Is quilt my best option

[cmeier117]

I just got a Sierra Designs Dri down Zizzou 12 degree a month ago or so. I have used it once so take that for what it is worth. It seems to loft quite a bit more than my Montbell UL Super spiral down hugger 15 degree. It retails for $ 270. I know Aron recommended it for a budget bag in the last Extreme Elk issue. If you can find a used Montbell or one on sale that would be my first choice however.

 

[TheRambler]

I use quilts year round. From temps of -26F to 70F+, with absolutely zero issues and I have been using them for several years now and have been in about every kind of weather you can imagine. Its a proven and reliable system for me. I use them in a hammock system primarily, but have used them on the ground quite a many times as well.

No offense Aron, but why did you "think you were going to die" during bad weather because you had a quilt. Did it get wet or something? I don't understand how that would be any different than a sleeping bag. The insulation on the bottom of a sleeping bag is compressed when your in it and is for all intensive purposes useless. As long as you have a quilt or sleeping bag rated for the appropiate temperatures expected then you should be fine. As long as you also have a properly rated sleeping pad for the conditions as well.

If your really worried about getting your down quilt wet then get a synthetic one, thats the same as with a sleeping bag too.

Granted, quilts are not for everyone. But they are not any less "bomb proof" or any less effective than a sleeping bag. Any of the decent quilts out there on the market all are very wide and have a closure around the neck/shoulders and a footbox. This allows you to tuck the quilt around you/under you so then the only thing left exposed is your head. So really the only difference between the two for all practical purposes is the lack of a hood. The lack of a hood should not put you in any dangerous positions....just wear a beanie if your cold.

The only real downside to a quilt that I can see is that if you toss and turn alot in your sleep then you may want to stick with a sleeping bag.

Three years of use so far with my 0F quilt and a 40F quilt. I have been down to -26F taking some other steps to boost my bags performance such as wearing a down coat and pants etc. I have been in all manners of snow storms, thunderstorms, mist, drizzle, fog, squelchering heat and humidity, torrential down pours, high winds you name it. Never once did I say to myself "Ahh crap, i should have brought a sleeping bag"

Get whichever you prefer, but all this doom and gloom about quilts are somehow not as good or effective as a sleeping bag is GARBAGE. They don't work out great for everyone, mainly this boils down to a personal preference thing and not because the quilt isnt working as intended, usually its because they move alot in their sleep.

 

[Aron Snyder]

If you'll notice, I have a beside the die part, so I was being funny. I guess I should make sure and explain myself better. So I don't think I would've kicked the bucket that night, but I did do a lot of push ups to keep my body heat going. The problem that night was simple; I was pushing the limits of the quilt, but that's no different than what I do with a sleeping bag. The problem with the quilt? I couldn't button everything up like a do a sleeping bag....so I wasn't getting everything I could out of the system.

Here's a couple reasons I don't like a quilt as much as a sleeping bag.

You gain no heat from above your shoulders inside a quilt

Unless you're in a bivy, the wind will play hell on a quilt

If you roll to much, you'll get gaps in the system and you'll loose heat QUICKLY through those gaps

That doesn't mean I would never use a quilt again, as I think they are great at times, but again, I would never use one on a late season hunt. I like the fact that a sleeping bag has a draw cord that allows me to keep ALL BODY HEAT trapped inside....including head heat.

You can freeze just as easy in a sleeping bag when pushing the temp rating, but I've tested both 20 degree sleeping bags and 20 degree quilts, and there's no way the quilt keeps you as warm in the same temp.

So I will say again, THE SAFE BET IS A GOOD SLEEPING BAG, and I don't see how you could argue that!?

 

[cmeier117]

You can freeze just as easy in a sleeping bag when pushing the temp rating, but I've tested both 20 degree sleeping bags and 20 degree quilts, and there's no way the quilt keeps you as warm in the same temp.

So I will say again, THE SAFE BET IS A GOOD SLEEPING BAG, and I don't see how you could argue that!?

I agree with this 100%.

 

[Aron Snyder]

WOW...you quilt guys get serious No need to PM me about them!

