When is a quilt too wide?

Rafi,

I am interested in your findings. I have been corresponding with Katabatic about the regular vs wide as well in the palisade. I am 5'11", 175, size 40 coat and I am planning on going with the wide model. Aaron at Katabatic said the regular model would fit with my size but did mention that the wide model would fit well with my neoair large. He said that I could reduce the girth down to the 58 inches of quilt width if needed. I want the extra width in case I use any extra down garments underneath it for colder temps and just for extra room when it is warmer.

I take a size 40 jacket and wouldn't consider myself wide in the least. Kinda narrow, actually.

Possible benefits of a wider quilt are ability to fit another in there with you in case of some sort of emergency survival situation or emergency snuggle situation, and the possibility of using the quilt as a overquilt to another, narrower cut quilt to boost the temp rating of the bags. Although I don't know if the Palisade would be the best use for that role due to its rating and being made of down as I've heard of people preferring a synth top/over quilt.

Removed a part I was completely wrong about. Thanks thanks to those that pointed out my mistake.

The only downside i can see, is extra weight if the quilt is too wide for you.
I don't understand the 'extra volume' comment. This would apply in a bag, but with a quilt you just tuck it around you. A quilt ebables you to get the perfect girth to suit whatever clothing you are wearing.
I went from the regular Sawatch to the wide version, and couldn't be happier. It gives me enough room to layer over down clothing without compressing it, yet i can still be snug without the extra clothing.
I'm a 42/43" chest, and a side sleeper.

Pilate, thats good forsight to be prepared for the emergency snuggle situation. Unfortunately i have a regular size quilt so hopefully I am able to improvise something if such a situation occurs.

Hi Heath,

I'm also using a Neo Air large. I received the regular width quilt and will compare them over the next day or so. I'll post my findings here.

rhz

this is a good question that I have wondered about too. At first I tend to think that a quilt that is too wide will be less thermally efficient. But this is a result of my thinking in tmers of sleeping bags where there is indeed extra volume to heat.

In the case of a quilt though you either can tuck it around you to make it snug and tight in which case the girth makes no difference if it is "too wide" or you can drape it over you like a blanket. In this case the quilt conforms to your body and any extra width will just lay on the groud to your sides. Think of a wool blanket that is 50 inches wide draped over you, vs. a wool blanket that is 100 inches wide draped over you. Would you be colder under the wider blanket? I don't think you would notice any difference….you would just have more of the blanket lying on the ground at your sides. Right….???

That is the way I look at it at least. Am I flawed in my logic?

Matt

Thanks in advance Rafi!

I'm pretty happy with my 19.2oz GoLite Ultra 20 (good to about 30F) but I've long been thinking about switching to a two quilt system (20F and 40F rated). After following threads on Katabatic quilts for the past year or so, I've come to the tentative conclusion that for a warm weather quilt (ie. the 40F rated Chisos) I would probably use the regular width, but for the colder weather quilt where avoiding drafts is really important then I would likely opt for the wide model. I'm 5'11, 170 lbs and that's my best guess as to what would work best for me.

I wouldn't use the attachment system though, as I much prefer to just wrap it around me as that's easier to get in/out of and I prefer sleeping this way. If you were using the Katabatic quilt attachment system and the quilt was indeed too wide, then it could be baggy around you which would be somewhat less efficient.

Other than weight, a wider down quilt can be an advantage. In warmer weather the down can be shifted towards the sides and not tucked. In cooler weather the down can be shifted towards the center of the quilt and the empty edges can be tucked under. Since the Golite Ultra 20 was mentioned, the inability to adequately shift down is my biggest disappointment with this quilt, especially since I find it cold when the temperature dips to freezing unless I wear my down jacket and my rayway bomber hat.

Well, for those who are interested, I compared the palisades wide with the regular and felt a bit confined in the regular. The wide is a better choice for me.

Both quilts are very warm. My other doubt is whether I should go for the lighter 40 deg Chisos. I would be combining this, if necessary, with the very warm WM Flash jacket and pants. I think that should take me down to just below freezing–even though I'm a cold sleeper.
Does that sound right? Any thoughts?

Thanks,

rhz

I'm glad to hear that the wide model is the one that fits you. I had already made up my mind and didn't want to be second guessing myself :)

As for which one, I am definitely going with the Palisade. Not much weight for the additional warmth. I have an MLD spirit 45 synthetic quilt that I will use over it for below freezing. I am hoping for 20 degrees with both quilts and a down inner jacket. Do you already have a summer quilt?

Hi Heath,

This is my first quilt. I'm trying to minimize weight and be comfortable down to just below freezing. Did you receive your quilt yet? My impression from trying out the Palisades at home is that it's very, very warm. I don't know the MLD quilt, but my guess is that you will be able to achieve your 20 deg goal with margin.

I started a new thread on this–maybe someone with real world experience with either quilt can offer additional info.

rhz

Rafi,

I am in the process of ordering my Palisade now. I was kinda waiting around on your findings before ordering so thanks again for reporting back on the sizing!

Did you ever use it in the field?

The colder it gets the more I appreciate my quilt's width.

Honestly, I don't think a wider quilt is bad. It will kind of be loose and ruffle up a little bit, but generally keep you warmer because there is just more material. If you pull the excess up to your side, you will be a little warmer on your sides.
Just something to think about. Trying to go super tight/small with your sleep system can be a little bit counter productive.

"Honestly, I don't think a wider quilt is bad. It will kind of be loose and ruffle up a little bit,"

Why?

"but generally keep you warmer because there is just more material."

So if I am 5" but I buy a bag for a 6" 6" guy I will stay warmer?

"If you pull the excess up to your side, you will be a little warmer on your sides."

What about the top? Isn't it thinner there now? (How about wrapping it, hmmm…)

"Trying to go super tight/small with your sleep system can be a little bit counter productive."

In what way? What do you use? Where? What temps? Inquiring minds want to know.

It's a personal thing, but if you can close the quilt completely up without compromising the loft, I would say it's too wide. However, if you are a sprawler it may be the perfect setup. I sprawl at home but have trained myself to sleep a little differently in the woods.

I have a regular width Sawatch and Chisos and wear a 42 jacket and am 5' 9" and 170 lbs. I often use my down vest or other spare clothing over my backside and lower back that tends to stick out when I am on my side. It's only a problem when it's cold and/or windy out and has workedb great. For a colder weather quilt, a little extra width might be nice, but with a warmer weather model, say down to freezing, I prefer the regular width.

Too much theory and not enough practice can make you spend too much time and money and still not be happy with your product.

I did exactly that over the last year.

You can't tell squat sleeping in your back yard in warmer months.

My opinion after trying 3 different quilts is get the wide if you are a side sleeper or even a tossed turner.

Even my wife who is no where near big likes the wider quilt. She won't go back to a 48 no matter what.

I use a 58 custom quilt by tim at enlightened equipment and wouldn't go back to 52 for anything.

But I can tell you I only figured that out after weeks of use outside.

Ymmv

Mark,

You are a wise man.