Let me know WHY you prefer a sleeping bag or quilt - especially if you have tried BOTH! Before you discount quilts, check out this video busting 5 myths about backpacking quilts: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-g38b2u6j4Cw.html
@@ChristopherColegrove1983 All other factors being equal, a zippered bag will be warmer than a quilt. Down bags are the warmest for their weight, but if they get damp, (likely) they will lose a lot of warmth. If they get wet, forget it. Synthetic bags, OTOH can be just as warm as a down bag, but the packed size will be larger. Nothing compresses better than down. If a synthetic bag gets damp, it can be aired out easily and warmth will be unimpaired. if it gets wet, it will still retain some insulation value and can be dried in situ relatively easily (over some coals, never a fire) I have used both types extensively. Your final choice should factor in season, probable weather, trip duration and the like. There is no perfect choice. And finally, any bag will be compromised if you do not have a high R value pad.
Sometimes I leave my sleeping bag unzipped. Voila! Now it's a quilt! If it gets a little chilly, I zip it up. Voila! Now it's a sleeping bag again! It's amazing that such a humble piece of technology (the zipper) is so controversial in the backpacking community.
I bought a Coleman sleeping bag for -15 about 4 years ago. It’s light and a quilt if unzipped. I love this thing. I was homeless during the winter and if it wouldn’t of been for this bag, I would of froze to death in the back of my car which had no heat. The heater core was shot. I swear by this thing and if it ever wears out, I definitely will buy another. Now I have an apartment and still use it because I have asthma and have no heat on in my bedroom plus the window is cracked. I sleep like a baby. It’s my security blanket also. Lol Best $80.00 I ever spent.
Hey Eileen, that's my status rn, homeless in the back of my car during winter. I bought a onesie, good intention but now I think bad idea. Woke up drenched. It's a heck of balance to be toasty, while at the same time not sweating. Trying my best to avoid getting sick.
Same !!!! I spent days wandering into the outdoor store that I work in and it turns out that a quilt is exactly what I'm looking for !!! Thanks a lot for that video :D
I’m using a western mountaineering “Alpinelite” 20 degrees sleeping bag , that have a full zipper- all the to the toe box. In colder nights i will close him up , but when it’s warm i use it as kind of a quilt, like a big blanket with insulated foot box. So in my opinion a good and wide* sleeping bag can be pretty versatile 😊 I almost got myself a UGQ bandit , but tried the WM and got hooked- i can toss & turn inside and I’m a side sleeper. I love the concept of quilts but the throwback for me is the drafts issue, the open foot box , and the lack of hood , no matter what people say , when it’s freezing - it’s great to have the hood on top for extra coziness! 😅😉 Anyway- i love you’re video’s & you’re content. Keep on man!
Similar to me, i wanted a quilt but being in the UK there still isn't alot of choice on the market and what is there is very expensive. So i went for a good value square bag, i zip up the lower quarter then rotate it 90 degrees and use it as a quilt
Hey Ohad, mine is thinking about the alpinelite, (for sure gonna try when find in a shop). But my biggest issue yet is that these down bags from the outdoor companies are so incredible expensive. what do you think about the price factor? recently got a bit into bushcrafting and coupla my mates just use the realy cheapest ever equippment, synthetic stuff from warehouse or army for around 30 or 40 bucks (when hiking they may be little slower, but fun be the same and if equippment gets lost or damaged, it´s not that much of a loss). Course that price is nothing compared to some peace of high end equippment, but it´s heavier and packs large. seeing them using theirs made me think bout if in end it doesn´t even matter to much the price of the stuff. it kinda feels like getting ripped of for saving coupla extra gramms. I mean yeah, versalite seems awesome and i am def tempted, but does that little bit of fancyness really justify that extra of a couple of hundred bucks? is it really worth buying a bag for 700 or 800 instead of one for 30 o 40? do you think you would have less fun going cheaper? i mean limitations also enhance creativety and there would be more of a survival feeling and no worries about being harsh to the equippment when sneaky camping in some bush... .
I have an WM Alpinlite and a 20 degree EE Enigma (long/wide). For me being a restless side sleeper, the Alpinlite (while more expensive) is quite a bit warmer and more comfortable while only being 4 oz heavier. In warmer temperatures, it is too warm and I would rather bring the Enigma.
