Sorry but it's a barf bag. This "new and improved" presentation is aimed for those who know nothing, the shots jump around like someone on crack, and it comes across like an infomercial which makes me nauseous. If this shite continues it will be doing so without me. From what was once a meaty in-depth very informative channel you now get infant-grade pabulum. Sickening.
I actually have to remind myself multiple times a year when I start shopping online for a quilt or warmer bag that - dude - just unzip the damn 20-degree bag you HAVE. Yet, the allure of the 0-degree bag persists. :)
The explanation I like the most was from Justing Outdoors. For winter, he uses sleeping bag and an sythethic quilt combo. I think people seem to forget that these can work together as well. One can add a liner to a quilt and so on. I turn in the night and sleeping bags are just uncomfortable for me.
I have both. I use the quilt down to 30 degrees. any lower I use my 0 degree big agnes bag for large people. it gets very windy here in the upper midwest. I have quilts I can bring to place over the ba bag that helps with the wind and ups the warmth value. I have an air mat that's insulated. mat, bag and quilts are longer and wider because I have puppers that will sleep on the mat and under the loft to snuggle with their mommy:) I place my day clothes at my feet inside the bag/quilt to make them warmer and easier to put on in the morning. I am a side sleeper who tosses and turns due to neck, shoulder and hip pain. the main thing is get the best! don't settle. read and watch agenda free reviews. buy once cry once and be grateful you are warm, dry and comfortable with quality gear. nothing beats a hot cup of joe with hella breakfast after a glorious nights sleep.
I have several of both. About the only time I use my sleeping bags now is if it's really cold and I'm sleeping on the ground. The rest of the time, it's a quilt. Quilts take up less pack space and weigh less, and you don't have to worry about a zipper getting stuck. There are many good synthetic quilt options out there, and they are less expensive than down. If I'm paddling or going to be in really damp conditions, I'll carry the bulkier and heavier synthetic quilt. I don't seem to experience the draft issues with a quilt many complain about. If you get a quilt wide enough, it will tuck under your sides pretty well. If it comes untucked, you'll know soon enough and just spend a second or two tucking it back. Many of the quilt haters just don't give a tuck.
I prefer bag because I can't afford to have both. Also, I'm not an ultralight backpacker, so a little extra weight is fine. One day I'll have both, but for now I'm a bag man!
I'm kind of partial to a double woobie inside of a poncho. Pine bough bed and a simple piece canvas covers the pine boughs. Easy to shove into the ruck and fills in the natural holes between clothes and pogie bait. Did winter indoctrination -42° in Fairbanks. Got chilled but lived through the night.
Hey Luke I like the quilt with a wool blanket winter or summer not to cold not to hot any way hope y'all are well much love your way be safe have a wonderful day
This helped me out a lot. I have hiked and camped for years but just started backpacking where I am combining the two last year. I loved it and got hooked. It was fall so the night was a bit cool. I had a mummy bag and it kept me warm but I do not like feeling constricted. I just bought it and returned it when I got home. I loved the warmth but slept like crap as it restricted my movement.
I absolutely cannot do mummy bags. The level of instant panic and claustrophobia that comes from having a fully zipped up mummy bag’s zipper get stuck and trying to escape such a confined space is terrible.
Have 2 sleeping bags that are synthetic fill. One for early spring/late fall (rated -7C) and one for winter (rated -30C) camping from November to end of February. All other times I use alternating combos of two 100% wool hand made blankets (that are about 55 years old) and a sleeping bag liner. So I am with you Luke. I like and use both. Sleeping bags and blankets each have their place. Excellent vid and review. Stay safe.
Only ever owned sleeping bags, but have used them like a quilt (zipper open, over the top only) in warmer weather. In cold weather, I also have s aleeping bag liner, which is a shaped shroud, but i also great as a stand alone item in warm weather, just to keep the draught off. Then I also have mylar heat relfecting survival bag thingy, which luckily, I've never had to use.
Great video. I was always into sleeping bags, but I'm an active sleeper. I.e. I sleep on my back and roll to either side. Sleeping bags suck for this. I have a couple Army ECWS sleep systems and they keep you very warm. However, I recently switched to a 20 degree quilt (down) and a insulated sleeping pad. Both therm-a-rest. Sleep so much better and don't get cold. Feel to constricted in a sleeping bag.
Great video Luke! For me, there are two types of bags/quilts: down or synthetic. And since I finally got a down quilt, I haven't used a bag since. A down quilt is perfect for a hammock, it packs small, and it's light. If you on the ground, you got to have a good pad to keep you warm below. But you outta have a good pad anyway. I got a great down quilt, made the way I wanted right here in Ohio for just under two hundred bucks and it's the best piece of kit I own. Spend money on a good, warm, pack able bag/quilt and you won't regret it. Be well Luke!
I switched from a Mummy bag to a quilt years ago, It gave me so much more versatility. Good quilt makers like Enlightened Equipment will customize it for your needs. My quilt is a minus 20 and I can snap it up under me if I need to.
Hi Luke > here is the deal (in my opinion): I’ve hand the same down sleeping bag that I got at REI 45 years ago and when I sleep in a hammock, I zip the sleeping bag down about 3/4 and leave it open at the top. When I sleep on the ground (which I don’t do much any more), I use it as a sleeping bag. Thus, I think the sleeping bag is more versatile because it can be used as a bag or a quilt. And, if you want a top notch quilt (650-850 fill), be prepared to take out a second mortgage. A further consideration for me is that since I’ve reached my 75th birthday, I don’t do winter camping any more. It’s just too cold for my arthritic bones and joints. Thanks a million for your most excellent reviews. They are very thorough and unbiased.
