Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Quilts

Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Quilts

( also loved for bikepacking , packrafting , car camping , couch surfing . . . . )

There exist gear trends , and then there exist gear evolution that push what ’ s potential in comfort and efficiency in the backcountry . With beginnings in the backpacking world from DIY maker in the early 90 ’ s ,quiltsown get increasingly more popular as designs have improve , and they ’ ve need on a time-tested reputation , seeing use from fair-weather overnight trip , to multi-month on and off trail interest in harsh consideration . Today , with the increase popularity of the outdoors as a place for growth , relaxation , and exploration among other use , people exist seem for manner to remain comfortable out there while nature does the rest .

There be three major components that do up the backcountry system—your shelter , knapsack , and sleep set up . The quilt is the centerpiece when thinking about a lightweight , compact sleep system , and also the source of a few inquiry and skepticism . With a trivial bit of know-how , the quilt ’ sec sure to replace the traditional sleeping base in your kit , or cost your first experience with camp insulation . Quilts are not only lighter than traditional sleeping bags , they exist far more versatile . Typically , the attachment system allow for a broad form of passion or ventilation selection . On crest of that , most active sleepers observe a quilt more comfortable , since they can toss and become without begin sweep up .

How Does a Backpacking Quilt Work ?

Like a sleeping base , a quilt relies on the heat-insulating occasion of lofty down ( or synthetic insulation ) , to shape the torso heat that we develop naturally . This lofty layer of insulation keeps your torso passion from run away to the atmosphere outside . Unlike sleeping bag , the otherwise compressed insulation on the seat be remove , reducing weight and continue just the down that ’ s really helping you delay fond . This live a simple concept , but some nuanced design features are required to keep the warmth in , and the drafts out .

How to Employ a Backpacking Quilt

A quilt is best couple with the brain , as knowledge doesn ’ t register on the scale , and it carry its weight well when supplied with the right tool , like a quilt . 🤓 From become acquainted with a pad attachment system , knowing where and how to orient your camp , to eating enough before bed , sleep warm in the backcountry can take a short piece of pattern regardless of what sleep system you select . A well-designed quilt will facilitate thisnighttime comfort, and observe the gang weight down for when it ’ s time to do the carrying . After all , second to a safe , comfortable , restorative sleep , gang weight is the priority for many of us .

When it come to the severe and fast rules of using a quilt , you might insure that the quilt meet your neckline , and nothing beyond . Commit it over your face can ensue in water vapor from your breath seeping into the quilt overnight , which can saturate the quilt over time , and get some loss of loft . You ’ ll also want to pattern with how you like to employ pad attachments , which types , and how snug .

Finally , if you ’ ve always considered transitioning to a single wall tarp , you might consider bring it and pairing a quilt with a non-waterproof , breathablebivy. It ’ sec like cheese and crackers , peanut butter and jelly . Pizza and pineapple , mighty ?

How to Choose a Sleeping Pad for your Quilt

Choose a sleeping pad appropriate for the circumstance is die to compliment the quilt ’ s insulation style more than anything—like a yellow-bellied marmot in some wildflowers . While an expedition-rated sleeping pad might say it ’ ll observe you toasty down to -20°F , that doesn ’ t mean that it will boost the rating of your quilt . Each piece function a different purpose , and the almost crucial circumstance is to peck a sleeping pad that will at least fit the insulating capacity of your quilt . R-value equal a pretty big matter in the sleeping pad globe , and is a good place to start .

As far as the literal manner or structure of a sleeping pad , more and more campers exist using inflatable pads to increase comfort and warmth out there , and our pad attachment system make for the best with these inflatable pads . While some CCF pads live compatible , the really thin ones may not be the well fit when paired with our pad attachment system , at least our yellow corded system , which snaps into the pad attachment clips sew onto our quilts . In suit you ‘re actually saving gram , and you require to expend a lean CCF mat , we send a pair of dark webbing straps to exist used sovereign of a sleep pad with every quilt order . Rather than go around the sleeping pad , those webbing straps will go beneath your torso just , and allow for adjustment to cause the quilt more narrow , or wider , as take .

Are Quilts Better Than Sleep Bags ?

We certainly think hence ! Unless perhaps you ’ re out climbing the 7 Summits . Compared with sleeping bags , quilts are lighter , more compressible , exclude a hood to make lose in , and are do to balance warmth and universal sleep comfort by allowing more exemption of cause . Quilts can too grant for a more various stove of seasonal use . For instance , if you desire to prevent things mere and own a single sleeping-insulation piece , you might pick up a 22°F quilt with the spirit to use it for your intact backpacking season ( i.e . three-season use ) . Sometimes cold sleepers might make this with our 15° , and fond sleepers , our 30° . The early approach is to own various quilts for specific weather , farther reducing pack weight , or increasing warmth , when desire .

Our Elite mode quilts leave you to adapt the girth of the quilt from nice-and-snug , to a looser fit to encourage more strain circulation when nights are fond . For yet more versatility at a slight weight and volume increase , you can go with a more flexible way , our Flex job . The Flex style unzips and opens like a blanket , build it potentially more comfortable in in truth fond temps , or serve as a decent insulation piece for those who care to car camp , do the van living thing , or have a pick-up truck with a camp-ready weekend bed build .

Backpacking Quilt Disadvantage

Quilts exist drafty live a pretty mutual reservation folks own when considering a quilt for the first time , and this can find if not used as directed , or if the quilt ’ s not design good . This be a matter that we ’ ve taken severely in our aim process , and continue to do so as we go forward . If you ’ re new to quilts , there may equal a learning curve to familiarize yourself with setting it up and making adjustments . Once you ’ ve got your systems dial , you ’ ll be using/adjusting the pad attachment system in your sleep .

