NEXT LIVE STREAM: Wednesday, March 12, 2025 @ 12:00 PM US Mountain Time
This course examines the design, materials, and performance characteristics of backpacking quilts, focusing on their role in lightweight sleep systems. It provides an analysis of insulation technologies, fabric properties, and construction methods, along with best practices for selecting and using quilts in various environmental conditions.
Technology & Materials – fill properties, thermal efficiency, moisture management; shell & liner materials, breathability, and durability; baffle design, impact on loft retention and thermoregulation; length, girth, and fit; temperature ratings and how to interpret them.
Performance – fit vs. warmth; draft management, pad attachment systems, footbox configurations, and closure mechanisms; how material selection and design impacts warmth-to-weight efficiency.
Best Practices – layering strategies, sleeping pad selection, storage, cleaning, maintenance.
Use Cases – thru-hiking, fastpacking, wet environments, cold temperatures, and more.
Intended Audiences – backpackers and long-distance hikers evaluating quilt-based sleep systems; industry professionals, gear designers, and product testers; outdoor educators and guides seeking an in-depth understanding of quilt technology.
Sponsorship Information: Backpacking Light provides trusted education to highly-engaged user communities of backcountry enthusiasts, industry professionals, land management agency staff, trail advocacy groups, and more. If you are interested in sponsoring this online education and gaining access to these communities to increase your brand awareness or reach please complete our partnership intake form.
Interactive, Live-Streamed, Online
This masterclass is a live-streamed online video broadcast that includes live keynote presentations, pre-recorded videos, and live audience Q&A with course instructors.
Event Program
Module 1
Livestream – Backpacking Quilts – March 12, 2025 @ 12 PM US MDT
Meet Your Presenter(s)
Presenter
Backpacking Light
RYAN JORDAN - Ryan is the founder and publisher of Backpacking Light and has worked professionally since 1986 as an outdoor educator and researcher. With decades of experience as a backcountry guide and adventurer and a background in engineering and materials science, Ryan specializes in evaluating the performance of lightweight gear for extreme environments. As an educator, he integrates scientific rigor with practical field experience to guide adventurers and outdoor professionals about gear, technology, and best practices.
ISAAC SIMONS - A writer by trade, Isaac is a longtime lover of outdoor exploration and has devoted himself increasingly to introducing as many people as possible to the challenges and rewards of the backcountry. His writing has appeared in Storgy Magazine, Centipede Press and Viewfinder Magazine, among others, with pieces forthcoming in Summit Journal and LOST. Most recently, Isaac launched Outroads, a video podcast about uncommon obsessions, unconventional life choices, and the lessons gleaned from them.
Sleep warmer and lighter with a quilt.
Learn about quilt design, materials, sizing, layering, and best practices to help you choose and use the right backpacking quilt.
This feature requires an active Backpacking Light Membership.
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