Although it is not recommended commercially, down is actually very resilient and can remain compressed for a very long time (months / years) with almost no effect on lofting. And even so when it does, a sleeping bag with a moist towel in the dryer generates nearly as good as original lofting. The majority of all studies, facts, properties actually originate from the studies on chicken down between 1940s - 1950s and are largely copied to duck & goose down. Because of this we have got a perception about goose and duck down properties that does not fully correspond to reality. Because duck and goose down are much much much more resilient than chicken down, a sleeping bag filled with one of these two types of down will, for example, will suffer much less "permanent damage" after 1 year of compression than a synthetic variant. Current synthetic insulating materials retain their maximum insulating values only a handful of years before diminishing. Despite the commercial view that duck down is always inferior to goose down, the real difference is almost negligible as long as the same cuin value are compared. The only reason why you can achieve a higher cuin value in goose down is because adult geese are larger than ducks. Example: 700 fill duck down is equivalent to 700 fill goose down in therms of insulation and compressibility. In fact, studies have shown that ducks down can outperfom goose down in some humid conditions. This is because duck down uses several types of oils / fats, compared to goose down only 2. But are these fats and oils not washed out? Yes, but impossible all of them, a residue is always left behind, which is why some people are always allergic to it. The idea that down should not be washed too much has also been directly translated from results obtained from chicken down. Given duck down and goose down, again much more resilient , studies have shown that correct washing and drying has no effect on lofting reduction. On the contrary, as ducks and goose down get older with use or prolonged compression, results have proven that washing - heating and / or using damp towel in the dryer renews the down loft to original or near original state. You should be more concerned with the choice of material for sleeping bag construction than actually the down itself :D And to close of, synthetic isn't bad, it does dry faster than Down, and can be a better choise in some circumstances, but even a totaly wet sythetic sleeping bag will be a nightmare te sleep in I thought this information might be useful for people to know.
There is another type of sleeping bag.....the Spoon shape Nemo make, a more forgiving Mummy type bag for side sleepers. I'm considering buying one at the moment.
Good video presentation. Especially in warmer months I’ve always used a sleeping bag like a quilt so I didn’t see a reason to buy one when everyone was oohing and ahing like a quilt was something new.
I use quilts for hammocking and bags for ground camping. My MSS bags are in kits and the hammock and quilts are in a lightweight backpack for impromptu fun. Stay well, buddy!
Even in cold weather I never completely zip up my sleeping bag. As long as my feet and legs are covered and warm I'm fine. In hammock camping the under quilt or under blanket usually keeps me warm and I'll cover up with a jungle or wool blanket or the Helikon Tex Swagman Roll. Last night I slept in my backyard hammock using the Snugpak Under Blanket, a closed cell foam pad between the under blanket and the hammock with the Swagman Roll loosely covering me. The temps were in the low 40's (fahrenheit). A trick I use when it's raining and very cold I will add my military or Helikon Tex poncho to my top cover which helps to keep the moist air at bay. Of course as always proper layering, e.g. long johns, hoodie, toboggan, merino wool socks, is wise. Tonight the temps will be in the mid to high 40's and I'm testing out an alpaca blanket from Appalachian Gear...believe it's called the "All Paca" blanket and can be used as a sleeping bag liner. Great video with great advice!
Good summary! I really like my quilt, especially in a hammock with an underquilt. I use a quilt down to 20 degrees F, but may go lower in the hammock High end quilts are actually cheaper than equally rated high end sleeping bags. One more advantage of down is that it keeps its temperature rating (loft) over the years, whereas synthetic insulation does not. Given this, down can be more economical for the long term
When I was younger using sleeping bags back in the 70s and 80s they didn’t have hoods on them that I ever knew, as far as quilts go my grandma used to knit quilts, didn’t look nothing like what you got there.
For years and years I slept with bags then tried the quilts I've tried mummies rectangular mss doubles down synthetic never could get a good rest my solution open cell foam 3 inch pad and the comforter from my bed plenty of warmth can't beat the comfort never cold never constricted water proof dust cover on the pad. Deffinatley not ultralight and not a hiker but I would personally forgo the weight savings to strap them to my pack and I have many times I sleep better then I do at home in the regular bed in the past I've slept in my living room on a grizzly cot with the 3 inch pad trust me its the best nights sleep ever.
A quilt is my choice. I sleep mostly in a bottom load hammock. It was a major pain to get in a sleeping bag inside the hammock before I got my EE quilt. Been in 10 degree weather and slept warm with a 10 degree top quilt and 9 degree under quilt. It is a shock getting out in the morning with that kinda weather though. 🥶
Great vid! I appreciate some of these more comprehensive overviews on various products in lieu of being able to get out as much given the current situation. And technology evolves, so it's worth revisiting things from time to time. As a more budget-conscious hiker/camper, I look at quilts in two ways: 1) It's a way to often spend more on something that requires less in the way of what could be the same materials than the alternative. We're not generally asked to accept that when it comes to different sizes of backpack or sleep pad. Granted, you get more packability and less weight with a quilt, but that doesn't really negate the point that you're paying more for "less." 2) It's something I can pretty much get by simply unzipping the top half of my sleeping bag, rather than paying $300+ for something some dude stitched up in his basement. While I get wanting to support domestic cottage facilities, to me (and I think most of us) it's not really a pro. If it means I can get it for half the price, mass produce it in a factory and slap a "Made in Vietnam" label on it. At least then I can say it's made in one of the countries that makes Patagonia clothing. If the price difference isn't too great, I'd go domestic. Take care, and keep up the good work!
