bag vs. quilt...... your pick

[handwerk]

Lets say it's a backpack hunt and night temps will be from 0 to 30 degrees, which would you pick and why?
I'm new to the quilt thing and the only true cold weather sleeping bag I have is from my dog mushing days and it's a bit heavy, so I'm looking to upgrade.

 

[Kevin_t]

The long answer is it depends. I have slept a quilt setup to 0 before but you do have to do draft management. IMO, everyone can sleep a quilt pretty well to mid 30's. With a little knowledge, most can sleep one well to 20 ish. Below that, I think quilts are for some people. A sleeping bag is not perfect either. If the sleeping bag is to small, you will get cold spots from compression (this is the problem I have most often). I'm sort of lanky, and long limbs need some space. A quilt, is less likely to have cold sport due to excessive compression but it is more likely to have draft issues.

All things being equal, if I had a perfect fitting sleeping bag, I would go with a bag below 20 degrees most of the time. Since I don't , it depends on my mood and other things such as outer fabric of each system. There are so many variances in sleep systems, it is really hard to have a one size fits all solution. Pad choice matters, pad size matters, and orientation of bag / quilt to pad matters especially as the temperatures drop.

 

[luke moffat]

With temps down to 0 I'd go with a bag. I realize there are quilts rated for that and much lower, just my preference .

 

[5MilesBack]

With temps down to 0 I'd go with a bag. I realize there are quilts rated for that and much lower, just my preference .

No doubt. I just ordered an enlightened equipment 0 degree long wide quilt, but that's just to try for some early season Aug/Sept high country hunts. If it's getting much below 30.........I'm taking the 0 degree Slik bag. I may even be cold with the quilt down to 40. This will just be an experiment for now. Will try it this summer on some scouting trips, if it doesn't cut it......I'll use the bag for hunting season.

 

[Stresd]

I sleep warm and have been very comfortable at a little below Freezing, in my Zpack wide 20F/-7 C quilt and Goose Hood combo. I have now spent 21 nights in the back country in my Zpack and have had no durability issues with it even though it is made with ultra light materials. I love the Goose Hood. So warm it could only be worn on the coldest of nights, but great for around camp in the morning. Far nicer than my puffy hood. I Have never had my quilt fully down to it's -7 rating yet, but pretty close. I can't see it being a problem though, for me at least, if assisting it by wearing something like 150 or 250 merino.

 

[5MilesBack]

I can't see it being a problem though, for me at least, if assisting it by wearing something like 150 or 250 merino.

I always wear my First Lite base layers in my sleeping bags when sleeping on the mountain......even in the middle of summer.

 

[TEmbry]

No doubt. I just ordered an enlightened equipment 0 degree long wide quilt, but that's just to try for some early season Aug/Sept high country hunts. If it's getting much below 30.........I'm taking the 0 degree Slik bag. I may even be cold with the quilt down to 40. This will just be an experiment for now. Will try it this summer on some scouting trips, if it doesn't cut it......I'll use the bag for hunting season.

You will melt with a 0* quilt on summer trips unless you have horrible circulation. I got hot in my 30* quilt in August from NM, to WY, even up to the North Slope of Alaska.

 

[5MilesBack]

You will melt with a 0* quilt on summer trips unless you have horrible circulation. I got hot in my 30* quilt in August from NM, to WY, even up to the North Slope of Alaska.

I sleep comfortably in a -30 Quallofil bag in base camp even in summer. I guess I'm a cold sleeper. I'm like a reptile, I tend to take on the temp of my surroundings. So when it gets below 98.6 I start to get chilled.

 

[Kevin_t]

Overheating in a quilt is an easy fix , just vent it. I slept real comfy the other night with two quilts at 5 F maybe a bit lower. Small bit of draft management and a fleece cap. However, if I had a bigger bag rated to the temp I would use it

 

[HellsCanyon]

The long answer is it depends. I have slept a quilt setup to 0 before but you do have to do draft management. IMO, everyone can sleep a quilt pretty well to mid 30's. With a little knowledge, most can sleep one well to 20 ish. Below that, I think quilts are for some people. A sleeping bag is not perfect either. If the sleeping bag is to small, you will get cold spots from compression (this is the problem I have most often). I'm sort of lanky, and long limbs need some space. A quilt, is less likely to have cold sport due to excessive compression but it is more likely to have draft issues.

All things being equal, if I had a perfect fitting sleeping bag, I would go with a bag below 20 degrees most of the time. Since I don't , it depends on my mood and other things such as outer fabric of each system. There are so many variances in sleep systems, it is really hard to have a one size fits all solution. Pad choice matters, pad size matters, and orientation of bag / quilt to pad matters especially as the temperatures drop.

Couldn't of said it better... I'm good in my 20* quilt down to about 20-25* with a quality hat and base layers worn inside as well as using a bivy. Draft management is huge as Kevin says. I've gotten cold in 40* nights with the same setup because I didn't have good draft management!

What I like to do is have a 20* bag and a 20* quilt. When going down to 0* or below just throw the quilt inside the bag. I slept warm 2 weekends ago in -7* temps using this combo and it was great and this system will cover everything from 50* summer nights to subzero winter trips.

Mike

 

[Hunt'nFish]

Is there a good tutorial video on say a Borah Draft Dodger quilt in action. Proper use & setup, etc. I know they have a vid on their site, but he just holds it up and talks about it. Honestly I don't see how something with snaps for side closure could be any warmer than a regular sleeping bag.
What ARE the advantages of a quilt anyway? Mike, Trevor?
Hunt'nFish

 

[TheRambler]

I agree...it depends. In my case, I use a hammock, so i am enclosed in essence by my top quilt and under quilt. aka no drafts. However, sleeping on the ground on a normal pad with a quilt you can get drafts. There are ways to mitiagte it, but i think drafts will happen from time to time especially if you shift alot in your sleep. Even though I love quilts i think that if your a ground sleeper, when the temps drop to say 20-30f or below your best bet is a sleeping bag.

IMO the advantages of a quilt are 1)weight savings, 2)cost savings, 3) more freedom of movement/less restricting. Probally ranked in that order as well.

 

[Rizzy]

For those temps I would get a bag, they are a little more forgiving and easier.
IMO, The quilts are still being proven, they worked great for some, but others froze their arse off this season

 

[HellsCanyon]

Advantage is the huge range of temps you can be comfortable in. You can use it as a blanket without the footbox zipped up or when it gets cold cinch it up. Weight savings and my favorite is what Trevor mentioned in his review: feels like your sleeping in a cloud! Very very soft material on the EE or Seek Outside quilts! I've also used mine wrapped around me while glassing on cold mornings where a sleeping bag would've been awkward.

Mike

 

[Kevin_t]

You can sleep quilt style in a bag but generally they are harder to use as wearable insulation. Mainly a quilt is lighter and personally quilt style is more comfortable to a certain temp. It's more like a bed. Quilts can be more flexible, sometimes when it is warm I leave my shoes on. It depends on your style

 

[whitingja]

I like this idea hellscanyon. I have been thinking of ditching my 15 helium and 0 plasma, and upgrade to an enigma 10 degree for summer and buy the feathered friends -20 peregrine for winter. I froze my butt of the last late september in a snowstorm and 0 degree temps in Wyoming. The plasma wasn't quite enough. But I would save money and weight keeping the plasma and throwing an enigma inside it for winter hunts. Still sale the helium. Thanks.