Are quilts the biggest load of crap ever? Emperor's new clothes?

[Mike Islander]

TONGUE IN CHEEK MODE ON:
Please don't take this personally. Just some thoughts on quilts.

Watching the latest "innovations" in quilts, they seem like a bit of a joke. The newest have cinch at top and bottom, but no hood. You wear a warm head covering instead...which negates some of the weight savings. They have straps and a footbox that you maneuver into, which negates the "quick entry and exit" that quilt manufacturers like to tout as a feature. They have bottom zippers and lots of little clips, which negate some of the weight savings. You have to tuck the edges under you on the pad to meet the temperature rating, which absolutely negates the ease of use that you get with a bag. Roll over? Rearrange your quilt. Side sleeper? Rearrange your quilt. While you are at it, don't let your arm slip to the side of your pad, or it's going on the tent floor or ground. How about that on a really cold night?

So, not to be completely closed-minded, it seems to me that a bag with a full zipper will do everything a quilt will do, and it will do many things better, and many things that a quilt can't do at all. For a pound of weight savings (oops! Subtract the weight of a full head cover), I'll take a bag anytime. I can unzip my bag and use it as a quilt. I could add a couple of clips along the zipper for about an oz of weight added and a bit of ventilation.

I know guys love them. So I'm not saying they aren't something good for some people. For me personally, not something I want or need. I think warmer weather and back sleepers, along with those counting ounces, are the target market for quilts. But except for the weight, I don't see any advantage attractive enough to switch. I know those who use them will have plenty of good reasons, for them. And am happy to see what they are, in light of my objections above.

 

[tdhanses]

Quilts have their place but I won’t use one once it is constantly 20* or less. Quilts give you way more freedom from constriction and do weigh less. I like that I can vent if I get to warm, kick a leg out and just hop out of it but it’s down side is drafts and keeping it in place, I never use the straps.

 

[ljalberta]

Quilts are way more comfortable to me. I'm a huge tosser and turner and sprawler in my sleep. That's the primary reason I choose them, and any weight savings is simply a bonus. Occasionally a draft may get in, but that price is such a small costs in comparison to the more comfortable sleeps I get as opposed to being in a bag. Also, many of the things you pointed out on quilts that add up, such as zippers and clip are options on some, but many go without them. They are my go to in the summer and early season. I bring a touque anyway. I can't really wear a mummy bag's hood when I'm glassing or hunting and the temperature drops. I think my quilts do a much better job of acting as a quilt, compared to an opened up bag. Definitely no replacement for a bag in all circumstances though. I like having quilts and bags to choose from.

In theory it might not make a ton of sense to use a quilt for a lot of guys, but for other's they're a dream product - as with most gear.

 

[Poser]

I toss and turn and end up twisted up in bags, but in a quilt, I free float. I’ve taken my stock 20 degree quilt + bivy sack to below zero and been fine, though I’m a warm sleeper. I have a longer quilt so I can pull it over my head, but still weighs in less than 20oz. It’s a great option that compresses to the size of a football. If you like a bag, use a bag. I’ve been using a quilt between the months of May and November now for 5 years and don’t see going back.

 

[AK Troutbum]

TONGUE IN CHEEK MODE ON:
Please don't take this personally. Just some thoughts on quilts.

Watching the latest "innovations" in quilts, they seem like a bit of a joke. The newest have cinch at top and bottom, but no hood. You wear a warm head covering instead...which negates some of the weight savings. They have straps and a footbox that you maneuver into, which negates the "quick entry and exit" that quilt manufacturers like to tout as a feature. They have bottom zippers and lots of little clips, which negate some of the weight savings. You have to tuck the edges under you on the pad to meet the temperature rating, which absolutely negates the ease of use that you get with a bag. Roll over? Rearrange your quilt. Side sleeper? Rearrange your quilt. While you are at it, don't let your arm slip to the side of your pad, or it's going on the tent floor or ground. How about that on a really cold night?

So, not to be completely closed-minded, it seems to me that a bag with a full zipper will do everything a quilt will do, and it will do many thing better, and many things that a quilt can't do at all. For a pound of weight savings (oops! Subtract the weight of a full head cover), I'll take a bag anytime. I can unzip my bag and use it as a quilt. I could add a couple of clips along the zipper for about an oz of weight added and a bit of ventilation.

I know guys love them. So I'm not saying they aren't something good for some people. For me personally, not something I want or need. I think warmer weather and back sleepers, along with those counting ounces, are the target market for quilts. But except for the weight, I don't see any advantage attractive enough to switch. I know those who use them will have plenty of good reasons, for them. And am happy to see what they are, in light of my objections above.

Here's my feeling/answers to each of your issues as they were presented.