Good to know about the other sleeping bags I'm use to old school sleeping bags. But gave me food for thought when it's time to get a sleeping bag mummy bag.thanks luke. For the great information
I would think you could use/modify a sleeping bag to be somewhat dual purpose. Open the bag, give it a twist so the opening is under you (as long as there is no hood). Add loops that can wrap around a pad if you like. Worked fine for me in a hammock.
I prefer a sleeping bag, can be left open and draped over and used as a quilt or when cold just zip it up. I have seen some quilts that have a zipper and can do both jobs but as you said are expensive. Tip for larger guys, buy a sleeping bag, get some elastic straps for sheets on your bed and modify it to make it work. I had to do this as most sleeping bags won't zip up past my chest.
Hey Luke, in case its available in the US you should check out sleeping bags from german manufacturer Gruezi Bag - they combine down and wool to Downwool - pros from Down (good isolation) and pros from Wool (temperature and moisture management ability)
Thanks for the review and sharing your opinion! I personally really enjoy the snug fit of a mummy bag, and as I am a back sleeper that sometimes rolls on my side it works perfectly for me. However, I have considered getting a light quilt to vent for warmer climates.
Very good Luke.I use Sierra designs back country Bed in the winter. And I also have a Sierra designs 20 nitro quilt. Both are amazing products. I just can't do zippers in a sleep system.
I don't really have any issues with my sleeping bag, which is a Western Mountaineering 20 UL. When its cold I sleep with it closed and if it's warm I sleep with it unzipped. This bag has 5 inches of loft and will defiantly take you down to 20 degrees without an issue. Most of my trips take place in the White Mountains of NH. The only reason I am even thinking getting a quilt is to save weight in the warmer weather. If you want a great sleeping bag look no further than WM. They are second to none and made in the good old USA. They are more expensive than the imported bags, but I have never had a single issue with my bag or my daughter sleeping bag. We have had them both for eight years.
Coleman use to make a great sleeping bag at a good price but things have changed since I bought my last sleeping bag thanks for the info. I like a quilt below me n a sleeping bag to sleep in. I know it's redundant but when your in a blizzard at -10 and 30+ mph winds you know what I mean.
Quilt all the way! Love my 0 degree UGQ, and your initial review of the quilt and company helped me decide when I was shopping for one. I've taken it down to 12 degrees and was nice and warm. I toss around too much for my mummy bag. I have the zippered footbox so I can flatten it out and use as a blanket in warmer temps. Any trips where the temp is not going to be below 60, I use a woobie. Going into my 3rd yr of use with my quilt and it is my favorite piece of gear!
Great video. You summed it up nicely Sir!! I’ll be getting me a quilt soon for my AT hike... lol... whoever the open at trail up and it is safe to travel there . Mostly because of weight as I rarely zip up my sleeping bag ( so I like the properties of a quilt ) . ... my feet stay really warm so I hate having them stuck in a foot box unless It Is really cold out there! Stay safe everyone.
As far as Topquilts go, I've got : -10° & + 20° & 40° in down and 10°, 20°, 30°, 40°, 55° in synthetic, and use them about 75% of the time on the ground and always in a hammock. But as far as sleeping bags go, I've only got the Snugpak Base Camp Ops Expedition, Snugpak Jungle bag, the Snugpak V.T.S (versatile. tactical. system) 2 bag combo, plus the Snugpak Special Forces bivi. That said, I absolutely LOVE all of my Hammock Gear down, and Snugpak,DD & DIY top quilts and regularly push the HG TQ's passes their ratings,, but there's just something about climbing into those big, heavy, damn near bombproof V.T.S bags in the middle of winter or the jungle bag when it's warmer that keeps me from totally switching to TQ's 100% of the time. Living where I do right on the water makes me have to really pay attention to the weather forecast, humidity, dew point, wind direction etc. when I plan an overnight hike or hang in my back yard . It also always dictates whether I use down, synthetic , a TQ or a bag, more than anything else, and having both gives me a ton of versatility I think. Great vid Luke, you should definitely check out the Snugpak VTS. It's a little more expensive at $599 msrp, but totally worth it I think. ~ Chesapeake
I'm a city dweller and have never been camping but it's something I'm very interested in getting into. Your videos have helped a lot, especially this one. I was wondering if you have done one on sleeping pads and their differences. If not maybe that could be a companion piece to this video. Anyway, thanks for doing these videos and stay safe.
I've recently started hammock camping and for winter my sleeping bag has been good but summer was hot even with the bag unzipped, think I'm going to try a summer weight quilt next summer. Cheers Daryl Webb
Thanks Luke I'm just finding/liking your RUclips channel. I've got a nice Mountain Hardwear sleeping bag (but it doesn't pack small/well) so I'm hoping to upgrade to UGQ quilt soon since most of my camping (on my BMW motorcycle) is done in the summer or early fall:)
Quilts are best for hammocks when used in conjunction with an underquilt. If you're sleeping on the ground they suck. When you turn on your side it just sucks cold air in regardless of how you adjust/arrange the straps.
I prefer a mummy sack. I have two one rated to 0F and my summer bag down to 20F. Those cover all my needs. I dont always zip them up, theyre almost like a quilt when unzipped.
You mentioned the customization of quilts but left out something a sleeping bag user might not think about. That is that you can change the width. Typical stock widths I’ve seen seems to be 50”. I think that can be a little small so that as you turn on your side you will lift the quilt up and open it to drafts. If you add 5 or so inches to the width, which you can ask for, there is enough room for you to turn all night and feel snug and warm. The only downside I’ve had with quilts is that I don’t like the next to skin feel of my air mattress. So no matter the temperature outside I have to bring something to sleep in. Also, in the photo of the person wearing the quilt spread wide open, that option is only available to the drawstring type of quilt not the closed foot box example in the video.