Like I mentioned several times already! There's nothing wrong with a quilt, but it's not the safe bet IMO. You'll be fine most of the time, but having the option of sucking everything over your head, and keeping more heat inside is going to give the upper hand to a sleeping bag.

These are my opinions that are formed by my experiences ......results may differ from person to person.

 

[Floorguy]

WOW...you quilt guys get serious No need to PM me about them!

Like I mentioned several times already! There's nothing wrong with a quilt, but it's not the safe bet IMO. You'll be fine most of the time, but having the option of sucking everything over your head, and keeping more heat inside is going to give the upper hand to a sleeping bag.

These are my opinions that are formed by my experiences ......results may differ from person to person.

Really wish you would start letting everybody know what your opinions are instead of making everything you type come off as gospel

So I take it that you prefer not only sleeping bags but bags with hoods.

 

[fillthefreezer]

Really wish you would start letting everybody know what your opinions are instead of making everything you type come off as gospel

So I take it that you prefer not only sleeping bags but bags with hoods.

careful, smiley or winky face is no longer sufficient evidence youre not being totally serious

 

[littlebuf]

you can find just as many examples/testimonials that quilts are superior as you can bags are superior. I don't let any one persons experience with any piece of gear make my mind up (even if it is his holiness Aaron Snyder) if your really interested in a piece of gear quilt or what ever, get one, try it, form own opinion. odds are your not going to die doing this. but I suppose anything's possible.

pretty sure I forgot some smileys in there somewhere, feel free to add them anywhere your offended

 

[Aron Snyder]

We need a really hairy smiley face for littlebuf I already have a bald one.

If you use common sense, I hooded sleeping bag will always out perform a quilt (with everything being equal). There's no real way around it.

If you take a 20 degree sleeping bag with a hood and compare it to a 20 degree quilt, the quilt will be lighter, but the bag will keep you warmer.

If you start breaking things down mathematically, the quilt will still loose, as it has no hood to help retain heat.

This isn't saying quilts are bad (just making sure everyone is getting that point), but a 900 fll sleeping bag (with hood) is going to kick the crap out of a 900 fill quilt in a survival competition. ....... unless your littlebuf, as he can sleep naked with all the shoulder hair!

 

[ScottR_EHJ]

Here is my opinion on the quilt thing, and as to why I am going to try one this season....

-Most of the time I sleep with my downbag open, especially if its going to get warm at all. Like a quilt already.
-I have had the occasional draft, but I sleep cold anyway and it's usually a pretty easy fix.
-I'm a pretty tall guy, so it's pretty hard to get stretched out at all when the bag is zipped up. Usually a better solution for to have it open then I can lay a bit more sprawled out without waking up to my arms fallen asleep.

 

[TheRambler]

Unless you are freakishly tall most people could pull a quilt over their head and cinch it closed. I do this with my winter quilt sometimes.

I think the safe bet is a properly rated quilt or bag for the conditions. As long as you understand the inherent flaws of a quilt then they are easy to deal with no matter the conditions. Their big flaw is they can be drafty if not properly tucked in or if the user tosses and turns a lot, that's it. Doesn't make a quilt any less safe than a sleeping bag. Use your gear correctly no matter what it is and you can depend upon it when you need it.

 

[Aron Snyder]

Yep, you could pull the quilt over your head, but a guy my size can have issues with the quilt separating with the sleeping pad when doing this. When I would curl up in the fettle position, I would get gaps between the pad and quilt, allowing much needed heat to escape. I could have ordered a longer quilt I guess, but I ordered a sleeping bag and that fixed everything.

We may as well make this informational, so I figured that was worth mentioning.

 

[luke moffat]

Yep, you could pull the quilt over your head, but a guy my size can have issues with the quilt separating with the sleeping pad when doing this. When I would curl up in the fettle position, I would get gaps between the pad and quilt, allowing much needed heat to escape. I could have ordered a longer quilt I guess, but I ordered a sleeping bag and that fixed everything.

We may as well make this informational, so I figured that was worth mentioning.

