Pros and cons of utilizing a quilt versus a sleeping bag?

Have both.. Weight, adaptability configurations, pack a bit smaller than a typical bag.

Those that sleep TOO hot in a sleeping bag appreciate the better temp control of a quilt.

Have not tried one but the concept makes sense if you are using a down sleeping bag where much of insulation underneath you is greatly reduced where the down is compacted by your weight. A good sleeping pad would be critical.

I agree with all of the above.

yep, r value is important in your pad with a quilt

I bought my first quilt because space and weight are critical when hunting out of a SuperCub, expecting the comfort to be manageable but trying to save in weight and space. However, after I used the quilt it's comfort is such that I can no longer crawl into a bag. I still use a bag when it's 0 or colder, but most of the time I find the quilt has all of the advantages in the field.

Temperature control is the problem I have with a bag as I tend to sleep hot, that is why I am exploring the use of a quilt. Last spring I bought a cheap quilt, a Kelty Bestie, and with a high R value pad, I found I can sleep comfortably into the lower 40s F. If I add an insulated shirt, pants and heavy socks, I can drop the comfort temperature down to 30 F.

On my 2020 Colorado Mule deer backpack hunt I utilized my bag and after dealing with temperature control again, swore to purchase a good quilt.

Enlightened Equipment 10* Revelation here, I like it.

I have the same issue with sleeping hot, and I’ve found that I sleep comfortably down to about 0 F in just a base layer using a EE 10 F Revelation with NeoAir Xtherm Max. Adding layers will get me down to about -10-15 F. Using my UGQ 0 F overstuffed Bandit quilt I’m comfortable to -15 F with base layer and about -25-30 F with additional layers. I think I sleep hotter than most, though.

Sleeping hot is better than sleeping cold.

I haven't been close to 0F with my quilt but I like the weight and size and I love the freedom of movement. It doesn't feel like I'm sleeping in a sarcophagus and it's so easy for this old man to get in and out. I use it with a NeoAir Xtherm. A couple years ago my buddy had an insulated Kymit pad and when we moved the tent you could see melted ice and a body shaped depression where he slept but my spot was unchanged.

Are you guys strapping your quilts to the pads?

Most of the time, yes. However when it's warm, say above 40 degrees, I often use it without the strapping. I've spent a lot of time sleeping in a tent and I've never slept as comfortably as I have since using a quilt.

+1
That and a really good pad are the best investments I have made.
I just ordered a 40 degree one for summer use.

I love my quilt. When I’m sheep hunting I like to just crawl in at the end of the day almost fully clothed. Pants, socks, shirt. If it’s cold I’ll add a sweater and toque. No screwing around in the morning getting dressed just get out. I use a good pad and also use a couple straps.

Only when it's really cold.

Some interesting stuff (maybe Not) here.
https://www.rayjardine.com/ray-way/Quilt-Kit/index.htm

At least there two solid options for the varied tastes of all types of people who s sleep outdoors. For me I cannot see myself using a quilt. But then that's just me...

i carry a lite guilt in my sleeping bags always ,i sleep hot so i never zip my bag shut.

I used an Enlightened Equipment quilt for 3 seasons but eventually just went back to a trad bag. Sleeping in a quilt becomes more of a technically unattractive operation if one happens to move around a bunch. The quilt is very light and incredibly warm - but as a mobile sleeper, I find a bag easier to deal with.

That’s actually one of the reasons I prefer a quilt. I don’t get tangled up like I do in the bag.

after owning a bunch (a big bunch!) of both, my thoughts are 20-30+ degrees- quilt (that is wide & long enough to give you ample coverage); below 20 degrees- lightweight sleeping bag

I owned quilts as rated as low as 0 and can tell you that a draft at 0 degrees is significantly different than one at 30 degrees

I still own several quilts, but they are all rated 20+ degrees, colder the nod goes to a bag

yep. spend the extra bucks for a long, wide quilt

Agreed.

I agree completely. Having no spent so much time in a quilt, the unrestricted movement is my favorite thing about it.

What about putting a quilt over/around a conventional bag to have a quilt for summer and add the quilt to bag for colder? If a good idea should I go with the same size as the sizing guides say or go a little wider? I have an old Big Agnes Lost Ranger 15 and looking at adding a Enlightened Equipment Revelation 10.

yup- I do that in the winter, have a 15-ish degree down bag and add a 50 degree Apex quilt, gets me down to 0 or a little lower pretty easily; on longer trips it helps keep the loft of the down by allowing moisture to migrate through the down bag and go into the synthetic quilt- which handles moisture better

if you plan on using a quilt in this way, you want it a little wider- and wider in a quilt is rarely a bad thing

EE has a good chart showing what temps you can realistically expect by layering what quilt of what bag/quilt

Yup. Longer and wider is a good thing.

I have a UGQ quilt that I love. I'm a side sleeper and they have extra wide sizes to give plenty to tuck in. A quilt is great when it's time for the 3am pee - no zippers to deal with getting in or out.
The UGQ comes with 2 straps but I've never used more than 1 and that one only on the back side. The extra width tucks in easily and the strap isn't needed.