Great video! I am wondering if you could test out the latest budget gear from Aegismax. They have some impressive lightweight sleeping bags and quilts. I currently use a bag in cold temperatures and a liner for summers. However, even in summer, I bring a sleeping bag for alpine conditions so I started looking at quilts. My only concern is the draft with such few ties to the mat. I wonder if a velcro strip would work better. I also wonder why they just don't invent sleeping bags with no filling on one side and have a mat you can insert and fix with velcro inside, then you can toss all you like and all the insulation will always be on top. I guess you might still need a thin mat underneath for any condensation. I like your idea of using quilts for fairer temperatures which seems logical given the design.
Luke, can you do a review on different styles of facial hair when using a quilt vs sleeping bag. Maybe a breakdown of condensation in a single-wall tent vs double-wall based on different mustache and beard combos. This is the info we need to survive in the backcountry! Also, I know it’s tempting, but don’t let Gillette buy you off! I need that honest review I’m accustomed to getting from The Outdoor Gear Review!
My solution to turning in a sleeping bag is to add a Thermolite pro lite pad inside my bag. I can turn all night and not get tired up. Note: I also use a non-inflating pad under the sleeping bag.
Quilts are ok Spring/Summer/Autumn, and until your inflatable mattress fails, then you are in real trouble. Great for a base camp. Just use a wide sleeping bag like a quilt in the warmer months and you only need one bag for everything except extreme cold where you have your specialised mummy bag for.
To note, down is far more resilient to the compression and loft cycle than a synthetic, and a higher fill power is somewhat more resilient (similar to say a 900 fill not being 50% better than 600 fill) but of course if you’re paying a premium then we want to keep this in the best shape.
I find sleeping bags to small I have broad shoulders and none of them seem to do a wide size plus it doesn't help if your a side sleeper so looking a quilts but it's the price of them
I'm finding exactly this right now. Bags annoy the crap out of me because they are too narrow and I have to unzip them and use them like a quilt anyway ... so why not get a quilt and get the advantage of being able to pack lighter and smaller into my pack? Yeah - until you see the price for them! As much (or more!) as my pack (Osprey), sleeping pad(Trekology) AND tent (Marmot) as soon as you want anything approaching freezing.
I prefer a quilt I don't like to be too warm when I'm sleeping and I don't sleep on the ground I sleep on a cot or gravity chair so that's why a quilt works for me.
Quilt for summer sleeping bag for winter. I find myself sweating in the summer when I use a sleeping bag. My quilt keeps me cool and I can just throw it off me if I’m hot
Very informative, now I really confused 🙂 A word of warning however with the drawstring, I have more often than not woken to find it wrapped around my neck, rather a bit too tight for comfort...........
My wife and I are looking at getting in to backpacking. We were invited to do a trip to Guatemala some time next year. We were wondering if you had any comments or thoughts on 2 person bags.
I so badly want to go with a EE enigma quilt to save 1 lb compared to my 0 degree sleeping bag (going on CT 2022). But worried about draft being such a cold sleeper. I will need to go with Xtherm to get a higher R rating then 5. I'm a side sleeper so like not having a hood. Will go with draft collar. How good does the snap straps work if you roll side to side? Thanks. Great video.
Luke's got this one in the bag!
I'll see myself out now.
LOLOLOLOL
Lmao
Sorry but it's a barf bag. This "new and improved" presentation is aimed for those who know nothing, the shots jump around like someone on crack, and it comes across like an infomercial which makes me nauseous. If this shite continues it will be doing so without me. From what was once a meaty in-depth very informative channel you now get infant-grade pabulum. Sickening.
Hyuck hyuck hyuck!
..i always thought a quilt was a sleeping bag with a broken zipper..lol..great video...stay safe
I actually have to remind myself multiple times a year when I start shopping online for a quilt or warmer bag that - dude - just unzip the damn 20-degree bag you HAVE. Yet, the allure of the 0-degree bag persists. :)
I TOTALLY AGREE!!!
Bam! Right to the point. No loud music. No commercial plugs. Right to the point. A+++++
The explanation I like the most was from Justing Outdoors. For winter, he uses sleeping bag and an sythethic quilt combo.
I think people seem to forget that these can work together as well. One can add a liner to a quilt and so on.
I turn in the night and sleeping bags are just uncomfortable for me.
I have both. I use the quilt down to 30 degrees. any lower I use my 0 degree big agnes bag for large people. it gets very windy here in the upper midwest. I have quilts I can bring to place over the ba bag that helps with the wind and ups the warmth value. I have an air mat that's insulated. mat, bag and quilts are longer and wider because I have puppers that will sleep on the mat and under the loft to snuggle with their mommy:) I place my day clothes at my feet inside the bag/quilt to make them warmer and easier to put on in the morning. I am a side sleeper who tosses and turns due to neck, shoulder and hip pain. the main thing is get the best! don't settle. read and watch agenda free reviews. buy once cry once and be grateful you are warm, dry and comfortable with quality gear. nothing beats a hot cup of joe with hella breakfast after a glorious nights sleep.
I unzip my sleeping bag and use it as a quilt. Good review.
I have several of both. About the only time I use my sleeping bags now is if it's really cold and I'm sleeping on the ground. The rest of the time, it's a quilt. Quilts take up less pack space and weigh less, and you don't have to worry about a zipper getting stuck.