🤯 wow, I never considered a quilt before this. Now I believe I would sleep much better in a quilt vs getting twisted up in a bag. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to the video on how to choose the right quilt. Not sure whether to go with 850 or 950 fill.
4:32 I like the way you laid this information out in an honest way. A lot of people present this concept that the insulation underneath you in a sleeping bag is completely and totally useless when you lay on it, and that is a dramatic oversimplification. Yes, you compress the down below you and it isn't insulation you the same way properly lofted down on top is, but your body is not a brick with equal weight distribution and flat surfaces. Your limbs, torso, and head are rounded, meaning only the down directly under the muscle is fully compressed while the rest of the down still provides insulation. There is a still a lot of down around the edges of your limbs and in between your legs that remains at least partially lofted and does still provide insulation value. Lots of good reasons to go with a quilt as you highlight here, but so many people fail to understand the much more complicated and nuanced comparison. A sleeping bag is still warmer by design, but quilts can be extremely warm and effective if used correctly. The ability to move around freely inside the quilt is the biggest advantage to me, but i still prefer a sleeping bag in below freezing temps. Even with some compressed insulation, it has a cozier and warmer feel to me. Sleeping directly on the pad just doesn't provide that same warm and cozy feeling, but to each their own!
I've got a couple quilts that I've modified with hooks and draw strings on the ends to be used both on the ground and for an under/over in a hammock. I love quilts for their versatility and comfort. I pretty much exclusively use quilts from around 0C and up. I however almost always use sleeping bags in the winter months. I like sleeping bags for winter because they're just better at trapping air and give you a more consistent warmth; which for me is so essential when you deal with all the general work that goes into winter camping; a good sleep is needed. I find I have allot more of those 4am wake up in the dark type mornings when using a quilt. With sleeping bags I'm more likely to sleep in late rather than wake up early. Personal preference is all. Go with whatever gives you a better sleep. Don't be a gram weenie when it comes to a comfortable sleep.
I have given up on quilts other than for summer use, for which they are great. But as soon it gets below freezing I go for a sleeping bag. Draft, even the slightest, is your worst enemy when it gets cold and I've never managed to get rid of that in a quilt (and I have tried all the tricks).
I so agree with you. I am not a very active sleeper, but any movement at all exposes part(s) of my body and requires a lot of finagling to find coverage. Move again? Repeat. This requires a drowsy wake-up moment, compromising overall sleep. In this video the creator notes a pad should be used on top of the mattress. This is an item not need for a sleeping bag, is yet another item the packer has to purchase and remember, and the pad is additional weight and takes up room. Quilts, to me, are fine for warm summer events, but big in cold weather scenarios. Sleeping bags all the way.
The money you spend on a better pad offsets the additional cost. $100 doesn't mean squat when you need the warmth out in the woods. Good review, but controlling the air around your body with a sleeping bag in extreme conditions is critical.
thank you, all good points, just like you have said: different strokes for different folks, I own both quilts and sleeping bags, and would use quilts only in the summer, once temperature falls below 40F I feel much more cozy and comfortable in a close up sleeping bag with the hood on my bald head. It's much more comfortable for me to sleep just in the thermal base layer in the cocoon sleeping bag then to have a fleece, or puffy on me with the hood or hat, so for me quilt wins in the summer, other three seasons sleeping bags
So happy to have found out about quilts! I cant sleep in sleeping bags due to RLS (restless leg syndrome) as i need to stretch my legs around in different positions. so havnt been hiking for years! So excited to get one of these quilts so i can get back into hiking again!!! Wish I heard about these years ago!!!
RLS is all just in your head. It's not a physical condition. Don't tell me iam wrong(I don't care what a doctor told you) because I used to suffer from it until I learned the power of willing your brain. Your mind is so much stronger than we could every imagine.
" A quilt will still have a little bit of draft no matter what you do", you said it, and that's why quilts suck. I tried a quilt for 4 years, I gave it a fair shake on section hikes of the PCT, CDT and the Colorado Trail and multiple other overnights. I toss and turn all night long and I am a side sleeper, managing the draft was too much and I actually felt more confined in a quilt than in a sleeping bag. There is no rule that says you have to sleep in a sleeping bag completely zipped up, just open it up and treat it like a quilt. By the time you custom order a quilt that's wide enough and long enough the help manage the draft, it's within an ounce or two of a sleeping bag, at that point why buy an inferior quilt? If a quilt works for you, great, don't assume because you can overlook their serious shortcomings that it's a viable solution for everyone.
