way down onto the pad, the insulation is totally compressed and not technically keeping you warm. However, everywhere it's NOT absolutely compressed, the down is lofting to fill every bit of the volume available to it which keeps every part of your body that's not touching the pad warmer and draft free. This is particularly true of Western Mountaineering bags that have a differential cut in the inner fabric circumference compared to the outer fabric circumference. With the bag completely zipped up there are zero drafts getting in, and if it gets really cold I simply do not stay as warm under a quilt as I do zipped up in a sleeping bag, and that's a fact. You can argue that I don't have as much experience with quilts in those temperatures as bags and you'd be right. But I've had enough to know I definitely prefer my sleeping bag and that's all that matters to me! I didn't say you stay warm in a quilt too. Of course you can.
There are all the arguments about comfort and flexibility, and quite frankly there's just no right or wrong about that. Whatever you love, go with it. When YOU (the fellow who produced this video) have a sleeping bag unzipped and used as a quilt, you get annoyed with unzipping your sleeping bag and having the hood in your way on 1/2 of your "quilt" When it's zipped up you have difficulty turning over and bringing your sleeping bag along with you without rolling off you pad so you prefer a quilt. Those really don't bother me at all. When I've got my bag unzipped in quilt configuration I just curl the hood under or squash it down and don't even notice it. Although if it gets a little nippy I like to pull the hood edge of my bag under me to pin it down and nestle my head back into the hood whilst stretching my knee out on the other side to sprawl out and get the best of both worlds. Over the years (I'm in my 60's) I've mastered the art of turning over in my bag and bringing it with me without rolling off my pad no problem. Personally, I find all the straps on the pad with a quilt and having drafts coming in totally annoying and more of a pain than rolling over while keeping my hood/bag oriented correctly. And when I do roll over in my sleeping bag, even if I pull it tight around me, my back doesn't get cold because of that differential cut in the diameter of the internal vs external shell fabric.
I think the only time I might be fine under a quilt in weather below 20 degrees would be under a double quilt with my husband, especially if it was a Zenbivy double bed! Alas, I rarely get him out in summer and never in winter. Backpacking just aint his thing. I could probably be comfortable in one of the single Zenbivy beds too, but at my age I see no reason to invest in MORE gear when I already have excellent top of the line light weight equipment already.
The bottom line is that it's completely ridiculous to argue about something like this. And what's the point of arguing anyway? It's up to each individual to determine what they love and what works best for their needs and taste. Try out both and get whatever you like. Or get one of each and use them in the circumstances where you prefer them best. Save your breath for the trail!
To be sure Western Mountaineering is one of the highest-quality (if not _the_ highest quality) mummy bag available. Down, especially super-high-quality down like WM uses, will loft a lot higher and more fully than a synthetic so this might not hold true in all cases. But, to your other point, having an argument about whether a quilt or sleeping bag is better is probably like arguing if pineapples are yummier than peaches. For any item (whether it be an automobile or a piece of outdoor sports equipment) there are always major elements of objective quality of the item, personal preference, relative convenience, and individual expectation.
This is one of the better comments here. I never see western mountaineering or feathered friends mentioned in any showing bag videos and if so, it’s usually the 20 degree bags. I have a feathered friends widgeon that was like a force field when I was in 15 degree weather on the mogollon rim in north az and in the San Juan’s in southwest Colorado. I was wearing burning but a compression shirt and compression shorts and was still almost too warm. The draft tubes in bags of the ff and wm caliber tend to do away with zipper issues coming with most bags.
In many of the comments here I notice people saying that once it gets cold they combine the quilt with a sleeping bag and still also wear several layers. I’d rather be able to just carry a bag, get in it, and be warm in less than a minute without having to layer up.
Your statement about the down underneath you is totally true, been wondering why nobody mentions this....all the down not directly under you poofs up around you keeping you warm. Oh, and people love to argue, and it got me (and you) to watch this, so.......
@@keithmeyers1720 Yeah...why doesn't anyone mention this?! 😂It IS kind of a major thing to omit in this case.
My sleeping bag (Sierra Designs Nitro 20) has loops that allow you to clip a cord around your sleeping pad. I haven't used them yet, but they should allow you to turn in the bag without coming off the pad. I think for getting maximum warmth for the weight, a bag is the best option. When it gets uncomfortably cold nothing beats a mummy bag for sealing out drafts. If the warmth to weight ratio is not a big concern, a quilt might give a better sleep experience for those who don't like being constricted by bag and who tend to roll around a lot.
Quilts FTW. I use an over/under setup for my hammock camping that will go to -10c and be silly warm, and am now headed to do the length of Italy by bike where I'll eventually run out of trees to hang from, so I'm also carrying a Gossamer Gear The One and using the Thermarest Neo Air Uberlite mattress/Vesper 45 quilt combo.
I’ve been a sleeping bag user for over 35 years. But, I am interested in trying a quilt someday. I’m a side-sleeper who rotates side to side a good bit. Last year, I got a Big Agnes Sidewinder SL 20 women’s bag (designed for side-sleeping). I love it. Also, I believe the 20°F rating is very accurate because I had it down to 31°F and I was very toasty warm with minimal clothing (I usually have to use a bag rated about 15°-20°F warmer than the actual temperature to stay warm enough).
will never be better than a 22oz EE 10 degree quilt. I am an exclusive side sleeper and I turn every few minutes. There is simply no comparison. I suffered until 2012 and I've been golden since. Being WAY lighter than a sheet on your bed, its a one that does it all. From the grand canyon to Mt Whitney, never been cold and if its warm push it over. No gadgets
@@nedanother9382
How do you deal with keeping your head/face warm? I’ve seen people with everything from beanies to balaclavas to insulated (synthetic or down) sleeping hoods. I’d probably go with the latter (or a combo) myself if I converted to using a quilt. Beanies (alone) never stay on my head.
Also, what’s the lowest temp you’ve used your EE 10° quilt? Is that the comfort rating?
Quilts are where it’s at. Lighter, more flexible in their use, and just as warm as a sleeping bag. I’m sure mummy bags are great for those who actually sleep like a mummy, motionless on their backs. Anyone saying quilts can’t be used in serious cold because of drafts and similar don’t know how to use them and/or have one that’s not wide enough for their body.
Im gonna be honest I had no idea quilts were even a thing, but I will absolutely be getting one as soon as I can, as you outlined a lot of the issues I have with mummy bags, namely that I toss and turn a lot in my sleep and they dont really work for me that well anyways.
I have the 10-deg EE quilt with a full zipper so I start the night like I'm in a bag, then adjust to a quilt as I warm up. i also wear an EE synthetic hood which is breathable. The system seems to work great in the PNW in Spring to Fall.
I use down sleeping bag made by a polish company caled Aura. Their bags are quite unique, because they are not mummy-shaped, but trapezoidal-shaped (that's how they call it)- it basically means that bag is much less restrictive so tossing and turning inside is no problem for me. What's more they very smoothly integrate hood to the rest of the bag and I find this feature really comfortable, because it eliminates all the drafts around your neck, it is not restrictive at all and very comfortable during the colder nights. So at some point I was thinking about topquilt, but when I compared some quilts to Aura's ultralight series of sleaping bags called OXY, I found out that you bearly save any weight with the quilt, but you loose the hood and back insulation (for example their ultralight 23 deg (-5 deg celcius comfort rating) bag called OXY 400 weighs only 655 grams and have all the faetures!). I'm not here to advertise this company, but I just recommend to check them out, because personally I find their sleaping bags great and very unique ;)
And by the way, great wideo and topic to cover!