Available from:
Enlightened Equipment
6. Warbonnet Diamondback Quilt
Available from:
Warbonnet Outdoors
7. Therm-a-Rest Vesper 20 Down Quilt
Available from:
REI | Backcountry | Therm-a-Rest
8. Zpacks Classic Sleeping Quilt
Available from:
Zpacks
9. UGQ Outdoor Bandit Top Quilt
Available from:
UGQ Outdoor
10. Nunatak Arc UL Quilt
Available from:
Nunatak
Backpacking Quilt Selection Criteria
Here is a listing of things to think about when deciding on an ultralight backpacking quilt.
Quilt Insulation
High-quality goose and duck down with fill powers of 800, 850, 900, and 950 present glorious insulation by weight and are broadly most popular by backpackers as a result of they’re so light-weight. In addition to glorious compressibility, quilts insulated with down will final for many years of use if correctly cared for. Some producers solely provide down that’s been handled with a water-repellent coating, whereas others favor to supply it unadulterated. Down is of course water resistant so the jury continues to be out on whether or not “treated” down lasts as lengthy and insulates as effectively in the actual world vs. a testing lab. Regardless, with slightly care and customary sense, you’ll be able to hold a down quilt dry by carrying it in a water-proof stuff stack, selecting good campsites that don’t flood in rain, and airing it out sometimes within the solar. Getting a quilt with artificial insulation is another choice and might be preferable in humid climates or for prolonged chilly climate journeys, the place it’s troublesome to dry your gear.
Quilt Temperature Ratings
The introduction of standardized sleeping bag temperature scores by the outside business considerably improved their reliability. Many producers had overstated their temperature scores by as a lot as 10 levels earlier than that normal was launched. No such testing normal exists for backpacking quilts, so that you’re pressured to depend on their fame and buyer critiques. When shopping for a backpacking quilt, the present rule of thumb is to buy one rated for 10 levels under your wants to make sure you’ll be heat sufficient. There is a gigantic incentive for ultralight quilt makers to cite low gear weights, so learn their buyer critiques rigorously. Women could need to add 15-20 levels of insulation as a result of they sleep colder than males because of decrease physique mass. No one makes ladies’s particular quilts but, though there’s an apparent want for them.
Since there isn’t a standardized check for ranking the nice and cozy of a quilt, you will need to perceive how producers check and self-rate their quilts. Many assume that you can be sporting an insulated hat, lengthy underwear, and socks, along with a sleeping pad with an R-value of 5 or greater. Contact them and ask earlier than you buy a quilt otherwise you’ll doubtless sleep colder than anticipated.
Gear Weight
While gear weight is vital, watch out to not sacrifice your consolation by deciding on a quilt that received’t hold you heat within the situations you want it to. In truth, insulation is normally the lightest weight element of a quilt, the place the bulk of its weight comes primarily from the material used to make it. When selecting materials, take into account their breathability and whether or not they have a DWR coating, which might be vital if the foot of your quilt will get moist frequently If you intend on utilizing your quilt closely, take into account getting a heavier inside shell cloth as that is the place the best put on and tear happens over the long-term.
Standard and Custom Quilt Features
Most ultralight backpacking quilts are fairly comparable when it comes proper right down to it. But there’s one thing distinctive about every of the producer’s quilts listed above that improves their efficiency in a novel manner. For instance, the usage of steady or chevron-shaped baffles, draft collars, zoned insulation, closed foot-boxes, and exterior snaps for quilt layering, all enhance cold-weather efficiency. A strapless pad attachment system is way extra handy and comfy than ones that depend on straps, whereas a head-hole permits multi-use as a garment. Look for these differentiators as a result of they’ll have a profound affect in your backpacking expertise.
Differential Cut
Some quilts makers make their quilts with a differential lower. This implies that the highest cloth and inner cloth are sized otherwise (the within is smaller) so as to totally loft the insulation, particularly when your knees are urgent into it. It additionally helps scale back the burden of the quilt barely.
Sleeping Pad Attachment Systems
There’s a number of variability in sleeping pad attachment programs and their skill to dam aspect drafts. We favor ones with large elastic straps and wafer clips (Enlightened Equipment, UGQ) as a result of they’re simpler to regulate in the dead of night and whilst you’re mendacity on high of a sleeping pad. We additionally discover them to be more practical than attachment programs that use cords and/or mitten clips as a result of these are harder to make use of when your arms are chilly. All pad attachment programs are more practical when used together with a again tensioning system.
Ultralight Backpacking Quilt FAQs
What is a high quilt for backpacking?
