JRB Stealth or BPL PRO 90 Quilt?

If you read the reviews (if I'm remembering correctly), the Pro 90 wasn't sized large enough to work as an overbag.

From what I understand of the physics it's better to have a synthetic overbag for winter use. That said, a BPL quilt just won't fit. I just ordered and returned one in part because of that reason. I ordered a quilt from MLD instead which is much more versatile in that respect.

If you go the route of the JRB quilt, they are very well made. I have one of their rectangular quilts for warm weather Mid Atlantic use and it's been lovely so far this spring. I don't need or have a head hole in mine so I can't comment on that, but the workmanship is wonderful.

>If you read the reviews (if I'm remembering correctly), the Pro 90 wasn't sized large enough to work as an overbag.

Well, that settles that then. That evens out the price and weight issue, so I'll just have to do some research into down vs synthetic overbag, and whether or not I even want to bother with an overbag vs a single purpose winter bag.

I'm leaning toward the JRB Stealth at the moment.

My summer bag is a LaFuma 50F or so synthetic bag. If I recall correctly, you're moving to NY. It can be humid here in the summer, and synthetic might work "better". Then again, if its hot and humid, you probably don't want to use ANY bag.

other consideration is that down breathes better than synthetic, so if it's hot down might be a better choice…

i have to say i used the JRB stealth as my summer bag on the AT and it was one of my best gear investments. it kept me warm easily into the 40's, great durability, great versatility, wearing it as a poncho always gets applause from camp mates. highly highly recommended!
mike!

I just got a JrB no sniv this year and I dig it. I got the full length omni tape so now I can do cool tricks like velcro the quilt to my hood, pad and pillow and my sleep system holds still. I've had it out in 20's and was warm. The jacks are cool dudes.

I would go for a UL synthetic quilt over a 35d UL down bag.
Quilt for summer, both for spg, fall, and winter.

I also had a bpl 90 and it definately wont fit over even a skinny bag. I also felt for a purely summer bag the foot box was sewn way too far up.
IMO you really want something you can open up almost to the feet. I sent mine back.

If it were me, and I am headed in this direction, I would either make or have one of the guys here make a synthetic overquilt to go over a #4 or #5 montbell UL SS down or other bag like your Summerlite.

I have a Montbell UL SS #5 down long bag and it is sweet.
Weighs 1#-4oz. Think mine actually weighs 1#5oz.
Has a 40D rating and I had it down to 40 degrees F with only silk long johns on and was very comfortable sleeping in the open with a a lot of dew and humidity. The only complaint I have about the #5 is that it does not have a zipper baffle. The #4 does have a zipper baffle.
Very roomy and light.

I also have montbell sythetic #3 and #7, both slightly on the heavy side for doubling up but better for high humidity.

All of the montbell SS bags zip pretty far down into the foot area if you want to use them as a quilt in the summer.

That said the #3, and #4 are too warm for me in the summer unless I opened them up and hung my feet out, then still too hot. The #5 is better and tolerable. The #7 is fine for a summer bag.

Right now I really have too many bags as I have 3 more besides those and will probably sell a few.

What I am working on right now might work for you. I plan to build a 50dF UL synthetic quilt with an open foot box, IE you can open the entire quilt up flat, or you can use with a closed footbox, but like a tube with the foot end open, or drawstring it closed, or variation of above. Got the idea from someone here that builds quilts and posted a photo of one with a drawstring foot box. Not sure if his opens completely up though.

Caught a sale on at joanns and I just put a test bag together to work out all the bugs and make sure I get the size right for under $20. Got 3/8" poly fiber for $6, some very light 2nds ripstop on sale at walmart for $7 for 5 yards, and vecro for $3. Weighs 13 oz. Figure that one should be good for about 60 degrees. Okay since I live almost in the tropics. I will post a pic of it later.

After I work out the bugs on the test model, next up is a DWR fabric version. It will be a .6 loft climasheild and should also weigh about 13 oz also.

If you combine a montbell #4 UL SS down bag with a 13 oz 50d quilt, the combo should be good for about 20-25dF and would weigh about 2#-4oz. Add a neoair regular and you are at 3#-2oz.

If you have someone build you a custom quilt, you can set it up however you want.

Troy,
My JRB No-Sniveler does not have the full length velcro, so the footbox can be formed from the flat quilt with (1)the drawstring across the bottom, (2)a foot or two of velcro on the sides next to the bottom and (3)side to side tie strings at the top of that velcro. Seeing one of their bags would give you some good ideas for your home built quilt.

Here's the thread.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=21087