Advice on sleeping bag/quilts

Check out Jacks R Better Quilts. I have their 40-45F one and am waiting for a sale for a colder version.

I am a tossing and turning side sleeper as well and like their wider quilts. I also use shock cord to keep the quilt around me:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=49393

With the JRB quilts I can leave my insulating jacket at home and just wear the quilt around camp until time for bed. GL!

I would suggest something wider than a JRB at only 48". Mine vary from 52" (super light summer quilt) to 58" (5 F winter) at the tops. I am a major toss-and-turn side-sleeper.

Ray is spot on. 48" is too narrow for most side sleepers. I know of a few folk who have tried quilts, and said they didn't work for them. Too many drafts, they say. Turns out the quilt was too narrow for their sleeping style.

+1 @ Ray and Mike. I use a 58" wide quilt. 52" was even too narrow for me at the shoulders.

OK Thanks, where do I look for one that width?

I believe the Golite 3 season quilt is that wide in 'long.' Any of the custom makers of quilts can get you to that width.

But I think what you might want to do is mock one up with a blanket around the house to get a sense of what width you would need. Someone narrower in the shoulders could get away with a narrower quilt.

My regular Golite Ultra 20 is to narrow to sleep on my side without drafts, I am 5'8", 160lbs. Have only used it without the straps, but now that things are getting colder I plan to try them to keep more snug.

It is plenty warm in the torso and legs, my feet have been a little cold in the low thirties with just a pack under my feet, but thicker socks solved that.

I do like the quilt better than a mummy bag.

Nunatak USA (http://nunatakusa.com)can custom-build one to your specifications. I asked Tom Halpin about widths and the need for overfill if I went wider than standard. His reply (in part):

"I'd say the stock measurements would be within reason, however to be sure that you have the ability to cover and layer completely, we could cut the shoulder top end to the maximum fabric width. This can be 57-60" and is outer shell fabric dependent.

Some add a +2 just for good measure on a long trail, or if trying to push the cold end. With only a few extra inches in girth, + 1. maybe +2/3 is a good idea…. + 4 or 5 would be max."

FWIW, 58 inches is the max for a single piece of Pertex Quantum. Tom also said in a later email that any width is possible as long as you don't mind having a seam in the fabric.

WB

Have you tried using your Helium on the ground as a quilt? It's different than in a hammock, and you might want to give that a try first. I found it more challenging to seal out drafts. I don't mind a quilt, but generally only use a bag. Once temperatures get down to around 50 F or below, my preference is definitely for a bag.