A high quilt is simply one other identify for a backpacking quilt that you just use to cowl your self when sleeping on the bottom on a sleeping pad or in a backpacking hammock. It’s mainly a down-comforter formed like the highest half of a sleeping bag, however and not using a hood, that has a formed footbox like a sleeping bag. Many high quilts will also be opened up and used like a blanket.
What is the benefit of utilizing a backpacking quilt as a substitute of a sleeping bag?
Backpacking quilts are lighter weight, extra compressible, and extra versatile than sleeping baggage. They’re additionally extra comfy for aspect sleepers and individuals who toss and switch at evening.
How large ought to a backpacking quilt be?
Ground sleepers want further cloth and insulation to tuck beneath their sides to forestall drafts. A width of 55″ is a reasonably normal width for floor sleepers. Larger people could need to go a bit wider.
How lengthy ought to a backpacking quilt be?
When sizing a quilt, it’s vital to grasp whether or not the size consists of the foot-box or not, since a number of inches of cloth are misplaced when forming a foot field. Quiltmakers usually present beneficial heights for customers when quoting sizes, so search for these.
What is a backpacking quilt pad-attachment system?
A quilt-pad attachment system allows you to join the perimeters of a backpacking quilt to the highest of your sleeping pad in order that drafts can’t sneak beneath the perimeters and chill you. Most pad attachment programs have elastic straps that you just loop over a sleeping pad with clips that hook up with the perimeters of your quilt. The male components of the clips hook up with feminine clips sewn onto the quilt. These are small and barely noticeable. All pad attachment programs are more practical when used together with a again tensioning system. In heat climate, most individuals skip the pad attachment system, however it’s helpful when it’s colder outdoors at evening.
What temperature ought to a quilt be rated for?
For males, you’ll be able to’t go flawed with having a 20-degree (Fahrenheit) quilt as a result of you’ll be able to vent it simply in hotter climate. Since ladies have much less physique mass and generate much less physique warmth, we advocate getting a 10-degree quilt. If you suppose you’re a colder sleeper, we additionally advocate getting a 10-degree quilt.
Is there a temperature ranking normal for quilts, like sleeping baggage?
There isn’t a temperature ranking normal for quilts like there’s for sleeping baggage. However, some testing labs apply the sleeping bag normal check to quilts, including in a down hood, to simulate the impact of a sleeping bag hood. When doubtful, ask the quilt producer how they derived their temperature ranking. When doubtful, take into account getting a quilt that’s rated 10 levels colder than the bottom temperature you count on to want.
What is a draft collar?
A draft collar is a tube of cloth, normally stuffed with goose or duck down, positioned just under the hood of a sleeping bag or the pinnacle finish of a backpacking quilt, that wraps round your higher chest and neck so warmth can’t escape whenever you transfer round at evening. For floor sleepers, it’s vital that the controls used to tighten the draft collar be positioned over your chest inside simple attain of your arms if you happen to’re mendacity in your again or aspect.
What is the distinction between a quilt with a zippered footbox vs a closed footbox?
A zippered footbox allows you to open a quilt like a blanket, which is beneficial in heat climate. Most zippered foot containers have drawstring closures which will also be opened for venting. Closed foot containers are sewn shut and extra just like the foot containers on sleeping baggage. They’re additionally hotter than zippered foot containers since they block drafts.
What is a quilt again tensioning system?
This is an adjustable system that pulls the perimeters of the rear gap of a quilt collectively to assist block chilly drafts. It augments a sleeping bag attachment system and is of main profit to floor sleepers. Vendors use totally different names for it, like Dynamic Tensioning System (UGQ), Adjustable Side Elastics (Warbonnet), and Edge Tension Control (Nunatak).
Why is a differential lower on a backpacking quilt vital?
A differential lower is when the inside and exterior shell cloth of the quilt are lower to totally different sizes in order that the entire down insulation can keep totally lofted round you even if you happen to push towards it or pull it tight. If the inside and outer materials had been lower the identical measurement, the down would flatten whenever you press towards it, forcing the right down to compress and lose all of its trapped warmth.
Is it price including down overfill to a quilt?
It actually relies on the design of the quilt. Most quilts are designed with a great baffle top and a differential lower that optimize the heat for a given temperature ranking. Adding some overfill may scale back down shift contained in the quilt or not, relying on the way it’s designed. When doubtful, ask the quilt producer. Sometimes, it’s more practical to simply get the subsequent warmer-sized quilt as a substitute.
What does denier imply?