There are many good synthetic quilt options out there, and they are less expensive than down.
If I'm paddling or going to be in really damp conditions, I'll carry the bulkier and heavier synthetic quilt.
I don't seem to experience the draft issues with a quilt many complain about. If you get a quilt wide enough, it will tuck under your sides pretty well. If it comes untucked, you'll know soon enough and just spend a second or two tucking it back. Many of the quilt haters just don't give a tuck.
I prefer bag because I can't afford to have both. Also, I'm not an ultralight backpacker, so a little extra weight is fine. One day I'll have both, but for now I'm a bag man!
I'm kind of partial to a double woobie inside of a poncho. Pine bough bed and a simple piece canvas covers the pine boughs. Easy to shove into the ruck and fills in the natural holes between clothes and pogie bait. Did winter indoctrination -42° in Fairbanks. Got chilled but lived through the night.
Hey Luke I like the quilt with a wool blanket winter or summer not to cold not to hot any way hope y'all are well much love your way be safe have a wonderful day
I prefer to crawl into a sleeping bag. A Quilt is still preferred if ventilation is required, for example if you have eaten too many beans.
This helped me out a lot. I have hiked and camped for years but just started backpacking where I am combining the two last year. I loved it and got hooked. It was fall so the night was a bit cool. I had a mummy bag and it kept me warm but I do not like feeling constricted. I just bought it and returned it when I got home. I loved the warmth but slept like crap as it restricted my movement.
I absolutely cannot do mummy bags. The level of instant panic and claustrophobia that comes from having a fully zipped up mummy bag’s zipper get stuck and trying to escape such a confined space is terrible.
Yet again, I find you are giving the best info ..job jobbed, cheers.
I agree with you 100%. I own both, quilts are great for summer, they are terrible below high 20s.
Have 2 sleeping bags that are synthetic fill. One for early spring/late fall (rated -7C) and one for winter (rated -30C) camping from November to end of February. All other times I use alternating combos of two 100% wool hand made blankets (that are about 55 years old) and a sleeping bag liner.
So I am with you Luke. I like and use both. Sleeping bags and blankets each have their place.
Excellent vid and review. Stay safe.
Only ever owned sleeping bags, but have used them like a quilt (zipper open, over the top only) in warmer weather. In cold weather, I also have s aleeping bag liner, which is a shaped shroud, but i also great as a stand alone item in warm weather, just to keep the draught off. Then I also have mylar heat relfecting survival bag thingy, which luckily, I've never had to use.
Great video. I was always into sleeping bags, but I'm an active sleeper. I.e. I sleep on my back and roll to either side. Sleeping bags suck for this. I have a couple Army ECWS sleep systems and they keep you very warm. However, I recently switched to a 20 degree quilt (down) and a insulated sleeping pad. Both therm-a-rest. Sleep so much better and don't get cold. Feel to constricted in a sleeping bag.
Great video Luke! For me, there are two types of bags/quilts: down or synthetic. And since I finally got a down quilt, I haven't used a bag since. A down quilt is perfect for a hammock, it packs small, and it's light. If you on the ground, you got to have a good pad to keep you warm below. But you outta have a good pad anyway. I got a great down quilt, made the way I wanted right here in Ohio for just under two hundred bucks and it's the best piece of kit I own. Spend money on a good, warm, pack able bag/quilt and you won't regret it. Be well Luke!
Down is great until it gets wet. Then it's not. If you don't dry it out right it'll be ruined. Not for me thanks.
I switched from a Mummy bag to a quilt years ago, It gave me so much more versatility. Good quilt makers like Enlightened Equipment will customize it for your needs. My quilt is a minus 20 and I can snap it up under me if I need to.
I done exactly the same thing, and have two Enlightened Equipment quilts, very good quilts.
I would only consider a quilt for warmer weather also. Informative video Luke. Thanks!
Hi Luke > here is the deal (in my opinion): I’ve hand the same down sleeping bag that I got at REI 45 years ago and when I sleep in a hammock, I zip the sleeping bag down about 3/4 and leave it open at the top. When I sleep on the ground (which I don’t do much any more), I use it as a sleeping bag. Thus, I think the sleeping bag is more versatile because it can be used as a bag or a quilt. And, if you want a top notch quilt (650-850 fill), be prepared to take out a second mortgage. A further consideration for me is that since I’ve reached my 75th birthday, I don’t do winter camping any more. It’s just too cold for my arthritic bones and joints. Thanks a million for your most excellent reviews. They are very thorough and unbiased.
Although it is not recommended commercially, down is actually very resilient and can remain compressed for a very long time (months / years) with almost no effect on lofting. And even so when it does, a sleeping bag with a moist towel in the dryer generates nearly as good as original lofting. The majority of all studies, facts, properties actually originate from the studies on chicken down between 1940s - 1950s and are largely copied to duck & goose down. Because of this we have got a perception about goose and duck down properties that does not fully correspond to reality.
Because duck and goose down are much much much more resilient than chicken down, a sleeping bag filled with one of these two types of down will, for example, will suffer much less "permanent damage" after 1 year of compression than a synthetic variant. Current synthetic insulating materials retain their maximum insulating values only a handful of years before diminishing.
Despite the commercial view that duck down is always inferior to goose down, the real difference is almost negligible as long as the same cuin value are compared. The only reason why you can achieve a higher cuin value in goose down is because adult geese are larger than ducks. Example: 700 fill duck down is equivalent to 700 fill goose down in therms of insulation and compressibility.
In fact, studies have shown that ducks down can outperfom goose down in some humid conditions. This is because duck down uses several types of oils / fats, compared to goose down only 2. But are these fats and oils not washed out? Yes, but impossible all of them, a residue is always left behind, which is why some people are always allergic to it.