VERY little. I've been using sleeping bags for decades and quilts for years and can say quilts work better for me. Everyone is different though and not everyone wants to take the time to fiddle with a quilt to get it to be draft-free. Weight-wise, quilts will always be lighter. It's just the nature of not having a zipper, hood, or 1/3 as much fabric/insulation.
Tried a quilt this year, very nice on the comfort and versatility size, but it really sucks when it's getting near the cold limit. (And that can be like 5° C). No matter how careful you are, draft is a serious problem which you don't have with sleeping bags. So with this experience, I probably would like best a Quilt with full length zipper or a sleeping bag without hoody. Don't forget, that you use nearly all sleeping bags quilt style with the zipper open.
One problem is a lot of the sleeping bags don't have room. A long time ago sleeping bags had much more room now the new bags are so tight around you. The quilt might be a better option.
I was thinking of zipping two sleeping bags together vs getting a double to sleep with my husband I definitely don't want to sleep apart especially in a strange environment. I probably wouldn't get any rest if he's not close to me.i. wondering if we will fit comfortably in the double or if we should get two and zip together the singles
Well air space between your body and the inside of the bag is just something your finite body heat has to warm up. Everything else being equal, a snugger bag will be warmer. But you can still get roomy bags, NEMO makes quite a few models. My older 6’6” Sonic 0F (comfort rating 14F) has a 69” chest/shoulder circumference and proportionate numbers in the hips & knees. New models are 63”/58”/53” respectively for the 6’ 0F model. Both Western Mountaineering and Feathered Friends make models that size or larger, and I think the Marmot Cwm and Col bags are a little bigger. What I like about a larger bag is it gives you room for clothing and boots, and you can always fold it underneath you for less air space if you don’t need to keep stuff inside.
For warmer climates and seasons I would agree and sometimes even a cheap and thin microfiber blanket would suffice. I live in Scandinavia where the temperatures in the winter can go below -20 C. I can confirm right away that anything besides a good sleeping bag will not be adequate at all and will guarantee a cold night with the possibility of death. In regards to being restricted and not being able to move around in your sleep that's something one has to accept and get used to since you really only want to allow enough of a opening around your face to breathe. Basically you should remain on your back.
Maybe quilts are cheaper in the US but not in Europe. There are very few quilt offers and as you eluded to, they are custom-made = expensive. Sleeping bags are regularly on offer so that you hardly ever have to buy them at MSRP, not so for quilts. - I would say, in Europe a comparable quilt is at least 50% higher in price than a sleeping bag. All of that aside, my next piece of sleeping insulation will be a quilt for all the reasons you mentioned.
Sleeping bags designed for lower temperatures have a reduced volume facility using alternate zips. I've found having the smaller volume of air in the bag constricts movement and eliminates the very important air gap insulation between body and sleeping bag inner. You can then feel cold spots when the bag is too tight which is contrary to what is intended. I've also found that turning over in a constricting bag causes the inner and outer material to stretch and sandwich and compress the filling, again creating cold spots. A quilt stays puffed up all night, permitting active movement, as you say. The only con with a quilt is that side gaps and draughts can occur for active sleepers.
My biggest concern as someone that does some back country hunting is protection from the elements if something goes wrong. Like shelter gets blown away or ruined somehow....or a rewarming drill is required. Can you elaborate on how quilts would preform in those situations? Thanks!
@@rvz77 My experience (thru hike of AT in 2000) was that they never came in my bag after food. They climbed about on the rat lines hanging from the eves trying to get at anything there.
@@gat569 but remember, you're a giant salt block after hiking 20 miles up and down mountains. Perhaps you were lucky, but perhaps you were too tired to have noticed. I prefer to avoid shelters, but the GSMNP, you're forced to sleep in shelters.
this is the best and most honest comparison between the two that i've seen!!!!!! thank you for helping me make a decision & bringing up the points ab extreme temp conditions and the feeling of being cocooned because those two things make a difference to me :-)
if the weather is good, a quilt will work just fine. If the weather is ugly, take a good sleeping bag and a good well insulated ground-pad to keep you off the ground. Also, in bad weather, if weight is not a constraint, take a good rated synthetic sleeping bag. If using a quilt, remember that some ground-pads are made for sleeping bags; they are not meant to have the sleeper lying directly on the pad. For example the "Klymit static V". THe deep "V" in the pad is there to allow the loft of the sleeping bag to fill-in the deep "V" and thus insulate your body from the ground. Lying directly on this type of pad as you would when using a quilt gives you zero insulation.
