Synthetic Blanket Over Down

CiK01

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I am looking for a synthetic blanket to use over my down sleeping bag in colder weather situations that will help mitigate condensation build-up in the bag and keep it warmer. I have seen people recommend Woobies and Snugpak Jungle Blankets.

Does anybody have any input or general comments on the Kelty Bestie for that task? Its $25 vs the high dollar amount of most other solutions.

Thanks!!

Kelty Bestie

 
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Dec 16, 2014
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I have a couple Rivers West fleece blankets that are waterproof. Could work. I was considering using them under my hammock in lieu of a quilt. Just making a suggestion, not offering for sale
 

Luckyrxc

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Not exactly the answer you were looking for, but when car camping we put our quality down bags inside big rectangular inexpensive sleeping bags. It keeps the down bags dry, adds incredible warmth, and doesn’t require that all the zippers and openings be closed up tight. There’s an extra level of safety in having a double bag.
This is not a good solution if you need to carry the bag on your back but for car camping it’s hard to beat for comfort and price.
 
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Not the Kelty but I have used my kifaru woobie and a GI poncho liner as an over bag. They concept works Even with just draping it on top with like a quilt. Issue for me doing the bag within a bag is I am a bigger guy so a big bag. Over bag needs to be sufficient size to fit easily without compressing the down.
 

Team4LongGun

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This may fit the bill for what your after.

 
OP
CiK01

CiK01

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The Kelty blanket is $25. I was hoping it would fit the bill on cost alone.


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Krieg Hetzen

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For cost wise you could look at a poncho liner. They’re between $35-$50 with most retailers, nylon ripstop shell with poly fill, damn near bulletproof (I had the same one for 4 years while I was in and it still didn’t have holes in it). The one I bought last year has the strings for tying it to something on the corners and I believe mid length on each side. It’s light weight, dries fast and compresses very well. I love mine so much I bought a hoodie made out of the same material and that thing is amazing. I use mine when it’s not cold enough to zip up my down bag but not so warm you can have everything hanging out (Nemo Sonic 0 bag). Most of the ones I see are 80”x56”.
I can almost guarantee that the extra $10-$15 for the poncho liner is worth while. I haven’t tried the Kelty but a poncho liner is so versatile and light that I won’t leave the house without it. Point in fact I use it on my bed right now cause the down comforter thingy my wife bought is way too hot.
 

tent

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If it's cold, two sleeping bags. Usually just drape one over the other. Above 20° F I'll throw a fleece blanket from Target over my synthetic bag. Wear a good loose beanie and liner gloves to conserve body heat.
 

Lando

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I keep one in the trunk of my car for impromptu summer overnights and it would work perfectly for what you're thinking of and is very similar to the jungle blanket which I also own in warmth.
 
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CiK01

CiK01

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I keep one in the trunk of my car for impromptu summer overnights and it would work perfectly for what you're thinking of and is very similar to the jungle blanket which I also own in warmth.

Worth taking a shot on it. $20 now at REI.
 

Shraggs

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im also considering not only the 40 degree apex to layer over my down 20 degree revelation, but thinking the 950t in a 40 degree in down could still be a layer option...

its treated and much lighter, plus on the ground i would always be on pads and inside my bivy.

any thoughts on layering treated down quilts?
 

tdot

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I don't know the quilt you are referring to but if you are primarily using this to keep your down dry, then what you want is a synthetic quilt with some loft to it. The theory behind how the system works is you are moving the dew point away from your Down and into the synthetic. So a higher loft quilt will typically have a better chance of working. Thin quilts in my experience may not achieve what you're looking for as the dew point may still be within the Down or on the surface of the down, and so that is where the water will condense.

However. There are alot of variables to how these systems work, sometimes thin quilts can work.
 

*zap*

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A wiggys overbag would keep any down bag inside it dry. You could get a narrow one and unzip it so it could be used like a quilt with a foot box over the down bag......I have a narrow wiggys 'desert' overbag that I use that way over a down bag or without a down bag in milder temperatures. Its actually my daily nighttime blanket right now and has been since spring. I keep it unzipped, stick my feet in the footbox and its a quilt...I sleep in it like a dead man.
 

Shraggs

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My ground system is exterm, then my EE 20 degree 950t quilt with straps to pad then all goes in a bora bivy.

For cold, I’m thinking of second quilt instead of a warmer heavier -10 quilt.

I’m learning the condensation and why the synthetic is good if the dew point is inside tent and therefore not in down but in synthetic.

But talking with EE yesterday about apex quilt on top, one guy said he used a down treated if it’s cold and dry. So confusion.
 
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