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rayestrella 
Group: Members
Posts: 6411
Joined: Nov. 2004
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Posted on: Nov. 10 2012, 8:27 am |
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I had mentioned last month that I should write an article about quilt use similar to the one I did for BPL, but put it somewhere free to read and a few of you encouraged me to do so.
Here it is. I think it will stay there but it may be moved as BGT has never done a general knowledge article before.
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews....strella
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I measure happiness with an altimeter
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| Post Number: 2
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SW Mtn backpacker
Born to hike, forced to work ...
Group: Members
Posts: 6720
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Nov. 10 2012, 7:04 pm |
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Looking at giving a high loft down quilt a try at about 15F to save some weight. My 30F + Western Mountaineering is often used quilt style but there's not that much of a weight difference that I'm ready to give it up.
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Usually Southwest and then some.
In wildness is the preservation of the world. - Henry Thoreau
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| Post Number: 3
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Owen571
Group: Members
Posts: 536
Joined: Apr. 2011
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Posted on: Nov. 10 2012, 8:00 pm |
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I'd go for it if I got more use at a lower average temperature. The 40F bag that I use as a quilt into the mid 40s, and am comfortable zipped up in down to around 30 is enough for most of my use, and a similarly rated quilt would only save half a pound.
My warmer bag, though, weighs 40oz, and because it is actually overkill for anything I'm ever likely to get into(EN 10F, probably a sub-zero bag for me, and I live in Alabama), could be replaced with a 20F quilt at barely over half the weight, saving almost 20oz. I love the bag, but wish I'd bought a quilt, instead. For the rare occasions I need that much bag, it's not much of an issue, but every time I look at the Enlightened Equipment Revelation specs, I'm reminded that I could have probably had the same functionality, minus 20oz, at the same cost.
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| Post Number: 4
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TrailTramper
Group: Members
Posts: 1288
Joined: Sep. 2009
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Posted on: Nov. 10 2012, 8:13 pm |
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Nice article, Ray, thanks. Quilts and hammocks have long been a mystery to me.
I still have one question after reading your article. Why wouldn't a sleeping bag used quilt style be superior to a quilt without a zipper? A sleeping bag has a foot pocket. In warm weather you stick your feet outside. In cool weather you use the foot pocket. As the temperature goes down, you progressively zip the bag up. On very cold nights you tighten the shoulders and hood as well. You never have to worry about the bag wandering away, due to the zipper.
A 2-lb 35F bag thus adapts to temperatures from about 25 to 70, which is a pretty wide range.
I guess you're going to say that the main advantage of a quilt is the weight savings? Beyond the weight of a quilt, I'm only carrying extra ounces in the zipper and the hood, right? That seems like a tiny weight penality compared to the additional warmth and ease of use at the lower end of the temperature rating.
So what am I missing about the advantages of a quilt?
[Note: The bag I'm referring to is specifically a semi-rectangular, which may be better than a mummy for using quilt style. (?)]
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| Post Number: 5
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TigerFan
Group: Members
Posts: 2000
Joined: May 2010
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Posted on: Nov. 10 2012, 10:56 pm |
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Quilts are typically narrower than a sleeping bag; they're sized to cover you plus tuck around the sides comfortably. Quilt widths are about 48-56" while sleeping bag girths are more like 58-64".
Also, no hood, or extras like draft tubes or collars.
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Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
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| Post Number: 6
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STICK
~Stick~
Group: Members
Posts: 4109
Joined: Apr. 2009
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Posted on: Nov. 10 2012, 11:08 pm |
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As usual, great write up Ray! I enjoyed reading it and can relate pretty dang close to your sleeping style. And I did not realize that you had 2 TSS quilts... I still wish that I would have gotten mine...I feel like I would have enjoyed it a lot.
