I think most UL hikers just cover their bodies with a combination of Dynema, Smartwater bottles and cut-in-half toothbrushes while wearing a full merino wool union suit, down hoodie and a pair of athletic shorts they bought in the girls department at Goodwill.
I would definitely think this is where quilts would excel is warmer weather when a accidental vent is not deleterious and you might want to hang a limb out to cool off. I sleep very hot so bags have always been kinda a hard go for me unless it's fall or later or the nights are really cool.
I'm not an ultralighter by any means.. but if you are a person that hate sleepingbags b/c they're so restrictive, then a couple of straps isn' even close to being the same. Much easier to change sides for a side sleeper such as my self. I always used bags like quilts anyways, and I know many who did the same. So it's more like free weight for us!
my thoughts as well, the two straps that attach to your pad only keep the quilt on top and centered, but do nothing to restrict your actual movement underneath the quilt. I'll admit it took a LOT of adjustment to figure out how to get comfortable with the quilt but once I did I slept like a baby out there. I don't see myself ever going back to a sleeping bag unless I'm snow camping in really cold weather.
I usually clip the straps on one side of the quilt for anchor, leaving the other side open. Not constricting at all. But the straps aren’t weightless, lol.
I very much appreciate your comment. It's funny how people who make videos like this never mention how they sleep. I am also a side sleeper and I absolutely hate the constrictiveness of a bag, especially a mummy bag. So yeah, I also butterfly my bag but have been seriously considering picking up one of those Paria quilts. They appear to be great for the price.
With all due respect, I'm 6'4", broad-shouldered, backpacking for 40 years. NEVER found a mummy bag that was comfortable. I don't pack in sub-40 weather; looks like you do. To ward off the chill, I'll use the straps on my REI quilt, or wear long underwear top and bottom. I like movement, even throughout the night. Thanks for your review. Happy trails. Phil, Albuquerque
I personally prefer a sleeping bag. If it’s warm, I just completely open it up and use it like a quilt. When it’s cold, I use it as advertised. Best of both worlds!!!!! 😎
Right gear for the right job. I think too many people search for THE perfect piece of gear for all applications and it doesn't exist. :) New sub, good stuff!
Couldnt agree more. I us a kodiak canvas rectangular bag for drive up camp sites, and for actual backpacking I have down summer mummy and a winter synthetic mummy.
I love my quilt. I tend to get tangled and feel claustrophobic (even in a rectangular bag). The quilt needs to be wide enough to cut down on drafts. My first quilt was not wide enough and I was cold. My second quilt was a 10° EE Accomplice shared with my hubby and I was cold. I now have a 20° Thermarest Vesper quilt. It only weighs 19 ounces and I am warm now. For me this was a lesson in getting the thing you really want the first time lol. 2 Foot Adventures is great, my husband got a Lite AF pack from them last year.
I have some of the same draft issues with EE quilts. Now that I have a Katabatic with elastic binding around the bottom, a catenary cut and differential cut baffles, drafts are eliminated. Attached to the pad, this keeps everything in place whereas a sleeping bag conforms (the restrictive feeling) to my body and slides around on the pad in weird ways for me. The other big benefit of a quilt for me is the versatility of laying it out in warmer temps and then cinching it down when it is closer to its temp rating. I also factor in wearing mid and puffy layers to add warmth, so my 30F comfort rated quilt is effective from the mid 20s all the way up to the 50s. Critical to the system is pad and head warmth. Unfortunately, I think a lot of folks have a bad experience with quilts because they don’t boost these elements of the system. A 1oz beanie in warmer weather or 2oz down balaclava when colder are more flexible than a fixed sleeping bag hood. And still lighter when paired with the 21oz quilt. If you sleep cold with an insulated pad like an xLite, then switch to a 4 season pad like an xtherm and you’ll notice the difference right away. None of this is meant to argue your main point about objectivism. Absolutely, any piece of gear should be evaluated on its performance in different conditions, not because of marketing or popularity. Objectively, I prefer a quilt in those temp ranges because it is the most effective for me. ✌️
I really mean it when I say I want this channel to be a community of people who can offer up their experiences and opinions without fear of being taken the wrong way. I’m only one person who has only my experiences so can’t tell you how much I appreciate your thoughtful input based on yours. We are all here to learn and I think you make some great points. I hope you stick around to do more of it! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences!
@@EmoryByLand Thank you for your openness and inviting words. Your podcast is refreshingly reflective and diverse and it feels like you bring your whole self to the content you put out in the world. Truly a “would like to hang out with that dude” in my book. Cheers Emory!
Thanks for your video. However, i would like to ask you what kind off sleeping pad are you using? You should point out to your audience that the sleeping pad is EXTREMELY important in maintaining heat, ESPECIALLY if you use a quilt, (iny experience). For example, i have a foam sleeping pad, AND a very thin (5 cm) mummy inflatable sleeping pad that i use with a aegismax wind hard quilt and it's been great (even down to less than 0C). But if i use it without the foam pad it will be cold. I also have 2 different foam pads that i use interchangeably depending on the weather. One, a full length (190cm) full width (70cm) foam pad, and a second, cut up foam pad (50cm width, 165 length) and here again, i can detect a difference in warmth in colder situations. In short, while i appreciate your suggestion to ask ourselves why we do things, i did not hear advice to your audience, (which inexperienced hikers i think should hear this) that quilts require a good sleeping pad system for cold weather use. Otherwise,they don't work as intended.
All info is important, although I would guess that people who are serious enough about it to regularly hike and sleep in colder temps are well aware of the exaggerated - but bona fide - role that R-value plays in a pad. To be honest, though, most people will never sleep in temps cold enough that a decent R-value is needed, unless it's by accident. I counsel them that - when it comes to comfort - it's more important to go thicker and wider, especially if you can't guarantee that you will sleep on your back all night. And you can get 3" thick, 25" wide pads with R-values of 1.3-1.8 all day for about $30-$40.
These are definitely some valid points. I've definitely experienced similar problems but ultimately have found a solution that works for me which actually was as simple as using an extra-wide quilt. With an extra-wide, I can attach the sides of the quilt together and close off drafts really well while still having enough room to toss and turn. I really wish there were inexpensive quilts people could try out before purchasing. Most of the high-end quilts are upwards of $400. Even the more budget-friendly ones I make still cost a lot more than a cheap sleeping bag.
I completely disagree - perhaps the quilt you had wasn’t wide enough? Or warm enough? The argument of loosing warmth when you move is suggestive the quilt wasn’t sized correctly. Do you sleep in a cocoon at home? Of course not. That eradicates that item. I used a RAB expedition 1200 and used to sleep in my tent with it completely unzipped (effectively a quilt) and down to -12°C was perfectly comfortable. That suggests also that perhaps hour sleeping mat is/was inadequate? I use a Thermarest with a R value of somewhere around 6.9. I sleep in merino wool leggings and long sleeve top. If it’s especially cold then I might wear my goose down jacket as my quilt is only comfort rated at -10°C. I carry down leggings but have not used them. This is exactly what I would wear when using my Rab 1200. Comfort is not just warmth remember although that is critical. It’s also about being able to sleep in a comfortable position and not feel trapped in a cocoon. Part of this might be because I’m 6’6” and 118kg (260lb). I converted to a quilt and am very happy and comfortable to have done so.
Thanks for chiming in! It's possible it wasn't wide enough, but it still doesn't make much sense to me to get a wider quilt or a warmer pad when all I need to do is swap back to a bag and I'm comfortable with what I have already. I think it's just a matter of what works and what doesn't for a person. Glad to hear you found something that works for you and have stuck with it. That's what counts!
The biggest misconception with Quilts is the freedom to move around. Removing the back panel of a sleeping bag was never meant for comfort; it's for saving weight. You're still supposed the use the quilt like a sleeping bag to achieve the advertised temp rating. You can mitigate that by getting a larger quilt, allowing you space to move around while not creating drafts - but then you're just adding material and solving a problem that could have been solved with a bigger sleeping bag. If feeling restricted is the issue, the answer is to get a less restrictive sleeping bag. Buying a restricted sleeping bag missing 1/4 of the material is only going to create more problems.
100% agreed. I got into UL a few years ago and went the same route. They are fine for spring and fall but I suffer the extra weight every time when the nights are below 40*F
To be fair, EE quilts are not that good. Almost all cottage brands that make better quilts use horizontal & differential cut baffles with more fill and some kind of edge tensioning. Also worth considering that one of the highest regarded cottage brands makes a “false bottom quilt”, which supports what you are saying. Overall, quilts are not as warm as sleeping bags, they just can’t be and that is why they aren’t used in really cold conditions. Weight savings are definitely worth considering, but as you say are not thaaat great. However the true selling point of quilts is comfort. I used a sleeping bag as a quilt (completely unzipped) for a long time until I upgraded to a quilt. I still have a bag for cold weather, and have a quilt that I can use down to freezing. A hill I will die on is that for temps above 10C there is absolutely no reason at all to prefer a bag over a quilt.
I need to speak up in defense of quilts, mostly because I'm a hammocker. We need you ground dwellers to buy quilts. That way production volume stays high enough to keep unit costs affordable. But yeah... if you insist on sleeping on the ground and don't use the pad straps properly to seal the quilt to your sleeping pad, you're going to get cold. If you use a quilt that's too small for your body, you're going to feel a draft every time you move.
Comfort means more than saving weight. I know the world doesn't seem to want to hear this, and there's 1,021,390 videos here on UA-cam dedicated to helping you shave as much weight as possible, but I'm here to tell you the truth: Comfort is key.