Denier, usually abbreviated as “d” or “D”, is a unit of measurement that’s used to explain the thickness of particular person fibers or threads. When looking for backpacking gear or clothes, you’ll usually see 10d or 20d tacked onto the tip of a specification for the gear’s cloth. Higher denier materials are normally heavier and extra sturdy than decrease denier materials. For instance, a quilt with a 10d shell cloth shall be barely lighter weight and fewer sturdy than one made with a 20d cloth.
What sleeping garments must you use when sleeping with a backpacking quilt?
We advocate sporting an extended sleeve jersey and lengthy underwear, the identical garments you’d put on in a sleeping bag, to maintain physique oils and dust from making the within of your quilt soiled. Many individuals additionally put on a fleece hoody down hoody when sleeping beneath a quilt if extra heat is required. A fleece hat or down hood will also be worn in colder situations.
Are quilts good for winter backpacking and tenting?
Not actually. Quilts are greatest used for temperatures better than 20 levels, though some individuals will drape a quilt over a sleeping bag in winter to spice up its temperature ranking.
When is a full-length zipper higher than a 3/4 size zipper?
For chilly climate quilts rated for lower than 20 levels Fahrenheit or if you happen to’re a chilly sleeper, we advocate that you just get a quilt with a 3/4 size or full-length zipper. When zippered closed shut, it eliminates any probability of chilly drafts, however nonetheless allows you to sleep with the quilt open and draped over you in hotter climate.
What is the distinction between 800 and 900 fill energy down?
Fill energy is a manner of measuring how a lot house goose down or duck down can fill. For instance, 1 ounce of 800 fill energy down will fill 800 cubic inches, whereas 1 ounce of 9oo fill energy will fill 9o0 cubic inches. More down usually means extra heat. So a 900 fill energy down quilt supplies extra heat than an 800 fill energy quilt for a similar weight of insulation. It additionally implies that you should utilize much less 900 fill energy down by weight to get the identical heat as that provided by 800 fill energy down, thereby lowering the burden of your quilt.
Is duck down hotter than goose down?
Fill energy is a species-independent manner of measuring the warmth-to-weight ratio of duck down and goose down. In different phrases 800 fill energy duck down is as heat as 800 fill energy goose down. The distinction between the 2 boils right down to the colour of the insulation, which you received’t see as a result of it’s sewn right into a sleeping bag or quilt and never seen to the attention. Duck down can also be inexpensive than goosedown as a result of there are much more geese on this world than geese.
What is the distinction between a inventory quilt and a customized quilt?
Many quilt producers provide inventory quilts, that are pre-made, have a restricted characteristic set, use barely heavier materials, and are solely supplied in a handful of colours. They additionally have a tendency to make use of decrease fill energy down insulation or duck down as a substitute of excessive fill energy goose down. The benefit of shopping for a inventory quilt is that they’re normally inexpensive and obtainable a lot sooner than one that’s customized made, even when it’s a few ounces lighter weight and is available in your favourite shade.
What is the very best kind of sleeping pad to make use of with a quilt?
Most sleeping pads work effectively with quilt pad-attachment programs with a couple of exceptions, together with inflatable air mattresses, self-inflating pads, and foam sleeping pads. Pads that don’t work very effectively are skinny, closed-cell foam pads which can be thinner than 1/4″ and Klymit sleeping pads which have openings in them. But generally, quilts work greatest with inflatable sleeping pads from Therm-a-Rest, Sea-to-Summit, NEMO, and Exped.
What is an underquilt for backpacking?
An underquilt is utilized by backpackers who sleep in hammocks. It supplies again insulation, very similar to a sleeping pad does for individuals who sleep on the bottom in tents or beneath tarps. While you’ll be able to technically sleep on a sleeping pad in a hammock, an underquilt is way more comfy as a result of it’s hung beneath the hammock and out of the way in which.
What is the Responsible Down Standard?
The Responsible Down Standard (RDS) certification goals to make sure that down and feathers come from animals that haven’t been subjected to any pointless hurt. Any elimination of down and feathers from reside birds (live-plucking or molt-harvesting) is prohibited; force-feeding can also be prohibited. Knowledgeable, third-party certification physique audits every stage within the provide chain. Certification ensures that the id of RDS down and feathers is maintained always: from the farm to the ultimate product.
Check Out All of SectionHiker’s Gear Guides!
SectionHiker is reader-supported. We independently analysis, check, and charge the very best merchandise. We solely become profitable if you are going to buy a product by means of our affiliate hyperlinks. Help us proceed to check and write unsponsored and impartial gear critiques, newbie FAQs, and free mountaineering guides.