Summer quilt

[Anonymous]

I want to get myself a nice quilt for summer use. SoCal lower to middle elevation… no High Sierras use.
I had a look at the Arc Edge. Light at 11 ounces and tight (i am skinny) and 300 dollars. ooch! ;)
Also had a look at the JacksRBetter Shenandoah and Stealth… both are 15 ounces and about a hundred dollars less.

I currently use a WM Summerlite, but on shorties in the above conditions, I find it a lil' warm.

The Jacks is cheaper, but only four ounces lighter than my Summerlite (though -four ounces is nice).

That Arc Edge at 11 ounces will shave half a pound off my summer base weight.

Anybody have experience with the above mentioned quilts?

[Joe Clement]

Nope, but I've been looking for a really light, reasonably priced summer quilt, and I don't think they exist. Thought about getting the BPL Pro 60 or 90, but the reviews just aren't that inspiring. I'm kind of hard pressed to spend $300 on a quilty for 55 degrees.

[David Chenault]

I quite like my BPL 60 quilt. It's a summer quilt, that's for sure. With shorts and a Patagonia Down hoody I've found it good to around 40 (this was without a pad, too). A bit of a niche piece, but nice for tiny packs on summer mountain trips, bivy-in', canyoneering overnights, and so forth.

It makes a very handy inner bag, too.

[Anonymous]

I know, Joe… I may as well throw on a Montbell down inner jacket and some WM flash pants and climb into my MLD Superlite Bivy…

[Dan @ Durston Gear]

One option to mull over is Golite's new 2010 1+ Season quilt. The quilt is set to be released in another 2 months or so. I believe it's rated to 40F and it's 19oz. That may be a bit warmer and heavier than you are hoping for, but is a cheaper option at ~$200.

The main problem with the 1+ season quilt is that you could buy a 2009 Ultra 20 for the same price (or less on sale) and the same weight, yet have a warmer quilt. An interesting idea would be to take an Ultra 20 and remove about half of the 9.5oz of down. It would probably be good to about 40-50F and would weigh ~14-15oz.

[Brad Rogers]

What about a Mont-Bell Thermal Sheet? It is technically a hoodless bag but it weighs in at 13.4oz with a full zip and could be used as a quilt. You could even modify it if wanted and it is more affordable than most.

[Joe Clement]

Thermal sheet looks perfect, except for the price. And probably too warm for where I do most of my hiking (April-September).

The smart thing for me to do would be to make my own, with sewn thru seams.

[Anonymous]

Dan, I'd rather not butcher a perfectly good quilt. If I were confident enough to sew on that thing, I'd just buy the Thru-Hiker kit and make myself a knock-off Arc Edge ;) But, sadly, curtains are the extent of my sewing endeavors… and I broke my sisters Walmart machine in the process. Sorry sis.

Also want to support the cottage crew, as I have been muey impressed with what I have received from Ron at MLD. I love my new Prophet. Yum!

[BlackHatGuy]

I have an Arc AT and love it for the summer. It's a 3/4 quilt, so it only goes up to your chest, but that's what I like about it. I wear a UL merino wool shirt with this to sleep in all summer and I'm quite comfortable, whether on the ground or in my hammock. And it's only $213 in medium. And it's only 8 oz. in medium. Best summer quilt there is, in my opinion! In fact, I like them so much, I have two!

[Tom Caldwell]

I noticed Nunatak has a medium Edge with .8 Quantum shell for sale in the clearance bin…

[Anonymous]

Doug, two? Lucky duck! ;) I had looked at the AT and was thinking that I could use it with a merino top, or even my Mont-Bell down inner jacket… but that puts me at 14-15 ounces combined… regular quilt territory.

Tom, I emailed them on that one last week, but have not yet gotten a reply. Discount seems small seeing as it probably is a demo/used bag… Then again, maybe it isn't that used… again, waiting to hear…

[BlackHatGuy]

Hi Alexander,

During the summer I sweat so much that I always carry an extra shirt to sleep in, usually a BPL UL Merino hoody or an Icebreaker 150 zip-T (no hood). I like sleeping in shirts and I like them to be dry! So I'd be carrying it whether or not I had a short quilt or long quilt or sleeping bag. And if it's cool enough for the down inner (or Thermawrap) I'll most likely be wearing it around camp before I hit the sack, so I don't really consider it extra, just an extra use for a piece I'd be using anyway! So I save the ounces over a full quilt by employing things I'll either use for other purposes (UL inner jacket) or that I'd have anyway (the UL merino shirt for sleeping).

I have two because I ordered a large for my second one, with 1.5 ounces of overfill. It takes me a bit lower in temp with negligible weight gain, and fits like a regular quilt when I'm near fetal (which is often how I sleep when on the ground).

Love 'em!

[Anonymous]

Thanks Doug! You've got me thinking about that AT. I will put a call into them and ask some questions.

[Jim MacDiarmid]

I have a Shenandoah Quilt. It seems nice for the two times I used it. Both times at the bottom end of it's temp rating in the low 40s. I was comfortable, once in a bivy, once not.

I believe I've read posts of yours where you mention modifying gear. If you can sew, I'd recommend making your own synthetic quilt. Using Tim Marshall's Quilt calculator, and the assumption that one layer of 2.5 climashield is good down to about 45 degrees, you could make a quilt that is 3-4 oz lighter than the Shenandoah and good to about the same temps. Materials would be maybe $90-100 on Thru-Hiker, I believe.