While I do enjoy a sleeping quilt, I must admit its used during Spring through early fall climates low of 25 April/early May and a high of 75/80 “am/pm” not the middle of day temps. Winter camping changes my thoughts on gear used and definitely the sleeping system. Oct-March “sleeping bag” just my thoughts. Great content as always, have a great week every one…😉🤙🏽
Awesome job highlighting a different side of quilts. I've been backpacking for 24 years and with all of the videos about quilts, I feel like there really is "pressure" to change. But I love your arguments about losing the warm air if you adjust position through the night. I'll stick with my bag for the foreseeable future. Cheers!
Quilts for me are all about weight, freedom of movement is second thought but I really appreciate it. I have used it 200 nights plus over a couple winter trips and mountaineering at 20000ft in the Andes and it has kept me warm even when fully damp. I credit my use of a bivy bag (OR Interstellar) to this performance because it is an enclosed tiny space with minimal draft potential. So the combo of a UL quilt + UL shelter is what makes it work for me. I made my own 0F quilt. It weights 1kg and it cost me about 230$, anything comparable in terms of weight and warmth is about 800$+
If your putting a quilt in a bivy bag you basically making a sleeping bag so i dont think your point is valid when comparing the 2. for people using a tent a quilt will suck in the cold
I keep hearing about the weight savings for quilts but they normally only save a few ounces compared to a quality lightweight down bag at the cost of an integral hood and the bottom of the bag that traps heat. That is a steep price to pay for a few ounces. For those few extra ounces, I have the advantage of a quilt or a sleeping bag depending on temperatures. I can open up my bag and use it over me as a quilt without strapping it around me because the extra fabric compared to single purpose quilts allows the sleeping bag to drape on the ground sealing me from most drafts and without the constriction of quilt straps. I also tuck my feet into the footbox which doesn't feel too confining to me. But when the temps drop lower, up comes the zipper and the hood to warm me in a down cocoon. Less space to warm, no drafts from the side, and very easy to seal off drafts from the top with a draft collar or midlayer loosely wrapped around my neck. Very versatile system. Always tailored to my needs rather than tailoring my needs to a quilt.
This is exactly how I see it, too. Most of the time, I use my sleeping bag as a quilt with no need to strap anything. Temperatures change overnight so now and then at 4am, it's time to zip up and I can do that easily. Don't get me wrong - I'm all for the option to have a quilt and that it's the right choice for some people but over the past couple of years particularly, the rhetoric has largely gone into hype territory where 'if you're not using a quilt, you're doing it wrong' has practically become the norm. And that's silly. When you look at the product vs. the price, it is hard to justify why quilts tend to be so much more expensive and it appears to me that it's down to hype and very little else. Manufacturers found a way to manufacture an alternative sleeping bag (out of less material and simpler manufacture) at lower cost, and hyped it to sell it at a higher price point. 'Here's a sleeping bag... we remove the zipper.... and the hood.... and some of the material so it doesn't reach all the way around and... we increase the price.'
I suppose what you describe affects restless sleepers, like me. I have never bought a quilt. Instead, I have a full length slepping bag. That offers me a lot of flexibility. If it is a hot night, I use it as a quilt.
I find in my down sleeping bag rolling from my back to my side, I have crushed the insulation by laying on it, making a big cold spot. The solution would be a much heavier synthetic sleeping bag, or a top quilt. Now I use a mummy pad, with my quilt tucked under the pad for ZERO cold spots due to it lifting as I roll. My next buy will be a Zen Bivvy me thinks....
I've just watched two videos. One by a backpacker who always uses a quilt and this video. The other video said that quilts aren't for everyone and explained both the pros and cons of them. He explained why they work for him and why they may not work for others. Your video seems to only give one side of the argument. You say that it's not as good as a sleeping bag and give a list of reasons why. The only time you highlight others comments of the benefits of quilts is to refute them. I believe you're overlooking that you sleep comfortably in a sleeping bag anyway. For someone who struggles to sleep comfortably in a sleeping bag a quilt can definitely be a better option. The negatives of possible drafts can be less of an issue than the uncomfortableness some people suffer in a sleeping bag. I do agree that people just jumping on the band wagon to save a few grams when they can sleep fine in a sleeping bag are making a bad decision though.
I consider my sleeping bag a survival tool against hyperthermia caused by the unexpected. That might include a drenching in icy water, or a sudden freeze the weather report failed to forecast or numerous unexpected occurrences that happen in the wildernesses, a simple illness can worsen if you can’t stay warm and what if you have to wait for rescue following an injury? Anyone else have a sudden alpine storm bury your tent in snow with no option but to wait it out for multiple days? Western Mountaineering TerraLite is a spacious semi-rectangular 20* bag that only weights 2.5lbs and completely unzips to double as a quilt, best of both worlds because being too hot on a warm summer night isn’t fun either.
Been a long time BA 20° Lost Ranger Down sleeping bag lover. However as I started to looks at ways to cut weight a buddy had me try his quilt. Fell in love with it. For the longest time I would tolerate cold spots from my bag. I thought I was cold yet most of my body was warm. I soon deduced that as I rolled from one side to the other, the top shoulder and upper hip were compressing into the bag causing the down to lose its loft. Thus giving me a cold spot. A quilt is perfect for a side sleeper. To complete the sleep system I recommend the Thermarest NeoAir Xlite R/W Pad (the wide 25” is best), a Silk Cacoon (soft, comfy, add’l warmth), a pillow w/pillowcase or a buff puff. I find the Silk Cacoon does just that; cacoons you inside your quilt preventing any compression against the down which creates cold spots. It also reduces the risk of drafts, increases the overall R value, and puts a comfortable barrier between you and the sleeping pad. Win, win, win! Quilt wins! 😝
Fair enough and I'm happy you have the system that works for you. But you say you got cold spots where you compressed the sleeping bag. You shouldn't get any more cold spots from a compressed sleeping bag than you would from having nothing there... That makes no sense.
Side Sleeper? Good luck with the sleeping bag! The Quilt is best for you. You tuck the pad into the bottom of the quilt sleve, use and adjust the straps proper under the pad to prevent drafts and you can turn from side to side as if you were sleeping at home and not have to worry about turning inside your sleeping bag, face to backside of hood, and not being able to align proper with the 20 inch wide pad. And quilts can be had for lower costs too, more so if you are looking for a sale or buy from the many lower cost mfgs out there today. I have a Brooks-Range Cloak 20 Wide Sleeping Quilt at 21 oz, paid about $220 on sale years ago and since then sold all my sleeping bags 20F and above after this except for a 32F synthetic. For 0F and -20F, the Sleeping bags and a larger, heavier hiking setup are the go to solution. I did the Costco $20 "blanket" solution years ago for 50-60F and use a modified SOL Escape bivy as a quilt for 60-70F.
Fwiw, I agree. And slpg bags are now as light as quilts or can be, can also be opened up like quilts. We now only use quilts travelling and in cars, never the backcountry anymore. Our S2S Sparks and Flames are putstanding products. To each their own but we always found our quilts (3 diff brands) ineffective for us too. Hopefully the Quiltstopo doesn’t overreact 🤣🤣😉
Definitely not for everybody - in general i find that people who sleep warm, doesnt move much while they sleep - and perhaps most side and especially stomach sleepers (like me) - and people who perhaps find sleeping bags constrictive - those are the ones who should try a quilt - weight is not the reason, amount you might save is in the few grams - not worth compromising sleep comfort for. I have been using a quilt for 10ish years and love it - almost never use padstraps as i am a very "quite" stomach sleeper who can tug the quilt under my arms/body eliminating the issue you mention with air circulation - but the only real reason i see for trying a quilt if you already have a sleeping bag is for comfort
I bought a 20 degree quilt when I had to replace an old sleeping bag. It's been nice, but when it's chilly, I end up cinching up the footbox and zipping up the quilt into a bag, one that doesn't have a hood. For the slight weight savings, it's not worth the downsides, so I'll be selling the quilt and getting a bag again, at least for colder temperatures.
I use quilt with a proper sleeping pad (thermal one for fall and early spring) in most scnarios that are above 8-10 degrees C…for winter, nothing can compare to sleeping bag
These videos are intended to help people find what they're looking for so they can have a better experience all around. No beef with anyone or anything.
Decades ago before I heard of quilts I started using my mummy bag as a quilt. When the weather get colder I zip it up part way or all the way depending on conditions. To me it is the best of both worlds! 6 ounces.....big deal.
Honestly, I think quilts are for hammocks. I just have a down Rumpl blanket because I don't like foot boxes. This only works for me because I use a hammock, and it's easy to tuck myself in when it's cold. In the winter, I carry a fleece blanket to curl up in under the rumpl to manage drafts while the rumpl provides the bulk of the insulation. Comfy down to 20.
I dont like mummy stle sleeping bags. I can't get to sleep like that 'mummified'. I want more leg movement and side sleeping and the ability to go back and forth between positions. A ZenBivy or something similiat seems like a good alternative. It's quilt based but tries to fix the downsides;, some are successful. Sorry guy I cant sleep like ancient dead my back with legs constrained in a bag.
With new pattern in pads with highs and lows sleepingbag Will Be Way better, bevandret the insulation is not compressed all over, but only at the highs.
I agree with your argument and think the proposition that the underside of a bag is ineffective is flawed. I have a great down bag, which is very warm and cosy. However, horses for courses, I have now invested in a synthetic quilt to use in a bivvy sack to better deal with condensation. I'm an older Aussie well into my 70s and am amused by the youngs fixation with gear and chat around camps at night. My penis is long enough.
He is just using the wrong size quilt, use a wide quilt and it can actually wrap under your sleeping pad sealing in hot air and if you are using a good pad reflect that heat back up into the quilt. for winter I use a 0 degree UGQ Xwide and its lighter and warmer than the 15 degree Neemo I had before it. The key to using quilts too is you need good sleeping pads Neemo and big agnes are not as warm as thermarest because of they patented cells thermarest use.
Im a side sleeper and bags were never comfortable, switched to quilt and get much better rest at night. One caveat; snow and freezing temps I take a the bag.
