Is quilt my best option

[FrankieP1988]

What's up guys,

I'm pretty set on ordering an ee rev x quilt tomorrow, but wanted to see if anyone could give me advice on other options, I plan on using it from archery season into possibly early November, I was thinking about getting a 20* or 30*. Is there a sleeping bag around the same price that would better suit my needs or is the quilt the way to go?

Thanks for all input!!

Frank

 

[Bonedalien]

glad you posted this, ive been realy interested in these too.

 

[Rick Leathley]

If you plan on using it into November I would go with the 20 degree model.

 

[Carolina joe]

I use a jacks r better 30 degree Sierra sniveler quilt . American made in Norfolk Virginia , it's an awesome quilt for the price considering its 800 fill down. They sell a fleece liner to use with it that would bring it down to around 20 degrees. They're great folks to deal with. I never could sleep comfortably in a bag, after going with a quilt I could not see going back to a bag.

 

[muleman]

In my experience with quilts you can easily dump the excess heat. Also, you should always plan on colder than average temperatures. A 20° would be / is my choice.

 

[Aron Snyder]

I'm not a quilt guy, but I sleep a little cold too.

I think they work well in normal conditions, but you could run into issues when the temps drop.

At one point, I was all amped up to use a quilt, so ordered it, tested it, and in the end, hunted with it. Everything was going great for the first part of the season, but I got stuck in some bad weather towards the end and thought I was going to die

I couldn't keep enough heat trapped inside the quilt and my body wasn't putting out much to begin with, so the result was about 300 push ups that night to keep warm.

This doesn't mean that this will happen to you, but be aware that a quilt isn't going to be the most "bomb proof" option you have.

 

[HellsCanyon]

I haven't any real experience with a quilt other than a few summer nights so far and I'm really looking forward to using it. Though honestly I don't do much backpacking past October but it can still be plenty cold at that time. Only more nights will tell.

Mike

 

[Rucker61]

Im with Aron on this one. If I get to warm then I just strip down or pull the bag apart to release hot air. I use http://www.westernmountaineering.co...cts&page=Sleeping-Bags&cat=ExtremeLite-Series

Best Bag you can buy or the money. They use high grade down and are extremely lightweight at 1lbs. I have the 35 degree bag and if its really cold I will throw on my puffy coat.

Im leaving in the AM for scouting trip all weekend it should be a good test as I will be staying up around 10500 to 11k elevation. If the temps are going to drop anywhere its up there.

=-)

We'll compare it to a Woobie and down coat combo.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Good point about the quilt not being as "safe" Aron.

This year I'm running a 30* quilt but I still plan to use a 15* mummy bag when hunting later in the season or if I think there is a chance for cold weather.

I think we all make compromises between safety/comfort and lighter weight. Everyone has to decide for themselves where the balance is.

 

[Aron Snyder]

Good point about the quilt not being as "safe" Aron.

This year I'm running a 30* quilt but I still plan to use a 15* mummy bag when hunting later in the season or if I think there is a chance for cold weather.

I think we all make compromises between safety/comfort and lighter weight. Everyone has to decide for themselves where the balance is.

I agree 100%!

 

[FrankieP1988]

thanks for the advice guys! Any other bag suggestions in the $200-$300 range?

 

[Aron Snyder]

Just bring a good sleep hat and be ready to sleep in your clothing (when needed).

 

[a3dhunter]

I'm not a quilt guy, but I sleep a little cold too.

I think they work well in normal conditions, but you could run into issues when the temps drop.

At one point, I was all amped up to use a quilt, so ordered it, tested it, and in the end, hunted with it. Everything was going great for the first part of the season, but I got stuck in some bad weather towards the end and thought I was going to die

I couldn't keep enough heat trapped inside the quilt and my body wasn't putting out much to begin with, so the result was about 300 push ups that night to keep warm.

This doesn't mean that this will happen to you, but be aware that a quilt isn't going to be the most "bomb proof" option you have.

Thanks for talking me out of a quilt!
If that's what it took to stay alive, I would be dead....I'll carry a heavier sleeping bag and KNOW I'm good with it.

 

[muleman]

Just bring a good sleep hat and be ready to sleep in your clothing (when needed).

Having a hat to sleep in like Aron said and having an appropriately insulated pad are the two things that get overlooked with quilts. If you don't take care of those you will definitely sleep cold when the temperature drops.

 

[luke moffat]

Granted my nights in a quilt are likely less than most of you as I am just over double digit nights in a quilt, so take that for what its worth. I am going more and more fond of them the more I use them. Becca and I still couple our pads together but now use quilts. I found my 20 degree EE Rev X kept me more than warm enough when things got below freezing so long as I had a good hat on. Which is normal for me as our WM sleeping bags don't have hoods anyways so we always slept in hats. For the weight if they work for you they are great, but like anything else just cause it works for one shmuck on here (myself) doesn't mean they'll work or be the best choice for you.

That said the last two nights we slept in the quilts we didnt' even know it was below freezing until I tried to put on my wet socks the following morning and realized the were stiffly frozen....the quilts worked great, but the donning the wet socks....well that only sucks for a few minutes while your feet are warming up that cold merino wool. Don't get me wrong there is a time and a place for sleeping bags obviously as I'm not selling mine anytime soon, but if temps are expected not to drop and stay down in the teens I'll go with the quilt since its more comfy, lighter, and roomy. But when the mercury drops or expected to stay low thats when the warmer down or syn bag comes out (depending on where the hunting locale is)

 

[Aron Snyder]

Yep, Luke and others are spot on!

It's a great tool (the quilt), but if you're looking for a "do all" type system, the guilt would not be my choice.

If you were looking at buying two systems, than getting a quilt and bag is a good move.

 

[fillthefreezer]

so to ask another question off this discussion, if a guy had a 20deg synthetic bag and wanted to get a down quilt in addition, what temp might one suggest?


ever since going to a qcore pad ive been using my bag like a blanket and not until about 3-4AM do i start tightening it up and wrapping it around me

 

[trk3263]

I would suggest not just a hat but something for your neck in the colder weather. A bacalava or neck gator for the colder nights.
The only opportunity I have had so far with my quilt in colder weather I kept getting a chill down my neck.
I like my quilt but it definitely takes some fine tuning to figure out your needs.
With that said I still plan to get a lower degree mummy for the colder weather.
My current quilt is a 28 degree synthetic.

 

[cmeier117]

I have used both the EE quilts along with Z-packs quilt last year. I sold the EE and feel the Z packs is a higher quality down (due to weight savings) and a better design. It is basically a sleeping bag with the hood cut off. The reason I mention this is I have had better luck trapping warm air inside the z packs than with the EE. I would recommend a down baklava if the temps are going to drop below 30 or so no matter what temp the quilt is. I have also found that a long (up to 6'6") is nice because I can fit it around my head if need be. I have not used them below 30 yet and they were both 20 degree temp, but a beanie for me down to low 30's was fine. I definitely haven't had a bad night like Aron and if I ever do, I would be hesitant to take the quilt over my Montbell. Only way to know if you like it is to give it a try, I would just recommend something warm to go around your head if you are expecting the temps to drop.

 

[FrankieP1988]

For those of you not using quilts, what bags do you recommend in my price range of $200-$300? I just want to make sure I make the right decision the first time

thanks again for the advice!!!