Using a Quilt Vs. Sleepingbag

[gonewalkabout]

I like to hear from quit users out there. Are there any good lniks or articles? How comfrotable are you without a hood when temps drop to freezing or below? What brands, models or styles would you recomand.

Thank you

[jesse]

I made and use a ray-way quilt. Ray does an excellent job, ecplaing the advantages of quilts on his website. http://www.rayjardine.com/ray-way/Quilt-Kit/index.htm

I think lower condensation is probabaly the biggest advantage to quilting over bagging. When it is cold I wear my balaclave to bed.

[SteveJ]

I made a "howie" quilt from the thru-hiker.com website.

http://thru-hiker.com/kits/

I made it, trying for 2.5" of loft (and it's pretty close), for down to 20 deg. Used 13 oz of 800-fill down, total weight, including syl stuffsack, is 22 oz. I use it in my hammock, and have used it in temps down to low teens (with layers of clothing, silk liner, and a balaclava). Something for the head is mandatory. I usually carry a down pullover in cold weather, and use it for a pillow in the hammock, with the balaclava on my head.

I've used the quilt once when on the ground. It's OK for temps into the 40's or so, but I roll around so much when sleeping on the ground that I don't think it would work for me in lower temps.

[Hooch]

I use a Speer (http://www.speerhammocks.com) Top Blanket III in my hammock setup, but there are a few other makers out there like Jacks r Better (http://www.jacksrbetter.com/) (highly recommended), Nunatak (http://www.nunatakusa.com/), Fanatic Fringe (http://www.fanaticfringe.com/) and if you're a do-it-yourselfer, the Ray-Way (http://www.ray-way.com/Quilt-Kit/index.htm) kit is priced right. Good start on makers. Hope that helps some. :D

[take-a-knee]

Jack's R Better No Sniveler is the cream of the crop, the head hole, enabling to be worn as campware, is the ticket. Francis Tapon completed a YoYo of the Continental Divide Trail using the JRB Rocky Mtn No Sniveler as sleep/campware. If you sew, make a Ray Way quilt and don't make the fixed footbox, use velcro, a drawstring, and a tie (just like the JRB) and put a head hole in it.

[take-a-knee]

Also, below 40F, you'll need a thick, warm hat, like a JRB hood, Ray Way bomber hat (kit) or a Bozeman Mountain Works balaclava. You'll get hypothermic without it.

[kayak karl]

I use a Speer (http://www.speerhammocks.com) Top Blanket III in my hammock setup, but there are a few other makers out there like Jacks r Better (http://www.jacksrbetter.com/) (highly recommended), Nunatak (http://www.nunatakusa.com/), Fanatic Fringe (http://www.fanaticfringe.com/) and if you're a do-it-yourselfer, the Ray-Way (http://www.ray-way.com/Quilt-Kit/index.htm) kit is priced right. Good start on makers. Hope that helps some. :D
Hooch, what temp can you go down to with the Top Blanket III? i see it has a 1 oz. upgrade also.

[Hooch]

Hooch, what temp can you go down to with the Top Blanket III? i see it has a 1 oz. upgrade also.With 1oz overfill, it's rated to 20*F (-6.6*C). That said, I've not taken it down anywhere near that yet. I haven't had mine long and have only slept used it sleeping in my hammock in the back yard thus far. :D

[hopefulhiker]

I used a Nunatak back country blanket 20 degree with a BA insulated airmatress from Hot Springs all the way to K.. Also used a silk liner and wore down pullover on cold nights.. For me a blanket was more comfortable than a sleeping bag.. This combination silk, airmattress, blanket was the closest thing to sleeping at home in a bed for me..

[take-a-knee]

I used a Nunatak back country blanket 20 degree with a BA insulated airmatress from Hot Springs all the way to K.. Also used a silk liner and wore down pullover on cold nights.. For me a blanket was more comfortable than a sleeping bag.. This combination silk, airmattress, blanket was the closest thing to sleeping at home in a bed for me..

It gets even better in a hammock:)