Synthetic quilts

lintond

WKR
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Mar 17, 2013
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I am looking for recommendations on a synthetic quilt. What brands are you guys using? I currently have an EE down quilt that I really like but have had issues with condensation making it lose loft. So I thought I'd give synthetic a try even if there is a weight penalty.

Looking for something in the 10-20 degree range.


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Arrowhead-equipment.com is a good value and they have a 10% off sale going on now. I'm not sure if they have pad straps or not as I use my quilts in a hammock and don't need the straps but the owner, Paul, is a good guy and will likely work with you if you need that feature.

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Primaloft 6.0 will give you the temperature range with the best compressibility and heat retention even when wet. I only use Primaloft in my woobies and quilts.

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I use an EE Prodigy 20* (now called the Revalation APEX). I have used it in the brooks range, and all the way down on the coast in Valdez. No problems with moisture, and I have stayed warm. 20* is the lowest option, and I would have gone lower if possible, but I am a cold sleeper. In the Brooks I kept my merino layers on and wore a beanie, that kept me good into the 20's. I strap it to an inflatable pad with an R value of 2.2 and then use a z lite under that for another 2.6 r value.
 
I am looking for recommendations on a synthetic quilt. What brands are you guys using? I currently have an EE down quilt that I really like but have had issues with condensation making it lose loft. So I thought I'd give synthetic a try even if there is a weight penalty.

Looking for something in the 10-20 degree range.


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I'm curious on what was giving you condensation issues?
 
I'm curious on what was giving you condensation issues?

Just throwing out one issue that might be causing it for him, location... he lives in Portland, on the wet coast. We lived up near Seattle for a few years, and the wet rainforest climate caused condensation on every family camping trip we took. We had more condensation issues in the PNW than in the Midwest humidity.
 
I'm curious on what was giving you condensation issues?

A couple thoughts on what is causing the condensation.

1) Too many wet farts at night. Darn chili mac MH.
2) Condensation from my tarp dropping onto me.
3) Bundling up inside the quilt and getting condensation from breathing.

I don't think it's a drastic problem and I'm going to keep my EE quilt but I'm looking to compare. Part of it is probably just winter getting to me.


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VIAM makes synthetic quilts and he gets them knocked out in a hurry
 
MLD makes some nice quilts (Spirit)- I think the lowest rated quilt is 28 though

as mentioned above EE also has a Apex line of quilts too
 
I've seen the "Down bag for everything" comments and I think if those guys spent a few nights in a row in a tent on the damp Alaska coast or the Pacific NW....they would change their tune. Heck, I've been on a pack in archery hunt where it rained and snowed for 4 straight days....the dampness just permeates everything.

Plus add to the fact you lose moisture at night and that moisture can accumulate in your sleeping bag. Syn insulation is much more versatile...with the only disadvantage being its a little bit heavier.
 
I've seen the "Down bag for everything" comments and I think if those guys spent a few nights in a row in a tent on the damp Alaska coast or the Pacific NW....they would change their tune. Heck, I've been on a pack in archery hunt where it rained and snowed for 4 straight days....the dampness just permeates everything.

Plus add to the fact you lose moisture at night and that moisture can accumulate in your sleeping bag. Syn insulation is much more versatile...with the only disadvantage being its a little bit heavier.
I've spent plenty of nights in damp Alaska with down. No real issues for me.

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I've seen the "Down bag for everything" comments and I think if those guys spent a few nights in a row in a tent on the damp Alaska coast or the Pacific NW....they would change their tune. Heck, I've been on a pack in archery hunt where it rained and snowed for 4 straight days....the dampness just permeates everything.

Plus add to the fact you lose moisture at night and that moisture can accumulate in your sleeping bag. Syn insulation is much more versatile...with the only disadvantage being its a little bit heavier.
Been using the same down bag for 5+ years. Used it for summiting and skiing in winter, sleeping in caves and tents. Used on several spring and fall rafting trips with rain everdya for 7 days during one trip. Also have used to sleep in truck ( tons of condensation) as well as most fall hunting trips.

Never had a single issue with my down bag.

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Well one thing you realize with these bags/sleep systems is the comments will vary wildly. Everyone is different, warm sleepers, cold sleepers and all of the other factors. I know I lose a lot of moisture when I sleep. One thing I would like to test someday is pack in an accurate scale to weigh my bag before and after as I know I've had trips where my bag is easily 1/2 pound or more heavier due to moisture buildup.

One trip to Wyoming a couple years ago we were packed in in archery season with rain and that thick fog then it snowed about 6" for 4 straight days. I could fell the dampness when getting into my bag- [syn]. My buddy was saying he froze his azz off that one night as his Cabelas XPG down bag looked like a wet quilt with about 1/2 the loft.

I learned the hard way decades ago that those cheap down bags [I had the Kelty] with the lower quality down are NOT the way to go. Its possible his cabelas whatever it is is the lower quality. Of course its always a good idea to air your bag out on a sunny day but for us on hunts being gone from dark to dark...that isn't always possible. Pitching your tent where it will get afternoon sun and hanging your bag inside the tent or at least elevating it works better than nuthin....
 
What kind of shelter were you in? To me, it sounds like you had a venting issue if you were accumulating that much moisture.

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If you lose a lot of moisture and the quilt is getting wet that way, one could use a vapor barrier inside. If drips, use a small piece of tyvec or sil nylon make a small nest section over you. I always pack a 6x9 sil nylon tarp anyway and when it's really wet out (which is 90% of the time in SE Ak), I tie it up over me in my sl5. The remainder goes underneath me so I don't worry about sliding off my pad and getting wet from the ground.
 
MLD makes some nice quilts (Spirit)- I think the lowest rated quilt is 28 though

as mentioned above EE also has a Apex line of quilts too

Ee is coming out with new synthetic quilt in march.. I hope they will release something in 0-10 degree range..


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I think Primaloft Gold might have a little higher warmth to weight ratio vs Apex; Apex is more resistant to compression- it's also a fair bit cheaper and easier to work with (no need for quilting)
 
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