How do you attach your quilt to your pad?

[Bryce]

I recently purchased a JRB Sierra Stealth (14.67 oz). I've never used a quilt and in the summer it's great to just drape it over me and when I get hot, poke a leg out to regulate my temperature.

But in colder temperatures, I want to be proficient in setting up the quilt and connecting it to my pad to seal it off.

Here is the underside of my quilt and NeoAir Short (I may more to GG Nightlight torso pad and GG Thinlight Insulation 1/8th inch pad):

There are six attachments points for string on the underside (there are two at the head of the quilt that are not shown) to cinch the bag around the sleeping pad.

So I grabbed some paracord to practice, and loosely attached the bottom 4 points with some slack. It worked ok, but was kind of a pain to slink myself into the quilt from the head end and I didn't even have the last two points near my head strapped down.

How do your guys do it? Do you use cord or possibly stretchy cord to keep it taut? Show me the ways!

[todd]

Not a direct answer to your question, but I don't attach my quilt to my pads – ever. If I wanted to go this route I'd buy a Katabatic w/their unique attachment system.

I reduce drafts by tucking the quilt under me instead of under the pad.

A separate concern for me w/ attaching it to the pad is wear on the quilt due to being under the pad. I may be off-base on that one, though. I just worry about the low-denier fabrics rubbing too much underneath.

Getting into the quilt is easier for me w/ the tuck method, as is getting out.

[Bryce]

I think I move around too much. I'd like to have it secured to the underside if possible. Link to the other manufacturers unique method of attaching?

[todd]

katabaticgear.com/

I, too, move around from back to left side to right……all night long. Why do we do that??? I would use a CCF if I stayed on my back.

Because I move, I push warm air out each time I roll w/an attached quilt. Perhaps I've done it wrong, but the gap created by the "span" of the quilt from my shoulder to the edge of the pad leaves too much dead-air space. The tuck holds the warmth next to me.

I hope I explained that right. There are some diagrams of this (Mike Clelland, perhaps?) on this site.

Let us know what you decide.

Todd

[Bryce]

So you're saying if you're sleeping on your side, you're not as wide as your 20in sleeping pad (of course) so you can't possibly keep the quilt up tight against your body to minimize dead space if the quilt is stretched around your wider sleeping pad?

[Randy Martin]

I also move around a bit and am a side sleeper to boot. I recently acquired a Katabatic Gear quilt. The design of their quilts helps in several ways

1] Their is an elastic binding around the bottom opening which has the benefit of naturally keeping the bottom loosely gathered around you. I say loosely because you can still easily move around.

2] Their attachment system is second to none. The cool thing about it is the clips have two points of attachment. The initial one clips in but allows it to move but remain attached. So basically it moves along the cord it's attached to. The second position on the clip synches down. So if you were in colder weather and didn't want movement which would allow heat out then you use that attachment position and pull the quilt in more tightly and it will stay there.

This is the one I have but the design on all of their bags is the same http://katabaticgear.com/shop/chisos-sleeping-bag/

Edit: I have actually been out and used this thing so not just comments of a someone without experience using the features.

[Randy Martin]

To elaborate a bit further on this topic. It seems to me that attaching a quilt in the manner you are showing in your original picture sort of defeats the purpose of the quilt. By attaching under the pad you are moving some of the insulation in the quilt under the pad and rendering it useless. The idea is to attach or gather around you on top of the pad to avoid that.

[Cayenne Redmonk]

+1 never attach quilt to pad.

[Bryce]

Ok so just run my cord from one attachment point to the other, but on top of the quilt. Then the only challenge is wiggling in from the quit from the top.

I'm wondering if I can remove my belt from my hiking pants and replace with some cord that can dual-use to run through the different attachment points on the quilt….that or just get good with tucking the sides of the quilt underneath me and hop I don't roll around too much. (I did buy the wide version <52in> of their quilt for this reason)

[BlackHatGuy]

+2 never attach quilt to pad.

[Bryce]

Ok, I think I can replicate the katabatic system somewhat. I'll play and see what happens. Thanks for everyone chiming in. :)

[Tohru Ohnuki]

I don't attach the quilt to pad, if I need more warmth/draft protection, I use my bivybag. The Golite quilt I have came with very light grosgrain straps that join with watch buckles, it turns out that I use those more to pull the quilt under my back to tuck in than have them really tight so that the quilt is body hugging… Grosgrain is a better option than cord because it's flat.

[Bryce]

Maybe I don't need to copy the katabatic system and wrap cordage around the pad. Perhaps I can just measure out (mark with black magic parker) how wide I want the quilt to splay out and then when I get to camp, tie the cordage off at pre-measured lengths. I wouldn't need as much cordage this way.

No bivy for me…though it would help when cold to keep drafts out. With my particular setup, it was heavier to carry a tarp (even poncho/tarp) and bivy vs. a larger overall shelter.