The Shenandoah is great though. My problem is, I picked it on Gear Swap up 3 weeks before I lucked into a Nunatak Arc Specialist on Gear Swap. The Nunatak is good to 32 degrees and weighs 16oz. The Shenandoah is good to 40 and weighs 15oz. Problem is, I live in the Northeast now and even venting, the Specialist is too warm in the summer, so I'm keeping the Shenadoah for the time being for summer and as a layer for winter camping.

For the Sierras in the summer, a 32 degree seems ideal to me. Not so warm I can't vent, and can handle those unpredicted temperature dips(down into the 20s with the Montbell UL down Inner parka I'm sure you'll be carrying). If you want a great, light 3 season quilt, maybe go for the Arc Ghost, narrower and lighter than the Specialist.

[Anonymous]

Jim, I actually can sew a bit. I have tinkered with my Golite Ion, and have sewn curtains for the pop-up trailer I restored(it is the ultralight of the trailer world), and I have altered a few articles of clothing… but, I am a bit nervous(baffles) when it comes to the thought of making a quilt. Believe me, I want to give it a try… Sis is still irked that she had to have her machine retimed after I had it on loan ;) Then again, it was a cheapie machine.

But, I may opt to get that Thru-Hiker down quilt kit and make my own Arc Edge type quilt! I am receiving a new sewing machine for Christmas… so I should just jump in with both feet… argh ;)

Okay. Never mind. I am going to make one. Thanks Jim ;)

[Theron Rohr]

You could try the army poncho liner. I recently got one and used it last Oct. north of SF. I really needed to wrap up in my tarp to make it windproof before I was nice and cozy though. No idea of the weight but it must be in the hunt because it feels quite light. $20-30 online.

Oh yeah, it's nice and large too!

[Lucas Boyer]

take a peek at the Ray Way Quilts. $75 bucks for the standard 1P quilt, plus $10 for Alpine upgrade(exends to about 20deg.) The Ray Way Quilts don't use baffles and won't stress your sewing skills. $85 for a 20degree'ish quilt is a bargain. Weight is quoted around 24oz. too.

http://www.rayjardine.com/ray-way/php/order-form.php

[Peter O]

Couple questions about this. Does anyone know what fabric and insulator is included w/ the kit? Are there any additional costs? Like do you have to buy instructions or a book. I want to be make a 2-p lightweight summer quilt with ClimashieldXP.

[Lucas Boyer]

Peter, in Beyond Backpacking Jardine recommends Polarguard 3D and Primaloft. Not sure if that's what he's still using in these kits. I bet they will kindly tell you if you email. The kit includes all instructions, fabric, insulation. Not sure about notions(threads, etc.)

[Anonymous]

I went ahead and ordered the Thru-Hiker Down Quilt Kit W/Premium 0.9 oz Momentum90 Fabric in black.

I can tackle the baffles… I plan on making a minimalist summer quilt like the Nunatak Arc Edge with full baffling and about an inch of loft… 6 ounces of fill, good to about 40-45 degrees. If all works out, I will make a second with the remaining down. Why not ;)

[John G]

I looked a few months ago, and Ray's website said the insulation was climashield. I believe the 2 weights are probably the XP and combat weights. I believe the fabric is probably nylon taffeta (ie: Ripstop without the thicker threads that make the square pattern). I don't know if it's DWR treated or not. His website talks about the benefits of a highly breathable fabric for keeping insensible perspiration from reducing the warmth of the insulation in quilts.

You can also order materials from Thru-hiker.com.

[Mike M]

here's what I ended up doing- found a used Marmot Atom for $110 (e-bay, but have seen some good deals here as well), send into Tim Marshall and for $50 he will convert it to a quilt.

my guess it will be at (or slightly less) than 1 lb, should be good for temps close to freezing w/ decent sleep clothing added

Mike

[Tim Marshall]

Climashield XP 2.5oz is a good summer weight insulation. It is good to around 45*. Making a quilt with this stuff is very easy to do, or I know a guy who makes them:)

A quilt sized like the Edge fitting up to 6' will weigh under 13oz depending on the extras added to the quilt (drawcords, zippers, …)

-Tim

[Peter O]

"Peter, in Beyond Backpacking Jardine recommends Polarguard 3D and Primaloft. Not sure if that's what he's still using in these kits. I bet they will kindly tell you if you email. The kit includes all instructions, fabric, insulation. Not sure about notions(threads, etc.)"

He would not. This is how he responded
"We supply the world's most high performance materials with our Kits. That's all we have to say about that. Enjoy your hike of the Florida trail, whatever gear you choose."

Doesn't give me that nice warm feeling inside that makes me want to buy from him. The rumor is he's using climashield XP now but I am very skeptical of this. He sells the insulation fabric for $2.95 a yard. That is RIDICULOUSLY cheap, unbelievably cheap, if it's XP. I'm afraid I'm shying away from Ray Jardine if he's going to be all mysterious with his products.

"I looked a few months ago, and Ray's website said the insulation was climashield. I believe the 2 weights are probably the XP and combat weights. I believe the fabric is probably nylon taffeta (ie: Ripstop without the thicker threads that make the square pattern). I don't know if it's DWR treated or not. His website talks about the benefits of a highly breathable fabric for keeping insensible perspiration from reducing the warmth of the insulation in quilts."
Never found anything about XP on his site. I question the use of XP b/c of the low price.

[Joseph Morrison]

I am going to use my Golite Ultra this coming summer. It may be overkill but I am not going to spend a fortune on a lighter quilt just to shave a few ounces.

I got a chance to use the Nunatak Arc Edge last summer. A friend who wites online reviews for backpacker magazine let me use it. It was crazy light and warm for nights in the mid 40's. I believe it would have been adequate for nights in the upper 30's. It was very nice but I don't believe its worth the price they are asking for it.

Joseph

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