Ultralight Backpacking Quilts vs. Sleeping Bags - Q&A 

Great job on the video! Super informative and well thought out!!

I love that I started watching this video and then 11 minutes in I hear my handle being read. Thanks for the shout out and great video! Also, nearer the end you talk about making a quilt for under $200. I spent about $180 and made 2 quilts with 900 fp down; one I’ve successfully used in just under 20 degree temps. On the flip side, I spent probably 20 hours researching products and patterns and another 10+ hours cutting and sewing. Oh and dealing with down....hahahahaha, it is a very memorable experience.

Great presentation. Casual, but full of great information and a mix of personal experience instead of just a bunch specs. Nice to hear from someone who has clearly used the gear and spent the time to test things out.

Dude, this is an incredible video. Great work!!

Really enjoyed this video. You're a really effective communicator and I learned a lot. Thanks!

I’ve enjoyed the Zenbivy system. It’s modular and works great for me. I’m a side sleeper, stomach sleeper, and “rotisserie” sleeper in general. It lets me move around like in my regular bed

Professional - level advice, as usual. Thank you!

Very clear reviews! Love the style.

17:46 Good question! I've been thinking about this myself. Thank you for the answer too

Hello Sir, I just stumbled across this video.I found your advice on quilts v sleeping bags to be very informative indeed.Many thanks for sharing your knowledge.I look forward to looking at your other videos.Cheers Rob from Australia.

With a quality and well-engineered strap system, the flexibility of a quilt is wonderful. I live in a warm place but am still able to “get away with” using a 30 degree quilt even when it’s 60 because I can open it up like a blanket. In the cold you just cinch everything up!

Hi your reviews I think are the best I've seen, the technical information and informed opinion are really well articulated. I had a 10 celsius insulated quilt made for a 230 kilometre hike in the Central Desert of Australia. The maker, Evan Howard of 'Terra Rosa' Gear Australia makes the quilt long enough to pull over your face when it gets cold and the synthetic insulation he uses negates the worry of moisture management in damp environments. It's a small issue but it would be desirable for your reviews to have distances in km and temps in celsius for us heathens added as text post filming. Just a suggestion. cheers Eric

That looks like Vedauwoo! Very informative. Thanks!

Thanks, you're making me think.

I have a Marmot Nano Wave 35 fiber-filled bag, and lately I've been using it as a 'quilt.' Zipper is a 3/4 zip, but I like the toe-box that this gives. As for tossing and turning---I'm all over the place usually, and yet I've learned to make a more conscious effort in turning over, and if I'm wearing a slick surface pair of pants and jacket, the bag tends to stay pretty much in place (though occasionally I'll get a small draft till I adjust the material). But I don't generally camp in weather below 35 F. Also, when I bought the sleeping bag I got the longer version, which is great when used as a quilt because you have extra material to use if you want to get completely under the bag. The toe-box effect of my bag seems to help keep the bag aligned during use. But below 30 F. I wouldn't use a quilt. Good review. Thanks.

Quilts for summer, bags with continuous baffles for winter for me.

Great video! Thank you.

excellent video!! many thanks!

Thank you so much for sharing* I found this very helpful :-)

Great post. I’ve been researching quilts for 2 years and I learned more today. I used a mummy sleeping bag last summer as a quilt. It’s no where near as comfortable as the quilt I got shortly after my trip. -27* in anything is hard core. If you were going on a long trip with temperature ranges from 12* to 40*, what you you choose? Temperature rating?

Very helpful 👍

Great video. Thank you. I'm sticking with my REI mummy bag as the benefits of a quilt, and there are several I'll admit, are not a priority for me. I sleep like the dead: I don't move at all. Secondly, I'm a warm sleeper and if I was awakened by a cold draft or if I needed to adjust straps in the middle of the night I would not get a good night's sleep. The weight savings between the REI Magma 30 bag vs quilt is negligible @ 2 oz. The bag does cost $40 more but the benefit of the bag justifies the greater cost.

I went with feathered friends flicker, I did not get much wait savings but the versatility, I got the long so I can still piehole like a bag or open foot box

What are your thoughts on the Aegiesmax ultralight down bags?

For the Canadians... I got mine from Enlightened Equipment before the last changes to the trade agreement. As per the agreement at the time, and I don't believe it's changed, because it's made in America, I didn't have to pay duties, just shipping. I use a 30 degree, so about zero... mornings in Northern Ontario get at or below freezing in July. With warmer clothing it's been more than enough. My only regret is not buying one taller than I need simply because I like to burrow. Been 5 years of regular use. Could never use a zipped bag again.