I've been using quilts for over 40 years. I'm not keen on mummy style sleeping bags. The few sleeping bags I still have are the old envelope style and I open them up and use them as quilts.
My mom an grandma made custom quilts to fit our new sleeping bags from a quilting frame! Then using long stitches added to sleeping bag! When need cleaning easily removed from bag an replaced because they were custom shaped for each bag!
Thank you for such a concise and informative video. I have claustrophobia and have a very hard time with sleeping bags. This alleviates my fears about being warm enough... especially since i have no plans to do extreme winter camping.
Heat loss from your back being exposed. You would have to get a really high rated R-value sleeping pad (which negates seem weight savings from the quilt), also would have to wear an extra clothing layer too. Not convinced, yet..
You actually don't need a warmer sleeping pad since the part of a sleeping pad that is under you and compressed isn't providing much, if any, insulation. No need to wear extra clothing layers either.
A sleeping bag is far better than a quilt. A good quality expedition down sleeping bag also allows you to move about freely and roll over inside the bag, due to them having wide fittings at the shoulders and feet. So there is no restriction involved. A quilt is extremely cumbersome and restrictive around the head/neck...and very uncomfortable. The only use for a quilt is on a bed at home.
Pro Bag, 1) side sleeper, 2) active side sleeper, 3) sleeping without tent in the wind using GWS from WM. 4) Probably higher extreme rating as well in emergencies/survival situation.5) Hood with mosquito net sawn on summer bags e.g. 6) when sleeping free in cold, a hat can fall of your head, the hood won't ever.7) Bags can be coupled/connected....
My quilt experience is very limited, just a single night of using my WM EverLite 45F bag as a quilt to try it out. If you’re not familiar with the EverLite, it’s basically a trapezoidal blanket with a zipper on the long (non-parallel) sides and drawstrings at each end. I’d zipped it about 1/3 up, tied the foot drawstring, and put the zipper underneath me. I used elastic mitten clips for kids to hold the edges down under me LOL. I used the Velcro strap and drawstring at the neck end to close it up some around my neck. When I moved during the night drafts would still come in from the area around the zipper pull. I’m not a very active sleeper, I roll from one side to another a few times and that’s it. Unless I get chilly, that is. So I’d pull the zipper up more and more until the drafts stopped. By this time the zipper was up to the small of my back, and at that point I might as well just have zipped it all the way and put it to either side. Now this is not a tight bag, chest/shoulder circumference is 65” and I have PLENTY of room in it. I can even wear a lightweight down jacket in it to add 6-8 degrees F of warmth without compressing the down. Put the hood on and snug the top drawstring on the bag, it feels just like a mummy bag. It does work great as an overquilt to make my Sierra Designs 15F Mobile Mummy 800 a true ~15F bag, but as a quilt for my sole insulation at 50F or so it’s no good. I’ve never understood the quilt comparison with your bed at home beyond neither the quilt or blanket extending underneath you fully, either. Unless your bed is no wider than your sleeping pad, anyway. A 5-6 foot wide queen or king size bed and the blanket that hangs down a foot on each side is nothing like a 25” wide pad with a quilt that has maybe inches of extra fabric at most. The Zenbivy or Backcountry Bed concept is much more like your bed at home. As far as sleeping bags being restrictive, they DO come in different sizes. Buy one that gives you a little room! My 6’6” NEMO Sonic 0F has a 69” chest/shoulder circumference, I’m not that big but it gives me plenty of room to put clothing and gear to dry out or keep warm overnight. There’s even plenty of room for my boots in the inside-out sleeping bag compression sack at the foot. Put the boots in, then my down jacket to wrap loosely around my bare feet, and water bottle, clothing, phone, headlamp, etc, between my knees and around my thighs, keeps everything warm, dry, and accounted for in the morning. The bag moves with me, my face is always in the opening, and that insulation that was useless when it was under my back is now very useful when it’s facing the tent wall.
