Ghost or Specialist quilt?

[Eric Fredricksen]

I'm ready to make the jump from bag to quilt, I think, having been previously been uncomfortable with the idea. I'm thinking either the Nunatak Ghost or Specialist. The latter is a little larger for a 1 oz penalty (width 55",45",38" vs 46",43",34"), but I can only guess whether that's something I need. Is it my latent fear of being cold in a quilt that makes me mistrust the Ghost?

I'm 6'0" (I'll be getting a custom size between M and L) and medium build. A sort of cold sleeper. Mostly side sleeper at home, mostly back when camping.

I'm interested in answers for bivy, tent and hammock to the extent they might be different. I definitely want it to work in a hammock.

[Brian Camprini]

If you were exclusively using a hammock, the Ghost's width would be fine for your size, but since you are going to the ground as well, some extra width would certainly help. Nothing against Nunatak, but I'd take a hard look at the Katabatic Gear quilts too (their Palisade is comparable to the Specialist). Top quality and a great price, but you can't go wrong with either company.

If you'll be using it much below freezing, or you are a really cold sleeper, look at the Arc Alpinist and the Sawatch. Alot more warmth for very little additional weight, but they would get pretty toasty in the summer.

[Javan Dempsey]

Eric,

Here's my input, as a custom quilt maker, and hammock user myself:

Unless you're a stone dead mummy sleeper, the Ghost will be way too narrow for anything but hammock use, even then the coverage won't be great if you like to get in crazy positions the way I do. The specialist offers alot more coverage in the shoulder area for ground use, and while it might be a bit wider than necessary for hammock use, the width generally doesn't go to waste as the sides of the hammock body just push the sides together over top of you, making it warmer.

If the ghost were two inches wider, I wouldn't steer you to the Specialist, if you're going to be sleeping in a hammock 90+% of the time, go with the Ghost, otherwise, the 1oz isn't worth the discomfort of not being able to move without un-tucking your quilt and resetting the internal temp you've built up with precious body heat.

[Michael Fogarty]

I have the Specialist, and think you would like it over the Ghost, mainly because a larger size quilt will work more effectively, when adding or wearing extra clothing.

[Eric Fredricksen]

Thanks for the helpful info. I feel like I understand the situation pretty well now, and the Specialist sounds closer to the ideal.

Maybe I'll mock up a quilt of given width with my Summerlite and some chip clips and make sure.

[D S]

I seem to always get to the party late, BUT, having owned both quilts and your rough dimensions fit me…the Ghost is too narrow if you sleep at all on your side, the foot box is also a bit cramped if your feet match your length.

The Specialist is the perfect width but I am not a fan of straps on quilts…if you must, you might opt for two—I always found mine to be somewhat of a nuisance and just simply in the way most of the time.

I was always drafty and somewhat chilled in my Ghost when temps touched around low 30's while wearing a BPL UL 60 hoody.

Javan makes a real nice quilt with quality materials and omni tape which increases the versatility over the sewn up foot box of the Nunataks. A simple snap closure with draw string top, omni tape footbox, semi rectangle is about perfect in my book.

couch

[Don Selesky]

I'll echo the choice of the Specialist. For the extra ounce you get better coverage. While I haven't pushed my Specialist down to its 32F limit, Nunatak ratings are generally accurate.

[Chris Lucas]

If you really want more coverage AND lighter weight consider having Tim Marshall make you a quilt out of CT0.3K.08 and 900 fill power down from ThruHiker. You can get insanely low finished weights in a quilt with this method.

http://enlightenedequipment.webs.com/

[Eric Fredricksen]

Good to see more consensus on the wider size; thanks.

No idea if I want straps or not – I'm new to quilts. But I feel like I probably won't…

As for a cuben quilt, not ready for that yet. It sounds unpleasant and fiddly, especially in a bivy. I have enough to be uncomfortable about.

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