Best Synthetic Bag/Quilt For Dall Sheep Hunt

[Newbie Sheep Hunter]

I’m going on a dall sheep hunt this August and looking for the best sleep system for the hunt. It will be my first backpack hunt. I have a down allergy, so will need to go synthetic. I’m a side sleeper. Obviously prefer something as light as possible, within reason. I want the best system and am not worried about cost.

Zenbivy seems to get a lot of love on these forums and I see they just came out with a 25 degree synthetic option. Is that the way to go? Would the 25 work for late August in Alaska? And if the Zen, just buy the quilt and sheet or get the whole zen combo?

Any others I should consider?

 

[wind gypsy]

This is what I had put together for that application. Hard to beat for a warmth : weight in a synthetic bag. Haven't tried to move it real hard, just made that post and let it slide to the depth of the classifieds..

WTS Thread 'Nunatak Custom UL 20deg Synthetic Sleeping bag'

Oct 31, 2024

This is a 7.5 ounce apex insulated bag i had designed to be a extended wet weather type hunts bag without being a big weight penalty for synthetic. I have slept in it for 15 nights at most, basically one dall sheep hunt and a few nights of backpacking to try it out before said hunt. Cut was spec'd to mimic my beloved standard 6' WM alpinlite but id say it's a little tighter from thighs to calf. Selling because I'm a shell of my former self and dont see extended backpack hunts in my immediate future.

This is an old post i found to give a background of my intent and contrasted...

• wind gypsy
• Replies: 1
• Forum: Rokslide Classifieds

 

[ethan.s.miles]

I’m going on a dall sheep hunt this August and looking for the best sleep system for the hunt. It will be my first backpack hunt. I have a down allergy, so will need to go synthetic. I’m a side sleeper. Obviously prefer something as light as possible, within reason. I want the best system and am not worried about cost.

Zenbivy seems to get a lot of love on these forums and I see they just came out with a 25 degree synthetic option. Is that the way to go? Would the 25 work for late August in Alaska? And if the Zen, just buy the quilt and sheet or get the whole zen combo?

Any others I should consider?

Enigma APEX Custom Sleeping Quilt

An Ultralight Minimalist Backpacking Quilt to save weight and sleep more comfortable in the outdoors.

enlightenedequipment.com

Don't get turned off by the price, this thing is top notch. the synthetic fill is the gold standard for synthetic. And great when looking for lightweight options.
Another option would be they hyperlite mountain gear quilt

 

[Newbie Sheep Hunter]

Enigma APEX Custom Sleeping Quilt

An Ultralight Minimalist Backpacking Quilt to save weight and sleep more comfortable in the outdoors.

enlightenedequipment.com

Don't get turned off by the price, this thing is top notch. the synthetic fill is the gold standard for synthetic. And great when looking for lightweight options.
Another option would be they hyperlite mountain gear quilt

When you said to not get turned off by the price I thought you meant because it was going to be really expensive, so I was surprised to see how cheap it was. Seems like a great option. Thanks!

 

[mtwarden]

I've owned a couple of EE quilts (down and syn)—they make good products (still own one of their Apex jackets/pants).

I currently own several Mountain Laurel Design Apex quilts—they also make a nice quilt. Their warmest is only 28° which may or may not be warm enough. I almost always bring an Apex jacket/pants/booties on most of my backpack hunts, which extends the range another ~ 10*

https://mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/quilts/

 

[medvedyt]

I’m going on a dall sheep hunt this August and looking for the best sleep system for the hunt. It will be my first backpack hunt. I have a down allergy, so will need to go synthetic. I’m a side sleeper. Obviously prefer something as light as possible, within reason. I want the best system and am not worried about cost.

Zenbivy seems to get a lot of love on these forums and I see they just came out with a 25 degree synthetic option. Is that the way to go? Would the 25 work for late August in Alaska? And if the Zen, just buy the quilt and sheet or get the whole zen combo?

Any others I should consider?

do not know your mountains but i used for years a mountain hardwear lamina 0f or -18c and never been cold.

again it was in the yukon so your experience may vary and good luck.

preparing the hunt is part of it enjoy.

 

[Newbie Sheep Hunter]

I've owned a couple of EE quilts (down and syn)—they make good products (still own one of their Apex jackets/pants).

I currently own several Mountain Laurel Design Apex quilts—they also make a nice quilt. Their warmest is only 28° which may or may not be warm enough. I almost always bring an Apex jacket/pants/booties on most of my backpack hunts, which extends the range another ~ 10*

https://mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/quilts/

I'll check these out. Thanks!

 

[bpatterson]

I have 2 EE quilts, and the apex really needs a lot of space in your bag compared to the down! But I understand there are some advantages, just account for that volume!

 

[Newbie Sheep Hunter]

I have 2 EE quilts, and the apex really needs a lot of space in your bag compared to the down! But I understand there are some advantages, just account for that volume!

Good to know. Thanks!

 

[mad_angler]

I have a down and a synthetic EE quilt. They are both awesome. I would highly recommend them.

I don't know what weather you will face. But I assume that you will have a have a puffy coat with you. If you also add puffy pants, you will certainly be warm enough in the quilt. And you'll have the puffy pants for glassing or other times when you might get cold.

 

[Macchina]

I’m going on a dall sheep hunt this August and looking for the best sleep system for the hunt. It will be my first backpack hunt. I have a down allergy, so will need to go synthetic. I’m a side sleeper. Obviously prefer something as light as possible, within reason. I want the best system and am not worried about cost.

Zenbivy seems to get a lot of love on these forums and I see they just came out with a 25 degree synthetic option. Is that the way to go? Would the 25 work for late August in Alaska? And if the Zen, just buy the quilt and sheet or get the whole zen combo?

Any others I should consider?

Are you certain you have a down allergy (feather protein allergy) and not an allergy to dust, mold, and/or dust mites? This is a common mis-diagnosis. Many people are actually allergic to the flora that are found in older worn down pillows and bedding and not the down/feathers themselves. I have a bit of this with older pillows but am 100% unaffected by premium down quilts and sleeping bags. The high fill downs tend to much more filtered and sorted than cheap down pillows that contain a lot more feathers and trash from the defeathering process. The issue for most people with this allergy is the proteins in feather quills which down lacks and pure (cleaned) down found in premium outdoor products can actually be hypoallergenic for people with feather protein allergies.

If at all possible, Down is going to be far superior to any synthetic product when actually backpacking. For base camp synthetics work great, but their packability for low temp sleeping solutions is usually 4 times plus as big as a down equivalent. I find it actually impossible to pack for more than a week with synthetics if the temps are anywhere near freezing (my synthetic sleeping bag and synthetic puffy take up more than half of my pack volume, leaving little room for layers and the additional food required for cold-temp backpacking).

If you have a diagnosed feather protein allergy then I would highly recommend looking at the Revelation Apex Quilt: https://enlightenedequipment.com/revelation-apex/
Apex synthetic insulation is revolutionary and though still not as efficient as down, it is amazing for synthetic. These are popular quilts in the hammocking community for anyone looking for synthetic.