Thread: Down Quilts

Who's using them?
I've been thinking of making the switch for ages and figured there must be a few on here that have made the swap. I pretty much sleep with my sleeping bag setup as a quilt 90% of the time.

Also what temp rating did you get.

Should be able to knock 400grams of my current bag and improve the warmth rating (well aware that some some as EE rate to lower limit) at the same time.

Going from a macpac Epic 600 which I find good 70% of the time, too hot (without opening bag) 25% of the time and 5% its a bit chilly around my feet.

Have looked at Katabatic, Nunatak, UGQ, Loco, and EE probably most interested in the first 2 due to ratings being comfort not limit like many others.

I've got the Enlightened equipment revelation 10F bag. It's got 900 Fill power down and weighs in at 707g.

Paired with the thermarest xtherm (440g) I find it plenty warm for South island hunting. The quilt design makes it easy to regulate temp in warmer conditions.The down is just amazing performance to weight compared to the readily available options locally. Not to mention cost.. For deep winter you might want to add a decent liner or down clothes layers.

These two combined with the exped lightning 60 pack enabled me to shave off alot of weight from my gear (if that is what you are into haha!).

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Originally Posted by hunterw

I've got the Enlightened equipment revelation 10F bag. It's got 900 Fill power down and weighs in at 707g.

Paired with the thermarest xtherm (440g) I find it plenty warm for South island hunting. The quilt design makes it easy to regulate temp in warmer conditions.The down is just amazing performance to weight compared to the readily available options locally. Not to mention cost.. For deep winter you might want to add a decent liner or down clothes layers.

These two combined with the exped lightning 60 pack enabled me to shave off alot of weight from my gear (if that is what you are into haha!).

Sent from my M2010J19SG using Tapatalk

+1
Because these are made to order, I got mine as big as they make them. For NI hut type hunting I mainly use it as a quilt as it is just too hot for me as a bag. I find that as a quilt, you get about 70% of its warmth (if that's a sleeping bag performance measure??). Highly recommended.

I've used a quilt, once, and think they're a total have with a name that sounds cool when Americans say it . By taking the zip out of a sleeping bag you're supposed to end up with some super lightweight version of the same? They're really uncomfortable to sleep with unless you are paralysed from eyeballs down and don't move around in your sleep

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

I've used a quilt, once, and think they're a total have with a name that sounds cool when Americans say it . By taking the zip out of a sleeping bag you're supposed to end up with some super lightweight version of the same? They're really uncomfortable to sleep with unless you are paralysed from eyeballs down and don't move around in your sleep

You are basically paralysed from the eye balls down, when your asleep? Have you never woken and not been able to move?
Scares the shit out of one!

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

I've used a quilt, once, and think they're a total have with a name that sounds cool when Americans say it . By taking the zip out of a sleeping bag you're supposed to end up with some super lightweight version of the same? They're really uncomfortable to sleep with unless you are paralysed from eyeballs down and don't move around in your sleep

In fairness it sounds like you may have used a quilt that's too small or without pads but that's a good data point.

And they also cut out the back and hood. So say 30% over the bag. I do think a fair part of the weight gains is from the fact they usually use 800 loft as a minimum with 950 being common. Plus I think the likes of EE, Zpacks over rate their quilt temp ratings significantly. Plus when talking premium sleeping bags they are pretty competitive price wise. Especially when most nz bags seem to understuff the baffles and having extra down added is a chore and expensive. I'd also say the Aegismax sleeping bag i used would by far be the most claustrophobic experience I had and ended up using it as a quilt anyway.

Oh and you can buy the one exactly the size you need instead of a bag with too much extra space like my accidental xl that I bought compared to the previous women's bag I ran as being slim meant I didn't need the space.

Originally Posted by hotbarrels

+1
Because these are made to order, I got mine as big as they make them. For NI hut type hunting I mainly use it as a quilt as it is just too hot for me as a bag. I find that as a quilt, you get about 70% of its warmth (if that's a sleeping bag performance measure??). Highly recommended.

Pretty much all of the quilts I mentioned are made to order.
And Enlightened Equipment are quite well know for overrating there bags by around 15f (they rate at or sometimes below lower comfort temp rather than upper comfort. And measure width before they add fill which narrows the quilt. That's fine if you know before ordering and I get that it makes specs look better but it does make me lean away from them a bit.

Originally Posted by Mohawk .308

And you have to use a high R value sleeping mat

Got an XTherm that I've been using for years. I can't imagine it's much difference to a bag. I found my epic 600 is cold in 10 degree temps when I used to use my non insulated mat or sleep in the stretched canvas beds in a few of the historic huts like bealey spur.

Also have an enlightened equipment. Awesome bit of kit, one of the best things as already mentioned is the ability regulate heat, as I normally cook in a bag most of the year

Still use a bag when after tahr etc
@joelhenton is the expert on lightweight kit

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I've got 2, a Jack's r better and a hammock gear. The hammock gear isnt wide enough for the winter gets to many drafts. The Jack's is warm as but again below about - 3 or 4 the little drafts add up.

Stupidly light, and fine for ni Bush but if I was spending time in the snow would definately still have a bag.

Got an EE and Loco Libre both 20F. Going ultralight quilt is like going beam scale to RCBS chargemaster. My preference is a box footwell, no zip. Welcome to try the EE one after lockdown.

PS best to pair with neoair xtherm.

Originally Posted by Tikka7mm08

Got an EE and Loco Libre both 20F. Going ultralight quilt is like going beam scale to RCBS chargemaster. My preference is a box footwell, no zip. Welcome to try the EE one after lockdown.

Cheers! That's a generous offer and if I haven't brought one already due to confinement shopping then I may take you up on it.

...I hear ya on confinement shopping. Decided I needed a Backlanz bipod.

Originally Posted by Tikka7mm08

...I hear ya on confinement shopping. Decided I needed a Backlanz bipod.

Brought it yet? I've got one sitting in a gun case as I'm still not sold whether I like to use a bipod.