Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Quilts vs bags
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SevenofNine |
1. Ease of sticking an arm or foot out to cool off if you are overheating. 2. No hood to get in the way if you are a side sleeper. 3. Lighter weight and greater packability. 4. Greater room (providing you get a wide quilt) to move around in. Cons. 1. No hood to allow your body to warm your head like a sleeping bag does. Bought EEs “Hoodlum” and use it when it’s really cold. 2. Drafts, unless you cinch the quilt around you a draft is inevitable. 3. No zipper to quickly batten the hatches so to speak. 4. No under fabric to lay on so your pad fabric is what you feel unless you buy a pad cover (more weight). 5. The sleeping bag fabric does add some insulation, not much but it does add some. 6. Dealing with pad straps is a small hassle. 7. The greater room of a wide quilt means your body must heat that space. Many cons but I love my Revelation EE quilt in 20 degrees I bought a few years back. I use it in 3 seasons and bring in Winter camping to supplement my cold weather bag. Did I say I love my quilt? |
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Frenchy19 |
Goldenbadger: "butthead: ""Trashing a gear company and the people who buy their gear is not cool. No matter if you're right or wrong." From what I hear, he does this on other forums as well. Do not feed the troll, and it will move on. |
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Goldenbadger |
butthead: ""Trashing a gear company and the people who buy their gear is not cool. No matter if you're right or wrong." It's what he does. He did the same thing on my thread about EE and Sanborn being two great local companies. He trashed EE with nothing to back it up. Then never responded back to defend his claims when people called him out on it. Like farting and leaving the room. I would be much more likely to listen to what he's saying if he weren't so rude about it. EE may be a touch more expensive, but they're local enough that I can 1) pick up my order and not pay shipping, 2) go to their shop to look at and test their gear, 3) drive there if I damage my item and need them to repair it (and save shipping again), and 4) support a local company, which for some reason seems to irritate Fizics. All of the above are worth more than the $40 you can save with UGQ. Also, EE's website is much more user friendly. |
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rdricker |
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Thedude |
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Wick |
rdricker: I'm thinking with a quilt, I wouldn't care for the feel of the sleeping pad under me." that is exactly my problem too, but I overheat easily, and often have a leg hanging out to cool off, while my wife tries to climb under me to get warmer. We are trying quilts on our trip, but we are taking one sleeping bag also, that would unzip to a larger rectangle for a second layer over both of us,,,just in case. If we find the quilts alone will do it on the trip, we will get to lighten the load next trip and leave the bag at home. Maybe have to carry a sheet, but I will sleep directly on the pad before the trip to see how that feels. I like being colder then most people at night and have very mild claustrophobia. My arms and legs must be able to get out. |
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LilyPond |
I'm talking about bags that are insulated on both sides, not Big Agnes. |
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Wick |
Snosaj: "Can someone recommend a big rectangular down quilt? My wife and I like to sleep on an air mattress with a blanket over us. We've been using an old heavy poly fill sleeping bag unzipped. Thanks! " Rumpl makes very light downfilled blankets for Rumpl down filled blankets click here |
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Snosaj |
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mirth |
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Fizics |
Banksiana: "I suggest you start your quilt journey at Enlightened Equipment . The basic notion is that your body compresses the bottom insulation of your bag rendering it relatively uninsulating. Your pad supplies insulation under you and your quilt provides it on top. The lower portion of the quilt can be closed to form a bag for your feet. A quilt saves weight and pack space and allows you to sleep unencumbered. Just an FYI enlightened equipmemnt is more expensive and after comparing designs you can tell EE was designed by children compared to other high quality quilts. Underground Quilts are a better value per quilt and materials, and they aren't a fanboy club for people who think it's cool to blow extra money just because x-product was made in the same state you live nevermind that it's design is elementary, and frankly just because anyone with an industrial sewing machine and a line to order insulation off of dutchware like everyone else, doesn't mean you should go on sewing squares together an calling it an Underquilt like EE :P |
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BigFlounder |
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ducks |
My kids liked it so much that we ordered one for each of them. the Enlightened Equipment link posted by banksiana has some great videos showing how they work for those of you that have questions about using a quilt. |
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RetiredDave |
Any enlightenment here would be appreciated. Thanks! Dave |
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Alan Gage |
I like everything about the quilt until the weather gets cold and windy. Sleeping in a CCS Lean there's some draft in the tent and I think a full wrap sleeping bag would have been warmer. I'm thinking of pairing the quilt with a lightweight breathable bivy bag for such situations. Alan |
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unshavenman |
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mc2mens |
Fizics: "Banksiana: "I suggest you start your quilt journey at Enlightened Equipment . The basic notion is that your body compresses the bottom insulation of your bag rendering it relatively uninsulating. Your pad supplies insulation under you and your quilt provides it on top. The lower portion of the quilt can be closed to form a bag for your feet. A quilt saves weight and pack space and allows you to sleep unencumbered. Trashing a gear company and the people who buy their gear is not cool. No matter if you're right or wrong. |
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unshavenman |
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DrBobDerrig |
dr bob |
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keth0601 |