The idea that down should not be washed too much has also been directly translated from results obtained from chicken down. Given duck down and goose down, again much more resilient , studies have shown that correct washing and drying has no effect on lofting reduction. On the contrary, as ducks and goose down get older with use or prolonged compression, results have proven that washing - heating and / or using damp towel in the dryer renews the down loft to original or near original state.
You should be more concerned with the choice of material for sleeping bag construction than actually the down itself :D
And to close of, synthetic isn't bad, it does dry faster than Down, and can be a better choise in some circumstances, but even a totaly wet sythetic sleeping bag will be a nightmare te sleep in
I thought this information might be useful for people to know.
There is another type of sleeping bag.....the Spoon shape Nemo make, a more forgiving Mummy type bag for side sleepers. I'm considering buying one at the moment.
I was looking at the nemo spoon sleeping bag but waiting to get more money to buy one ☝️
Good video presentation. Especially in warmer months I’ve always used a sleeping bag like a quilt so I didn’t see a reason to buy one when everyone was oohing and ahing like a quilt was something new.
(moving zipper up and down) Bag-quilt-bag-quilt-bag-quilt!
good point
I am a toss and turn sleeper, so it's rectangular bags for me . Slumberjack Timberjack 20° and Browning Black Eagle 0°. Both Excellent bags.
I use quilts for hammocking and bags for ground camping. My MSS bags are in kits and the hammock and quilts are in a lightweight backpack for impromptu fun. Stay well, buddy!
I personally like the quilts but I do agree, during colder Temps, the sleeping bag would be best
Even in cold weather I never completely zip up my sleeping bag. As long as my feet and legs are covered and warm I'm fine. In hammock camping the under quilt or under blanket usually keeps me warm and I'll cover up with a jungle or wool blanket or the Helikon Tex Swagman Roll. Last night I slept in my backyard hammock using the Snugpak Under Blanket, a closed cell foam pad between the under blanket and the hammock with the Swagman Roll loosely covering me. The temps were in the low 40's (fahrenheit). A trick I use when it's raining and very cold I will add my military or Helikon Tex poncho to my top cover which helps to keep the moist air at bay. Of course as always proper layering, e.g. long johns, hoodie, toboggan, merino wool socks, is wise. Tonight the temps will be in the mid to high 40's and I'm testing out an alpaca blanket from Appalachian Gear...believe it's called the "All Paca" blanket and can be used as a sleeping bag liner. Great video with great advice!
Good summary! I really like my quilt, especially in a hammock with an underquilt. I use a quilt down to 20 degrees F, but may go lower in the hammock
High end quilts are actually cheaper than equally rated high end sleeping bags.
One more advantage of down is that it keeps its temperature rating (loft) over the years, whereas synthetic insulation does not. Given this, down can be more economical for the long term
When I was younger using sleeping bags back in the 70s and 80s they didn’t have hoods on them that I ever knew, as far as quilts go my grandma used to knit quilts, didn’t look nothing like what you got there.
I think kids sleeping bags meant for summer camping look much different than purpose made sleeping bags for cold weather backpackers.
Thanks!
Thank you for the support.
S&H
- Luke
For years and years I slept with bags then tried the quilts I've tried mummies rectangular mss doubles down synthetic never could get a good rest my solution open cell foam 3 inch pad and the comforter from my bed plenty of warmth can't beat the comfort never cold never constricted water proof dust cover on the pad. Deffinatley not ultralight and not a hiker but I would personally forgo the weight savings to strap them to my pack and I have many times I sleep better then I do at home in the regular bed in the past I've slept in my living room on a grizzly cot with the 3 inch pad trust me its the best nights sleep ever.
A quilt is my choice. I sleep mostly in a bottom load hammock. It was a major pain to get in a sleeping bag inside the hammock before I got my EE quilt. Been in 10 degree weather and slept warm with a 10 degree top quilt and 9 degree under quilt. It is a shock getting out in the morning with that kinda weather though. 🥶
Great vid! I appreciate some of these more comprehensive overviews on various products in lieu of being able to get out as much given the current situation. And technology evolves, so it's worth revisiting things from time to time.
As a more budget-conscious hiker/camper, I look at quilts in two ways:
1) It's a way to often spend more on something that requires less in the way of what could be the same materials than the alternative. We're not generally asked to accept that when it comes to different sizes of backpack or sleep pad. Granted, you get more packability and less weight with a quilt, but that doesn't really negate the point that you're paying more for "less."
2) It's something I can pretty much get by simply unzipping the top half of my sleeping bag, rather than paying $300+ for something some dude stitched up in his basement. While I get wanting to support domestic cottage facilities, to me (and I think most of us) it's not really a pro. If it means I can get it for half the price, mass produce it in a factory and slap a "Made in Vietnam" label on it. At least then I can say it's made in one of the countries that makes Patagonia clothing. If the price difference isn't too great, I'd go domestic.
Take care, and keep up the good work!
As always: great rundown. I use both. Quilts a bit more often as I sleep in the trees.
Good to know about the other sleeping bags I'm use to old school sleeping bags. But gave me food for thought when it's time to get a sleeping bag mummy bag.thanks luke. For the great information
I ended up purchasing a synthetic quilt from EE (40 degree quilt) because it will perform better than down in hot/humid and wet environments.
I would think you could use/modify a sleeping bag to be somewhat dual purpose. Open the bag, give it a twist so the opening is under you (as long as there is no hood). Add loops that can wrap around a pad if you like. Worked fine for me in a hammock.
hammock team so Top quilt for sure !!!!!