To date, I have had 5 quilts, but only have 3 at the moment. I had a GoLite RS1+ Season quilt that was awesome, until I turned into a bit of a gram weenie...and it was the long version, which I did not come even close to needing. I have a Hammock Gear 50 F quilt, an Enlightened Equipment quilt with 2.5 oz/sqyd Climashield which I absolutely love, and a 35 F Enlightened Equipment Proidigy quilt which I am coming to love. This is actually the second 35 F Prodigy quilt I have had, the first one I sold off since I ordered it too short...
Anyway, I have really grown to love quilts, especially being a side-sleeping tosser-n-turner... However, I have only had them down to mid 30's. Next year though I would like to get a lower rated quilt and push the temp limit a little more. For now though, I will stick with my Marmot Helium for the colder weather. (And I don't get those -5 F temp weather that you get...  )
Anyway, thanks for sharing man. I will have to refer this write up to others...
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Jus' sayin'...
Sticks Blog
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IAJeff
Group: Members
Posts: 183
Joined: Jan. 2012
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Posted on: Nov. 11 2012, 9:17 pm |
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Should have read this post prior to asking questions about quilts. Thanks for the help and information.
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| Post Number: 10
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CenAZwalker
Group: Members
Posts: 96
Joined: Jul. 2012
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Posted on: Nov. 11 2012, 9:44 pm |
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Nice write up, thanks for sharing. I just ordered my first quilt the other day, should be in my hands on Tuesday. I went with a RevX from Enlightened Equipment. 20*, 6', wide, half taper, 30% overfill. Should weigh in around 25.5oz. I too am a side sleeper and constantly toss and turn. I'm hoping a quilt will make my sleeping time much more enjoyable. And while I can't comment on the product yet, I can say that Tim was great to deal with, answered all my questions in a speedy manner and the quilt was shipped the day after I ordered it. His great customer service goes a long way with me. I think the addition of a down balaclava is a good idea, I'll have to add that to my list of gear wants. The quilt will get it's first field test Thanksgiving weekend.
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| Post Number: 11
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BikerEagle
Group: Members
Posts: 5
Joined: Nov. 2012
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Posted on: Nov. 12 2012, 8:15 pm |
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Ray. you describe exactly how I sleep. I've used a semi rectangular bag for years with it unzipped except for the footbox. Guess I've been quiltin it and didn't even know it. Now you've made the case that's gonna make me go gear shopping again Great article. Thanks
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"They came with a rush." Louis L'Amour
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| Post Number: 12
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IAJeff
Group: Members
Posts: 183
Joined: Jan. 2012
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Posted on: Nov. 12 2012, 8:24 pm |
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I have looked at the Enlightened Equipment site and it looks very good. Would like to hear how it arrives and your testing. I think that is what I want to go with too. Please keep us informed.
Thanks Ray for getting me to buy more gear. Pretty soon an addition will be required.
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TDale
Group: Members
Posts: 13140
Joined: Jun. 2005
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Posted on: Nov. 12 2012, 9:29 pm |
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What must they be paying ray to redirect traffic?
Just kiddin you, man. You do a great service to us.
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"Sure as I know anything, I know this - they will try again...They'll swing back to the belief that they can make people... better. And I do not hold to that. So no more runnin'. I aim to misbehave."
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| Post Number: 15
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LiteMan
Group: Members
Posts: 241
Joined: May 2012
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Posted on: Nov. 12 2012, 9:53 pm |
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Good article Ray. I was looking at the 1 season/40 degree GoLite down quilt (they say they don't use live plucked stuff) because of the price, weight and reviews but I ended up going with the bag version because while it cost a little bit more it had the same list weight and i figured it would be a little warmer than the quilt. I'm guessing the bag might be slightly more bulky than the quilt though.
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| Post Number: 16
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AlmostThere
I must not be there yet, I keep hiking...
Group: Members
Posts: 4878
Joined: Apr. 2008
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Posted on: Nov. 13 2012, 12:06 am |
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Just got back from two nights out - woke up to crunchy Nalgenes, thick frost on EVERYTHING including the tents, and 30F at breakfast time with the sun peeking down on us.