I'd be game for a full zippered mummy, with an insulated zipper flap. I don't care if the full zipper and flap add and extra ounce... I just want to put my feet out to the side, or pop a knee out if I get hot.
I don't mind sleeping bags in a tent, but I'm sleeping in a hammock 99 % of the time and getting into the bag is so much harder in a hammock that I have started to hate them.
I honestly don't disagree with this. I use a quilt and I like it, but I don't recommend a quilt to other people partly due to the reasons mentioned in the video. When you really start looking at the stats, you also see that in many cases the weight savings is actually a LIE (or as good as, partly due to pad straps to avoid drafts, which really influences the comfort rating). Using a quilt the sleeping pad also matters MUCH more, so it quickly becomes much more complex to use a quilt compared to using a bag. Anyone saying otherwise is either not telling the full story, lying to themselves or ignorant.
I totally agree with you, I had the exact same experience with a quilt. I tried it off and on for 4 years before I finally completely gave up on it. I went back to a sleeping bag and I was comfortable again. I open my sleeping bag up, and drape it over me like a quilt in warmer weather and that works well. Since a sleeping bag is wider than a quilt, when it's opened up, you don't have the same draft issue that you have with a quilt, but you gain the freedom of movement many people seek.
@@EmoryByLand The Quilt Community will gaslight you too, "User Error", "You're using it wrong", no they just suck. I didn't get the whole strap thing either, it made it so much more complicated.
@@josephjamison5007 You can be totally objective about your equipment, but really it's just your subjective at the end of the day. What works for you might not work for someone else and vice-versa. Dealing in absolutes like "quilts just suck" and "you're not using a quilt correctly" don't contribute the conversation at hand.
I have a scoop, one can empty the back of a synthetic sleeping bag from its filling. And possibly put the air mat in if the bag is large enough. You end up with a quilt that has a zipper, and no strap problems
From what I’ve seen, a lot of quilters use the under quilt in a hammock. Maybe that makes more sense? I dunno. I have a cheap pad in a hammock with a super old down bag and am good to 25. My buddy used a quilt in a bivy sack but he has a 4” or so thick sleeping pad and the quilt is strapped to the pad. I think your assessment of “test it if you like it, but don’t become too attached to an idea” is pretty correct!!!
Totally agree! The whole "the insulation beneath you is crushed so it's useless!" argument is a flawed oversimplification. That concept is partially correct, but humans aren't built like bricks where weight is distributed evenly across the entire surface of the body. Our body is generally rounded (torso, legs, arms, head, etc.) and certain areas apply far more pressure than others (hips, butt, upper back, etc.). This means the down along the edges of your body still does have some loft, even if it isn't 100% lofted like the down on top of you, it's still helping to seal in heat just as you mentioned. I think, in reality, the material under you is not as necessary as that on top of you, but it is still a step warmer than sleeping directly on the pad. Quilts can still be very useful for some people, but I don't think it's as simple as "sleeping bags are dumb because the down underneath you is useless!" Good stuff man!
You get it! Glad I'm not alone in this one. I can't tell you the amount of times I've been glad I'm sealed up nicely in a bag...so many. I think quilts are great for summer trips where temps are mild, but once they drop....game over. I think the ONLY argument for a quilt over a bag is if you know FOR SURE you hate the feeling of a bag.
You just had the wrong quilt maybe even wrong size. I never bought a quilt, i have only every made my own. But i have elasticated edges i can tension it as i need around my sides. I camp in the uk tough conditions down to -10c in my quilts no problem no drafts. Sleeping bags are fine i have one but dont use it much. The main thing for me is weight and more important pack size. A bag with a comfort rating of -10c is very expensive, heavy and massive pack size.
It's extremely important to fall in love with your backpacking gear and suffer rather than admit that you were wrong. If it ain't broke... "Embrace your backpacking grief for there your soul will grow" -Carl Jung
Well, i hope not be the last comment. So, i always hike with a sleeping bag, i just love it, i don't have the claustrophobic sensation that other people have, in fact when it's chilly i like to fully close the strap of the hoodie and stay in there. I never had the chance to use a quilt (at least in Buenos Aires we don't have that gear) but i saw a video of a men making a synthetic quilt from Apex Climashield and i want to do it cauz i love MYOG. My concern is that i'm going to a mid mountain (2.700 mts) in winter and i'm not able to buy a 20/25 degree sleeping bag and the synthetic quilt is easy to make, so i may have a wrong decision? i don't know...
Totally agree with the "be objective" advice. I'm still satisfied with my quilt for the type of backpacking I do, which is casual and usually warm weather. I have had it in the cold a few times and been fine with it. I am a side sleeper that switches sides a few times a night, and I still like the quilt because I can sort of tuck it in behind me under my shoulder. I have found with some bags that the round shape of the bag itself can sometimes make that hard, and then I have a draft on my back. I had the same issue when I tried pad straps with my quilt: they just pull the quilt off my back and make it colder.
That’s awesome you found what works for you. That’s literally what it’s all about! Also, I love the phrase “casual backpacker.” It sounds balanced and sincere. Thanks!
I am considering a quilt. But not in the sense that most think. I would like a quilt for like 35°f or maybe 40°f and this would work well for warmer. Nights…. And then if I go out in the more winter months and use my sleeping bag…. I could use this quilt as a blanket to drape over my sleeping bag to help gain a bit more warmth….
For me, the main point I realized was covered in the first minute. For the way that 95% of us hike/camp, a quilt is pretty much just an unzipped bag, when it comes down to it. We don't care about the extra 8 oz., and we can make an unzipped bag work enough like a quilt in most situations. I'm doing more camping in the back of my SUV now, and during most of the year I only need the OT camp blanket I bought at WM for $20. If I need more, I have a fleece liner and a 20-degree bag on standby.
I wanted to message and say how wrong you are but then you expanded your views to all types of gear such as shelter, backpacks etc then I had to agree with you. Why cut down on weight so much that you freeze during the night, the lightweight craze has brainwashed so many so called backpackers. However I went from a sleeping bag to a quilt and then back to a bag, and guess what, back to a quilt. Now I have realised a quilt works in the warmer months, a sleeping bag for the colder nights. So I think that means in principle, I agree with you, now I am confused.
every night i sleep in my quilt i battle with drafts... its very annoying. But every night i slept in a sleeping bag I would rotate it when I tossed and turned and it was also very annoying. I tend to sleep hot and move a lot in my sleep - so for me, the quilt wins out and has the lesser of the two annoyances. Having the bag strapped round your quilt still allows you to move around, but has no risk of the bag rotating and the zip pissing you off or the compressed underside becoming the top (and then your bag now suffers from the equivalent of 'drafts')
You can’t be objective about comfort, brother. I sleep hot, roll around, and don’t tolerate constricting bags. Quilts are great! But you are correct that drafts happen. Sometimes a bag becomes preferable, and you might not know until you are trying to sleep. In a tent. Miles from the sleeping bag store. For this very reason I chose the Enlightened Equipment Convert. As the name implies, it converts between bag and quilt. Best of both worlds. I rarely zip it. But when I want to, it goes from full-on bag to foot-box quilt to (my preferred modus) completely open quilt. It’s lighter than my comparable bag, high-quality construction to custom specs from me, and made in USA.
Thanks for chiming in. You're right, comfort is subjective because it's personal preference. I'm referring to being objective about gear in general. A lot of people stick with gear even if it's not working because they invested time in researching it and money in buying it so they end up with the mentality of "this is working" even if it's not. This happens with all gear choices. It sounds like you found something that works for you which is awesome!
Good video! I think everything depends from your goals. I use zenbivy system (25 and 10 degrees ) in spring/summer season. I works great and super comfortable. When temperature down below 15 degrees I use bags (western mountaineering ). It works great earthier but not super comfy like quilts.
My two cents is: UGQ 20f quilt was to combine (inside) with a nemo disco. Works toasty for me down to -19 celsius dressed in light wool, on R6.2 pad. Under a Silwing to block wind with a trek pole (3kg for -19C). Pending weather, gear and environment, I'll carry a light synthetic 500 gram modified quilt for top cover. Nothings perfect, more flexability equals more stuff. Humid -9C down bag is cold at 15 celsius on day three, etc. That's the adventure and skill part. Good Clip, Thanks
You miss the point. Not everyone sleeps the same. I could never sleep in a mummy bag and I'm too tall for regular ones. Quilts are the best thing for me
Quilts work well for me. I've been sleeping with blankets and quilts (once they arrived) for many years. *BUT:* I agree 100% with your position about being open minded and questioning (gear) decisions.
If you have a quilt that goes 10C deg below your sleepwear temp and a bag that goes 20C below your sleepwear temp, then you have a 3 level sleep system for 10, 20 or 30 deg below your sleepwear temp. You can put a zippered head slip across the quilt to turn it into a poncho & if you tie the long edges together down the middle & put a belt around it, it becomes an extremely warm double layer tabard that excludes drafts from the neck area. You still need to cover your arms with something like a fleece jacket. But the tabard replaces a long coat & has better freedom of movement than a long coat. You can even sleep in your bag & quilt in tabard mode which is even more incredably warm as long as you have your extremities covered. You just need to be able to do some very basic sewing, if you can do basic field repairs, you can do this.
I hate. Hate sleeping bags. It’s impossible to regulate your body temperature. There is no room to move whatsoever. I hate them. Even when using a conventional sleeping bag in -20°C I will open it up and use it as a quilt. for me, it’s not about weight savings. I would rather carry two sleeping bags and have freedom of movement between the top and bottom.
When temperatures get low, every bit of convection leads away energy rapidly. So every sleeping system with major gaps yields bad warmth 2 weight ratio. Simple as that for me.
