0-20 Degree Synthetic Quilts

Give 'em a call at EE. I'll bet Tim will make you a Prodigy with a sewn footbox.

I contacted them and Tyler told me they couldn't make a lower rated synthetic quilt or do a sewn foot box on one either.

I would've been willing to pay a premium for a custom quilt as well, so are there any custom quilt makers?

The issue for us on both the warmer synthetic quilt and sewn foot box on synthetics is material thickness. Other than our 50* prodigy the rest are to thick to nearly sew up the foot box. More insulation than the 8oz we use is too thick to sew at all. We've done it once or twice and it's really difficult to work with. It can be done be required completely different construction methods than we use.

-Tim

Kit
http://thru-hiker.com/kits/apex_quilt_kit.php
Might buy extra insulation to make your 0 quilt. Also fyi, I've seen people start to say 20 is the lowest they go with a quilt due to drafting. No personal experience.

I wonder if you could get someone on TaskRabbit.com to make it for you : ). Just like any MYOG, maybe pay them for two quilts, one out of cheap walmart materials to make sure the footbox is how you want it.

edit: just saw Tim's explanation. taskrabbit may not be able to overcome that. By the way Tim, I just got my EE quilt. It looks beautiful!!!

It would add ten ounces (?) but I've layered two synthetic quilts (50 and 30 degree) down to the teens. It would (obviously) give you two quilts that could be used in different situations. Probably something you have already considered but it's worked well in my experience.

One very important UL concept to keep in mind when thinking about a sleep set-ups, especially for cold weather, is that your insulating layers — such as hooded down coat and shell pants or down pants — can and should be used as part of your sleep system.

The simple concept for UL is that if you're not using everything you brought, you brought too much; this applies to your sleeping gear as well. Too often overlooked is the fact that by buying a larger quilt, you can augment your quilt's (and pad's) R rating with clothing you're already carrying.

Last winter I did a bunch of experimentation to find the lightest combination with which I could sleep quite comfortably around 0°F. Very long story short, I ended up with a +20°F Enigma, 1/4"CCF pad and a torso/wide NeoAir Trekker air mat, with a total weight of 2.82lb. I got the Enigma in long/wide so there would be no issues at all wearing my hooded down jacket and down pants while using it. My pack goes under the legs/CCF pad for a little more insulation.

This worked for me down to -6°F — totally comfortable. The colder it gets the more personal it becomes regards to what works for you individually, but the multi-use concept remains. You just have to be willing and able to experiment.

MLD have an interesting synthetic contraption that boosts the quilt temp limit 10-20 degrees: link

Though personally I too prefer one quilt plus insulating jacket and pants, due to their better multi-use.

Another option is to stack a down quilt under a synethic one.

More money but much lighter.

The 20degree is cheap enough that I could order it and if it doesn't work for me I could do something else.

Guess I'll go that route for now.

"The 20degree is cheap enough that I could order it and if it doesn't work for me I could do something else.

Guess I'll go that route for now."

If it's reassuring to you. When I read Ed Veisturs book on the Himalayas, he mentioned that the heaviest bag he ever carried for Everest was a zero degree bag. He said that he wore his insulation layers inside it. He said often times they went with lighter sleeping bags or they'd even share 1 sleeping bag for two guys. (His quote "we spooned, not forked..".

I carried a 4.5 lb zero bag for a while before my recent 20 degree. My friends carried 20 degrees and I was the jealous one.

>>The simple concept for UL is that if you're not using everything you brought, you brought too much; this applies to your sleeping gear as well.

I'm surprised at how often this concept is either not known, understood, or perhaps just disregarded. On cold trips I'm packing insulating layers that can be combined for any situation…hiking, resting, and around camp at night. It just seems obvious to consider the bag/quilt to be that final insulation layer you wear during your least active time of the day.

I have tried that concept a few times in winter (one trip down to -13f) and it works, the only issue I have with it is if one your down clothing items get wet or damaged, or the weather is colder than expected it could lead to trouble.

Stephen, I agree. As might as I strive to lighten my load I always feel the need to bring an extra insulation piece in the winter. Just like I always bring an extra pair of socks. Heaven forbid something gets wet in the snow I'd rather have a bit of extra weight vs freezing. And I've never known the weathermen to be even remotely accurate for predicting weather in the Rockies. Being off by 10 or more degrees is the norm not the exception.

I'm all about minimizing everywhere I can, but for me, not having backup insulation is like not having car insurance. Others may be fine with that philosophy, but I would consider that verging on "stupid light."

Hi Jesse,

This will be my 4th year in Michigan (I am from Ireland)
And I have learned that the forecast cam be way off. I like your car insurance comment.

Come each December I am carrying 6lbs of sleeping bag and clothing, and I happily carry iy.