Quilts are better for summer use, I love my 20 e&e but I'm sick of drafts. For the minimal weight penalty I'm gonna get a bag for anything below about 35-40 especially on hunting trips when it's more important to sleep all night. I got pretty good with it down to about 35 f, but I think I was kidding myself about how much of a hassle it was. Quilts are definitely colder once you factor in drafts. Everyone should have a quilt in their lineup but they are not the end all. Go wide if you get one, no matter how skinny you are.
Yes exactly what I have found too. A good fitting and we'll designed sleeping bag will be comfortable and definitely warmer than a quilt. A bad one will not be as good as a quilt. If you are tall and large built side sleeper you will need a very long and wide quilt and maybe three pad straps making it hard work to set up. If you get bags that the zips are smooth and don't snag then they are much better than fiddly straps. A bad designed bag that fits bad and as terrible snaggy zips will drive you crazy though.
I cannot but agree with you Justin. I bought a quilt last year from UGQ and I've used it ever since. I toss and turn when I sleep too so it's so comfortable to have a quilt, I'll never get back to a sleeping bag
Every quilt lover seems to think a sleeping bag can be used only one way, they compare tge price of a quilt compared to the most expensive sleeping bag and then tell you you need a more expensive sleeping pad thereby negating any real cost savings and they also wind up buying more quilts in the same temp rating because after all their quilt loving they find they never really pan out and wind up with several summer quilts. Sleeping baggers tend to only buy another one to either save weight or just feel it's time for a new one. the evidence is all over youtube lolol. **having said that, I understand the plight of the high mileage hiker and thru hiker's need to shave weight and 4-6+oz on 1 item can literally save them hundreds of $$$ and time as to limit the need to do a complete gear overhaul. And your efforts help us lo mile and newbie hikers get better prepared! Good stuff!!!
Thanks for your insight Wally! I think a lot of people are still figuring quilts out and learning how to use them. Most people have been using sleeping bags for decades, so have them pretty dialed in. It took me a couple of years, but I think I have my sleep insulation dialed in now. I have one 20F quilt for 5F to 50+F and then a -5F sleeping bag for below 5F. I have a synthetic overquilt that I can use with both my main quilt and sleeping bag for a bit of extra warmth or moisture management. I definitely don't understand the folks with a ton of quilts OR sleeping bags! (other than to feed gear addiction, haha)
@@JustinOutdoors your pain is my gain so I'm very thankful...not sure it may have come across that way...if it weren't for peeps like you and doing these vids I would have kept buying needless gear and end up being disillusioned and stick to just car camping!
@@wallytaggart2612 I appreciate that Wally! You really nailed what one of the main goals for my channel, and that's to help people be comfortable while camping/backpacking so that it is more enjoyable!
Your reviews are the BEST- very in depth and helpful for all of us that are new and in the process of shelling out big bucks trying to dial in the gear.. I bought the Magma 15 about 4 months ago, and I love it- huge loft & warmth- no complaints, but My UGQ 10 Degree Bandit is in production right now. Need to drop that pound. Cant Wait. My hesitation & concerns were like everyone else's, but when I was too lazy to fix the Zipper on the Magma one night, I just left it open & used it like a quilt. No Problem for me, and Im a cold sleeper. Thanks again.
im a very active sleeper and use and have used lots of sleep systems , if below freezing is expected i always go to sleeping bags, above freezing i quite enjoy my quilts but as it gets colder holding on to the warmth has not been consistent enough to think one system is better. the hood of mummy bags plays a pretty important role as well as the draft baffles in the bag for managing heat loss. there is no such thing as better when it comes to equipment for going outside just trades.
One Planet Quilts actually can be interlocked into their sleeping bags for even more insulation therefore making their sleeping bags even more warmer when needed, which seems to be great system when considering summer and winter sleeping bag systems
Quilt for summer and as a top piece over sleeping bag in winter only (10 degrees C. the lowest) temp regulation in warm conditions is better due to its open construction. I would not use a quilt for low temps as it defeats the way you stay warm in cold temps (your body is the heater and your insulation is the keeper of that heat, the more space between your body and your insulation the more air that needs to be heated therefore more energy required; now you want to have a sealed and close envelope of insulation to keep that precious warmth form escaping away from you, and that includes your neck and head) quilts leave dead space and gaps between your body and the envelope along the side of your body when wrapped around the mattress; mattress is flat your body is not. Additionally the lack of a continuous layer of insulation wrapping your entire body (your neck and head are part of your body) lets you having to address that deficiency by wearing beanies, balaclavas or a jackets with a hoodie, that are actually meant to be active insulation not passive( if you have to wear a belay parka to sleep you might as well not bring anything else to sleep over the mat) . get the best appropriate reliable gear for the season and conditions that your budget allows that does not require unnecessary fiddling and workarounds to do what is supposed to do and save yourselves from an uncomfortable (or potentially dangerous) sleep in cold temps.