I enjoy my Sleeping bag !!!! .....if I want a quilt I unzip the sleeping bag......if its chilly and I need a foot box I partially zip the bottom of my sleeping bag........ but if you brought your quilt and really needed a sleeping bag you dont have this versatility !!!!!.......... just my 2 cents after 60 yrs of hiking !!
For me, the "QUILT" has been the solution that I like to go camping and hiking on. In a sleeping bag I feel like a herring in a tin. I have a larger waist and the sleeping bags are just too tight around my stomach. I'm also a side sleeper and turn very often, which is very difficult in a sleeping bag. I have spent a lot of money and have different shapes like the egg shape super flex etc. But I have not been happy with any of them. There are definitely areas of use where I will no longer be able to handle my "QUILT". But these are so few that I have to go back to a sleeping bag for one or two nights. Best wishes from Germany and have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year 2024.
Awesome! I think you're the prime example of who a quilt is for because it works for you and bags don't. Thanks so much for sharing your experience! Happy holidays!!
To add more for thought, there really is a lot of accepted but untested dogma about the sleeping bag insulation on the downward side being useless and no-count. However, that makes little sense and should be easily disprovable. A sealed sleeping bag with a zipper draft collar keeps the drafts out and holds the warm air in. But also even compressed insulation works to a useful degree. Even If 3 inches of down were to be completely compressed down to 1/3 inch, then a fleece pullover with a similar thickness would be “useless”, wearing wool base layers would be “useless”, or wearing socks on your feet would be “useless”: We know that simply isn’t true. Also, it would be impossible to flatten then entire lower portion of the bag unless the bag was human shaped. Lastly, there are some sleeping bags that bridge the gap and solve the leg freedom issue - such as Sierra Designs’ zipperless backcountry bed or Nitro series, plus the popular Nemo Riff and Disco spoon shaped bags. I own both bags and quilts and prefer a bag when the temps fall below 50. And prefer a quilt for 60s plus weather and hammock camping. A 25 degree liner helps a lot with a quilt going below 50.
Dang, I gotta admit I'm in the same boat. I switched from my REI Igneo 17 to an EE Revelation 10 and slept worse overall because I toss and turn a lot. I've switched back now.
I have over 20 years experience hiking and backpacking. My opinion on Quilts (and other popular alternatives to traditional gear like trailrunners) is, that they are great alternative options for experienced hikers with very special requirements. But I would argue, that they are much harder to use and the risk of sleeping poorly is much higher. But some people really want to have more room to move, less weight, the ability to combine their quilt with another quilt or sleeping bag etc. For any beignner I would always recommend to start with a sleeping bag and maybe try some alternatives after a few years.
I have found that a larger sleeping pad solves the draft issue really well. the 65 cm sleeping pads are just too narrow if your sleeping bag doesn't keep you in a burrito. I am currently working on a custom mat that will fit my triangular 1person + dog tent floor. With that I will be able to take the dog under the quilt when it is really cold, removing the need for extra dog gear and giving me a nice little extra heater.
When it's really cold ..over stuffed 32.5 oz. Western mountaineering Tera Lite (non mummy bag) awesome bag.. when it's not cold.. Alpine Ridge 15 oz down blanket.. and always a wool base layer..( Pacific Northwest).. but never a mummy bag.. tried thermarest Hyperion 20..very much sucked.. I need to move
A lot of backp[acking UA-camrs claim quilts are better (i.e. warmer/lighter) than sleeping bags. I tested that claim. I have a DIY quilt that can be closed up underneath with velcro. My test showed that when used as a sleeping bag, my body was 2-3 degrees F warner. Kepp in mind that the bag has down on the top and sides but Climashield Apex and SOL emergency blanket sewed in where a standard quilt has nothing. I think 3 degrees F BODY TEMP is significant. I felt warmer. It's on my channel, Tom Loves DIY if anyone wants to see the test setup and results. Thanks for the video.
I routinely take my 20F EE into the low teens, in my mid, while just wearing a kuiu 97 weight fleece. You don't hear me whining about it the next morning.
It you want more space the Nemo Disco is designed for that. 15 degree works well for most occasions. I flip flop sides with no issues and im 6’2 / 215lbs. If you do one of those complicated Zenbivy “sleep systems” it weighs about the same so I don’t get the hype. I think the only reason to do a quilt is if you’re trying to fit it all in a Jansport book bag 😂. Glad to hear your review as I’ve always thought about the heat loss when moving around.
people are shoppers and fad chasers. unless you are a back sleeper that moves very little thru the night, the quilt lets in cold air with gaps from moving and one side is not covered. Tie yourself down to try and make a bag out of it??????? no layer is useless.
I first heard of quilts in the mid 90's when Ray Jardine put out his book, BEYOND BACKPACKING along with a line of gear called, "Go-Lite." I bought the go-lite quilt and was quickly disgusted with my purchase. I sleep warm and can take most bags 10° lower than their rating, but at 40° I found myself cold in the 20° quilt. Now most of the year I drape my current down 15° bag over me with the zipper open, but somewhere between low 40's and high 30's I zip it up.
Sleeping Bags have more better options for a budget person can't afford expensive Gear . Love my Coleman Big Basin 15 degrees sleeping bag it has keep me warm in 30 degrees am a very cold person sleep on a camping cot I plan to buy a fleece liner just incase I end up needing it in extreme cold temperatures
I use my sleeping bags as quilts now because, for some reason, I started sleeping on my stomach years ago. Impossible to be on your stomach in a sleeping bag. Ugh.
Great video on why someone may want the bag over quilt. I’ll throw in my own two cents. As a heftier individual who tosses and turns and side sleeps, the typical mummy felt so constraining and claustrophobic. I got my quilt for rim-to-rim Grand Canyon backpacking and it worked very well. I’ll agree the idea of switching just to switch is silly, and the weight benefits of the quilt might not be that meaningful, particularly as you get into colder temps. Even with pad straps, the quilt just feels better, less claustrophobic. I think that’s probably a better reason (imho) than saving some ounces. That said, bags probably work fine for most.
I do not like quilts. I can turn a sleeping bag into a quilt by just un zipping it enough to make a foot box. I like sleeping in a hammock but the thought it is cold underneath you and you are crushing the loft never made sense because you crush it on the ground too. When I am cold I zip up and sleep in a sleeping bag and when it is warmer I make it into a quilt. Just with the zipper down.
Sleeping bag for me. I have been camping in below freezing conditions. Nothing is better than zipping yourself up in your mummy bag and not having a draft. A quilt might be good in higher temperatures. But for cold temps. A bag is way better. But thats my opinion.
As a guy who’s 61 years old and gets up an average of 5 times a night to piss, getting in and out of a sleeping bag SUCKS !!! If you’re in the market for a quilt, get a WIDE model to cut down on drafts.
I think most UL hikers just cover their bodies with a combination of Dynema, Smartwater bottles and cut-in-half toothbrushes while wearing a full merino wool union suit, down hoodie and a pair of athletic shorts they bought in the girls department at Goodwill.
hahaha!
I always wondered what they did with the other half of their toothbrushes
@@splashpit they put them in a corner and shame them for being useless dead weight. They call them fat and stupid and otherwise degrade them.
lol
@@splashpit It's for "sexy time."
I definitely prefer quilting when it’s above freezing out.
Below freezing I always want a bag.
Agreed
I would definitely think this is where quilts would excel is warmer weather when a accidental vent is not deleterious and you might want to hang a limb out to cool off.
I sleep very hot so bags have always been kinda a hard go for me unless it's fall or later or the nights are really cool.
I'm not an ultralighter by any means.. but if you are a person that hate sleepingbags b/c they're so restrictive, then a couple of straps isn' even close to being the same. Much easier to change sides for a side sleeper such as my self. I always used bags like quilts anyways, and I know many who did the same. So it's more like free weight for us!
Fair enough! Thanks for the input!
my thoughts as well, the two straps that attach to your pad only keep the quilt on top and centered, but do nothing to restrict your actual movement underneath the quilt. I'll admit it took a LOT of adjustment to figure out how to get comfortable with the quilt but once I did I slept like a baby out there. I don't see myself ever going back to a sleeping bag unless I'm snow camping in really cold weather.
Open your bag and you have a quilt with safety of a bag
I usually clip the straps on one side of the quilt for anchor, leaving the other side open. Not constricting at all. But the straps aren’t weightless, lol.
I very much appreciate your comment. It's funny how people who make videos like this never mention how they sleep. I am also a side sleeper and I absolutely hate the constrictiveness of a bag, especially a mummy bag. So yeah, I also butterfly my bag but have been seriously considering picking up one of those Paria quilts. They appear to be great for the price.
100%!! Yep I went back to a bag and love it. Still love a quilt in the right scenario though. Great video!
Thanks buddy, much appreciated! I think if I ever use a quilt again it would be a 40 degree and super light for those warmer nights.
how about Zinbivy?
You don’t know what you are talking about.
You just run to the nearest hotel.
I can’t wait to see you on the trip coming up. All signed up.
If its that warm just a simple lightweight blanket.
With all due respect, I'm 6'4", broad-shouldered, backpacking for 40 years. NEVER found a mummy bag that was comfortable. I don't pack in sub-40 weather; looks like you do. To ward off the chill, I'll use the straps on my REI quilt, or wear long underwear top and bottom. I like movement, even throughout the night. Thanks for your review. Happy trails. Phil, Albuquerque
I personally prefer a sleeping bag. If it’s warm, I just completely open it up and use it like a quilt. When it’s cold, I use it as advertised. Best of both worlds!!!!! 😎
👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼
I do the same thing!
Right gear for the right job. I think too many people search for THE perfect piece of gear for all applications and it doesn't exist. :) New sub, good stuff!
Agreed! Thanks for being here!
Couldnt agree more. I us a kodiak canvas rectangular bag for drive up camp sites, and for actual backpacking I have down summer mummy and a winter synthetic mummy.
Love my quilt. Not going back in the bag
Nice! Glad you found what works, that's all that matters!