I prefer a sleeping bag, can be left open and draped over and used as a quilt or when cold just zip it up.
I have seen some quilts that have a zipper and can do both jobs but as you said are expensive.
Tip for larger guys, buy a sleeping bag, get some elastic straps for sheets on your bed and modify it to make it work. I had to do this as most sleeping bags won't zip up past my chest.
Hey Luke, in case its available in the US you should check out sleeping bags from german manufacturer Gruezi Bag - they combine down and wool to Downwool - pros from Down (good isolation) and pros from Wool (temperature and
moisture management ability)
Thanks for the review and sharing your opinion! I personally really enjoy the snug fit of a mummy bag, and as I am a back sleeper that sometimes rolls on my side it works perfectly for me. However, I have considered getting a light quilt to vent for warmer climates.
Very good Luke.I use Sierra designs back country Bed in the winter. And I also have a Sierra designs 20 nitro quilt. Both are amazing products. I just can't do zippers in a sleep system.
I don't really have any issues with my sleeping bag, which is a Western Mountaineering 20 UL. When its cold I sleep with it closed and if it's warm I sleep with it unzipped. This bag has 5 inches of loft and will defiantly take you down to 20 degrees without an issue. Most of my trips take place in the White Mountains of NH. The only reason I am even thinking getting a quilt is to save weight in the warmer weather. If you want a great sleeping bag look no further than WM. They are second to none and made in the good old USA. They are more expensive than the imported bags, but I have never had a single issue with my bag or my daughter sleeping bag. We have had them both for eight years.
Coleman use to make a great sleeping bag at a good price but things have changed since I bought my last sleeping bag thanks for the info. I like a quilt below me n a sleeping bag to sleep in. I know it's redundant but when your in a blizzard at -10 and 30+ mph winds you know what I mean.
Wool does me great. All year long. But thank you for the pro's and con's.
Quilt all the way! Love my 0 degree UGQ, and your initial review of the quilt and company helped me decide when I was shopping for one. I've taken it down to 12 degrees and was nice and warm. I toss around too much for my mummy bag. I have the zippered footbox so I can flatten it out and use as a blanket in warmer temps. Any trips where the temp is not going to be below 60, I use a woobie. Going into my 3rd yr of use with my quilt and it is my favorite piece of gear!
UGQ Bandit Quilt all the way!!
Hi man , when I started camping , we used wool blankets , nice and warm .
great timing, I'm now thinking about buying quilt for a hammock
Great video. You summed it up nicely Sir!! I’ll be getting me a quilt soon for my AT hike... lol... whoever the open at trail up and it is safe to travel there . Mostly because of weight as I rarely zip up my sleeping bag ( so I like the properties of a quilt ) . ... my feet stay really warm so I hate having them stuck in a foot box unless It Is really cold out there! Stay safe everyone.
Perfectly timed video Luke. Exactly what I’m looking at now as I’m looking to change to a quilt. Thanks for the great comparison, really useful.
Great video! Never used a quilt but I may try one for warmer nights. Thanks for the review.
Great job, thank you.
As always, another great summary! Thanks for you hard working putting that together.
I like both as well they have their purpose
As far as Topquilts go, I've got : -10° & + 20° & 40° in down and 10°, 20°, 30°, 40°, 55° in synthetic, and use them about 75% of the time on the ground and always in a hammock. But as far as sleeping bags go, I've only got the Snugpak Base Camp Ops Expedition, Snugpak Jungle bag, the Snugpak V.T.S (versatile. tactical. system) 2 bag combo, plus the Snugpak Special Forces bivi. That said, I absolutely LOVE all of my Hammock Gear down, and Snugpak,DD & DIY top quilts and regularly push the HG TQ's passes their ratings,, but there's just something about climbing into those big, heavy, damn near bombproof V.T.S bags in the middle of winter or the jungle bag when it's warmer that keeps me from totally switching to TQ's 100% of the time. Living where I do right on the water makes me have to really pay attention to the weather forecast, humidity, dew point, wind direction etc. when I plan an overnight hike or hang in my back yard . It also always dictates whether I use down, synthetic , a TQ or a bag, more than anything else, and having both gives me a ton of versatility I think. Great vid Luke, you should definitely check out the Snugpak VTS. It's a little more expensive at $599 msrp, but totally worth it I think. ~ Chesapeake
I'm a city dweller and have never been camping but it's something I'm very interested in getting into. Your videos have helped a lot, especially this one. I was wondering if you have done one on sleeping pads and their differences. If not maybe that could be a companion piece to this video. Anyway, thanks for doing these videos and stay safe.
Same here, his videos have been very helpful.
I use the green bag that comes with the Military Sleep System for summer.That And the bivvy fit into my ZPacks Nero with room to spare
I've recently started hammock camping and for winter my sleeping bag has been good but summer was hot even with the bag unzipped, think I'm going to try a summer weight quilt next summer.
Cheers Daryl Webb
Wow! Amazing video, so much information!
Thanks Luke I'm just finding/liking your RUclips channel. I've got a nice Mountain Hardwear sleeping bag (but it doesn't pack small/well) so I'm hoping to upgrade to UGQ quilt soon since most of my camping (on my BMW motorcycle) is done in the summer or early fall:)
I think I am going with royal purple on the inside and od green on the outside when I order my quilt.
Quilts are best for hammocks when used in conjunction with an underquilt. If you're sleeping on the ground they suck. When you turn on your side it just sucks cold air in regardless of how you adjust/arrange the straps.
