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Quilts
Apr 7, 2018 18:07:16 GMT -8
Post by johntpenca on Apr 7, 2018 18:07:16 GMT -8
As a separate thread related to my hot & humid thread, I'm curious about quilts. I know a lot of folks here use one. Likes/dislikes over a regular sleeping bag? I usually always carry a WM Apache in the sierra and use it unzipped quite a bit, so think I know what I'm getting into. Is there a particular pad that is more comfortable to the skin and works with the quilt straps than others? Is Enlightend Equipment the way to go and who are their competitors?
edit: I notice the EE Convert uses vertical baffles. I know I could call them, but do any of you know if there is something that keeps the down from settling at the top or bottom of the quilt (i.e., internal mesh baffling)?
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Post by JRinGeorgia on Apr 7, 2018 20:41:14 GMT -8
Likes: lighter weight, packs smaller, more room inside (not constricted like a mummy bag can be), more like sleeping in your bed at home because you are more "under" the quilt rather than "in" a sleeping bag.
Dislikes: potential for drafts (though if you get it set up right this shouldn't happen), and as you allude to in your follow-up question: in warm weather where you may only sleep in your underwear your bare skin is directly in contact with your sleeping pad, which most doesn't have a good "next to skin" feel. Some dislike that a quilt has no hood, but that's not an issue for me.
EE has great products at a good price. Others are Jacks R Better, Underground Quilts, Hammock Gear, Nunatak, and Zpacks, plus some of the more mainstream manufacturers have introduced either a quilt or a more bed-like bag into their line-up.
In vertical baffles there is no baffle wall that runs horizontally, but it's not necessary because the down doesn't move vertically very much on its own. I have had issues with horizontal baffles that allow the down to move to the sides, which your body can do just from tossing and turning and leave little insulation covering you, but your body movements don't do much to move the down vertically. In addition, the vertical baffle design that EE uses on its "true" quilts stops short of extending all the way down to the footbox, which gives the down less room to move within the baffles and thus stays in place pretty well on its own (however, the baffles on the Convert do in fact run vertically all the way to the end of the footbox).
If you're wearing a baselayer you won't feel the pad against your skin. In hot sticky weather you can use an old t-shirt to slip over the pad for a soft layer next to your skin.
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rebeccad
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Quilts
Apr 7, 2018 21:54:10 GMT -8
Post by rebeccad on Apr 7, 2018 21:54:10 GMT -8
JR summed it up pretty well. We ended up buying from EE (the Revolution, 20-degrees) because they seemed to have the best warmth/weight/price ratio for what we wanted. Haven't really tested with cold weather yet, but I bought a down hood that will probably just replace my fleece hat and add that extra when needed. So far I haven't used the straps, though my husband has--he sleeps colder than I do these days, and my #1 love about the quilt is the ease of switching from all bundled up to massive ventilation. When it does get chill, the biggest negative is that there is a greater "fuss factor" for keeping the drafts out than you'll have with a bag, but for a side sleeper, that is more than compensated by the fact that I can curl up without stretching the bag over my backside and compressing all the down.
We mostly encounter hot weather while car camping, and for that, we carry a regular cotton bedsheet that covers both of our pads together and gives a much nicer sleeping surface. In colder weather, as JR notes, the long baselayers keep me off my pad.
Oh, and the straps are fully adjustable, so they'll work on pretty much any pad (might be a problem on some of the super-wide basecamp pads, but they work fine on the ultra-skimpy NeoAir pads we have).
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Apr 8, 2018 7:03:11 GMT -8
I use an UnderGroundQuilt and have for several years now. I sleep on a NeoAir mattress. In my warm weather camping, I wear shorts and a synthetic T to bed. That is all I need to keep me off the pad. A cotton T would work in truly warm weather.
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Post by trinity on Apr 8, 2018 14:49:14 GMT -8
I have quilts from Jacks R Better, Enlightened Equipment, and Underground Quilts. All are top notch (I slept last night enclosed in my EE topquilt and UGQ underquilt). When camping in hot weather, one thing that I find very useful is a silk sleeping bag liner. It provides a layer of comfort between me and my pad/topquilt, takes up very little space in my pack, and is cooler than wearing baselayers. In very warm weather, I just sleep in the liner, and add my JRB Shenandoah as needed.
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tomas
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Quilts
Apr 9, 2018 4:36:55 GMT -8
Post by tomas on Apr 9, 2018 4:36:55 GMT -8
How are quilts for cold winter backpacking?
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swmtnbackpacker
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Apr 9, 2018 4:58:11 GMT -8
How are quilts for cold winter backpacking? Quilts are a bit more drafty than bags, so the advice tends to be having a 15- 20°F limit and going back to sleeping bags lower than that. I have a 30°F EE Enigma (water-resistant down) with water-resistant bivy but thinking about adding a 15°F Katabatic. If I ever go to 0°F it'll be a WM, FF, or Montbell stretch sleeping bag, though.