Oh the one perk of being a smallish guy....of course I can't pack as much weight either, but atleast a full size quilt is more like a down comforter right? I can see where being of normal height 6' or so and having broad shoulders is where guys would have trouble. Being as I am pretty slight frame overall a standard quilt is just fine. Again there are poistives and negatives for both, and late season I'll back to a sleeping bag no doubt. But early season I'll save the weight when I can.

 

[littlebuf]

Oh the one perk of being a smallish guy....of course I can't pack as much weight either, but atleast a full size quilt is more like a down comforter right? I can see where being of normal height 6' or so and having broad shoulders is where guys would have trouble. Being as I am pretty slight frame overall a standard quilt is just fine. Again there are poistives and negatives for both, and late season I'll back to a sleeping bag no doubt. But early season I'll save the weight when I can.

actually its one of the better features of the EE quilts. the guy that owns and designs all the quilts for enlightened equipment is a big guy. if I remember right he's over 6'5" and up around 300#. big dude. so he knows when a big guy (like myself) orders a long wide that's just what he's expecting to get. I can easily pull my rev x over my head and with the pad attachments I can roll around all over in that thing and it keeps tucked around me. at 6'5" 250 myself that's pretty good. again, if your interested in a piece of gear try it, order appropriate sizes and ratings and form your own opinions. I think Aaron probably orders smaller stuff to make himself feel real big and make up for the fact that he hasn't hit puberty yet (obviously jealous of body hair for some reason ,weird) its ok buddy keep showing little guys your one real tough looking picture on the internet, that self esteem will build (lack of smily since im not sure the appropriate one to use)

 

[luke moffat]

I ordered a reg width and reg length, seems to fit me pretty well but I'm only 5'9 and 160 lbs. I have tried it and I do like them. But not for cold seasons. I cant' see myself using a quilt on snowshoeing trips and what not where it might get -20 or colder overnight. Nah I'll stick to a bag for those times. Granted its a lot heavier, but when temps are that cold I prefer a full seal over the quilt/pad sealing combo. Like I said its a great option certainly not the end all be all though.

 

[fillthefreezer]

I ordered a reg width and reg length, seems to fit me pretty well but I'm only 5'9 and 160 lbs. I have tried it and I do like them. But not for cold seasons. I cant' see myself using a quilt on snowshoeing trips and what not where it might get -20 or colder overnight. Nah I'll stick to a bag for those times. Granted its a lot heavier, but when temps are that cold I prefer a full seal over the quilt/pad sealing combo. Like I said its a great option certainly not the end all be all though.

so snowshoeing and -20 are out, how would you feel taking one sheep hunting?

 

[Aron Snyder]

You've chosen to embrace it, I've chosen to shave it

Back to the actual thread..... Have you even gotten 10 nights in that quilt yet? Just curious......

actually its one of the better features of the EE quilts. the guy that owns and designs all the quilts for enlightened equipment is a big guy. if I remember right he's over 6'5" and up around 300#. big dude. so he knows when a big guy (like myself) orders a long wide that's just what he's expecting to get. I can easily pull my rev x over my head and with the pad attachments I can roll around all over in that thing and it keeps tucked around me. at 6'5" 250 myself that's pretty good. again, if your interested in a piece of gear try it, order appropriate sizes and ratings and form your own opinions. I think Aaron probably orders smaller stuff to make himself feel real big and make up for the fact that he hasn't hit puberty yet (obviously jealous of body hair for some reason ,weird) its ok buddy keep showing little guys your one real tough looking picture on the internet, that self esteem will build (lack of smily since im not sure the appropriate one to use)

 

[littlebuf]

Not yet but you'll notice I'm not endorcing it either. I'm endorsing making up your own mind based on personal experience. Not Internet posts from guys you don't know that's all seems like a reasonable stance to me.....

 

[Aron Snyder]

I was asking for a reason..... to get your thoughts so far...that's it.

 

[trk3263]

Most I have done was 6 nights under a quilt. I really think it is one of those things you need to figure out what works best for the user.