Quilts - Your Perspectives

[FarmerChef]

Ok. I tried this in the general forum and got zero replies. So, I figure I'll try one last time in this one and see if I can't get some perspective. If not, I'll just let it die.

I hike as part of a family of 5 (two adults and three young children). Our winter system consists of a flannel sleeping bag and an extra blanket (for more details check out my thread in the general forum). As I look at our winter sleep system, I'm thinking of swapping out the extra blanket for a MYOG quilt, even thinking of ditching the flannel sleeping bags and opting just for the quilt in order to cut weight and increase warmth. I've looked at Ray Jardine's site and Thru-hiker and googled other ideas. But before I spend the money on the materials, I'd like to know if any WBers have experimented with quilts and what their feeling was about them.

[Rocket Jones]

I have the Jardine quilt that I've used for a couple of years now. It's rated at 40*, and I've been comfortable down to mid-20's on an inflatable pad topped by a Wally World blue foam pad. I have no doubt I could survive a night 10-15* colder than that. I like the quilt a lot.

That said, the Jardine quilts are bulky and for the sizes you're looking at might not save all that much weight. One of my next major purchases will be a down quilt for the improved compressibility.

[Alligator]

I made my own quilt (here) and have been very happy with it. It does fine to 45. I would like to add some material as wings on the side to tuck it in and avoid drafts. I'm 6'2" so a kid's version could be made smaller and lighter. I may get around to making a kid sized one someday, but probably would come in at about 2/3 the weight. Quilts are great for late spring/summer/early fall. Thicker quilts could extend that but I personally do not recommend them for winter ground use. Others do use them then though.

A synthetic quilt will still be smaller than a flannel sleeping bag.

[Nutbrown]

I have made 3 quilts now. My underquilt for my hammock is down with baffles, the top quilt is down with sewn through sections, and the third is another underquilt that I used IX layered in between 1.1 I've not tried the IX yet, and the others have only been used in the spring, so no real winter test as of yet. I took the pattern from lytw8t hiker. (http://www.lytw8.com/) I would much rather camp with a down or synthetic quilt, whether be hanging or tenting. Good luck. and try the diy section on hammockforums, even if you don't hammock, there are a lot of patterns and helpful info.

[rocketsocks]

I made my own quilt (here) and have been very happy with it. It does fine to 45. I would like to add some material as wings on the side to tuck it in and avoid drafts. I'm 6'2" so a kid's version could be made smaller and lighter. I may get around to making a kid sized one someday, but probably would come in at about 2/3 the weight. Quilts are great for late spring/summer/early fall. Thicker quilts could extend that but I personally do not recommend them for winter ground use. Others do use them then though.

A synthetic quilt will still be smaller than a flannel sleeping bag.

Real nice alligator.Alright you hammockers,I have a Big Agnes sleeping bag,and the back is nonexistent,is this not the same thing,just curious,and would like to understand the geometry of the quilt as opposed the fore mentioned.

[Theosus]

I made my own quilt (here) and have been very happy with it. It does fine to 45. I would like to add some material as wings on the side to tuck it in and avoid drafts. I'm 6'2" so a kid's version could be made smaller and lighter. I may get around to making a kid sized one someday, but probably would come in at about 2/3 the weight. Quilts are great for late spring/summer/early fall. Thicker quilts could extend that but I personally do not recommend them for winter ground use. Others do use them then though.

A synthetic quilt will still be smaller than a flannel sleeping bag.

I just finished making the "kick ass quilts" synthetic under quilt with 6oz climashield and m50 as shell material. Since it's summer it would be nice to have a lighter sleeping bag to go with my quilt. I have a north face cats meow bag but it's bulky and heavy - 2.5 pounds and a 14L stuff sack. My under quilt compresses down to about half of what the sleeping bag does.
What would you guys suggest as a replacement sleeping bag/top quilt? I could make a quilt (I'm not playing with down... It would have to be lighter weight clima shield). I saw a little fleece "sleeping bag" in dick's today... Supposed to be good to 50 degrees, but it seems awful small and thin. I have bath sheets that won't roll up that small. But even if I used two of them with my under quilt, it would be lighter and less bulky than my north face bag. I need something on me in the hammock, just not sure what.

[Bullet]

Where did you get the climashield?

[Wise Old Owl]

found a down bag on clearance with a long zip - no fuss no mess quilt. very happy.

[bear bag hanger]

I've been using a JacksRBetter Sniveller quilt for a couple years now, quite happy with it. It's down, so lighter than a flannel sleeping bag. Plus, it has a head hole you can use on cold mornings.

[Alligator]

Where did you get the climashield?

Try Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics.

[Theosus]

I got my climashield from outdoor wilderness... "owfinc". I got the m50 from thru-hiker fabrics.