I love my quilt. I tend to get tangled and feel claustrophobic (even in a rectangular bag). The quilt needs to be wide enough to cut down on drafts. My first quilt was not wide enough and I was cold. My second quilt was a 10° EE Accomplice shared with my hubby and I was cold. I now have a 20° Thermarest Vesper quilt. It only weighs 19 ounces and I am warm now. For me this was a lesson in getting the thing you really want the first time lol. 2 Foot Adventures is great, my husband got a Lite AF pack from them last year.
Absolutely.
Awesome! Love 2 Foot!
I use the same quilt and I am very happy with it ........
I dont agree that the Thermarest Vesper quilt is really a quilt since it has a restive mummy shape.
I have some of the same draft issues with EE quilts. Now that I have a Katabatic with elastic binding around the bottom, a catenary cut and differential cut baffles, drafts are eliminated. Attached to the pad, this keeps everything in place whereas a sleeping bag conforms (the restrictive feeling) to my body and slides around on the pad in weird ways for me.
The other big benefit of a quilt for me is the versatility of laying it out in warmer temps and then cinching it down when it is closer to its temp rating. I also factor in wearing mid and puffy layers to add warmth, so my 30F comfort rated quilt is effective from the mid 20s all the way up to the 50s.
Critical to the system is pad and head warmth. Unfortunately, I think a lot of folks have a bad experience with quilts because they don’t boost these elements of the system. A 1oz beanie in warmer weather or 2oz down balaclava when colder are more flexible than a fixed sleeping bag hood. And still lighter when paired with the 21oz quilt. If you sleep cold with an insulated pad like an xLite, then switch to a 4 season pad like an xtherm and you’ll notice the difference right away.
None of this is meant to argue your main point about objectivism. Absolutely, any piece of gear should be evaluated on its performance in different conditions, not because of marketing or popularity. Objectively, I prefer a quilt in those temp ranges because it is the most effective for me. ✌️
I really mean it when I say I want this channel to be a community of people who can offer up their experiences and opinions without fear of being taken the wrong way. I’m only one person who has only my experiences so can’t tell you how much I appreciate your thoughtful input based on yours.
We are all here to learn and I think you make some great points. I hope you stick around to do more of it!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences!
@@EmoryByLand Thank you for your openness and inviting words. Your podcast is refreshingly reflective and diverse and it feels like you bring your whole self to the content you put out in the world. Truly a “would like to hang out with that dude” in my book. Cheers Emory!
My pleasure! Thanks so much for the kind words. Maybe I'll see you out there one day!
Right on. Be blessed.
Thanks for your video. However, i would like to ask you what kind off sleeping pad are you using? You should point out to your audience that the sleeping pad is EXTREMELY important in maintaining heat, ESPECIALLY if you use a quilt, (iny experience). For example, i have a foam sleeping pad, AND a very thin (5 cm) mummy inflatable sleeping pad that i use with a aegismax wind hard quilt and it's been great (even down to less than 0C). But if i use it without the foam pad it will be cold. I also have 2 different foam pads that i use interchangeably depending on the weather. One, a full length (190cm) full width (70cm) foam pad, and a second, cut up foam pad (50cm width, 165 length) and here again, i can detect a difference in warmth in colder situations. In short, while i appreciate your suggestion to ask ourselves why we do things, i did not hear advice to your audience, (which inexperienced hikers i think should hear this) that quilts require a good sleeping pad system for cold weather use. Otherwise,they don't work as intended.
Great point and I agree fully that the pad makes a huge difference regardless of if it’s a quilt or a bag.
I use an insulated pad from Klymit.
All info is important, although I would guess that people who are serious enough about it to regularly hike and sleep in colder temps are well aware of the exaggerated - but bona fide - role that R-value plays in a pad.
To be honest, though, most people will never sleep in temps cold enough that a decent R-value is needed, unless it's by accident. I counsel them that - when it comes to comfort - it's more important to go thicker and wider, especially if you can't guarantee that you will sleep on your back all night. And you can get 3" thick, 25" wide pads with R-values of 1.3-1.8 all day for about $30-$40.
These are definitely some valid points. I've definitely experienced similar problems but ultimately have found a solution that works for me which actually was as simple as using an extra-wide quilt. With an extra-wide, I can attach the sides of the quilt together and close off drafts really well while still having enough room to toss and turn. I really wish there were inexpensive quilts people could try out before purchasing. Most of the high-end quilts are upwards of $400. Even the more budget-friendly ones I make still cost a lot more than a cheap sleeping bag.
Interesting approach. Sounds like it works great for you. Thanks for tossing your solution out there!
And you carry that on backpacking trips or are you car camper?
I completely disagree - perhaps the quilt you had wasn’t wide enough? Or warm enough? The argument of loosing warmth when you move is suggestive the quilt wasn’t sized correctly. Do you sleep in a cocoon at home? Of course not. That eradicates that item.
I used a RAB expedition 1200 and used to sleep in my tent with it completely unzipped (effectively a quilt) and down to -12°C was perfectly comfortable.
That suggests also that perhaps hour sleeping mat is/was inadequate? I use a Thermarest with a R value of somewhere around 6.9.
I sleep in merino wool leggings and long sleeve top. If it’s especially cold then I might wear my goose down jacket as my quilt is only comfort rated at -10°C. I carry down leggings but have not used them. This is exactly what I would wear when using my Rab 1200.
Comfort is not just warmth remember although that is critical. It’s also about being able to sleep in a comfortable position and not feel trapped in a cocoon. Part of this might be because I’m 6’6” and 118kg (260lb).
I converted to a quilt and am very happy and comfortable to have done so.
Thanks for chiming in! It's possible it wasn't wide enough, but it still doesn't make much sense to me to get a wider quilt or a warmer pad when all I need to do is swap back to a bag and I'm comfortable with what I have already. I think it's just a matter of what works and what doesn't for a person. Glad to hear you found something that works for you and have stuck with it. That's what counts!
The biggest misconception with Quilts is the freedom to move around. Removing the back panel of a sleeping bag was never meant for comfort; it's for saving weight. You're still supposed the use the quilt like a sleeping bag to achieve the advertised temp rating. You can mitigate that by getting a larger quilt, allowing you space to move around while not creating drafts - but then you're just adding material and solving a problem that could have been solved with a bigger sleeping bag.
If feeling restricted is the issue, the answer is to get a less restrictive sleeping bag. Buying a restricted sleeping bag missing 1/4 of the material is only going to create more problems.
Agreed!
100% agreed. I got into UL a few years ago and went the same route. They are fine for spring and fall but I suffer the extra weight every time when the nights are below 40*F
Good to know I'm not alone!
To be fair, EE quilts are not that good. Almost all cottage brands that make better quilts use horizontal & differential cut baffles with more fill and some kind of edge tensioning. Also worth considering that one of the highest regarded cottage brands makes a “false bottom quilt”, which supports what you are saying.
Overall, quilts are not as warm as sleeping bags, they just can’t be and that is why they aren’t used in really cold conditions. Weight savings are definitely worth considering, but as you say are not thaaat great. However the true selling point of quilts is comfort. I used a sleeping bag as a quilt (completely unzipped) for a long time until I upgraded to a quilt. I still have a bag for cold weather, and have a quilt that I can use down to freezing.
A hill I will die on is that for temps above 10C there is absolutely no reason at all to prefer a bag over a quilt.
Thanks so much for the insight and sharing your thoughts!
Apparently had the wrong quilt: ua-cam.com/video/nJ4LvN7zSSQ/v-deo.html
👍🏼
I need to speak up in defense of quilts, mostly because I'm a hammocker. We need you ground dwellers to buy quilts. That way production volume stays high enough to keep unit costs affordable.
But yeah... if you insist on sleeping on the ground and don't use the pad straps properly to seal the quilt to your sleeping pad, you're going to get cold. If you use a quilt that's too small for your body, you're going to feel a draft every time you move.
This is by far my favorite comment! Never thought of the production portion of it! haha
Comfort means more than saving weight. I know the world doesn't seem to want to hear this, and there's 1,021,390 videos here on UA-cam dedicated to helping you shave as much weight as possible, but I'm here to tell you the truth: Comfort is key.
Amen!
While I do enjoy a sleeping quilt, I must admit its used during Spring through early fall climates low of 25 April/early May and a high of 75/80 “am/pm” not the middle of day temps. Winter camping changes my thoughts on gear used and definitely the sleeping system. Oct-March “sleeping bag” just my thoughts. Great content as always, have a great week every one…😉🤙🏽
Thanks for sharing!! It’s those fall experiences that made me realize all this.
Awesome job highlighting a different side of quilts. I've been backpacking for 24 years and with all of the videos about quilts, I feel like there really is "pressure" to change. But I love your arguments about losing the warm air if you adjust position through the night. I'll stick with my bag for the foreseeable future. Cheers!
Cheers!!!
What bag do u own?
Quilts for me are all about weight, freedom of movement is second thought but I really appreciate it. I have used it 200 nights plus over a couple winter trips and mountaineering at 20000ft in the Andes and it has kept me warm even when fully damp.
I credit my use of a bivy bag (OR Interstellar) to this performance because it is an enclosed tiny space with minimal draft potential. So the combo of a UL quilt + UL shelter is what makes it work for me.
I made my own 0F quilt. It weights 1kg and it cost me about 230$, anything comparable in terms of weight and warmth is about 800$+
That’s an interesting combination. Thanks for sharing!
i am interessted how ouy made your 0f quilt
If your putting a quilt in a bivy bag you basically making a sleeping bag so i dont think your point is valid when comparing the 2. for people using a tent a quilt will suck in the cold
@@doro.wiediger with UL fabric and down :) I just checked videos on UA-cam to see what sizing and all
@@luc1ferblack no, a bivy bag replaces a tent or hammock. I could sleep outside with just the quilt and sleeping pad
One can always just unzip a bag. No sense dropping a few ounces for uncomfortable rest.
