outside of the obvious zipper-weight savings, is there any advantage of a quilt vs a sleeping bag?
outside of the obvious zipper-weight savings, is there any advantage of a quilt vs a sleeping bag?
More room to thrash around. Less confined feeling. Less fabric and down needed for same temp rating.
Cons: no hood.
The main advantage for me, being that I toss and turn a lot in my sleep and feel too constricted when I'm in my bag, is the freedom. Not having a zipper means not having to deal with a stuck zipper (or fail, as I've had one do on a bag). On warmer nights, I like being able to drape it over me, as I would and stick my feet out
Easier to vent if you're too warm. Not laying on top of part of your insulation, rendering it ineffective.
what do you lay on?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocket Jones
Sleeping pad, same as you do in your bag. With a bag though, the the insulation you're laying on gets compressed, effectively rendering it useless.Quote:
Originally Posted by hikerboy57
your pad provides the insulation under you, you lay on it.
much easier to roll and toss and turn without getting "wrapped up" in the bag
Easier to get in/out of too, mostly. Depends on if using straps and how though.
Its really more like sleeping on a mattress, with a blanket, than sleeping in a sleeping bag.
the bottom of the bag gives you little in the way of insulation as you lay on it -its added weight from this perspective compared to a top quilt
Like I told you before HB. All the cool kids are using quilts today!
For stomach sleepers a mummy bag is uncomfortable and I always wind up breathing into the hood section. Plus I like to stick my feet outside.
well in my case its not really true. i have a wm highlite mummy style as im a side sleeper and the bag just moves with me when i turn in my sleep, so im compressing different down at different times. i do understand the compression on the bottom. my winter bag is a BA lost ranger, their bags are designed with a sleeve for your pad and all the down on top, on the same principles as youre describing.im not sure i would be comfortable sleeping directly on my pad.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stink Bug
i need you to convince me so i can justify throwing away $1200 worth of sleeping bags and blow some more money on quilts!!
Only you can convince your self of that. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by hikerboy57
I bought a quilt this past summer. Takes some getting used to, but I like it for 3-season use.
Don't think I'd want to use one for winter, but that's just me. Others love them even for deep winter.
HikerBoy, glad you started this thread. I was wondering about quilts as well. When I sleep in a bed under a quilt, it doesn't seem to "hug" me and keep me warm like a sleeping bag does. The edges creep around and I get cold air from the outside sneaking in. I can't seem to keep the edges under me while I toss and turn.
Plus, I don't like sleeping on my plastic (closed cell Ridgerest) pad with bare skin.
I'd have to find a fairly cheap one and someplace cold to try it out before I made up my mind.
Regardless of you being a side sleeper or the bag moving with you, the insulation directly underneath you is compressed enough to reduce its R value. That being said, quilts aren't for everyone and they do have their cons, most noticeably they can let in cold drafts. For me the pros (weight savings, freedom, venting options) vastly outweigh the cons.Quote:
Originally Posted by hikerboy57
Comfort. Every sleeping position in a quilt feels better to me than in the more confined space of a sleeping bag. I will admit that I never had a really badass down mummy bag before I switched to quilts, so I can't speak to whether my quilt is more comfortable than, say, a Western Mountaineering Summerlite. It's definitely better than the Mountain Hard Wear Phantom and various synthetic bags I'd used before.
Thermoregulating on warm nights is also a lot easier. It requires a lot less thrashing around and zipping/unzipping in the middle of the night.
They are great in hot weather too.
Because they are shaped right when opened up (rectangular) , shorter (no hood) , and so darn light (hopefully), they ventillate better than a bag used as a quilt. I have used my 40F quilt comfortably in "blanket mode" when travelling, in a 70F house at night when sleeping on someones floor.
Oh most definitely, but just now I'm at a loss.Quote:
Originally Posted by hikerboy57
But since you posted in the very general thread....My big agnus bag has no batting in the back, so if I turn it, say 30 degrees, is that not a quilt?
but i still have the same pad insulation as you do. the bag stays wrapped around me as i turn in my sleep.not so sure the same can be said for the quilt. those nights its that hot, i sleep on top of my bag anywayQuote:
Originally Posted by Stink Bug
Like Rasty said..."all the cool kids are using quilts today". ...AND they are less constrictive .Quote:
Originally Posted by rocketsocks
i can buy into the cool kids argument.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnybgood
but im still unconvinced.
but i do so want to be a cool kid
For me a bag is just too confining, I tried different styles and sizes just could not get or stay comfortable. I sleep on my side and belly while sticking my feet in and out from under all night. I haven't zipped my sleeping bag in years, just used it as a quilt, when it is time upgrade/replace I will just get a quilt and not have the hood flopping over in my face, but may invest in a down cap for cold weather times. In the mean time I will quick stitch some velcro on my bag to hold the hood in place.