I`m lucky enough to have inhabited both worlds for a few decades now. A much loved and well used 30 year old RAB 1000 now lives in a closet unless I`m backpacking. Now being of an age where comfort is paramount I do more in the way of driving to a campsite, so.,..more luggage. I currently take with me two down double size quilts, one a very light summer one of 4.5 tog and a heavier autumn one which is 12.5 tog. There are many varied and interesting combinations that can be made with a thermorest mat and 2 quilts. A quilt sandwich is especially comfy on a cold night.
I use an unzipped sleeping bag with a quilt on top. Right now, down, but down is no good during the winter when it is slow to dry out, and much condensation and frost. If the ground stays wet from each night's condensation and frost, then down is no good for anything more than a night or two.
I brought a quilt once on a trip. My sleeping pad got punctured. Tried to repair it with duct tape. But still leaking. I had the coldest night of my life. Now I’m running a foam sleeping pad, a wool blanket, and a sleeping bag i have Bivy or a tarp depending on the weather and the trip. I can rely on that system and it won’t break on me
Nice video Justin, Question for you. I have broads shoulders and my elbows are kind of falling off the sleeping pad when I'm sleeping on my back. My sleeping bag keep my elbows on the pad. Do you think that the pad strap with my quilt could keep my elbows on the pad as well? Thanks
As always well explained and edited but not enough reasons for me to change from my Sea to Summit Ascent A2 bag. I like the cocoon effect it gives. Great for couch surfing too.
In the UK the Snugpack jungle blanket gets great reviews as a light weight summer only quilt. It's very cheap. The hammock & tarp/stealth campers seem to like it most. Often used as an extra layer at night or when sitting up around camp.
So i sleep a bit colder. Looking to not be limited whatsoever by my sleep system. Diving back into winter camping and your vids did inspire me to get gear situated. Adirondack mountains are similiar in climate to your Canadian rockies. My Polar Ranger arrives Friday 😀. I am intrigued by quilts though bc like you I am an active sleeper. I have a decent roomy 30° mummy. But I bet I'm ginna purchase a quilt. So still staying with the polar ranger right? Also you forgot to mention (in this vid) is that the quilt can serve to go over you bag and increase the temp. I'm interested in how "quilt loops" work on the ranger.
I'm a side sleeper and I start in the fetal position with my legs curled but then after a bit I like my legs with with one straight and the other Pushed out, . The only way to go for me is a quilt with pad straps. A bag is too constricting. I'm short and like to pull the quilt over my head, If I want my head out of the quilt I have a separate down hood. The quilt is an UQO 10* with extra down in the foot box. I love it. To prevent condensation from dripping and wetting my quilt, I carry a contractor size trash bag and slip my sleep system into it. This effectively stops any possible drafts as well and adds a couple of degrees warmth as well. I'm a happy camper.
I was real skeptical of the attributes of a quilt until I bought a hammock and tried to use my mummy bag in it. I have a hard enough time getting situated in a mummy bag on the ground much less in a hammock so I bit the bullet and bought a quilt set. Once I used them in the hammock, I could see where their benefits could translate to ground sleeping as well. It only took one time using my top quilt on the ground to convince me to never look back. As a 58 year old with a prostate the size of a grapefruit and a bladder the size of a pea, it is not uncommon for me to get up 6 or 7 times a night. Getting back in that mummy bag and getting situated was a ridiculous process. I swear there were times that I no more than got comfortable in the bag and it was time to get up and piss again. I have a 20 degree North Face bag and a 40 degree Mountain Hardware bag for sale. Any takers?
Cold airflow sucks in windy conditions especially in quilts plus I can see your tent, so try using one under a G.I. poncho in -10 or being homeless for a year and you'll see they are crap.
you can take everyone of your arguements and flip to to pros for a sleeping bag. bag vs quilt , and tent vs hammock. are all personal opinions. Just like altras shoes, they are not for everyone.
