Most versatile quilt?

jg556

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Want to get a biryhday present for my wife. She likes hammock camping and want to get her a quilt she can use, but also use it with a pad for normal camping. Any suggestions are appreciated. Price isnt really an issue.
 
I've used Enlightened Equipment, Katabatic, and El Coyote.

My first EE quilt was an Enigma with Apex synthetic insulation, which I won't be doing again. Quilt got noticeably colder somewhere between 30 and 40 nights, and washing didn't help bring it back. Then I learned this is pretty normal with synthetic quilts. The only other thing I didn't like about that quilt was the bulk when packed. The pad attachment was great, the size of the quilt was great, and the material was comfortable.

After that I went to a Katabatic Flex 30, which I used as low as 16 degrees. Great quilt, and a Katabatic Flex in whatever temp rating is appropriate would probably be my recommendation. I did find it to be just a shade to small in girth if I needed to layer up for sub freezing temps. It also always had kind of strange smell, even the first time I used it. I couldn't wash that away. I ended up moving on from this for a colder rated quilt.

Next was El Coyote, which was ultimately pretty disappointing for me. The footbox cinch wouldn't wouldn't hold for me through the night - moving around in my sleep, it would start to open up and let in drafts. No other complaints with it, but that was a big one. I think the cinch cord was just a little too UL for my use.

Now I've gone to a two quilt system, kind of. I keep a Kifaru Woobie for anything above about 40 degrees. And an EE enigma with down insulation for anything colder. After the El Coyote flop, I wanted a sewn footbox for cold trips. The EE is good to about 15 degrees (rated for 10 by them). I would probably have gone with a Katabatic with a sewn footbox here, but they didn't have what I wanted when I was ready to buy.

I'd be pretty confident with any of those three manufacturers, and you may also want to check out Zen Bivy.
 
I like the feathered friends one, can also zip it up to use like a bag if needed
 
Outdoor vitals makes quilt that are specificly made for Hammocks, Pretty much any quilt can work with ground pads as well, I dont own their gear but its supposed to be well made.

I have a zen bivy core quilt as well, they would be my pick.
 
I've been really happy with my Hammock Gear 20 degree quilt and just picked up a 40 degree version. I'd go with the wide version of ground sleeping is an option.
 
How about an Enlightened Equipment zero degree long/wide? I have one and it is great for the hammock, can be used with straps on a pad or cinched down into a bag, also great for napping on the couch or travel. Warm enough for cool weather and because it is a quilt, you can vent it in warmer weather.
 
VIAM Outdoors make a nice quilt. Me and my son have been using them for several years here in Alaska.
 
I have an Outdoor Vitals 10 degree that I really like but haven’t tried it in a hammock.
 
Quite a difference in top quilts for hammock sleeping and bottom quilts for ground pad. It gets a little tricky to combine the 2 into one.

You might consider one of each top/bottom and go with higher temp rating and combine the 2 quilts if you’re not venturing far from vehicle.

Katabatic, Hammock Gear, Zpacks are all good. EE has lots of mixed reviews in the backpacking world due to ratings consistency. But I would highly recommend checking out Gryphon Gear! Good luck.
 
I’ve been pretty happy with my EE convert quilts. I have two, one is down and one is synthetic. Both are 30° quilts. They can zip together and that’s handy for my use with a hammock. I put the synthetic on the bottom and have the down up top. I haven’t slept with it below 30° yet, but I think it’d work pretty well.
 
Another vote for the feathered friends quilt. The UL model is crazy light and so far has been plenty durable for me. Get the wide model if you want luxury.

I do like that it can zip up fully- I’ve never been one for using a pad inside of a sleep system, or having an “open back” bag/quilt.
 
Zenbivy has the light 10 degree quilt that has the footbox that can close up like a typical bag or let loose to be a normal rectangular quilt.

Using it without the footbox crimped up allows you to easily regulate temp but you can cinch it closed for cold nights.

I went with their whole system and have been really enjoying it. Sure beats the hell out of a normal bag.
 
Zenbivy has the light 10 degree quilt that has the footbox that can close up like a typical bag or let loose to be a normal rectangular quilt.

Using it without the footbox crimped up allows you to easily regulate temp but you can cinch it closed for cold nights.

I went with their whole system and have been really enjoying it. Sure beats the hell out of a normal bag.
Agree 100% on Zenbivy. Great sleeping systems but they are pricey.
 
What did you end up going with? I'm always up for a lil DIY
I got everything but the down from rsbtr. I don’t remember exactly what I used but I can find emails if you’re that interested. The down I got from allied down. 950 fill waterproof as I remember. For the quilt I just measured different sizes of a blanket at home and wrapped up in it til I found the right size for my shoulders. Then calculated the differential for the top piece of fabric to get maximum loft with minimal weight. For the amount of down, I just calculated how much I needed to get the loft I wanted in the quilt for it to be a true 20deg comfort rating. Then I added in 20% I think to make up for damp conditions, down deterioration over time, etc. The sheet covers my whole pad rather than half which is something I really wanted for comfort since I don’t like my skin on plastic. The attachment for the pad is like what big Agnes uses on their lost ranger. That gives me more flexibility to use different pads should I choose to do so. I also did the hood on the sheet differently. I sleep on my stomach so a big hood like zenbivy has wouldn’t be comfy and weighted more than it needed to. I just made a pocket in the sheet that I could slide my pillow into to keep from sliding around. I used the whole setup last spring on a week long bear hunt and loved it. I’ve never slept so well while camping before.
 
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