Fizics: "Banksiana: "I suggest you start your quilt journey at Enlightened Equipment . The basic notion is that your body compresses the bottom insulation of your bag rendering it relatively uninsulating. Your pad supplies insulation under you and your quilt provides it on top. The lower portion of the quilt can be closed to form a bag for your feet. A quilt saves weight and pack space and allows you to sleep unencumbered. Can you elaborate on exactly what it is about the construction of these quilts that's so much better? After looking over the site all I can see is that they use a different baffle layout and brand of down fill &/ material which to me means very little (just branding really). Every bag and quilt company out there claims that they have the best baffle design, fill, material, etc but in reality where there are significant differences they come down more to personal preference than anything. As someone who makes quilts myself I don't see anything particularly advanced or innovative about these UGQ designs, but maybe I'm missing something? The only standout feature I can discern is the differential cut on their high end quilts, which in my experience makes little difference in a quilt unless you start getting into really high loft projects like below 0-10 degree ratings or so and it's not really all that innovative (bag makers have been doing it for a long time...). |
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HappyHuskies |
For mid summer I switch to a Zpacks 40f bag. If I had a quilt this light I might use it instead, but the Zpacks bag is pretty light at less than 13 ounces on my scale. Winter I still use a sleeping bag exclusively. I like a bag for blocking drafts and like a hood. I know there are those who use quilts in the depth of winter, but I own a winter bag and in these conditions like to be conservative. Mine is an old North Face I've owned for decades. Still works and my winter gear is not light anyway, so I continue to use it. Guess what I'm saying is that I use what I have. I value light and compact gear and when on the ground using a tent or tarp I don't really have a preference for either a bag or quilt. In a hammock I prefer the quilt as it is easier for this old man to wiggle into. So should you get a quilt? Sure they work well. Downsides? Not much other than drafts can be an issue if the quilt is not wide enough. I guess some folks use straps to hold the quilt down and reduce drafts, but I've never felt the need. Anyway, give it a try and see what you think. If you buy a used quilt in good shape and don't like it you can resell it and get most, if not all, of your money back. |
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butthead |
And often has the reverse effect of turning potential customers off. Pointing out differences in design and construction convinces more often. butthead |
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butthead |
Thedude: "I'm thinking about getting a quilt sleep system. I was just wondering how people like them. Pros and cons. And how they work for bwca." Really tried to like a quilt. Looked at EE, Nunatak, Jacks, and others. Even tried a few with my pad of choice, Exped 5 short. All were well built, light weight, pack-able, and the options are numerous. My trouble is founded in being a tenter, sleeping very well on the ground, and having used BA sleeved bags for many years. Got used to elbows being tucked in and secure in the bag, and rolling around without rolling off my pad, and yes I know how to secure a quilt with straps, which did not work as well. My desires follow andym's description, I now enjoy a BA Horsethief, essentially a quilt with a sew and zippered pad attachment. A bit heavier an slightly less pack-able but more comfortable in my usage. Just a shout out to good friends here that allowed me to look at, and try out quilts! I learned something I did not think mattered. Still, if or when I take a hammock plunge, I know something about considering quilts and what to look for. butthead |
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mirth |
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Fizics |
Get yourself some UGQs, never think about sleeping arrangements again, they look so good in the new included stuff sacks :). Shit I even use my top quilt when tenting, I guess if you need a zipper go with a bag? |
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Banksiana |
I've comfortably used my down quilt (with a good insulated pad, Exped or Nemo) to temps in the low 20's (quilt rated to 25). |
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mr.barley |
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Thedude |
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BigFlounder |
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Frenchy19 |
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jcavenagh |
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andym |
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pamonster |
mr.barley: "I usually use my down bag like a quilt. Zipped open with my feet in the foot box." +1, this in cold weather, with the bottom of my sleeping pad stuffed in the foot box to keep me all together and the heat in. I prefer this over a quilt in the cold. If it's staying above 60 at night then I use a light down quilt. Actually is an AEGISMAX down bag that completely unzips and is used as a quilt. From China so I was skeptical, but it had really positive reviews on the ultralight hiking forums though so I took a shot at $75....I've been very pleased with it. AegisMax |
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krole |
If you need something for winter, I think sleeping bag would be better, though a quilt can be used (you could even combine two quilts). My girlfriend and I actually have two EE Accomplices (double quilt) 40 and 20 degrees. With that we essentially save the weight of 1 sleeping bag. Some of the cons here listed I see as benefits. No hood saves weight, and if it gets cold enough where I need something on my head, I would have a hat with me anyway so I just use that. If I find it really cold I have other tops with hoods on I could use if needed. Winter camping excluded. I don't sleep naked so I don't touch bare sleeping pad... If it's really warm out I still have a lightweight merino shirt, merino boxers, and socks. No zipper, I find that as a positive. Easy to get in and out or vent as needed. After using it a few times you get pretty good at tucking the quilt under your body to prevent any drafts. You must also buy the correct size quilt for this. Pad straps are a small hassle, if it's warmer we don't even use them. Well we use them to keep our sleeping pads together but don't connect our quilt to it. We only really use them when it gets near freezing. But again everyone is different and has different needs, priorities, preferences, etc. |