I have used many bags and typically use my helium 20 degree bag. I recently purchased a 20 degree quilt and began testing them both here where i live in Fairplay, co at 10,000 feet. I have found the quilt trend silly. Unzip your bag if you want those features there is no way a quilt will match a mummy bag efficiency overall. I am suspicious the quilt manufacturers are the most excited people about quilts.

I love my sierra designs nitro quilt all summer and most of fall. I switch to my synthetic bag in the late fall when my hikes are shorter and weight is not as important.

I Own 3 quilts and no bags now..... great videos you make.

Not just the pad attachment system--make sure you get a quilt sized correctly for you. My quilt was too narrow for my side-sleeping self. Wider quilt? No problems.

Gosh that no scope at 7:40

Wow. I thought that maybe I was going to expose the quilt fad. Apparently people who've experienced them have plenty to say. Good. I did want to mention that I started using my sleeping bag liners inside. When I stayed in cheap BnBs, Hostels, a good bag liner makes any worries about bedbugs not much of a worry. I also started using them at home. I've got the Thermolite Reactor, and a cheap but heavy fleece liner I bought on Amazon (which came with a big useless zipper. I stitched along the zipper and after trying it out for a night removed the zipper). The point I want to make is that even at home with regular bedding, comforters, etc... there are drafts we don't notice except when I sleep in a liner, uninterrupted sleep, regular but high quality bedding, interrupted sleep. I've found that a good sleeping bag and a liner gives me an extremely wide range of temperatures I can sleep in. Very hot weather, open sleeping bag, mostly the liner; very cold weather sleeping bag zipped right up to the mummy hood. I think the quilt fad got started with hammock campers. I've got a backpacking hammock. Sleeping bag, works the same as in a tent or bivy, with quite a bit more squirming and scooching. Everyone I've known who's slept with quilts says their a drafty pain. One thing I do with my air pillow is I've got a string tied to it so I can put the string loop around my air mattress. It's just snug enough to keep the pillow in place. I don't know why this isn't more widely used. I've also figured out all the non-air pillow weight saving alternatives, like a dry bag with some clothes in it. Nothing is as comfortable as a good air pillow. I have two each Klimet mattress and air pillows. Works for me but probably not the only option.

Speaking to the

Ive been backpacking for 35 years, and always used sleeping bags, preferring the excellent Western Mountaineering down-filled bags. I've never experienced the issues with bags that are discussed here, and the idea of lying on the bare insulating mat is not attractive, I much prefer having some soft and warm down underneath me.

13:00 Another reason (from my point-of -view as someone looking for a new down sleeping bag with a Tcomf of about 0C (32f) or below and as close to 500g (.5kg or 17.6oz) and of course for as cheap as possible ;) (most of the ones I've seen ranges from $360-600 ) is that (as you said with the fringe and skill examples) I'm comfortable enough with in a sleeping bag, I know that I can trust it and I don't really have the money to spend $450-460 (minimum, depending on whether I need to buy extra/better straps) for a TLim -12c (10.4f which is, apparently Tcomf≈ -6.5 to -.3.5c or 20-25f) - On the chance that it might something that I like more than a sleeping bag (there are probably better prices but it's an example from the only store, that I know of, which is close enough for me to visit and is specialized enough to have a few quilts). That's before considering the new headgear etc. I might need to keep warm in sub-freezing temps, and all of a sudden the quilt might be (both costlier and) heavier than the sleeping bag (with a few ounce or so). Not that I'm not extremely tempted to try one. The quilt as used as an example is the "Revelation Quilt 10°F (-12C)"

I am trying to decide about buying a quilt extra long *78inch, while I am 72inches long. Will this give me more options so "seal inside"? or should it fit just to the shoulders?

What shelter is that in the background? Dorigo 2?

I'm confused. At the 9:10 mark you talk about the ends of the quilt being under the sleeping pad yet the part you're adjusting is above the pad. Can you please explain this in more detail. New subscriber. Enjoy your videos! Thank you.

You mentioned loft and fill as a better judge of temperature rating than the rating given by companies. Do you have a breakdown of loft and fill equivalents to temperature ratings guide for quilts anywhere?