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Post by joevogel on Apr 9, 2018 13:41:45 GMT -8
I have a UGQ Bandit Quilt. In my opinion it is as good if not better than an enlightened equipment. And slightly more affordable. Really excellent quality and very warm for a 30 degree quilt. 17oz total. I really like it because if I get too warm i can let is get a little drafty and if I am cold I can strap it down to my pad and cinch the neck down to keep me nice and toasty. I also usually sleep in my clothes so I don't really care what my sleeping pad is made out of.
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Quilts
Apr 9, 2018 15:16:48 GMT -8
Post by johntpenca on Apr 9, 2018 15:16:48 GMT -8
After doing a bit of research I like the loco libre gear ghost pepper because of the chevron baffles, but the lead times are too looooong for my needs. Bummer. Thinking about getting something semi-disposable for the near time and ordering one. www.locolibregear.com/gear.html#!/Ghost-Pepper-Topquilts/c/16557534/offset=0&sort=normal For those interested in quilts, I came across this review from Section Hiker sectionhiker.com/sectionhiker-gear-guide/10-best-ultralight-backpacking-quilts/edit: I couldn't resist any more and ordered a 40 oF loco libre quilt: Size: 75" - STANDARD width 900 fill power goose down Outer Shell Color: Deep Purple Argon 90 Inner Shell Color: Brilliant Blue Argon 67 Outer Stitching Color: Orange Inner Stitching Color: Purple Neck Draft Collar: Yes Taper: 5" Full Taper Foot Box Style: Snap/Drawcord Extra Down: 2 ounces 900 goose down Dee Ring Pad Attachments: Yes $326 w/ shipping Lead time: 8-9 weeks YIKES!!
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Quilts
Apr 9, 2018 17:23:40 GMT -8
Post by trinity on Apr 9, 2018 17:23:40 GMT -8
Dang, that really is a long wait! Never seen one, but Loco Libre quilts are very well regarded over on hammockforums.net. I'm sure you'll be very happy with your purchase.
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Quilts
Jul 17, 2018 15:22:58 GMT -8
Post by johntpenca on Jul 17, 2018 15:22:58 GMT -8
Received the Loco Libre quilt. I'll post up a few pics when I can. Craftsmanship is excellent. I switched gears and went to a 10F design from the 40F originally ordered. Came in at just over $400. Figured I could use any cheap bag in 40F+ temps and decided to lighten my winter weight.
A couple of concerns:
1) ordered it with 2 oz overfill in the torso. The torso area doesn't feel any more dense than the rest of the quilt, so wonder if the overfill wasn't added. Gonna call to verify. Haven't put a ruler to it but it looks like 3" loft.
2) loco libre rates this at 10F w/3" loft (900 FP goose down). Cross referencing with Western Mountaineering, seems a more accurate rating would be 15-20F.
ETA: as it is it will suit most of my needs here in the southern winter, but would hesitate to take it into true winter 10F conditions without adding a puffy jacket, which I would be carrying anyway. But not fond of the constraints of wearing a jacket to sleep in and adding night sleeping moisture to my puffy.
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tigger
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Quilts
Jul 17, 2018 16:14:08 GMT -8
Post by tigger on Jul 17, 2018 16:14:08 GMT -8
I have had no problem with my 0 degree EE Revelation quilt in real winter conditions, but coming up with a method for keeping the neckline sealed up well took a bit of practice. I use the hood of my winter parka on my head while tucking it around my shoulders to ensure no drafts. It's worked just fine for me. Good luck with your setup.
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Quilts
Jul 19, 2018 8:44:17 GMT -8
Post by johntpenca on Jul 19, 2018 8:44:17 GMT -8
I have had no problem with my 0 degree EE Revelation quilt in real winter conditions, but coming up with a method for keeping the neckline sealed up well took a bit of practice. I use the hood of my winter parka on my head while tucking it around my shoulders to ensure no drafts. It's worked just fine for me. Good luck with your setup. The Loco Libre quilt has a cinch cord at the top to close at the top of the shoulders. Won't work the same as a hooded bag. As you state, I plan to use the removable hood on my puffy combined with a fleece neck gaiter. Which I figure is in line with your EE quilt. What is the loft of your 0F EE quilt?
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tigger
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Quilts
Jul 19, 2018 9:20:54 GMT -8
Post by tigger on Jul 19, 2018 9:20:54 GMT -8
What is the loft of your 0F EE quilt? 4 inches.
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Post by johntpenca on Jul 19, 2018 9:42:43 GMT -8
Thanks. Pretty much what I thought. I think 3.5" loft would get my quilt to 10F. At 3" it seems over-rated for 10F. But I knew that when I bought it, which is why the overfill was ordered.
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