I prefer a mummy sack. I have two one rated to 0F and my summer bag down to 20F. Those cover all my needs. I dont always zip them up, theyre almost like a quilt when unzipped.
Since I'm down here in Australia land.. where it rarely get's below -2c (28.4f) where we go camping, thinking might give a quilt a go - thanks :)
Great review. You achieved brevity and clarity (and a little levity) with this review. I think it’s time for me to invest in a quilt for warmer temps.
Who talks like that? Shut your mouf 🤓
You've got it goin on!
Luke👍👍 Nice presentation, lots of info. S&H Enjoy!
Sierra Designs Cloud sleeping bags - All the comfort of a sleeping bag with all the ease of use of a quilt. Couldn’t recommend enough
You mentioned the customization of quilts but left out something a sleeping bag user might not think about. That is that you can change the width. Typical stock widths I’ve seen seems to be 50”. I think that can be a little small so that as you turn on your side you will lift the quilt up and open it to drafts. If you add 5 or so inches to the width, which you can ask for, there is enough room for you to turn all night and feel snug and warm. The only downside I’ve had with quilts is that I don’t like the next to skin feel of my air mattress. So no matter the temperature outside I have to bring something to sleep in. Also, in the photo of the person wearing the quilt spread wide open, that option is only available to the drawstring type of quilt not the closed foot box example in the video.
Luke always doing an awsome job...keep up the awsome work... Robby dtox
I been looking at quilts and sleeping bag reviews all day, then you put this on for me. Thanks 👍🏼
Really like the informative review
Good vid. "Rectangular Mummy" could be an idea for a horror flick.
Great video! I am wondering if you could test out the latest budget gear from Aegismax. They have some impressive lightweight sleeping bags and quilts. I currently use a bag in cold temperatures and a liner for summers. However, even in summer, I bring a sleeping bag for alpine conditions so I started looking at quilts. My only concern is the draft with such few ties to the mat. I wonder if a velcro strip would work better. I also wonder why they just don't invent sleeping bags with no filling on one side and have a mat you can insert and fix with velcro inside, then you can toss all you like and all the insulation will always be on top. I guess you might still need a thin mat underneath for any condensation.
I like your idea of using quilts for fairer temperatures which seems logical given the design.
I’ve bin wondering this very topic. Thanks .
I actually use a sleeping bag liner when I'm camping here in Florida. Just like sleeping with a sheet at home.
Looks to me as if a quilt is just a sleeping bag not quite completed as the zipper is left out🥴. I think I’ll stick with the sleeping bag, thanks!
Luke, can you do a review on different styles of facial hair when using a quilt vs sleeping bag.
Maybe a breakdown of condensation in a single-wall tent vs double-wall based on different mustache and beard combos.
This is the info we need to survive in the backcountry! Also, I know it’s tempting, but don’t let Gillette buy you off! I need that honest review I’m accustomed to getting from The Outdoor Gear Review!
Don't forget man bun vs pony tail vs mullet vs normal 😂
you said backcountry! prepare to be suuuued!
I love your comment
My solution to turning in a sleeping bag is to add a Thermolite pro lite pad inside my bag. I can turn all night and not get tired up. Note: I also use a non-inflating pad under the sleeping bag.
Pro: sleeping bag is also better at keeping out bugs. ( Or snakes. Yes, I have seen too many Western tv shows. )
Great video! Thanks for the info!
Quilts are ok Spring/Summer/Autumn, and until your inflatable mattress fails, then you are in real trouble. Great for a base camp. Just use a wide sleeping bag like a quilt in the warmer months and you only need one bag for everything except extreme cold where you have your specialised mummy bag for.
To note, down is far more resilient to the compression and loft cycle than a synthetic, and a higher fill power is somewhat more resilient (similar to say a 900 fill not being 50% better than 600 fill) but of course if you’re paying a premium then we want to keep this in the best shape.
You covered it all!
I find sleeping bags to small I have broad shoulders and none of them seem to do a wide size plus it doesn't help if your a side sleeper so looking a quilts but it's the price of them
I'm finding exactly this right now. Bags annoy the crap out of me because they are too narrow and I have to unzip them and use them like a quilt anyway ... so why not get a quilt and get the advantage of being able to pack lighter and smaller into my pack? Yeah - until you see the price for them! As much (or more!) as my pack (Osprey), sleeping pad(Trekology) AND tent (Marmot) as soon as you want anything approaching freezing.
I prefer a quilt I don't like to be too warm when I'm sleeping and I don't sleep on the ground I sleep on a cot or gravity chair so that's why a quilt works for me.
I have always loved quilts, great review!
Well done sir.
Quilt for summer sleeping bag for winter. I find myself sweating in the summer when I use a sleeping bag. My quilt keeps me cool and I can just throw it off me if I’m hot
Right on as usual
Very informative, now I really confused 🙂 A word of warning however with the drawstring, I have more often than not woken to find it wrapped around my neck, rather a bit too tight for comfort...........
I think a sleeping bag is a better solution for most seasons. Maybe except for the months of July and August.
Quilts are great with hammocks.
Love how politics are not discussed on this channel 👍🏼
My wife and I are looking at getting in to backpacking. We were invited to do a trip to Guatemala some time next year. We were wondering if you had any comments or thoughts on 2 person bags.
Thank you guru
I so badly want to go with a EE enigma quilt to save 1 lb compared to my 0 degree sleeping bag (going on CT 2022). But worried about draft being such a cold sleeper. I will need to go with Xtherm to get a higher R rating then 5. I'm a side sleeper so like not having a hood. Will go with draft collar. How good does the snap straps work if you roll side to side? Thanks. Great video.