March 6, 2020

Quilts

If you have read my "sleep systems" essay, you will know that quilts offer a number of advantages over sleeping bags. The biggest is that you can carry 2/3 of the weight and end up with the same amount of insulation on top of you. The second is that it is a lot more pleasant sleeping under a quilt than in a sleeping bag. You will particularly grasp this if you return to a sleeping bag after getting spoiled by a quilt.

I always carry a quilt now, and can't even remember the last time I slept backpacking in a sleeping bag. A quilt is ideal if you get into hammock camping.

Jack's R Better Rocky Mountain Sniveler Quilt

I have the long version, actually weighing 32 ounces. It is rated at 12 degrees, with 18 ounces of 800+ down. (This item "should" weight 29 ounces with an ounce of overstuff, but mine weighs 3 ounces more for some reason.

This is the first quilt I owned, and one that has served me well for many years. It is still serving me well. The current model is tapered at the foot end, which saves some weight. Mine is simple and rectangular. It has kept me warm and cozy down to 25F.

Mine weighs 32 ounces, with 18 ounces of 800+ down. It should weight only 29 ounces, so maybe they gave me an extra ounce or two of down, if so, thanks very much. They rated it at 12 degrees, but that is likely a survival rating rather than a comfort rating.

I bought mine at least 10 years ago. These days they seel a "High Sierra Sniveler" that weighs 33 ounces in long (86 inches) that they rate at 0 degrees. The price is $300. I have long forgotten what I paid for mine. They say that 25 percent of overstuff is included.

Thermarest Vesper 20 quilt

I was surprised to hear that Thermarest (Cascade Designs) was making sleeping bags, never mind quilts. This has now launched itself to my most desired item, but I can hardly justify it just to save 11 ounces over my Jacks R Better, which has served me so well. The price is $400. You get 13 ounces of 900 fill down. It is delicate (so it often is with ultralight gear.) And fancy treated hyrophobic down too -- and inside of a 10D shell for a total weight of 21 ounces. They give it a 32F "comfort" rating, and a 20F "limit" rating. I like this dual rating specification a lot.

Note that there is a Vesper 32 that sells for $340 with 10 ounces of down and 17 ounces overall. For my money, spend the extra $60, get the extra 3 ounces of down and a 20 degree rating.

I would call this a 2.5 season bag. Fine for summer and parts of Spring and Fall. It is a lightweight bag, and would make part of a true ultralight kit. It would save me 11 ounces over my JRB "sniveler" above. Note though, that if the conversion project below works out, I would have a quilt with a similar rating and only 5 ounces more -- at no cost whatsoever.

There is also a 32 degree version (41F comfort) that weights 17 ounces. I would rather carry 4 ounces more and be comfortable down to 32.

DIY Climashield Apex quilt

I sewed this up in 2017 with the idea of having a super light quilt for summer use. I used Climashield Apex 2.5, which I was told would take me to 45 degrees. The final top quilt weights 1 pound 7 ounces (23 ounces). (I also sewed up a hammock underquilt with the same stuff.) My experience is that with shorts and a thin T-shirt it barely takes me to 60 degrees. (This is a typical Tucson summer night in the wee hours of the morning). With some additional clothing (fleece pajamas) this might take me to the advertised 45 degrees. By and large though this is a failure and does not achieve its intended purpose. Maybe that is a workable arrangement. If I had used two layers of Apex 2.5 (or Apex 6.0) it would be at least as heavy as the down quilts I already have. This may be another case of the lies that are propogated as temperature ratings. Rating Apex 2.5 as 45 degrees would be what I would call a "survival" rating, not a comfort rating. Just so you know, the following are the advertised ratings for Climashield Apex: My advice is to add 20 degrees to the above, which is my usual rule. Most makers, if they give just one rating give a "survival" rating, and adding 20 degrees to that yields a "comfort" rating, which is what I am after.

REI "Magma" Trail quilt 30

I don't have one of these, but a friend recently got one and I expect reports. The total weight (for the long version) is 20 ounces, with 11.5 ounces of 850+ fill down. Full price is $340. They rate it at 30 degrees. They have some odd idea about providing straps to secure it to your pad.

For the same money you could get the Thermarest Vesper 32, which weighs 17 ounces and has a similar temperature rating. Maybe more delicate. You get 10 ounces of 900 fill down. Me, I would get the Vesper 20.

For the same money you could also get a Jacks R Better High Sierra Sniveler, rated down to 0F. Maybe you don't sleep cold or go where it is cold and would prefer to save the weight. Maybe you get points at REI and can get this at a discount using your points. The long version is 78 inches (compare to 86 inches for the JRB).

Mountain Hardware Down upgrade conversion

This is a project that is still in the works.

MORE someday.

Have any comments? Questions? Drop me a line!

Tom's backpacking pages / tom@mmto.org