No hood. I've been carrying/using some sort of beanie on all my hunts now for probably close to 35 years and I've been sleeping with a beanie on my head now (as conditions dictate), for that same length of time. I use a warm hat a LOT when hunting and using it to sleep in is just another reason to have one on hand.

I keep all my stuff (pad, pillow, and quilt), inside a 4 oz. bivy so no need for any straps, etc. I would use the bivy even if I used a traditional bag because I use floorless shelters and like to keep my stuff clean and contained. The bivy also seems to keep things together so as I rarely have an issue with drafts.

My biggest issue with a traditional mummy bag is how confining they are. Regardless of how warm I am, I absolutely hate the feeling of being restricted and the quilt inside a bivy gives me much more wiggle room without binding up when I move around.

 

[MTElkChaser]

I really wanted to love quilts because I suffer from restless legs in a constrictive bag. I liked the weight savings, and at first they seemed pretty versatile. Again, they work for a lot of guys and wish they did for me. There were just too many negatives in my opinion. In tents with side entry, it was hard to slide into the bag from the top - nearly impossible. To each their own I guess.

 

[ODB]

Hmmm...I must been way ahead of my time, but I’ve been just leaving my mummy bag unzipped when I sleep for about 20+ years...feet go in the foot box, the rest lays over me like a...quilt... and it’s Zzzz...

 

[AK Troutbum]

Hmmm...I must been way ahead of my time, but I’ve been just leaving my mummy bag unzipped when I sleep for about 20+ years...feet go in the foot box, the rest lays over me like a...quilt... and it’s Zzzz...

Sounds like a quilt with the added wt. of a zipper and a bunch of material that doesn't get utilized.

 

[ODB]

Sounds like a quilt with the added wt. of a zipper and a bunch of material that doesn't get utilized.

Actually, it’s 2-in-1, so it’s really saving weight. ;-)

 

[Piscatory_4]

TONGUE IN CHEEK MODE ON:
Please don't take this personally. Just some thoughts on quilts.

Watching the latest "innovations" in quilts, they seem like a bit of a joke. The newest have cinch at top and bottom, but no hood. You wear a warm head covering instead...which negates some of the weight savings. They have straps and a footbox that you maneuver into, which negates the "quick entry and exit" that quilt manufacturers like to tout as a feature. They have bottom zippers and lots of little clips, which negate some of the weight savings. You have to tuck the edges under you on the pad to meet the temperature rating, which absolutely negates the ease of use that you get with a bag. Roll over? Rearrange your quilt. Side sleeper? Rearrange your quilt. While you are at it, don't let your arm slip to the side of your pad, or it's going on the tent floor or ground. How about that on a really cold night?

So, not to be completely closed-minded, it seems to me that a bag with a full zipper will do everything a quilt will do, and it will do many thing better, and many things that a quilt can't do at all. For a pound of weight savings (oops! Subtract the weight of a full head cover), I'll take a bag anytime. I can unzip my bag and use it as a quilt. I could add a couple of clips along the zipper for about an oz of weight added and a bit of ventilation.

I know guys love them. So I'm not saying they aren't something good for some people. For me personally, not something I want or need. I think warmer weather and back sleepers, along with those counting ounces, are the target market for quilts. But except for the weight, I don't see any advantage attractive enough to switch. I know those who use them will have plenty of good reasons, for them. And am happy to see what they are, in light of my objections above.

I'm tight with you on all your concerns. I would use a quilt with hammock ie underquilt. Using a quilt and tucking it under you to keep in place is smashing the insulation just like the bag. I wear a beanie in bed with the mummy bag anyway but with no hood I might need a thicker beanie than just a light wool one. I roll at night too, a little but the bag rolls with me, I use a liner as well. Confinement/claustrophobic feeling I understand but don't suffer from. On really cold nights when the 15° bag isn't enough a quilt to add would be really nice so that would be my main use for one.

 

[Goodtimekiller]

I sleep much better in a hammock and haven’t used a tent in a few years, i definitely like a quilt in a hammock much better and have never used a head cover.


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[tdot]

It's a bit like all the SUV's driving around. They used to all be trucks and actually different then a station wagon. But what people really wanted was a station wagon. So now the SUV's are on a car chassis and are really just station wagon with a different name.


I agree that the new breed of quilts arent as simple as the square flat quilts of a few years ago. But what they do is blend the best of both worlds. I look at it as both a better quilt, and a better sleeping bag.

A true flat quilt, I'm happy down to about 40 degrees with. But between say 40 down to about 15- 20 degrees. I think the new breed of quilts is awesome. Below 15ish, I'll take a bag.

I can take a new breed of quilt much colder then an old style quilt, given the same temp rating, and I can take the same new style quilt much warmer then an equivalent rated bag. So in the end I find them more versatile.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

I have several EE quilts, plus booties, mitts and three Hoodlums. Spent a lot of nights in a hammock (I have back issues and sleep quicker, deeper and with no morning stiffness or pain) but use my quilts in a tent too. I get almost claustrophobic in a mummy bag and the freedom to roll around under my quilt is welcomed and appreciated. Then again, I am often hanging out in the cold.