I’d agree
I keep hearing about the weight savings for quilts but they normally only save a few ounces compared to a quality lightweight down bag at the cost of an integral hood and the bottom of the bag that traps heat. That is a steep price to pay for a few ounces. For those few extra ounces, I have the advantage of a quilt or a sleeping bag depending on temperatures. I can open up my bag and use it over me as a quilt without strapping it around me because the extra fabric compared to single purpose quilts allows the sleeping bag to drape on the ground sealing me from most drafts and without the constriction of quilt straps. I also tuck my feet into the footbox which doesn't feel too confining to me. But when the temps drop lower, up comes the zipper and the hood to warm me in a down cocoon. Less space to warm, no drafts from the side, and very easy to seal off drafts from the top with a draft collar or midlayer loosely wrapped around my neck. Very versatile system. Always tailored to my needs rather than tailoring my needs to a quilt.
Love it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
This is exactly how I see it, too. Most of the time, I use my sleeping bag as a quilt with no need to strap anything. Temperatures change overnight so now and then at 4am, it's time to zip up and I can do that easily.
Don't get me wrong - I'm all for the option to have a quilt and that it's the right choice for some people but over the past couple of years particularly, the rhetoric has largely gone into hype territory where 'if you're not using a quilt, you're doing it wrong' has practically become the norm. And that's silly.
When you look at the product vs. the price, it is hard to justify why quilts tend to be so much more expensive and it appears to me that it's down to hype and very little else. Manufacturers found a way to manufacture an alternative sleeping bag (out of less material and simpler manufacture) at lower cost, and hyped it to sell it at a higher price point.
'Here's a sleeping bag... we remove the zipper.... and the hood.... and some of the material so it doesn't reach all the way around and... we increase the price.'
Completely agree with every single point here!
I suppose what you describe affects restless sleepers, like me. I have never bought a quilt. Instead, I have a full length slepping bag. That offers me a lot of flexibility. If it is a hot night, I use it as a quilt.
I find in my down sleeping bag rolling from my back to my side, I have crushed the insulation by laying on it, making a big cold spot. The solution would be a much heavier synthetic sleeping bag, or a top quilt. Now I use a mummy pad, with my quilt tucked under the pad for ZERO cold spots due to it lifting as I roll. My next buy will be a Zen Bivvy me thinks....
Great idea but limited to back sleepers. I toss and turn as well as sleep on the ground.
I do a bit of both back and side sleeping so a bag works best for me. Thanks for chiming in!
I've just watched two videos. One by a backpacker who always uses a quilt and this video.
The other video said that quilts aren't for everyone and explained both the pros and cons of them. He explained why they work for him and why they may not work for others.
Your video seems to only give one side of the argument. You say that it's not as good as a sleeping bag and give a list of reasons why. The only time you highlight others comments of the benefits of quilts is to refute them. I believe you're overlooking that you sleep comfortably in a sleeping bag anyway. For someone who struggles to sleep comfortably in a sleeping bag a quilt can definitely be a better option. The negatives of possible drafts can be less of an issue than the uncomfortableness some people suffer in a sleeping bag.
I do agree that people just jumping on the band wagon to save a few grams when they can sleep fine in a sleeping bag are making a bad decision though.
Thanks for watching!
I consider my sleeping bag a survival tool against hyperthermia caused by the unexpected. That might include a drenching in icy water, or a sudden freeze the weather report failed to forecast or numerous unexpected occurrences that happen in the wildernesses, a simple illness can worsen if you can’t stay warm and what if you have to wait for rescue following an injury? Anyone else have a sudden alpine storm bury your tent in snow with no option but to wait it out for multiple days? Western Mountaineering TerraLite is a spacious semi-rectangular 20* bag that only weights 2.5lbs and completely unzips to double as a quilt, best of both worlds because being too hot on a warm summer night isn’t fun either.
Been a long time BA 20° Lost Ranger Down sleeping bag lover. However as I started to looks at ways to cut weight a buddy had me try his quilt. Fell in love with it. For the longest time I would tolerate cold spots from my bag. I thought I was cold yet most of my body was warm. I soon deduced that as I rolled from one side to the other, the top shoulder and upper hip were compressing into the bag causing the down to lose its loft. Thus giving me a cold spot. A quilt is perfect for a side sleeper. To complete the sleep system I recommend the Thermarest NeoAir Xlite R/W Pad (the wide 25” is best), a Silk Cacoon (soft, comfy, add’l warmth), a pillow w/pillowcase or a buff puff. I find the Silk Cacoon does just that; cacoons you inside your quilt preventing any compression against the down which creates cold spots. It also reduces the risk of drafts, increases the overall R value, and puts a comfortable barrier between you and the sleeping pad. Win, win, win! Quilt wins! 😝
Well said! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Fair enough and I'm happy you have the system that works for you.
But you say you got cold spots where you compressed the sleeping bag. You shouldn't get any more cold spots from a compressed sleeping bag than you would from having nothing there... That makes no sense.
Side Sleeper? Good luck with the sleeping bag! The Quilt is best for you. You tuck the pad into the bottom of the quilt sleve, use and adjust the straps proper under the pad to prevent drafts and you can turn from side to side as if you were sleeping at home and not have to worry about turning inside your sleeping bag, face to backside of hood, and not being able to align proper with the 20 inch wide pad. And quilts can be had for lower costs too, more so if you are looking for a sale or buy from the many lower cost mfgs out there today.
I have a Brooks-Range Cloak 20 Wide Sleeping Quilt at 21 oz, paid about $220 on sale years ago and since then sold all my sleeping bags 20F and above after this except for a 32F synthetic. For 0F and -20F, the Sleeping bags and a larger, heavier hiking setup are the go to solution. I did the Costco $20 "blanket" solution years ago for 50-60F and use a modified SOL Escape bivy as a quilt for 60-70F.
Fwiw, I agree. And slpg bags are now as light as quilts or can be, can also be opened up like quilts. We now only use quilts travelling and in cars, never the backcountry anymore. Our S2S Sparks and Flames are putstanding products. To each their own but we always found our quilts (3 diff brands) ineffective for us too. Hopefully the Quiltstopo doesn’t overreact 🤣🤣😉
Definitely not for everybody - in general i find that people who sleep warm, doesnt move much while they sleep - and perhaps most side and especially stomach sleepers (like me) - and people who perhaps find sleeping bags constrictive - those are the ones who should try a quilt - weight is not the reason, amount you might save is in the few grams - not worth compromising sleep comfort for. I have been using a quilt for 10ish years and love it - almost never use padstraps as i am a very "quite" stomach sleeper who can tug the quilt under my arms/body eliminating the issue you mention with air circulation - but the only real reason i see for trying a quilt if you already have a sleeping bag is for comfort
A solid take on the topic, thanks!
I bought a 20 degree quilt when I had to replace an old sleeping bag. It's been nice, but when it's chilly, I end up cinching up the footbox and zipping up the quilt into a bag, one that doesn't have a hood. For the slight weight savings, it's not worth the downsides, so I'll be selling the quilt and getting a bag again, at least for colder temperatures.
Bingo. Glad to know I’m not alone!
I use quilt with a proper sleeping pad (thermal one for fall and early spring) in most scnarios that are above 8-10 degrees C…for winter, nothing can compare to sleeping bag
your argument is subjective. It just feels better / warmer (for me). And if people feel differently, that's great for them right?
Correct. If it works for you, then do that.
Ah.. so I guess your beef is people not being objective in their subjectivity. Fair enough I suppose.
These videos are intended to help people find what they're looking for so they can have a better experience all around. No beef with anyone or anything.
Decades ago before I heard of quilts I started using my mummy bag as a quilt. When the weather get colder I zip it up part way or all the way depending on conditions. To me it is the best of both worlds! 6 ounces.....big deal.
Couldn't agree more. Zip...unzip...tadaaaa
I have and do the same thing. I never bought into the quilts.
Honestly, I think quilts are for hammocks. I just have a down Rumpl blanket because I don't like foot boxes. This only works for me because I use a hammock, and it's easy to tuck myself in when it's cold. In the winter, I carry a fleece blanket to curl up in under the rumpl to manage drafts while the rumpl provides the bulk of the insulation. Comfy down to 20.
I dont like mummy stle sleeping bags. I can't get to sleep like that 'mummified'.
I want more leg movement and side sleeping and the ability to go back and forth between positions. A ZenBivy or something similiat seems like a good alternative. It's quilt based but tries to fix the downsides;, some are successful.
Sorry guy I cant sleep like ancient dead my back with legs constrained in a bag.
With new pattern in pads with highs and lows sleepingbag Will Be Way better, bevandret the insulation is not compressed all over, but only at the highs.
I agree with your argument and think the proposition that the underside of a bag is ineffective is flawed. I have a great down bag, which is very warm and cosy.
However, horses for courses, I have now invested in a synthetic quilt to use in a bivvy sack to better deal with condensation. I'm an older Aussie well into my 70s and am amused by the youngs fixation with gear and chat around camps at night. My penis is long enough.
He is just using the wrong size quilt, use a wide quilt and it can actually wrap under your sleeping pad sealing in hot air and if you are using a good pad reflect that heat back up into the quilt. for winter I use a 0 degree UGQ Xwide and its lighter and warmer than the 15 degree Neemo I had before it. The key to using quilts too is you need good sleeping pads Neemo and big agnes are not as warm as thermarest because of they patented cells thermarest use.
Sea to Summit Traveller, best of both worlds? It's a quilt or a sleeping bag (sans hood), and pretty much with the weight of a quilt.
Don't let Justin outdoors see this😂
A fan of quilts is he?
Im a side sleeper and bags were never comfortable, switched to quilt and get much better rest at night. One caveat; snow and freezing temps I take a the bag.