Cant pull the trigger on a quilt. I mostly late fall winter camp/hunt in north east. Seems like when its cold secruing the quilt tight just essentially becomes a mummy bag without a hood. Am i off base? Love 2 hear ur opinion.

What tent is that in the background? MLD?

I always take my comforter from home I have been doing it for years

best video

Little Shop of Hammocks in Canada makes awesome Quilts.

what's a sleeping bag?jk..quilts are my favorite...some folks prefer bags...i like the straps that go to my pad on the quilt...

I have at least 8 different sleeping bags of different thicknesses,, weights, man-made fibre and down, used singly or in combination depending on the season, temperature & weather. The full length zips allow them to be used as a quilt. What's the difference? Oh and a biker's balaclava (thin/warm) to stop my satellite dish ears from getting cold.

In Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand the name for government is parliament, representatives are Members of Parliament abbreviated to "MP" which is actually a more convenient name than having to say Congress Person.

What do you think of the Jacks R Better High Sierra Sniveller (0F) Quilt?

My quilt became more comfy after I had lost about 35 lbs after 1000 miles on the AT.

Don't you feel those toggles underneath you while you're sleeping? (Looking at the 9:40 mark, for example...) Thank you.

Im so torn between the Enlightened Equipment Enigma and the Nemo Disco 15 degree down bag.

Have you ever slept in a sleeping bag at home? So why, after all, did people start using sleeping bags? Since I discovered quilts back in 2014, I never touched a sleeping bag any more. Too restrictive, and too heavy compared to a quilt. With a "foot pocket", I am able to arrange it during the night without really waking up... Happy trails and good night all!

best quilts on the planet, LSOH Toasters, CDN dollars too for all you canucks

50.00 75.00 more you can get a Super nice custom ugq quilt. Since your going to depend 300.00 anyway Just a thought

A quilt is a lot colder to sleep in as your head is totally exposed at night, and even compressed down under a sleeping bag is much warmer than none at all under a quilt. Also quilts do not save any weight...My Marmot Phase 30 has the same temperature rating as your quilt, but it's actually lighter (524g vs 539g).

My question is: what’s the tent behind you?

Looks like your trekking poles are upside down on the tent! Handle side up so you don't tear the DCF unnecessarily!

One of the benefits of a quilt that I especially like is that it takes up much less room in my pack, allowing me to use a smaller pack than I otherwise might.

1. Best thermal efficiency, a bag by a mile. The bottom side of a sleeping bag is only flattened completely and momentarily under your body's pressure points and still provides warmth and added R value compared to the 0 R of the open area of a quilt. If you move or flip over, the bag relofts and stops the loss of trapped heat in your bag, something a quilt just cannot do as perfectly. 2. Lowest weight sleep system, a bag. Quilts need higher R value pads, more clothing and extra stuff like a down Balaclava. How is that lighter? 3. Futzy, pain in the a** to use, quilt. I use to freak about being confined in my 40° Atom mummy until I tried switching to a 45° Big Agnes quilt. Pain in the a** and froze.

came for the quilt and stayed for the dew rag

RJ, my sharp ear wonders where u grew up? your pronunciation of the word "bag", sounds close to "baig". Do tell. ;) I have slept under my Nunatak & EE quilts most every night over last 3+ years.

Hello 👋

Wouldn't it be more comfortable to not wear a jacket while sleeping? 🤔

Ounces? Was used in Europe more than 200 year's ago!

I dislike mummy bags. Quilt for me. Zin Bevy please.

The best Quilt on the Market...for warmth to weight ratio...is the Zpacks.com there isn't a warmer bag for the weight...

HA ! i'm a quilter

Envelope sleeping bag with a + 15 degree liner... Problem solved.

Novel idea...just dont zip your mummy and use it like a quilt..genius I know. Also saves money since quilts are trendy and almost 2x the cost of a mummy bag

I kinda disagree for the most. So you dislike the extra fabric of the mummy sleeping bag and prefer a quilt but now have to wear your hooded down jacket in the quilt. So add the cost of that jacket to your sleeping system. I think it's also unhygienic to wear a jacket in your sleeping system at night. So in short. If you need a hooded jacket in your sleeping system your sleeping system sucks big time.

Why can’t the US a linear temperature scale like the rest of planet earth? So confusing…

scientific evidence that a sleeping bag if you sleep on the down will not insult you? It makes sense to me, but is there any scientific evidence?