BPL Cocoon UL 240 Quilt

On the sizing chart BPL gave us data about the loft of the older quilts, f.e. 0,75"/1.91 cm for an UL 180. This information is far better than nothing. Many bags, esp. down bags, are compared by their loft. You often read that 2" loft were perhaps sufficient for 0 degree Celsius or 32 F, given the famous and non-existing ideal conditions. Even if it would be a lot more than loft that brings us warmth it is at least a starting point.

What is the loft of the UL 240 quilt? It should be easy to measure.

Loft doesn't apply as a valid measurement with high loft synthetic insulation, especially when comparing to down.

Do you mean that synthetic bags don't need that much loft to achieve similar insulation than down bags? I've read about this here and there but I don't understand the mechanisms fully, I have to admit. Of course loft is not all, the material counts too (otherwise a 0.5" foam pad would do nothing good).

My experience with synthetic bags is however as follows: I owned a TNF Cats Meow (1600 g, Polarguard) and own a ME Moonwalker (1085 g, I think Polarguard 3d ??) in addition to my down bags and both synthetic bags were/are worse performers than down bags with similar loft/height. I own a Cocoon Pullover, and although it is an awesome and beloved piece, it is not as warm as f.e. my WM Hooded Flash Jacket which weights about the same and is of comparable thickness.

I can only give subjective performance comparisons. I've used a quilt made with 7.5 oz/ sq yd of Climashield XP and found it comfortable to the low teens, without the addition of insulated clothing. A few months later, I was slightly chilled around the same temps while in similar clothing using a WM Versalite. The synthetic quilt was used in a large 'mid with several other men, in the less humid Rockies. The Versalite was used in a double-wall tent with my girlfriend, in the very humid Southern Appalachians. Keep in mind that hydration levels and pre-retirement nutrition could have also affected my results. It definitely wasn't a controlled experiment.

I've also pushed a quilt made of 3.7 oz/ sq yd Climashield Combat to freezing temps. I added a MB UL Down Inner, and was inside a TiGoat Ptarmigan Bivy in an AT shelter. I slept fine, until I ran out of calories early in the AM and had to retrieve a dark chocolate bar from my bear hang.

As always, YMMV.

Chris, thx for the info. Are you more a cold or warm sleeper? I need more warmth than the average man.

Another question to BPL: what is the packing volume of the UL 240 quilt? My constant fear with synthetics is to break the insulation. My Cocoon Pullover is allowed more space in the pack than my sleeping bag with over 12 ounces of down (only kidding a little bit).

It would be tempting to use a UL 240 quilt for my next trip to Scotland in April/May. That's the reason for my annoying questions. ;-)

I used to be a very warm sleeper, but then I lost half my body fat. I would say I run slightly on the cold side of average now, but I can still put out a ton of heat when I go to sleep. At least that's what I hear. I definitely don't feel like I sleep as warm as I did when I was in the previously mentioned scenarios.

> …what is the packing volume of the UL 240 quilt?
> My constant fear with synthetics is to break the insulation.

Wolfgang,

The UL 240 Quilt comes with a stuff sack and when packed forms a cylinder that is 12 in. (30.5 cm) long by 24.5 in. (62 cm) in diameter.

Is there more info about the sizing and the weight?
Im 6 1/2 tall and wondering if I should go for the long or if the regular would do it.

Furthermore, what is the weight of the long version?

Cheers

UL 240 Quilt Size Short
60 in. (152cm) long
48 in. (122cm) top circumference
33 in. (84cm) footbox

UL 240 Quilt Size Regular
67 in. (170cm) long
48 in. (122cm)top circumference
33 in. (84cm) footbox

UL 240 Quilt Size Long
74 in. (188cm) long
51 in. (130cm) top circumference
33.5 in. (85cm) footbox

This may be somewhat of a newbie question, but do the lengths of the quilts include the inches needed for the feet vertically, or is length measured from the toes to the end of the quilt?

The measured length is from the toebox/quilt body seam to the top (aka shoulder) of the quilt

I just got mine in the mail today. Awesome, I love it. If you haven't done business with Sam and Addie they are a pleasure to work with. I had some complicated problems ordering and they were very helpful.
The forecast is for it to be about 14 degrees tonight so I might sleep outside and see how this thing works. That depends on how lazy I feel.
Thanks BPL well worth the wait.

Luke, please do sleep out tonight! I'd love to see how it does for you at that temp. Include in your short 'report' what you wore!

The stated packed dimensions are actually incorrect, based on the unit I received from an order placed on February 1, 2011. The stated dimensions are 12" x 24.5". When the shipment arrived the actual packed dimensions using the includes stuffsack are 9 1/2" diameter by 12" long. Its weight and color say I have the right product even though I can't find a label anywhere sewn to the bag, with the product information saying UL 240.