I'd be game for a full zippered mummy, with an insulated zipper flap. I don't care if the full zipper and flap add and extra ounce... I just want to put my feet out to the side, or pop a knee out if I get hot.
I don't mind sleeping bags in a tent, but I'm sleeping in a hammock 99 % of the time and getting into the bag is so much harder in a hammock that I have started to hate them.
Quilts are adequate in temperate weather.
Agreed
I honestly don't disagree with this. I use a quilt and I like it, but I don't recommend a quilt to other people partly due to the reasons mentioned in the video. When you really start looking at the stats, you also see that in many cases the weight savings is actually a LIE (or as good as, partly due to pad straps to avoid drafts, which really influences the comfort rating). Using a quilt the sleeping pad also matters MUCH more, so it quickly becomes much more complex to use a quilt compared to using a bag. Anyone saying otherwise is either not telling the full story, lying to themselves or ignorant.
Can’t disagree with you! Well said.
I totally agree with you, I had the exact same experience with a quilt. I tried it off and on for 4 years before I finally completely gave up on it. I went back to a sleeping bag and I was comfortable again. I open my sleeping bag up, and drape it over me like a quilt in warmer weather and that works well. Since a sleeping bag is wider than a quilt, when it's opened up, you don't have the same draft issue that you have with a quilt, but you gain the freedom of movement many people seek.
Funny how it takes us so long to finally figure out something isn’t working! Thanks for sharing!
@@EmoryByLand The Quilt Community will gaslight you too, "User Error", "You're using it wrong", no they just suck. I didn't get the whole strap thing either, it made it so much more complicated.
@@josephjamison5007 You can be totally objective about your equipment, but really it's just your subjective at the end of the day. What works for you might not work for someone else and vice-versa. Dealing in absolutes like "quilts just suck" and "you're not using a quilt correctly" don't contribute the conversation at hand.
I have a scoop, one can empty the back of a synthetic sleeping bag from its filling. And possibly put the air mat in if the bag is large enough. You end up with a quilt that has a zipper, and no strap problems
I don’t think that works… you’d have to cut the baffles but… the idea make sense!
Thank you for being the first to say all the things I've been thinking it would be like owning and sleeping with a quilt.
You’re welcome! 😂
Love my enlightened equipment 20 deg quilt. Got the wide version to ensure no drafts when on my side.
Interesting. Why did you go with a quilt? Weight savings or not being restricted?
From what I’ve seen, a lot of quilters use the under quilt in a hammock. Maybe that makes more sense? I dunno. I have a cheap pad in a hammock with a super old down bag and am good to 25. My buddy used a quilt in a bivy sack but he has a 4” or so thick sleeping pad and the quilt is strapped to the pad. I think your assessment of “test it if you like it, but don’t become too attached to an idea” is pretty correct!!!
I think the hammock and quilt with under quilt combo makes sense.
I agree, a quilt is a tool to be used at an appropriate time
👊🏼👊🏼
Totally agree! The whole "the insulation beneath you is crushed so it's useless!" argument is a flawed oversimplification. That concept is partially correct, but humans aren't built like bricks where weight is distributed evenly across the entire surface of the body. Our body is generally rounded (torso, legs, arms, head, etc.) and certain areas apply far more pressure than others (hips, butt, upper back, etc.). This means the down along the edges of your body still does have some loft, even if it isn't 100% lofted like the down on top of you, it's still helping to seal in heat just as you mentioned. I think, in reality, the material under you is not as necessary as that on top of you, but it is still a step warmer than sleeping directly on the pad. Quilts can still be very useful for some people, but I don't think it's as simple as "sleeping bags are dumb because the down underneath you is useless!"
Good stuff man!
You get it! Glad I'm not alone in this one. I can't tell you the amount of times I've been glad I'm sealed up nicely in a bag...so many. I think quilts are great for summer trips where temps are mild, but once they drop....game over.
I think the ONLY argument for a quilt over a bag is if you know FOR SURE you hate the feeling of a bag.
You just had the wrong quilt maybe even wrong size. I never bought a quilt, i have only every made my own. But i have elasticated edges i can tension it as i need around my sides. I camp in the uk tough conditions down to -10c in my quilts no problem no drafts.
Sleeping bags are fine i have one but dont use it much. The main thing for me is weight and more important pack size. A bag with a comfort rating of -10c is very expensive, heavy and massive pack size.
Wrong quilt and wrong size is a possibility but I still can’t get past the idea of dumping heat by just moving around.
It's extremely important to fall in love with your backpacking gear and suffer rather than admit that you were wrong. If it ain't broke...
"Embrace your backpacking grief for there your soul will grow" -Carl Jung
Hmmm
I don't have that problem, whatever
Ok
@@EmoryByLand Yes.
Well, i hope not be the last comment. So, i always hike with a sleeping bag, i just love it, i don't have the claustrophobic sensation that other people have, in fact when it's chilly i like to fully close the strap of the hoodie and stay in there. I never had the chance to use a quilt (at least in Buenos Aires we don't have that gear) but i saw a video of a men making a synthetic quilt from Apex Climashield and i want to do it cauz i love MYOG. My concern is that i'm going to a mid mountain (2.700 mts) in winter and i'm not able to buy a 20/25 degree sleeping bag and the synthetic quilt is easy to make, so i may have a wrong decision? i don't know...
I’d stick with what you know and what works. No sense in wasting time or money fixing something that’s not broken
Totally agree with the "be objective" advice. I'm still satisfied with my quilt for the type of backpacking I do, which is casual and usually warm weather. I have had it in the cold a few times and been fine with it. I am a side sleeper that switches sides a few times a night, and I still like the quilt because I can sort of tuck it in behind me under my shoulder. I have found with some bags that the round shape of the bag itself can sometimes make that hard, and then I have a draft on my back. I had the same issue when I tried pad straps with my quilt: they just pull the quilt off my back and make it colder.
That’s awesome you found what works for you. That’s literally what it’s all about!
Also, I love the phrase “casual backpacker.” It sounds balanced and sincere.
Thanks!
I am considering a quilt. But not in the sense that most think. I would like a quilt for like 35°f or maybe 40°f and this would work well for warmer. Nights…. And then if I go out in the more winter months and use my sleeping bag…. I could use this quilt as a blanket to drape over my sleeping bag to help gain a bit more warmth….
I think that’s a great plan. If you combine with a bag, stuff it inside though.
For me, the main point I realized was covered in the first minute. For the way that 95% of us hike/camp, a quilt is pretty much just an unzipped bag, when it comes down to it.
We don't care about the extra 8 oz., and we can make an unzipped bag work enough like a quilt in most situations. I'm doing more camping in the back of my SUV now, and during most of the year I only need the OT camp blanket I bought at WM for $20. If I need more, I have a fleece liner and a 20-degree bag on standby.
Great point!
I wanted to message and say how wrong you are but then you expanded your views to all types of gear such as shelter, backpacks etc then I had to agree with you. Why cut down on weight so much that you freeze during the night, the lightweight craze has brainwashed so many so called backpackers. However I went from a sleeping bag to a quilt and then back to a bag, and guess what, back to a quilt. Now I have realised a quilt works in the warmer months, a sleeping bag for the colder nights. So I think that means in principle, I agree with you, now I am confused.
😂😂😂
every night i sleep in my quilt i battle with drafts... its very annoying.
But every night i slept in a sleeping bag I would rotate it when I tossed and turned and it was also very annoying.
I tend to sleep hot and move a lot in my sleep - so for me, the quilt wins out and has the lesser of the two annoyances.
Having the bag strapped round your quilt still allows you to move around, but has no risk of the bag rotating and the zip pissing you off or the compressed underside becoming the top (and then your bag now suffers from the equivalent of 'drafts')
The struggle is real!
You can’t be objective about comfort, brother.
I sleep hot, roll around, and don’t tolerate constricting bags. Quilts are great!
But you are correct that drafts happen. Sometimes a bag becomes preferable, and you might not know until you are trying to sleep. In a tent. Miles from the sleeping bag store.
For this very reason I chose the Enlightened Equipment Convert. As the name implies, it converts between bag and quilt. Best of both worlds.
I rarely zip it. But when I want to, it goes from full-on bag to foot-box quilt to (my preferred modus) completely open quilt. It’s lighter than my comparable bag, high-quality construction to custom specs from me, and made in USA.
Thanks for chiming in. You're right, comfort is subjective because it's personal preference. I'm referring to being objective about gear in general. A lot of people stick with gear even if it's not working because they invested time in researching it and money in buying it so they end up with the mentality of "this is working" even if it's not. This happens with all gear choices. It sounds like you found something that works for you which is awesome!
Each their own. Hate bags. Love my EE quilts. Never had a cold sleep into single digits.
Indeed. To each their out. Passing on experiences is what's important.
Good video! I think everything depends from your goals. I use zenbivy system (25 and 10 degrees ) in spring/summer season. I works great and super comfortable. When temperature down below 15 degrees I use bags (western mountaineering ). It works great earthier but not super comfy like quilts.
Thanks for sharing!
I have the same experience. Quilts are, to me, a hype...Never again quilts for me...
Glad I’m not alone!
If you have big shoulders and you're a side sleeping, bags are pretty much unusable. Quilts even with straps have wayyy more vertical space.
I'm not the wide shoulder guy but I hear bags are a big problem for larger folks and it makes sense. Thanks for bringing this up!
My two cents is: UGQ 20f quilt was to combine (inside) with a nemo disco. Works toasty for me down to -19 celsius dressed in light wool, on R6.2 pad. Under a Silwing to block wind with a trek pole (3kg for -19C). Pending weather, gear and environment, I'll carry a light synthetic 500 gram modified quilt for top cover. Nothings perfect, more flexability equals more stuff. Humid -9C down bag is cold at 15 celsius on day three, etc. That's the adventure and skill part. Good Clip, Thanks
Nice, thanks for the input!
