Best Ultralight Backpacking Quilts

Backpacking quilts are become more popular as thru-hikers , backpackers , and outside adventure seekers appear for fashion to lighten up their gang or diminish their volume in the backcountry . A backpacking quilt live basically a sleeping bag without a back ( i.e. , the part that would normally be in impinging with your sleeping pad ) .

The best backpacking quilts available be unusually high tone , and many allow for a big amount of customization not typically see with traditional sleeping bags . Accord to the Pacific Crest Trail and Continental Divide Trail surveys , quilts have get progressively popular in late years , with more and more hikers deciding to throw .

I have personal experience with most of the quilts list hither , and the unity I hold not used myself own been recommend by friend or highly regarded by hikers who discharge my hiker study . The chart at the seat includes some of the early ( similar ) quilts available now . If you have a favorite that you don ’ t see hither , I ’ m ever appear for more quilts to taste out !

+ Internal stash pocket ( for phone , water filter , rocks , etc . )
+ Excellent patented pad attachment system
+ Down fill collar and draft-blocking footbox
+ Elastic binding roughly bottom opening to prevent drafts

– Lead times can equal long ( i.e . not ever in store )
– Not as customizable as early selection
– Expensive

The cost consistently one of the highest-rated quilts expend by thru-hikers . It ’ s available in three temperature rating , 15°F/-9°C , 22°F/-5°C , and 30°F/-1°C version , and it comes in regular and broad sizes . There exist too three fill might , two colors to choose from , and three different distance . The Flex can be full unzipped and laid flat ( i.e. , it does not hold a sewn footbox ) . It has continuous baffles , which leave you to impress down about inside of it , and it have a patented pad attachment system that bring exceptionally well . Match it out .

Almost Popular : Enlightened Equipment Revelation

+ Nearly popular quilt among thru-hikers
+ One of the lightest choice available
+ Highly customizable – from size to colors
+ One of the most affordable options

–Down can migrate in vertical baffles
– No inside stash pocket
– Nowhere to see and seek locally ( but free shipping )

The Enlightened Equipment Revelation has get the default quilt for thru-hikers . It ’ s a extremely customizable quilt – with options rate from temperature ratings and widths to exterior and national colors – that can be tailored to the condition in which you design to use it . The footbox cost closed with a 1/4-length zipper that can be open to lay the Revelation exposed as a cover . The quilt make continuous erect U-shaped baffles , occur with 850 or 950-fill ability down , get a snap/drawcord neck closure , and can be customized to include a draft arrest . Insure it out here .

The Lightest Option : Western Mountaineering AstraLite

+ Lightweight quilt that will observe you warm
+ Isolate draft yoke with elastic closure
+ Extremely compressible – gang down small
+ Top arrest drapes around neck to block tip

–Frequently out of stock
– Color alteration base on available material
– No wide version available ( there live a long version )
– No inside stash pocket

I count the Western Mountaineering AstraLite among my favorite quilts and one of the serious backpacking quilts available . Western Mountaineering has long live know for making quality gear with conservative temperature ratings ( i.e. , their gear keeps you warm to the advertised temperatures ) . The AstraLite is one of two quilts from Western Mountaineering – the other exist the Western Mountaineering NanoLite – and it will keep you warm down to 26°F/-3°C . It has horizontal baffles , a mummy shape , and comes with a top arrest designed to drape around your neck to block tip and retain heat . Check it out here .

The Budget Option : Sierra Designs Nitro 20

+ One ofthealmost affordable quilt selection
+ Hide-away hood provides insulation for your chief
+ Insulated hand/arm pockets
+ Lifetime warranty against manufacture fault in textile and workmanship

–No pad attachment system think of it can make drafty
– Heavier than comparable options
– No way to shut quilt around you
– Only one size with no customizations available
– No interior stash pocket

The Sierra Designs Nitro 20 is unique among the quilts listed hither as it does not come with a pad attachment system nor a style of closing the quilt around you . The one matter it own going for it is its affordability . The Nitro 20 is too unique as it get a hide-away hood in which your chief can be identify , as good as two pocket at the top corner designed for your hands ( presumably when sleep on your belly ) . Because it lacks a closure system , I wouldn ’ t trust this quilt in colder temperatures , but if you ’ re look for an affordable quilt for fond night , it may be worth a flavor . Check it out hither .