 

[Mike7]

Weight savings is the last reason that I use a quilt, and I haven't found any temps in the lower 48 where a quilt doesn't work well.

But I use an extra wide quilt. Despite the edges being clipped to the pad straps under me when it's cold, I still don't get tangled up while tossing and turning.

I only take a 2 ounce quilt specific puffy hood when the nights are below 25 degrees and a fleece hunting beanie is not enough. The puffy hood allows me to roll back and forth...it slides along the inner surface of the top end of the cinched up quilt. And the puffy hood is also used as needed during the day for sitting/glassing with any of my hoodless jackets.

The quilt also can be un-buttoned/zipped so that it can be hung completely flat and open to dry.

 

[Justin_the_EDG]

I just got a quilt (primarily with an eye on the weight savings) this winter and have a couple though after early testing.

20° rating, I used it at the coldest on a night that got to somewhere in the mid-20s. Was very pleased. I think I was hitting right at my personal "comfort" rating with the Therm-a-rest Neoair Women's pad (yay for being short, lighter and warmer), as I was beginning to get the vague sense of being cool, without actually waking up chilled. My 200wt Black Ovis Beanie WAS NOT warm enough to keep my head warm, but a Polartec fleece beanie was. So I'll be replacing the beanie I carry on 100% of hunts with one that's lighter anyhow (fleece hat shaves 1/2oz).

I suspect that many people who get drafts with quilts may be using the pad straps/cords wrong. I had a miss-perception of how to use them before getting it in hand, and putting them to use was a revelation. It's just like sleeping in my bed, the way I would tuck the covers in around my body if it were a cold night. Plenty wide enough when I used the sizing chart on the manufacturer's site. I WOULD NOT agree with the blanket recommendation I've seen to get a long/wide version regardless of your size to avoid drafts.

Getting in was really easy, as I don't slide in from the top. I just unclip one side, lay down, and clip it over and then clip around my neck. Exact same process as a mummy bag, but with 2 clips rather than a long zipper. I like that I can toss and turn (not something I do a ton of) if I want and not get bound and twisted up in my bag. The quilt stays over me the same way my covers at home do. I may or may not need to rearrange after flipping/rolling, but it's a heck of a lot better than flipping/rolling in a mummy bag.

Only "problem" I have with it is that I wish I had NOT sized up the length. The manufacturer mentioned going a size longer if you wanted to be able to pull it up over your head. That combined with the many "you gotta size up with quilts!" statements
I had heard convinced me to go longer than I measured. I wish I hadn't. It is nice to be able to pull it up for a moment of comfort, but who the h*** sleeps face under, breathing into their bag? I sure don't. My breath quickly gets too hot and humid. So I traded 5 minutes of pre-dawn added comfort snuggled completely under on cold mornings for having a 6 inch "berm" of shell material and down sitting on my chest because of the extra length. That tends to catch condensation and turned to frost on my coldest test night.

I like everything about the quilt better, at least when I stuck to the manufacturers recommendations. When I strayed from the "norm" and went with the recommendation of hunters who clearly don't favor the quilt system in general, I disliked the result. *shrug* There's my review to anyone who cares to plow through it.

 

[weaver]

Quilt is the way to go for me unless it's extremely cold. I'm a restless sleeper and am constantly getting twisted up in mummy bags. Wear a beanie and sometimes a puffy which I'd have with me anyways.
Also great to wrap up in for those early morning glassing sessions.


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[Ratamahatta]

Hmmm...I must been way ahead of my time, but I’ve been just leaving my mummy bag unzipped when I sleep for about 20+ years...feet go in the foot box, the rest lays over me like a...quilt... and it’s Zzzz...

Same here, been doing this for a few years and haven't slept better. Can still toss and turn and be comfortable.

 

[Thor45]

To each his own. I am side sleeper and I run cold. Tried a quilt this year and must say that it took be a bit to learn how it works best for me. I'm a fan and will continue to run over my mummy bags. I was trying to decide on a quilt or the SG new sleeping bag, went with a quilt. The weight wasn't a concern, it was comfort and less constriction.

 

[Mike Islander]

Seems there are a lot of folks who prefer quilts over mummy bags. So far nobody who runs a semi rectangular or roomy mummy like a badger has chimed in. Maybe mummy bags are a big driver for quilts? I run a large rectangular bag, which is one of the things I based my initial post on.

It has been great to hear the benefits of quilts from experienced users. That was a big reason for my post. I'm open to anything that works and saves weight...and cost.

 

[danarnold]

I froze my ass with a quilt, sold em to bruce