You miss the point. Not everyone sleeps the same. I could never sleep in a mummy bag and I'm too tall for regular ones. Quilts are the best thing for me
I think I covered that in the video. Thanks for watching!
Quilts work well for me. I've been sleeping with blankets and quilts (once they arrived) for many years.
*BUT:* I agree 100% with your position about being open minded and questioning (gear) decisions.
I love it when gear works out! Good job finding what works for you.
Come back anytime!
If you have a quilt that goes 10C deg below your sleepwear temp and a bag that goes 20C below your sleepwear temp, then you have a 3 level sleep system for 10, 20 or 30 deg below your sleepwear temp. You can put a zippered head slip across the quilt to turn it into a poncho & if you tie the long edges together down the middle & put a belt around it, it becomes an extremely warm double layer tabard that excludes drafts from the neck area. You still need to cover your arms with something like a fleece jacket. But the tabard replaces a long coat & has better freedom of movement than a long coat. You can even sleep in your bag & quilt in tabard mode which is even more incredably warm as long as you have your extremities covered. You just need to be able to do some very basic sewing, if you can do basic field repairs, you can do this.
Thanks for the input!
I hate. Hate sleeping bags. It’s impossible to regulate your body temperature. There is no room to move whatsoever. I hate them. Even when using a conventional sleeping bag in -20°C I will open it up and use it as a quilt. for me, it’s not about weight savings. I would rather carry two sleeping bags and have freedom of movement between the top and bottom.
Sounds like you are FOR SURE built for a quilt. You must run hot!
When temperatures get low, every bit of convection leads away energy rapidly. So every sleeping system with major gaps yields bad warmth 2 weight ratio. Simple as that for me.
Bingo.
I enjoy my Sleeping bag !!!! .....if I want a quilt I unzip the sleeping bag......if its chilly and I need a foot box I partially zip the bottom of my sleeping bag........ but if you brought your quilt and really needed a sleeping bag you dont have this versatility !!!!!.......... just my 2 cents after 60 yrs of hiking !!
Yeah buddy!!
ul gear is a grift. train with a backpack and carry what you need to stay warm. people just wanna be too comfortable.
👀
For me, the "QUILT" has been the solution that I like to go camping and hiking on. In a sleeping bag I feel like a herring in a tin. I have a larger waist and the sleeping bags are just too tight around my stomach.
I'm also a side sleeper and turn very often, which is very difficult in a sleeping bag. I have spent a lot of money and have different shapes like the egg shape super flex etc. But I have not been happy with any of them. There are definitely areas of use where I will no longer be able to handle my "QUILT". But these are so few that I have to go back to a sleeping bag for one or two nights.
Best wishes from Germany and have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year 2024.
Awesome! I think you're the prime example of who a quilt is for because it works for you and bags don't. Thanks so much for sharing your experience! Happy holidays!!
To add more for thought, there really is a lot of accepted but untested dogma about the sleeping bag insulation on the downward side being useless and no-count. However, that makes little sense and should be easily disprovable. A sealed sleeping bag with a zipper draft collar keeps the drafts out and holds the warm air in. But also even compressed insulation works to a useful degree. Even If 3 inches of down were to be completely compressed down to 1/3 inch, then a fleece pullover with a similar thickness would be “useless”, wearing wool base layers would be “useless”, or wearing socks on your feet would be “useless”: We know that simply isn’t true. Also, it would be impossible to flatten then entire lower portion of the bag unless the bag was human shaped. Lastly, there are some sleeping bags that bridge the gap and solve the leg freedom issue - such as Sierra Designs’ zipperless backcountry bed or Nitro series, plus the popular Nemo Riff and Disco spoon shaped bags. I own both bags and quilts and prefer a bag when the temps fall below 50. And prefer a quilt for 60s plus weather and hammock camping. A 25 degree liner helps a lot with a quilt going below 50.
Excellent points. Thanks for taking the time to chime in!
Dang, I gotta admit I'm in the same boat. I switched from my REI Igneo 17 to an EE Revelation 10 and slept worse overall because I toss and turn a lot. I've switched back now.
Sounds about right!
Wow. What an eye opener!
👀🙌🏼🙌🏼
I have over 20 years experience hiking and backpacking. My opinion on Quilts (and other popular alternatives to traditional gear like trailrunners) is, that they are great alternative options for experienced hikers with very special requirements. But I would argue, that they are much harder to use and the risk of sleeping poorly is much higher. But some people really want to have more room to move, less weight, the ability to combine their quilt with another quilt or sleeping bag etc. For any beignner I would always recommend to start with a sleeping bag and maybe try some alternatives after a few years.
Excellent advice!
I have found that a larger sleeping pad solves the draft issue really well. the 65 cm sleeping pads are just too narrow if your sleeping bag doesn't keep you in a burrito. I am currently working on a custom mat that will fit my triangular 1person + dog tent floor. With that I will be able to take the dog under the quilt when it is really cold, removing the need for extra dog gear and giving me a nice little extra heater.
interesting! Thanks for the perspective!
When it's really cold ..over stuffed 32.5 oz. Western mountaineering Tera Lite (non mummy bag) awesome bag.. when it's not cold.. Alpine Ridge 15 oz down blanket.. and always a wool base layer..( Pacific Northwest).. but never a mummy bag.. tried thermarest Hyperion 20..very much sucked.. I need to move
Thanks for sharing your setup!
A lot of backp[acking UA-camrs claim quilts are better (i.e. warmer/lighter) than sleeping bags. I tested that claim. I have a DIY quilt that can be closed up underneath with velcro. My test showed that when used as a sleeping bag, my body was 2-3 degrees F warner. Kepp in mind that the bag has down on the top and sides but Climashield Apex and SOL emergency blanket sewed in where a standard quilt has nothing. I think 3 degrees F BODY TEMP is significant. I felt warmer. It's on my channel, Tom Loves DIY if anyone wants to see the test setup and results. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for chiming in! I’m not surprised. Quilts just don’t make sense if you’re trying to stay in warm
Thanks, was wondering why suddenly sleeping bags fell out of favor. I’ll stick to my Marmot 20 degree bag
They have their place and for some they work great, but I’m a bag guy unless it’s a warm night.
I routinely take my 20F EE into the low teens, in my mid, while just wearing a kuiu 97 weight fleece. You don't hear me whining about it the next morning.
Try talking louder
It you want more space the Nemo Disco is designed for that. 15 degree works well for most occasions. I flip flop sides with no issues and im 6’2 / 215lbs. If you do one of those complicated Zenbivy “sleep systems” it weighs about the same so I don’t get the hype. I think the only reason to do a quilt is if you’re trying to fit it all in a Jansport book bag 😂. Glad to hear your review as I’ve always thought about the heat loss when moving around.
Great minds think alike! Interesting review on the Zenbivvy. I've heard a lot of great things but I prefer simple.
people are shoppers and fad chasers. unless you are a back sleeper that moves very little thru the night, the quilt lets in cold air with gaps from moving and one side is not covered. Tie yourself down to try and make a bag out of it??????? no layer is useless.
Agreed my friend!
I first heard of quilts in the mid 90's when Ray Jardine put out his book, BEYOND BACKPACKING along with a line of gear called, "Go-Lite." I bought the go-lite quilt and was quickly disgusted with my purchase. I sleep warm and can take most bags 10° lower than their rating, but at 40° I found myself cold in the 20° quilt. Now most of the year I drape my current down 15° bag over me with the zipper open, but somewhere between low 40's and high 30's I zip it up.
Zing!
Sleeping Bags have more better options for a budget person can't afford expensive Gear . Love my Coleman Big Basin 15 degrees sleeping bag it has keep me warm in 30 degrees am a very cold person sleep on a camping cot I plan to buy a fleece liner just incase I end up needing it in extreme cold temperatures
Nice! Use what works!
I use my sleeping bags as quilts now because, for some reason, I started sleeping on my stomach years ago. Impossible to be on your stomach in a sleeping bag. Ugh.
😂
The problem with zippers is They ALWAYS break regardless the cost of the bag, i got tired of returning them . Zippers Suck!
That’s actually a pretty great reason 😂
Great video on why someone may want the bag over quilt.
I’ll throw in my own two cents.
As a heftier individual who tosses and turns and side sleeps, the typical mummy felt so constraining and claustrophobic. I got my quilt for rim-to-rim Grand Canyon backpacking and it worked very well.
I’ll agree the idea of switching just to switch is silly, and the weight benefits of the quilt might not be that meaningful, particularly as you get into colder temps. Even with pad straps, the quilt just feels better, less claustrophobic. I think that’s probably a better reason (imho) than saving some ounces.
That said, bags probably work fine for most.
Great insight. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts!!
Feathered Friends Flicker converts from full blanket, quilt, to full bag. Let’s you manage your your temperature from hot to 20 degrees.
Sweet!
I do not like quilts. I can turn a sleeping bag into a quilt by just un zipping it enough to make a foot box. I like sleeping in a hammock but the thought it is cold underneath you and you are crushing the loft never made sense because you crush it on the ground too. When I am cold I zip up and sleep in a sleeping bag and when it is warmer I make it into a quilt. Just with the zipper down.
bingo!
Sleeping bag for me. I have been camping in below freezing conditions. Nothing is better than zipping yourself up in your mummy bag and not having a draft. A quilt might be good in higher temperatures. But for cold temps. A bag is way better. But thats my opinion.
Agreed! Bags for cold weather, quilts for hot/warm
Hi, very very good, you thrue, i think also like this
Thank's
Thanks!
As a guy who’s 61 years old and gets up an average of 5 times a night to piss, getting in and out of a sleeping bag SUCKS !!! If you’re in the market for a quilt, get a WIDE model to cut down on drafts.
😂