Good video. I recently purchased a quilt and I have spent four nights in it this winter. I find I am having difficulty getting comfortable and sleeping. I have been cold and struggling to adjust the quilt. I like to sleep on my stomach. I also need a winter sleeping pad. Any suggestions on how to set up and adjust quilt with sleeping pad would be great. As I said I like to sleep on my stomach with my arms out passed my head which is not good in cold weather. I like the look of the pillow in the video, how makes it
Thanks Joe! I think the Xtherm is the best winter pad out there. Great warmth to weight ratio. You're going to be cold if you don't have a winter sleeping pad and are trying to use a quilt or sleeping bag in the winter. I think you're going to have to figure out how to sleep with your arms closer to your side in order to keep your arms warm. Make sure you're using pad straps for the quilt. They are essential for keeping drafts out! The pillow is the trekology 2.0 pillow - geni.us/TrekologyPillow
You could do this but end up with way more material and insulation than you need. A quilt is narrowerer generally than an unzipped sleeping bag. You also don't have hoods or zippers to deal with for a quilt.
I have that sleeping pad. Although it was pricey, I say it's well worth the cost. I've had it since 2015 (if I remember correctly). I spend roughly 2-5 weeks per year in the Alaskan bush. Just my .02.
I recently started using a quilt by outdoor vitals 30 degree down has a built in foot box I enjoy the freedom of movement in a quilt and the weight savings you just have to make sure you use the right sleep pad for the time of year you are in🤙🏻
Sleeping bag hands down. Kelty Cosmic. I tried and hated the quilt. Never understood the quilt. If warm I just unzip bag. I prefer the comfort under me.
Nice share! I am an active sleeper and prefer a sleeping bag, but I saved for so long for my Katabatic 5 degree quilt, I just stick with it. I do like the weight savings though. I had never thought of a sleeping bad sheet! I am going to have to give that a try!
@@JustinOutdoors I haven't really figured it all out yet. The quilt is fine, I don't hate it. I think it just comes down to simplicity. I don't have to unstrap or wiggle out when I have to pee in the middle of the night. Just unzip and am free! I REALLY miss the hood. I use a down balaclava, but when I wake up and then have all these strings to figure out around my face, I get a little annoyed! Haha I used to not mind rolling around inside my sleeping bag for some reason. I wake up when I move from side to side in my bag and my quilt. I find myself always checking to make sure my quilt is still strapped correctly though. So I think I woke up less in my bag. I have also noticed my quilt gets more wet from my breathing, my bag hood rarely got wet. But watching your video, I don't think I tighten it enough around my neck. I do feel like I get more heat from my pad though at least, although I do get sticky, but I am excited to find a sheet now!
I’ve been camping since Boy Scouts to the army all over America especially in Utah mountains. I was always told to undress an sleep in sleep clothes. I use a square bag with a blanket. I’m not a buy $300 sleeping pad a $300 bag. I use a down blanket with a 3 season bag an a cheap pad been in very cold times an I’m still here. But I was taught young by trial an error. I bet if you tried my way you’d never go back to sleeping in all those clothes. But everyone has what works for them. Blankets have been used for years. The best thing to keep you warm is your significant other been in many a cold night with just a blanket an we slept good
This video helped my perspective a lot so thank you. I’m looking to start doing overnight backpacking trips and my sleep system is something I’m not too sure of. I’m looking for something that will keep me comfortable from April-October/November in New York but I’m concerned about being too hot for summer. I’ve been thinking of getting a 40 degree sleeping bag and also getting a liner to help with the colder parts of April, October/November. I was looking at some 30-40 degree bags but now I think a quilt is the way to go. I do run hot when I’m sleeping so I think the versatility and wide range of a quilt would benefit me. What should I be looking for in quilts? The sleeping pads I’m considering have an R-value of 3-4.5. Probably the Big Agnes Insulated Q-Core(3.2) or the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core (4.5). Do I need to search for a higher R-value with a quilt? Any advice could help. Sorry for the essay lmao.