My three season Jacks R Better Hudson River and a midweight base layer, plus some heavier merino socks than usual. Wool cap. A good pad with an R value of 5. Very warm indeed.
Everyone else was cold in their mummy bags, but that was no surprise. Well, there was one lady - I loaned her my 0 degree Marmot winter bag, and she had a very heavy Camp Bed pad from REI (R value of 7) who did well also. But the other four hit the bottom of their gear - a 20F rated REI sleeping bag plus a NeoAir paired with a Z Rest, a Mountain Hardware Lamina of some sort paired with a Z Rest, a -20 rated bag (the occupant didn't have any pad at all and figured the rating of the bag would do the job... huh).
Very happy with my five year old quilt and taking it with me again over four days this Thanksgiving. I'm with Ray - quilts are the bomb.
Good article, Ray.
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All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.
Friedrich Nietzsche
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| Post Number: 17
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toesnorth
Group: Members
Posts: 2500
Joined: Jan. 2007
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Posted on: Nov. 13 2012, 12:16 am |
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I like my Hudson River, too, but I don't take it (except as an over-quilt) much below freezing. I think it will go to 25, as rated, with a good pad for most folks but I think I hit the wall at around 30 degrees with it.
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"Failure is never as frightening as regret."
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| Post Number: 18
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skinewmexico
Group: Members
Posts: 1878
Joined: Sep. 2008
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Posted on: Nov. 13 2012, 12:28 am |
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I'm starting to think that a lot of what people consider a bag failure is really a lack of pad.
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Con men understand that their job is not to use facts to convince skeptics but to use words to help the gullible to believe what they want to believe. - Thomas Sowell
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LiteMan
Group: Members
Posts: 241
Joined: May 2012
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Posted on: Nov. 13 2012, 12:50 pm |
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Thanks Ray, i will, but i intend to use it for more than just summer as i live in VA, and i have very warm alpaca clothing. I also have some goose down apparel from before i knew about certain issues with down. I'm sure i can bring it down to the coldest temps that VA has to offer. (Also, i know meditative techniques to raise my body temp at will).
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| Post Number: 24
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| Post Number: 25
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rayestrella
Group: Members
Posts: 6411
Joined: Nov. 2004
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Posted on: Nov. 13 2012, 3:48 pm |
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***pulls hands away from keyboard***
(You can do it Ray, just go, go...)
;-)
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I measure happiness with an altimeter
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| Post Number: 26
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| Post Number: 27
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LiteMan
Group: Members
Posts: 241
Joined: May 2012
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Posted on: Nov. 13 2012, 5:45 pm |
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(Tigger @ Nov. 13 2012, 2:13 pm)
QUOTE
(LiteMan @ Nov. 13 2012, 9:50 am)
QUOTE (Also, i know meditative techniques to raise my body temp at will). Why bother with a sleeping bag or quilt at all....?
Because who wants to meditate every time it's cold outside or they become cold? Maybe Tibetan monks don't mind doing that, but i wouldn't want to. Also, i don't know if i can do it while asleep. I've only ever done it when conscious. Maybe at some point i can get to that point, but i'm not there yet.
p.s. there are plenty of people in the West and East who can do these things--it's not that hard, just takes right practice, belief or rather lack of blocking beliefs, and focused intention.
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Tigger
Woods Pouncer
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Posts: 10498
Joined: Apr. 2005
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Posted on: Nov. 13 2012, 6:04 pm |
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(LiteMan @ Nov. 13 2012, 2:45 pm)
QUOTE
(Tigger @ Nov. 13 2012, 2:13 pm)
QUOTE
(LiteMan @ Nov. 13 2012, 9:50 am)
QUOTE (Also, i know meditative techniques to raise my body temp at will). Why bother with a sleeping bag or quilt at all....? Because who wants to meditate every time it's cold outside or they become cold?
Because you can...Talk about ultralight backpacking.
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If I'm going to be lost, in the woods is where I want to be...
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| Post Number: 30
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Survival Skills 101 • Eat Better