[Josh Christensen]

Yes, the katabatic method looks the best to me.

looks warmer than

I'll also try to mod my golite 3-season quilt to be able to attach katabalic style on colder nights. I might try to multi-use the shock chord for either my pack or a belt.

[Diane “Piper” Soini]

I've considered replacing the straps of my Golite quilt with just a panel of fabric that is the width I would like the opening to be. I don't like getting tangled in the straps in the middle of the night.

[Diplomatic Mike]

I never use the straps on a quilt. The main reason i love a quilt, is the freedom to move under it. I hate mummy bags. I sometimes like to curl up in the foetal position. If you use straps, then you have turned the quilt into a restrictive top-bag.

I love my Specialist for temps down to freezing. My Sawatch is too narrow for my sleeping style. I would need to use the cords to make it work, so i'm getting someone to sew extra material on it so i can use it as a loose quilt.

[JASON CUZZETTO]

Sorry, but +4 to not attaching it… I move and stir. A simple rock back and fortth and tuck it in method works wonderfully! I started doing this with sleeping bags in the army about 20+ years ago. Much more efficient.

Thanks

[Greg Mihalik]

For a side sleeper, shock cord and loops makes it real easy to get the "backside" pulled in tight, and keep it there. [The white in this image is a sheet for contrast.]

I sleep on top of my pad, lying on the shock cord. Cord locks control the closure, making seasonal/temperature adjustment easy.

[Richard Scruggs]

+5 (or is it 6?) for not attaching quilt to pad.

But personal preference based on experience seems the only way to know what's "best" for each individual under different circumstances. No "one size" fits all.

Here's a link to the page at Nunatak's website illustrating both ways of securing the quilt – to the pad vs separate from the pad – and describing the advantages and disadvantages of each method amounts to a battle between more warmth (not attached to pad) and more freedom (if attached to pad):

http://www.nunatakusa.com/site07/main_pages/arc_faq.htm

As for difficulty of "wiggling" into a "laced up" quilt, the photos at the above link show the Nunatak attachment straps to be simpler to secure than a "lace up" style — with the Nunatak using a snaplock at each of only two points along the body, and the snaplocks located at the edge of the quilt (which is a key feature for convenience in securing and adjusting the straps).

So, with the Nunatak, you just lay the quilt over your body, sit up and reach under your upper thighs to snap the lower strap into its snaplock (pulling the strap as snug as you like after its snapped);

then lay back and reach under your back to bring the mid-level strap to its snaplock (pulling that strap as snug as you like after its snapped); and

finally secure the top corners of the quilt behind your neck with a single snap, and tighten the shock cord in the hem using a cordlock at the center of the top edge.

No squirming, and can easily adjust the straps by loosening or tightening any of the straps at the snaplock point for the strap along the quilt's edge. With that said, I more often do not fasten the straps at all — just tuck the quilt edges at a few key points along my body, and adjust as needed for warmth during the night

Ultimately, if someone finds that attaching a quilt to the pad would "always" be necessary to keep a quilt in place, aren't there sleeping bags available that make the bottom into a sleeve (rather than fill) so that you can slide in a pad?

[Bryce]

I dig the shock cord… but how ~do~ you tighten that up underneath you?

[Greg Mihalik]

Bryce,

When you are on your back everything is easily tuckable.

When you are on your side, push the edge in front of you away, Squirm, and the shock cord will pull the quilt in to your back. Then pull the front edge back to you.

I find it very effective, especially when the loops are closely spaced between the small of your back and your knees. You will get excellent conformation.

I put cord locks on each end to "tune" the tightness according to temperature. The shock cord lets you move around, pull your knees up, etc. without stressing the baffles. But even the 1/8" is strong enough to hold the quilt in place when you are lying still.

[Bryce]

Sorry Greg, i can't visualize"

"When you are on your side, push the edge in front of you away, Squirm, and the shock cord will pull the quilt in to your back. Then pull the front edge back to you."

Also, do the locks dig into your back when you are laying on them?

[Jason Elsworth]

I do use straps with my JRB No Sniv, but around my body rather than around the mat. Shock cord has worked much better than non stretchy webbing. It all gets a bit fiddly, but after a few nights you will have perfected your technique. I am planning to get a new quilt later in the year that is wider, so that I can get a good wrap around without the need for straps.

I have also considered having a fabric panel similar to that used in the Cyanocitta from Ti Goat. Does anyone have a Cyanocitta?

[Bryce]

Walmart craft section? Any other suggestions? Don't think REI has it from what I recall, but wasn't looking for it.

[Laurie Gibson]

2 large elastic hair bands (Scunci 59249-A) that attach to the quilt's grosgrain loops with 3"-4" lengths of 1/4" flat nylon cord. The elastic bands easily slip over a Ridgerest or Thermarest Prolite. The edges of the quilt thus stay close to the top surface of the pad. Have to take care to keep feet above, not under, the bands when getting under the quilt, but otherwise the bands are not noticeable.

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