I just use a 1.5 lb 2Go Systems XL trifecta bivy, with a 1 lb net hammock, 5 of the 2.3 oz each, drum liners, a pair of Amazon 1/4 lb each bugnet "suits", local debris, tape, stakes, cordage, I use just 1.3 lbs of cammies, balaclava, sock liners, gloves, shemagh, and I can sleep fine down to 0F with just this sub 6 lbs of gear and clothing. All of this gear is useful in hot weather, and none of it is effected by its getting wet. i carry a 1 lb buttpack and 2 lb daypack. If need be, I empty out the packs, stuff them with debris and use them as sleeping pads. With a fire and hot rocks, I can sleep ok at -20F for 3 hours at a time. This set up saves me about 10 lbs of sleeping bag, poncho, sleeping pad, tarp, heavy clothing, etc. that others would lug around to get the same level of protection.
Brilliant :-) Thanks Justin Outdoors.You always describe & explain things so clearly. I'm going to take a look to see what options we have here in Scotland. Sending best wishes *
Weekend warrior here 👊🏾 I just ordered my decathlon coat and fleece! Getting my gear updated! I’ve only gone backpacking 6 times I think, all one nighters. Oh! What’s your discount code for the outfitting company? I think you said it in one of your videos..
I'm really tempted to try one, I'm going to wait for things warm up a little so I can try it with something light and cheap then get something warmer if I get on with it.
Good points. However, the pricing point is off. In the video you are comparing the REI Co-op Magma 15 (which is a 16°F bag) at $379 with the Enigma 30°F (as appears on your video) at $290. However, the Enigma 20°F (there is no 15°F version), a closer match, is $315 and weighs 21.19oz. Still less. Nonetheless, I checked the Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 0°F, which is a down bag that costs $280 and the Mountain Hardwear Lamina 0°F, which is a synthetic fiber bag that costs $200. These two sleeping bags are cheaper and provide more warmth, although at a higher weight (1,420g and 1,890g, respectively). I also found a Big Agnes Benchmark 0°F Regular for $149.95 (and other Big Agnes bags at lower prices), The North Face Eco Trail Down 20 for $199. So, price-wise, you can definitely find bags of higher temp ratings at lower prices. Having said that, I've used my Coleman Exponent Klickitat X20 as a quilt and has worked very well. I also sometimes get claustrophobic if I need to cocoon inside, but I can really move inside and sleep on my side, which is a plus. Keep going Justin.
@@JustinOutdoors Definitely. Although I could noy find that statement on the enlightenedequipment page. I think a quilt would be more confortable for me (because of the claustrophobia thing) and the other reasosn that you mentioned. But I'm already insvested in the Klickitat (it surprised me when I camped at 3,100mts) and a Lamina. They're good, although bulky and hravier.
This is your opinion. I've used a EE 20 deg quilt for 3 years in a row on the PCT and found quilts SUCK. Every time you move so does the warn air, right out from under your quilt. Bags stop this from happening. I tried straps, stuffing under the mattress , and discovered QUILTS still SUCK!!! I own a bag for my hikes now and will never again use a quilt outdoors.
I just got a 4.5 meter belted plaid or traditional kilt along with an Army surplus wool blanket. Im wanting to see if I can twill crochet a full hemp yarn plaid with a makeshift loom to see how both wool and hemp compare.
Depends what type of adventure you seek, my friend. I've spent frosty nights in Truckee Ca, to Adirondack's frozen lakes, and in the Talkeetna Glacier, to the Casin Ridge in Denali, and mummies are the only way to go... Never even heard of quilts before. I've been using a Marmot Arroyo for light, three days adventures, in the last Twenty years. Remember, this is an 800 fill + bag, rated at 30 Degrees F ( 2 lb 0 oz ).
@@JustinOutdoors That's true-LOL-but I'v tried all of them, and maybe is because I've spent many many many cold nights in mummies throughout my travels, but they're designed for very different circumstances. Ohhh, did I mentioned I used to work for Marmot, back in the late eighties through the end of 90s? We tried everything, since the reps would often drop gear for us to try. I worked for the Marmot stores-One in Kentfield (Marin County), but also for one of their acquired company as well, Western Mountaineering. Also owned Montbel Gear, etc.
Wanting to start the AT 2/1/23 but concerned with temps and want a 0 degree quilt or close to that and the proper pad. Any suggestions. We can talk personally if so inclined
I’ve never used a quilt. Could I test to see if I liked one just by unzipping my sleeping bag a bit and using it like a quilt? Or am I missing something?
You could for sure. I find a big part of it (as an active sleeper) is the pad attachment systems. They keep the quilt in place and help reduce drafts so you don't get cold. You could probably jimmy something up though!