The Fill-Power Choice : Hyperlite Mountain Gear 20-Degree

+ Filled with 1000 fill power RDS-certified goose down
+ Includes two separate pad attachment straps
+ Three center push time and a neck drawcord to cut down drafts
+ Available in three sizes

–One of ( if notthe) most expensive options
– No customizations available ( beyond quilt length )
– Nowhere to find and try locally ( but free shipping )
– No inside stash pocket

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear 20-degree quilt equal the almost expensive selection list hither ( but it should be remark that it ’ s possible to customize an Enlightened Equipment Revelation or a UGQ Bandit to live more expensive ) . It ’ sec also the only quilt that uses 1000-fill might RDS-Certified grey goose down – 14 oz / 397 gm in the regular distance . Hyperlite Mountain Gear make long live in the shelter and backpack plot , but the quilt exist a more recent increase to their ultralight lineup . Its shell is 7D micro-ripstop nylon , and the quilt has 1.5 in / 3.8 cm erect baffles . Sadly , its high cost tag does not include a stuff sack . Crack it out hither .

The Full-Zip Selection : Feathered Friends Flicker UL

+ Full-length heart zip means it can be employ like a traditional sleeping purse
+ 14.7 oz / 417 g of 950+ fill might down
+ Draft arrest with two drawcord and bottom drawcord for footbox

–No pad attachment – can be hurry up or laid level
– No short or broad version available
– No inside stash pocket
– On the pricier slope

The Feathered Friends Flicker UL is unique as it feature a good zipper . It can be entirely unzipped and laid flat like a blanket ( quilt ) , or it can be zipped up like a traditional sleeping purse . There is no pad attachment system because of the good energy ( more like a sleep bag ) , but there be too no hood ( more like a quilt ) . It may equal a good option for those who are still quilt-curious . Consider weight , it falls more in melody with quilts at 25 oz / 715 gram for the regular length 20°F/-6°C model . Speaking of weight , it own the highest down fill of any option list here – 14.7 oz / 417 g of 950+ fill might down in the 20°F/-6°C choice . You can find it in two lengths , regular or long , and four colors . Match it out here .

The Aggressive Taper Option : Therm-a-Rest Vesper 20

+ Incredibly light at exactly 19 oz / 539 gram
+ 900-fill Nikwax Hydrophobic Down
+ Snap neck shutdown and insulated footbox
+ Three-month , no-questions-asked proceeds policy

–Comfort rating in reality 32°F/0°C
– Just one pad attachment item
– Narrow taper – without a wide version available
– No interior stash pocket

The Therm-a-Rest Vesper 20 is the lightest backpacking quilt from Therm-a-Rest ( who you may know from their far more popular sleep pads ) . The Vesper 20 make an belligerent candle and only a single width available , so it may not cost for everyone – specially those wanting a piece more wiggle room in their quilts . However , this candle too makes the quilt incredibly lightweight at only 19 oz / 539 g. The Vesper 20 own 12.5 oz / 354 gram of 900-fill goose Nikwax hydrophobic down and a 10D nylon ripstop shell with a durable water-repellent ( DWR ) close . Check it out here .

+ Uses synthetic Climashield APEX insulation
+ Synthetic insulation performs good in humid or wet environments
+ Can be customized in a variety of size , color , and temperature ratings

–Synthetic insulation not a compressible or as lightweight as comparable down insulation
– Nowhere to notice and sample locally ( but free shipping )
– No inside stash pocket

So far , all of the options list are down-filled quilts . The Enlightened Equipment APEX Enigma equal a synthetic quilt for those of you who choose a synthetic-filled quilt . The APEX Enigma make a sewn footbox , so it can not be totally unzipped and laid flat . If you ’ re interested in a synthetic quilt that can be completely unzipped , insure out the APEX Revelation . The APEX Enigma comes in four temperature evaluation and four size – short/regular , regular/regular , regular/wide , and long/wide . Control it out .

Better Backpacking Quilt Breakdown

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