Did a lot of research on quilts and bivy's for my upcoming AT Hike, 1 February, 2018. I purchased The Sawatch for the early part of my hike, I also had Katabatic add 3oz's of additional 850 WP Down to the quilt. I picked up The Katabatic Bivy as well, you cannot tent through The Smokies on The AT, only shelters, I have heard often about winter wind and rain blowing into the shelters, the bivy should keep my quilt dry and give me a little more warmth as well. For the warmer months I purchased The Katabatic Flex 30. Pretty confident that the choices I have made will keep me warm and comfortable throughout my hike. Thanks for the review, it was helpful when I was deciding what sleep system to choose.
I really believe this bag does a better job at keeping warmth inside the bag versus Enlightenmented Equipment, with the sleeping bag straps attached to it. There is a lot of room for cold to get inside the bag and hasn't helped me since I have been a colder sleeper.
I've been looking at Katabatic quilts for quite some time now, specifically the Palisade. I've been looking to go for a 3 season bag, and leaning towards using it in the fall and spring (slightly into winter) in the future. I'm wondering at what temp. would be too warm to use the Sawatch. I want to get a bag that I will use and be comfortable with, obviously, but I'm not sure if the palisade will be too cold for the spring and summer (in the midwest- Minnesota), and if I should go down to the Sawatch for good measure.
***** I have had the Sawatch on trips where it gets up into the low 60s at night. At that point I usually just have my feet in it and the rest draped of to the side of me. If the night time low is around 50 you can have it draped most of the way around you with maybe just your shoulders exposed. If you are in Minnesota I would go with the Sawatch its going to give you more flexibility in early spring late fall.
Nice. I'm currently doing research to get a bivy come spring and this gives me an option. Was looking at the MLD bivies. Do you have any experience with that company? Also awesome tip on the down balaclava.
Nice review. I am in need of a better sleep system and i think this is a good option for me. Now... to empty out my piggy bank so i can buy one. Ahahah
Do you ever button the draft collar? It feels a bit awkward to me, and I've never been cold enough to need to do it. Of course, I've only had their 30 degree quilt down to about 30, and their 5 degree quilt down to about 10.
+cbmagician Its more of a water resistant thing. I would look into a high quality silnylon tarp. Something like the tarps made by warbonnet. Those while keep you dry even in the worst rains.
Yes the floor is made of waterproof sil-nylon. However if you are looking for some kind of emergency shelter option this is probably not the best option. Its primary purpose is to protect a sleeping bag.
That is going to depend on a lot of variables. Wearing a base layer top and bottom and a down jacket you might be able to push this bag to 5ish and still be comfortable. But if I was camping in that low of temp I would have a full winter bag. This temp rating works well for early spring or late fall type conditions. I use a 30 deg bag for warmer temps.
Hey! Looking for my first quilt. Interesting in EE Revelation and KG new Flex models. Can you please give me your measurements for shoulders area and how tall and weight you are. Not sure if i go wide or regular. Thanks
Did a lot of research on quilts and bivy's for my upcoming AT Hike, 1 February, 2018. I purchased The Sawatch for the early part of my hike, I also had Katabatic add 3oz's of additional 850 WP Down to the quilt. I picked up The Katabatic Bivy as well, you cannot tent through The Smokies on The AT, only shelters, I have heard often about winter wind and rain blowing into the shelters, the bivy should keep my quilt dry and give me a little more warmth as well. For the warmer months I purchased The Katabatic Flex 30. Pretty confident that the choices I have made will keep me warm and comfortable throughout my hike. Thanks for the review, it was helpful when I was deciding what sleep system to choose.
Trail Breeze just curious why you overfilled the quilt vs buying the model with the next lower temp rating?
I really believe this bag does a better job at keeping warmth inside the bag versus Enlightenmented Equipment, with the sleeping bag straps attached to it. There is a lot of room for cold to get inside the bag and hasn't helped me since I have been a colder sleeper.
Hmmm. Hint, I find that I can actually turn the mummy bag as I roll onto my side so that the opening is still aligned with my face,
I've been looking at Katabatic quilts for quite some time now, specifically the Palisade. I've been looking to go for a 3 season bag, and leaning towards using it in the fall and spring (slightly into winter) in the future. I'm wondering at what temp. would be too warm to use the Sawatch. I want to get a bag that I will use and be comfortable with, obviously, but I'm not sure if the palisade will be too cold for the spring and summer (in the midwest- Minnesota), and if I should go down to the Sawatch for good measure.
***** I have had the Sawatch on trips where it gets up into the low 60s at night. At that point I usually just have my feet in it and the rest draped of to the side of me. If the night time low is around 50 you can have it draped most of the way around you with maybe just your shoulders exposed. If you are in Minnesota I would go with the Sawatch its going to give you more flexibility in early spring late fall.
Nice. I'm currently doing research to get a bivy come spring and this gives me an option. Was looking at the MLD bivies. Do you have any experience with that company? Also awesome tip on the down balaclava.
Nice review. I am in need of a better sleep system and i think this is a good option for me. Now... to empty out my piggy bank so i can buy one. Ahahah
Do you ever button the draft collar? It feels a bit awkward to me, and I've never been cold enough to need to do it. Of course, I've only had their 30 degree quilt down to about 30, and their 5 degree quilt down to about 10.
+Thomas Shadow It depends. If its going to be at or near the bag rating I do tend to button it up.
Do you think a bivy as such would work well in a hammock? In Texas we have torrential downpours that not even tarps can keep me dry.
+cbmagician Its more of a water resistant thing. I would look into a high quality silnylon tarp. Something like the tarps made by warbonnet. Those while keep you dry even in the worst rains.
do you know if the floor of the bivy is waterproof? I want to carry it for emergency use during winter day hikes in event I need to ivy on snow.
Yes the floor is made of waterproof sil-nylon. However if you are looking for some kind of emergency shelter option this is probably not the best option. Its primary purpose is to protect a sleeping bag.
what is the lowest temperature you can take the set up of the 15F quilt + Bivy ?
That is going to depend on a lot of variables. Wearing a base layer top and bottom and a down jacket you might be able to push this bag to 5ish and still be comfortable. But if I was camping in that low of temp I would have a full winter bag. This temp rating works well for early spring or late fall type conditions. I use a 30 deg bag for warmer temps.
was excited to see the bivy, but it is way to expensive msr or even Mt laural is cheaper..
Hey! Looking for my first quilt. Interesting in EE Revelation and KG new Flex models.
Can you please give me your measurements for shoulders area and how tall and weight you are.
Not sure if i go wide or regular.
Thanks
Loving that bivy!