Advantages to using a down quilt?

[skagitsteel]

At what temps do you guys find the limit of the quilt? I like the idea but just can't fathom quilts working well in cold temps.

Ive had my EE Revelation 20 degree quilt down to about 24 degrees.  It worked well, I tend to thrash around in my sleep which did lead to leaking some cold air in during the middle of the night, other than that toasty warm.

[trophyhunt]

Wanted to bump this thread and delete my new one on the same topic.  Great info, I believe I will order mine quilt. 

[bradslam]

I think that sirmissalot has one of their quilts.  They have a great reputation, so there shouldn't be any issues with the quality.  I have a quilt from another manufacturer that is wide enough to tuck underneath me when it gets cold, so I don't have any draft issues.

is your wide enough to not feel like a mummy, does it have a zip bottom? Thanks, I'll PM sirmissalot

No zip bottom.  Does it not feel like a mummy?  Well, it just feels…different.  When it's tucked underneath me, I suppose it's a little like I'm a swaddled baby.   Whether it's a mummy bag or a quilt, if there is too much air around you, it simply won't be efficient.  One big difference is that I can just throw the quilt off of me when I hear strange noises outside of the tent in the middle of the night, instead of panicking as I struggle to find the zipper. 

[jjhunter]

I have an EE Enigma Pro Downtex 850 long/wide 10 degree bag.

Super comfortable and warm (I've only used mine down to 30 degrees).   I sleep on a pad and bought the wide/long version to help counter the inability to zip the bag up.   I just fold the overlap under my body and it has the same effect as being zipped.

Awesome product!

[trophyhunt]

It sounds good for the most part,  wonder why they don't sell a pad that goes with it the quilt that has buttons spread out so the pad doesn't move? They do have a model that zips on the bottom part, the revelation,  looks like the one!

[Odell]

I think that sirmissalot has one of their quilts.  They have a great reputation, so there shouldn't be any issues with the quality.  I have a quilt from another manufacturer that is wide enough to tuck underneath me when it gets cold, so I don't have any draft issues.

is your wide enough to not feel like a mummy, does it have a zip bottom? Thanks, I'll PM sirmissalot

No zip bottom.  Does it not feel like a mummy?  Well, it just feels…different.  When it's tucked underneath me, I suppose it's a little like I'm a swaddled baby.   Whether it's a mummy bag or a quilt, if there is too much air around you, it simply won't be efficient.  One big difference is that I can just throw the quilt off of me when I hear strange noises outside of the tent in the middle of the night, instead of panicking as I struggle to find the zipper. 

Or when you wake up and have to go NOW...that's the worst...

[MtnMuley]

Used mine for one night in 20 degree weather, and hiked back out and grabbed my bag.  Sold it with no regrets.  Not for me.

[Karl Blanchard]

It sounds good for the most part,  wonder why they don't sell a pad that goes with it the quilt that has buttons spread out so the pad doesn't move? They do have a model that zips on the bottom part, the revelation,  looks like the one!

My enigma has a couple straps that when cold, I will buckle around my pad.  Does a decent job at knocking down the air flow.


When it comes to nasty cold late hunts though, I'm with mtnmuley, I'm leaving the quilt at home and grabbing my slik bag.

[Shawn Ryan]

It sounds good for the most part,  wonder why they don't sell a pad that goes with it the quilt that has buttons spread out so the pad doesn't move? They do have a model that zips on the bottom part, the revelation,  looks like the one!

I don't have any issues with the pad moving.  The EE (and many others) have straps that encircle the pad to keep quilt and pad together.  If you button the top quilt button under the pad, its as if the pad is inside a mummy-style bag, only better.

What quilt are you ordering?  As for size, many buyers order the quilt longer and wider so they can cover their head and wrap around them more.  IMO, that's not the best option.  Breathing under the quilt  has the potential to create condensation under/inside the quilt.  Wearing a beanie or separate down hood when its cold enough is a better idea. And a narrower quilt, that still allows for sufficient movement, allows for the least amount of dead airspace under the quilt. If you have the quilt wrapped around the pad, then a wider quilt only results in more material/down under the pad. If you wrap the quilt under your body/on top of the pad, you're compressing more down that isn't sufficient--and isn't that the reason for a quilt in the first place: to not carry material/down that is inefficiently compressed? I've had no issue with drafts from the sides. I deal with drafts from the top just like it did with a mummy bag. Just my opinion and experience.  EE's FAQ's has good explanation and pics of their straps.

