Climashield Apex quilts

Joined
Dec 17, 2019
Messages
307
Thinking about getting a quilt made with Apex insulation - either buying one of doing a MYOG project. VIAM outdoors looks good, as does Enlightened Equipment.

It looks like the widest option available with Apex quilts is 58" due to the way Apex insulation is manufactured and sold. I've been thinking I'd get as long and wide of a quilt as I could find, but I'm worried it might not be wide enough. For those of you who have used these quilts, how did you feel about the width? And any other thoughts about the options out there for Apex quilts?
 

Drenalin

MKR
Joined
Nov 15, 2018
Messages
3,016
I had an EE Apex quilt a few years ago. I believe theirs are 58" wide, which was plenty for me at 6' 220 lbs. I believe several manufacturers of down quilts top out at 55" for their wide versions. If I were in the market for another Apex quilt, I'd check out Simply Light Designs. I haven't used one of his quilts, but other items I've bought there have been very well done.
 
Joined
Apr 5, 2015
Messages
5,944
I have an EE convert. I think they bill it as 70” at the shoulder. Their dimensions are “prefill” blank so they shrink a little for the final product. It is a solid piece of kit and plenty wide enough for me and my “husky” 50” shoulders.
 
Joined
Aug 10, 2015
Messages
2,695
I made an apex quilt several years ago. I have used it a bunch.

I am about 5'8" 200lb. It's definitely on the narrow side and will end up exposing you to cold spots/drafting.

The loft has diminished significantly over time. It used to be something I felt was good to about 20°, it's more like 35° now.

Early season it's good or with puffy pants/jacket, and I will take it in my pack for late season day hunts.

I forget what the weights are but I also bought a section of their "0°" weight. It would be hugely bulky to build the same quilt. So that's probably more of a base camp/truck setup.

Shoot me a pm if you want. I have several feet of the heavyweight apex and taffeta nylon (I think it's HyperD 15?) in olive and coyote. I ordered from ripstop by the roll, but never made the second quilt.
 
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
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5,215
Location
Colorado
I also have an EE Convert with the apex insulation. I haven’t had any issues with it so far. If I had the ability to sew one, i definitely give it a go.
 
OP
D
Joined
Dec 17, 2019
Messages
307
I have an EE convert. I think they bill it as 70” at the shoulder. Their dimensions are “prefill” blank so they shrink a little for the final product. It is a solid piece of kit and plenty wide enough for me and my “husky” 50” shoulders.
I wasn't aware of the convert - definitely the widest apex quilt i'm aware of. Thanks for the info.
 
Joined
Jan 19, 2019
Messages
345
I wish I could convince Wiggy's to make a quilt along the lines of an EE Revelation or the Viam product. It would be heavy as sin, but lighter than their sleeping bags. My Wiggy bags have retained their loft better than the Apex insulated products I have. I'm not sure what variant of Climashield he uses but I'm fairly certain it isn't Apex.
 

Lando

WKR
Joined
Jun 5, 2018
Messages
378
Location
Arizona
I think Wiggy puts some kind of silicone on his climashield to make it lamilite, but not exactly sure of the process.
 
Joined
Sep 25, 2024
Messages
10
Thinking about getting a quilt made with Apex insulation - either buying one of doing a MYOG project. VIAM outdoors looks good, as does Enlightened Equipment.

It looks like the widest option available with Apex quilts is 58" due to the way Apex insulation is manufactured and sold. I've been thinking I'd get as long and wide of a quilt as I could find, but I'm worried it might not be wide enough. For those of you who have used these quilts, how did you feel about the width? And any other thoughts about the options out there for Apex quilts?
I order the xl xw and at 6’ 2" it’s a tad too long but just fine for side sleeping. If I wanted a tighter fit I could go with a wide but I usually am wearing puffy layers
 
Joined
Aug 23, 2014
Messages
5,383
Location
oregon coast
The loft has diminished significantly over time. It used to be something I felt was good to about 20°, it's more like 35° now.
This is worth restating, I have a bag with it, and I have experienced the same thing. It has lost a lot of loft, and I have never stored it compressed

Still a very useful bag to me, but for warmer hunts now. When it was new I used it down to the low 20’s and it was excellent, couple years later, I got pretty cold on a 31 degree night and had to put a puffy on to sleep well

I will still use it, but added a chilkoot 15 to my arsenal for any camping that will get below 40 at night

I know apex is one of the better synthetic insulation, but does lose a lot of loft fairly quickly
 
Joined
Oct 10, 2024
Messages
4
I am looking to make my own quilt here soon. Do you have any suggestions for what weight (synthetic insulation) to use on a roughly 20-degree quilt? I am probably going to use Climasheild apex.
 
Joined
Apr 5, 2015
Messages
5,944
I am looking to make my own quilt here soon. Do you have any suggestions for what weight (synthetic insulation) to use on a roughly 20-degree quilt? I am probably going to use Climasheild apex.
The DIY thread may have a better answer.

One thought, go to the EE site and you can back into how much Apex fill they are using in their quilts based on weights of the different models on the custom quilt page.
 

kylem

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 30, 2016
Messages
171
Location
North Idaho
I am looking to make my own quilt here soon. Do you have any suggestions for what weight (synthetic insulation) to use on a roughly 20-degree quilt? I am probably going to use Climasheild apex.
I used 5oz and it’s worked well for me. I’d say when new it was a solid 20 degree quilt for me, but I’ve taken it much colder than that by adding clothes and puffy layers. It’s not as warm now as it was when new, but that’s to be expected with any synthetic with 5+ years of hard use.
 

nnmarcher

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jun 11, 2019
Messages
226
I am looking to make my own quilt here soon. Do you have any suggestions for what weight (synthetic insulation) to use on a roughly 20-degree quilt? I am probably going to use Climasheild apex.


I think the DIY forum has a few examples. RSBTR has a lot of quilt examples too.
 
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