Mine is a 10 degree and it's warm enough down to about 25. Like most higher end bag makers, they use the European system of warmth ratings. The listed rating won't keep you warm at that temp, it'll keep you alive. Add 10 to 20 degrees to the rating to see where it'll keep you warm.

Costco has some down blankets for about $20. I got one, folded it over, and sewed across the bottom and about a foot up the side to make a foot pocket. I added a buckle to match my quilt strap and use it inside the quilt. It adds about 10F to the warmth and weighs nothing. I do wish the blankets were a bit longer but it does help when it gets cold.

Sleeping hot is never a problem with me, so I can't understand the quilt thing. I frequently use my bag as a quilt, by just opening it up and laying on the pad with it over me. I really don't like being too cold to sleep.

Quilts are popular for backpacking because they're lighter weight and more compact. You don't have to haul around the insulation that would be under you and useless. You also don't have a zipper which is just more dead weight. It adds up. A good 0 degree quilt will weigh under 3lb.

I bought 2 and sewed them together and added snaps for a cheap summer packing quilt

Did you sew them for double thickness or double width?

I haven't had very good luck with quilts. I can't sleep directly on my pad / air mattress, traps too much body moisture and I wake up soaked. (Same reason I don't do well with bivy sacks.) I've added a thin sheet which helps but that takes away the weight and bulk advantages. I've more or less given up on quilts and returned to regular sleeping bags (semi-rectangular for more room). The layer between me 'n' the pad takes care of moisture and I can open / unzip to manage the warmth so I'm not too hot and not too cold. The quilt idea seemed good, just didn't pan out for me.

Tom

I can't lie directly on an air mattress either so I use a waffle ensolite pad on top of it. It's a bit bulky but weighs nothing. The waffles allow moisture to escape and I'm very comfortable on it.

width, overlapped a bit at bottom

El Coyote quilts, a new company is Arizona seems to be worth looking at. https://www.elcoyotequilts.com/

I like the idea of a quilt for the lack of entanglement when moving around. But I sleep cold, live in MN, and am 6'6" tall. Even the longest off the shelf or custom quilts will likely result in cold feet.



I need to rig something like this if I can ever find extra long down blankets. Ikea used to carry some decent versions but they were just a bit too short for something like this.

All of the quilts have sewn or zipper foot pockets. I have a pair if Thinsolate socks similar to these to wear at night. They're actually too warm for all but the coldest nights. I don't know if they make them for canoe paddle feet, though.

Underground Quilts makes them for people up to 6'9". They should be able to fit you. UNDERGROUND QUILTS
Look for down blankets on Amazon. They have some that are quite large. For truck camping in cold weather, I unzip an old down sleeping bag I have and throw it over me on top of the quilt. That's been good for 5F.

I know I chimed in earlier about my bag vs quilt preferences but just last night crashed with my Kifaru woobie and was reminded how nice a simple quilt style item can be. I guess everything has a place.

I like the simplicity of a quilt when it's time for the 3AM pee. I don't know how many times in the past that I've had to use a flashlight to unstick a sleeping bag zipper.

Just ordered an Enlightened Equipment Convert. 0 degree, 850 fill, wide and regular length. Best of both worlds. It can be used as a sleeping bag or quilt. It was rather expensive but I am looking forward to getting it. $420. Good luck.

Good choice..

For me, I wouldn't take that under 15-20. I get below that I'm cold. Including socks, pants and jackets up top.....

Some can do a bit colder than that. Depends how you sleep .

Quite a few of the bigger quilt makers use the European rating system, called the EN. The temp rating is where it will keep you alive, not warm. You generally need to add 10 to 20 degrees to that to know where it will keep you warm. The ISO rating is almost identical to the EN. I believe they just get it a little differently. When you get a bag rated other than EN/ISO, you don't know what you're getting. That doesn't mean they aren't good, it's just that they're not using a set standard.

I've found the best way to gauge the warmth is look at the amount and quality of the fill, compare that number to a like bag from Feathered Friends or Western Mountaineering

FF and WM ratings (for me) are spot on. Granted a true quilt will need a little less fill, but not a lot less fill- I've found it to be a very good gauge when comparing both quilts and bags from other manufacturers.

Ratings are great starting point, but there are assumptions :
an underquilt in a hammock, or an insulated pad(s) with sufficient total R-value.

For me , I look at the loft in inches or cm to get a feel for the amount of insulation from either synthetic or down quilts

Sounds great. I would have also checked the Long box, a couple extra inches of quilt is a good thing.

I would try a quilt in warm weather camping but not in cool to cold weather situations. Warm in cold weather is a good recipe for a good nights sleep. For me, a bag offers the best possibility of that. Successive nights of bad sleep equals not a good time for me. So, at least there are two options for all of us with varied tastes.

True, it's nice to have options. Have you tried a quilt in cold weather? You may be surprised at how effective they can be.

I ended up pulling the trigger on it. I tried it over the weekend and the wore out bag plus new quilt worked well in the mid-20s.

Good deal! Makes for a pretty versatile system