[Karl Blanchard]

It sounds good for the most part,  wonder why they don't sell a pad that goes with it the quilt that has buttons spread out so the pad doesn't move? They do have a model that zips on the bottom part, the revelation,  looks like the one!

I don't have any issues with the pad moving.  The EE (and many others) have straps that encircle the pad to keep quilt and pad together.  If you button the top quilt button under the pad, its as if the pad is inside a mummy-style bag, only better.

What quilt are you ordering?  As for size, many buyers order the quilt longer and wider so they can cover their head and wrap around them more.  IMO, that's not the best option.  Breathing under the quilt  has the potential to create condensation under/inside the quilt.  Wearing a beanie or separate down hood when its cold enough is a better idea. And a narrower quilt, that still allows for sufficient movement, allows for the least amount of dead airspace under the quilt. If you have the quilt wrapped around the pad, then a wider quilt only results in more material/down under the pad. If you wrap the quilt under your body/on top of the pad, you're compressing more down that isn't sufficient--and isn't that the reason for a quilt in the first place: to not carry material/down that is inefficiently compressed? I've had no issue with drafts from the sides. I deal with drafts from the top just like it did with a mummy bag. Just my opinion and experience.  EE's FAQ's has good explanation and pics of their straps.

Sound advice.  I personally am not a fan of hoods on bags and prefer a beanie.  I'm not cold blooded, but I do sleep cold for some reason, so for late october, november hunts, I still go with a mummy for the simple reason you can much more efficiently seal yourself up in them.

[trophyhunt]

It sounds good for the most part,  wonder why they don't sell a pad that goes with it the quilt that has buttons spread out so the pad doesn't move? They do have a model that zips on the bottom part, the revelation,  looks like the one!

I don't have any issues with the pad moving.  The EE (and many others) have straps that encircle the pad to keep quilt and pad together.  If you button the top quilt button under the pad, its as if the pad is inside a mummy-style bag, only better.

What quilt are you ordering?  As for size, many buyers order the quilt longer and wider so they can cover their head and wrap around them more.  IMO, that's not the best option.  Breathing under the quilt  has the potential to create condensation under/inside the quilt.  Wearing a beanie or separate down hood when its cold enough is a better idea. And a narrower quilt, that still allows for sufficient movement, allows for the least amount of dead airspace under the quilt. If you have the quilt wrapped around the pad, then a wider quilt only results in more material/down under the pad. If you wrap the quilt under your body/on top of the pad, you're compressing more down that isn't sufficient--and isn't that the reason for a quilt in the first place: to not carry material/down that is inefficiently compressed? I've had no issue with drafts from the sides. I deal with drafts from the top just like it did with a mummy bag. Just my opinion and experience.  EE's FAQ's has good explanation and pics of their straps.

i was considering the Revelation, not sure the size or amount of down fill yet.  Is it better to get the most down?

[Shawn Ryan]

The Revelation is heavier than the Enigma, but not by much. Consider whether you really want the venting for your feet. I've read some reviews from Rev buyers that they don't use the venting.

What is "better" is probably best answered by how you intend to use it. The experiences/reviews here and elsewhere by owners actual usage is probably a good guide.

I'm willing to wear my down puffy to bed on really cold nights or when my energy is low and I don't sleep as warm (bag or quilt). Some guys aren't willing to do that, so they want a warmer quilt.

 I suggest getting a quilt in as low a rating as you think you'll use. You can easily use a quilt for temps above its rating, but harder to use it below its rating, unless you are willing to supplement with other clothes/puffy.

I use a bivy bag, so I ordered the 10 denier fabric because I don't need extra. I ordered the downtek bkz I sleep with no tent at times. Even though I use the bivy bag the downtek is the same price and I've got my down wet even with the bivy bag. And with the downtek, the 20 denier weather stripes seem less necessary.

I'd buy as high a quality of down as the budget can afford. 800 fill down is still incredibly great down, though. You save ounces with those dollars: something like 1.6 ounces per $100.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

[johnnyaustin44]

Ordered mine about 8 weeks ago. Went with the wide long revalation 10* w/downtec. Looking forward to trying it out in three weeks when it hopefully will be here.

[trophyhunt]

Great info guys, this helps a ton!

[Karl Blanchard]

I ordered mine in a 0° with the realistic expectation of having a solid 20° setup.  I figured even if It didn't make it even close to 0, I'd still have a early to mid season option that was under 22oz. 

Like Shawn said, you can add a puffy and some clothes if need be to push the rating.  So far I'm very satisfied.

One good point to drive home again is a pad with a high R value.  Don't want to freeze from the ground up