using nunatak quilts

I think it depends a lot on which pad you use. I found a standard 20" wide mat was too wide to use the straps under the mat, but with a torso-width mat I could happily put the straps around the mat. If you don't use the straps under the mat, then you need to be careful when you roll over to keep the quilt on top of you, otherwise there will be a gap to let cold drafts in. Also keep in mind that putting the straps on the outside of the mat may make it difficult to sit upright in your quilt (again depends on which mat).

My wife uses the straps under her body, never under the GG Nightlight pad she typically uses. I assume it's a personal preference. She tosses and turns throughout the night and doesn't seem to have any trouble staying warm and keeping drafts at bay.

I've only used mine (Arc AT) in warm weather so far. I put the bottom strap under my pad (NeoAir regular) and leave the top strap undone. I toss and turn a lot and have no problems keeping it straight and on me.

To be honest, I sleep on my side, and I've fought every temptation imaginable to just hack the danged straps off at 3 AM. The only thing keeping me back: the $400 bucks I spent for the thing. Otherwise, I'd have cut the straps off long ago.

In fact, I'm off to cut them off right now.

Stargazer

I've never fastened the straps around the sleeping pad. I bought a quilt to get away from that strapped in feeling.
I have the straps very loosely around myself. I've thought about cutting them off, but i think lying on them helps me to turn during the night, without gaps appearing at the sides.

A while back (I cannot find the thread) a person mentioned about having removable straps on the quilt so that it could be closed up fully with male and female clips on each side, or the strap could be inserted for for a looser fit in warm weather. Tom will do this for you if you that is what you want.

Great quilts by the way.

"Tom will do this for you if you that is what you want.
Great quilts by the way."

I agree, and, no, I didn't cut the straps off. ;-) I will loosen them entirely to make it easier to switch to my other side when turning over at night.

The straps really do come in handy on very cold nights, when you might be tempted to "cocoon into" the quilt and sleep on your back.

Quilts really are a great alternative for side sleepers and those who feel claustrophobic in regular sleeping bags. In the end, I had to discontinue use of my mummy bags. I never used the hoods — couldn't stand the enclosed feeling. All that weight went to waste.

The Nunataks are amazing — light as a feather and warm. Everyone should buy a Specialist for general 3 plus season use. I got mine overstuffed with an extra oz. of down and it's good to well below freezing.

On warn nights, you can just peel the thing down.

Stargazer

Thanks, everyone. Thomas, I almost spit out my morning coffee with your comment. Everyone has given me some newer insight about this project. I tend to split hairs too much when it comes to gear. : ) When I use my sleeping bag, I just toss it over me, not getting anal about how it worked! Try to get a custom quilt and I am going nuts. I sleep on my side for the most part, toss around like a lettuce spinner to get to the other side. I use a BA insulated pad with a GG thin in the winter months.

Updates will continue.
I still may go with a WM bag in the end, or Feathered Friends.

I used my Specialist for the first time on one night in the high teens, followed by 2 in the low-30s. I never used the straps. The Specialist is wide enough that even as a a toss-turning side-sleeper, I've didn't have cold spots as long I buttoned the top around my neck. Drafts weren't an issue, though I was in a TT Rainbow. (and a bivy on the first night for extra warmth.

Like Thomas, the main thing keeping me from cutting them off is the price, though if I left a tiny bit, I think it'd be easy to sew back on. I think detachable straps (the added weight of the connectors) would be beside the point in a quilt aiming for such low weight.

I do like the detachable straps idea. Also, I notice that the given measurements are much smaller than sleeping bags. Anyone know why? Yet, everyone says no drafts (unless the customs were made wider). It's difficult because I have never seen these in person, and people here have no idea what I mean when I say 'quilt' for camping.

Hi Donna,
I'll just chime in here at the end…

When I had my Arc AT, the straps were not completely detachable, but they did have a snap closure so you could leave them open during the night. Typically, I used to just undo them all the way but leave them snapped together. To me, the straps were a nuisance but I wasn't about to cut them off because I figured if I ever sold it (which I did) the next persom would want them.

On my next quilt (The one Tim made me) he actually put removable straps on it and I have since taken them off. I find it easier to move under the quilt this way. I guess it is personal preference.

With regards to the measurements. I think you are asking why the width of a quilt is smaller then the width of a sleeping bag? If so, this is because a quilt is designed to be left open against the ground as a compressed section of a sleeping bag would not be insulating anyway.

I don't want to be the guy who posts his own links all over BPL, but take a look at this video. (Moderator: if this is not within BPL policy, feel free to remove it)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g46SUD27nf0

It isn't a Nunatak quilt and some of the video may not be interesting to you but it will give you a good idea of how a quilt fits around you and how to use it. Also, you can compare the size of me to the size of the quilt and the coverage it gives me. Hopefully this will help answer some questions.