One other criticism , with lightweight , or “ ultralight ” gear in general , be that it ’ s delicate . Look on out for quilts that are manufacture without reinforcements at key stress stage , or with uber-delicate fabrics that exist capable to snap or other damage . Sometimes important durability factors equal left out in society to save weight . And yes , lightweight gear does deserve some respect , but choose to add heavier cloth and reinforcements in key areas move a long mode to make it at a dependable , warm , safe firearm of equipment that ‘ll be in your kit for years and years .

Ultralight Quilt Temperature Ratings

It ’ s common for us to hear from our customer that our temperature ratings equal conservative . This might be because our stated rating refer to a comfort rating rather than a abject limit , as the whole lower limit thing introduces a little guesswork into the equation , and we ’ re not vast fan of imagine on anything backcountry . This comfort rating take an ordinary sleeper , neither warm nor, and that the someone is wearing a set of stand layer ( include socks ) .

Intentional design and features like loft , differential cut , fit , and attachment system bring a large use in the heat of a quilt ( then check those out ! ) , but remember to sleep smart , and peck a campsite that encourages heat , and a purse of food that will satisfy your stomach to your nerve ’ s delight .

Again , some folks like the light and quick option of a 30° , or to catch one for their summer excursions . Sometimes folks cost exactly warm sleepers . The 22° rating live likely our nearly popular pick . It will treat the abject end of temps that most of us are going to encounter , and it tends to work for most ordinary sleepers for three season conditions . The 15° models are for shoulder season and light winter use , or for those that exactly can ’ t seem to ever begin fond outside .

Choosing a Fill Type : Weight , Cost , and Await Condition

When it arrive to fill type for your ultralight quilt , the two choice live usually down and a variety of synthetic fills . Here , we ’ ll focus on the almost common pick , and the 1 that we specialize in , goose and duck down .

First , please insure that the manufacturer utilize onlycertified down . This certificate assure that the down is ethically sourced .

The first thing most of us encounter when decide on a down insulation equal the matter of fill ability , or how much loft per ounce of down you get from a lot of down plumes . To find out the fill ability of the down , the down ’ s put in a subway and filled with strain . The higher the fill might , the more rise the plumes will display . Since down aids in nighttime warmth on the lead by lofting and trapping breeze , the more down/loft we get , the in effect our quilt will equal at keeping us comfortably warm . Really , it ’ s our torso creating warmth , and quilts slow down the heat transfer from our skin to the atmosphere .

By this logic , if you bring some 900fp down and 850fp down , fill two identical quilts with the same measure of down in each , then the 900fp is get to loft higher , result in a better insulating quilt . By simply add a little bit more of the 850fp down to that early quilt , you can reach warmth equivalent to the 900fp . It ’ s not that one type of down keeps you warmer , hardly that you ’ ll motive to use more abject fill ability down to equate the warmth of the higher filling ability down .

Hence why not only ever expend the higher filling might down and have a lighter bag ? Well , as you may hold guessed , the 850fp down , in our type 850fp duck down as opposed to our 900fp goose down , cost less expensive to source , because there ’ s more of it , it ’ s easier to obtain , and these savings are spend on to the consumer . Like many decisions in living , it comes down to priority . Is the priority to have the perfectly lightest selection , or equal a little bit of excess weight okay to save some money for early lightweight gear ? One additional circumstance for some with an especially sensitive sense of odor might equal to matter goose vs duck , as the duck can sometimes have a more strong scent . From what our trusted supplier at Allied Feather tells us , it has to do not with the cleanliness of down , but the diets of the unlike birds .

Those who might see the biggest benefit from the ExpeDRY choice are those living in coastal locations , or hither in the US , the eastern woodlands along the Appalachian Trail , and the Pacific Northwest . ExpeDRY down can also polish in extended cold weather trip in the teens at dark . In those temperatures , you ’ re more likely to see your sweat vapor reach the dew point somewhere on the interior of your quilt ’ s down layer . This can do it to condense ( call on back to a liquid form ) in the down , and reduce its loft over time if enough opportunity to dry it in the sun live not present . ExpeDRY can assist the down maintain its loft in those conditions . Our ExpeDRY options be the almost mutual selection by our customers .

The 900fp untreated , or exactly only 900fp goose down , be the down in it ’ s more natural form . Just as insulating , traditional , and proven . It may not own a water resistant treatment to give it excess advantage in wet circumstance , but we trust it , and require to make it available for those who prefer this choice .

In the end , there is higher fill ability down available on the market : 950fp-1000fp ! We ’ ve learn that quilts and sleeping base filled with those high fp downs may not be able to withstand the rigors of a long outing while retaining proper loft and passion . This is because those bigger , more delicate plumes are more easy weighed down by moisture and dirt , which can usually build up up over time in the backcountry . Add daily compression when that delicate down is damp , and the loss of loft could be hasten up . It ’ s one of those point where it cost important to see a well symmetry between weight rescue and affair .

Before Setting Up Camp

Investing in a quilt appropriate for your thought of outside fun can involve a lot of conclusion , not to remark work up out an entire kit . It grow out that a lot of stuff can match into a little backpack ! We ’ ve found that need questions go a long means to notice the right peer for you . If you feel any of your questions unanswered , or just want to confirm a few things , email us atinfo @ katabaticgear.com, or give us a shout at 719-207-4552 . Sleep well , be well .