The stated dimensions were a drawback for me, but I took a chance anyway at the gamblers sale. IMO (to BPL) you should change this on your website so that you don't dissuade potential purchasers. The size you had listed caused me to avoid the quilt unless I got a substantially discounted price so I was willing to put up with the large (stated) size. As it is, the size is pretty decent since I'm getting a 4 season bag. I got the bag at 40% off in the gamblers sale and wouldn't you know it, my biggest issue wasn't any issue! Nice bonus for me!

I was only warned of the confusing dimensions listed on the page yesterday and I apologize for having had those listed for so long.

The dimensions were listed as 12" long by 24.5" diameter. I had measured the circumference at 24.5 but listed it as diameter. A rookie mistake.

Well, that's no good. I bailed on the quilt due to the dimensions. Now I know.

I got to try mine out last night here's the report.

The overnight low where I'm staying in the Texas Hill Country was forecast to be between 13 adn 16 degrees with sub zero windchills. I figured it would be a great time to try out my new UL 240 quilt. Not wanting to freeze my face of in the wind, I pitched a tent in the afternoon and went out to it about 11:30. I was wearing the following clothes

Legs – Nylon pants
Torso – T-shirt, thin kashmir wool sweater, midweight fleece (REI Spruce Jacket added later.
Head – Balaclava, knit wool cap

I put the quilt inside a bivy because I almost always sleep in a bivy (active sleeper.

My cheap little key chain thermametor said the low was about 18. I don't know if the tent kept things a bit warmer or the thermametor was a bit off. If felt like there was a good bit of airflow through the tent so I didn't think it was doing much for me besides blocking the wind.

After about 2 hours I was a bit cold, I cinched up the quilt a bit tighter and zipped up the bivy all the way. This kept me relatively warm for a bit longer than I got cold again. I put on my REI Spruce jacket (roughly equal to the old BPL Cacoon jackest for insulation). I was warm enough but not super warm.

I had felt a little funny when I went to bed but about 4 in the morning I started to feel positively sick. I figured that being out in the cold wasn't the best way to deal with a bug and I had work the next day so I went back to my cabin.

Bottom Line
The quilt was just barely warm enough at close to 15 degrees. It was safe but not comfortable. However I think two things would help make it warmer.

1. Considering that I called in sick today and spent most of the day sleeping off some kind of illness I probably wasn't at my strongest last night. If I was healthy I think I would have done better.
2. I did not have access to the kind of clothing I would take on a real backpackign trip with lows of 15. I would normally bring my down vest to layer under my REI jacket or replace both with a very puffy down jacket. Either one of these options would have been warmer than the clothing I actually wore which would have helped. Also I would probably have long john bottoms on a real backpacking trip this cold.

Overall I was pretty happy with the quilt. I think I can be comfortable down to aroudn 15 degrees with the right clothing and I'm confident I will be safe at an even lower temperature in a pinch.

Thanks Luke. What did you have on your feet?

Pad?

"Pad?"

Ooooh, good one. Wish I'd thought of that…..

At last a report. Extra fleece jacket and zipped bivvy bag at 18F and interrupted sleep. Comfort rating at least 20F? CLO value of 7.4 should have a comfort rating of 15F so the BPL UL240 quilt is just in the ball park provided bivvy bag and fleece jacket are used. Perhaps the extra weight of these should be added? More reviews needed to hear from a range of sleepers.
Aussie Dave

I normally take a full lenght foam pad and occassionaly two on winter trips. This time I didn't have one so I used an very old torso length thermarest under my torso and my new extra short one under my feet.
I forget about feet, just thin liner socks and a pair of wool socks.
When I was a bit chilly it was mostly my torso not my extremities which is a bit different from previous experiences. I think it may have been the ground more than anything (the ground has been frozen solid the last couple days.

For the record I felt cold most of today even inside in my bed (probably had a slight fever) I don't know if that affected things or not. On a normal trip if it was going to be 15 degrees I would be carring more efficient insulation than what I used just so I could hang around camp comfortably. Hopefully I'll get another chance to try this out before it warms up again.

I asked about pad used during your test because I've found that the pad is very important for me to stay comfortable. I'm a warm sleeper and try to get by with minimal vs max bag/quill. My favorite winter pad is the Downmat 9.

I have the UL 240 and find it to be plenty cozy for me, but have not given it a really cold test yet like you did. Hope to do so before winter is gone. I have the new cocoon hoody too that will supplement the 240.

Get well! and then try again : )

George,

How low have you had the quilt? Mine's on the way (delayed in Chicago!) and am very curious how low other's have comfortably gone with this.

George I agree the pad is important. One reason I'm optimistic that this quilt can do about 15 degrees is that I felt like I was getting cold from the bottome up rather than through the quilt. That sounds like either the pad or drafts from the edges both of which I can fix to some degree (I'm starting to think about making a snugger fitting bivy for this)
I'm feeling better now and it looks like later in the week we will have one or two cold nights so I'm hoping to give it another test.