Steve

p.s. Quilts are awesome!

Hey Steve, thanks for link. It did help out. It would have been nice to see you roll over and how you work with the opening. I just can't sleep like a dead (wo)man all night. But the measurements did help. No way a 46" could work for me. Tom had mentioned to me add 10" more to what your shoulder girth is, which his stock measurements would work. I am stuck on the hip girth. What woman isn't!!
I currently measure 42" due to the aging process and maybe an extra cookie. So I wonder about the 45" on his quilts. I may widen it up a notch.

The WLQ is a slender quilt. The role of the quilt in the video is to be as light as possible, so it's a snug fit. :)

Also, the Nuna quilts have a french curve to them while my quilt is a straight taper. This means that you should have a bit more hip room in the Nuna quilt.

When I was buying my Arc AT a few years back, I took an old piece of cotton (ie. bedsheet) and cut it to the size of the quilt to really get a feel for how it was going to work. It was a great help in my decision…maybe you could do the same.

An alternative if you want something larger is to look at the Jacks R Better line of larger quilts…and I believe they can be used for 2 people in a pinch. Just throwing out some options…also remember that the Nuna stuff has great resale value so if it doesn't work for you, it'll be snatched up onthe gear swap pretty darn fast.

Steve

I found having the straps under the pad was more convenient when it came to getting up in the middle of the night and I found a bit easier to switch from one side to the other because the quilt stayed in place.

I have found that the straps below me (but above the pad) tends to be warm except when I made a major change in sleeping position and needed to shift the quilt to cover whatever was pointed skyward.

I don't bother with the staps in warmer weather for maximum convenience and comfort.

–Mark

Just throwing this out there–my wife uses a nunatak alpinist and I use a WM pod 30 (top bag). A mix between the two would be nice, like a quilt with fabric sewn along one side, but could be fastened to the other side to make a bag when it was colder. Anyone seen or tried something like this?

I have made straps with velcro and elastic – from the fabric store, 3/8" wide – and will be trying this out over the next 10 days in the Winds. I have a Golite Ultra 20 that I have only tried at home but if all goes well I will have Nunatak make me a custom quilt.

The elastic has worked at home allowing the bag to expand and then contract back a bit as I moved about. I don't ever plan on straping myself to the pad since the whole point of going to a quilt was to maximize freedom of movement.

I will update how this worked in a couple of weeks.

"Also, I notice that the given measurements are much smaller than sleeping bags. Anyone know why? Yet, everyone says no drafts (unless the customs were made wider)."

This is why I dumped my Alpinist ASAP. It was too narrow to keep me as warm as a traditional sleeping laid on top of me like a quilt. I would very much disagree that there are "no drafts" and that your bare bits don't get exposed when you roll over without straps. Obviously it works for some folks. If you can find a naroow sleeping bag you can test it for yourself by just opening the zipper all the way and using it like a quilt. If this is warm, comfy and draft free for you in a cold and drafty environment (I sleep in tarptents) then a quilt, with or without straps, will also work for you.

Zack must be a mind-reader. I am planning on making a "POD" out of cuben fabric, but with some simple attachments along the side instead of a zipper. Maybe even just make extra wide "wings" with a few velcro dots along the edges to fasten it underneath me when it turns cold and blustery..

Thanks, one and all. I did try several bags in different widths this evening flopped over me as if a quilt in the field and decided to add a few more inches to the stock width. With another person eye-balling it and measuring, it made a difference. Better to have it wider and can make it smaller later than the other way around.

*phew*

"Better to have it wider and can make it smaller later than the other way around."

Amen.

Note the difference between the widths on a Nuna Specialist and a JRB 48" rectangle. As a side sleeper, when I roll in my Specialist, I just re-tuck the quilt. The fabric is plenty long.

The Jacks have some great ideas–poncho head holes, wings, pad to bag with velcro, etc. The variety of widths on the Nuna quilts is superior to the JRB design.

Hi Zack,

The Nunatak Back Country Blanket is kinda like that. A quilt when you want it to be, but with velcro down the sides and elastic drawstrings on each end, you can make it into a sleeping bag when the temps dip. I own one and love it!

Doug

Jacks do, and really did consider them, but I don't need all the 'assembly' parts nor do I need a hole. Just a quilt. Nothing more. I did order a cross between the Arc Expedition and Alpinist, bringing it to 0 degrees, with a 2 oz added fill. He will also narrow the neck/ shoulder area for me because it would be too wide there even with the 57" I wanted. Also will be getting the removable straps.

Quantum 1.0 Pertex in gunmetal blue. Small. I just can't wait, now. I will take some pictures when it arrives. I won't ask how long. The wait would kill me.