quilts

Jim,

Straps on a quilt are for wrapping around a sleeping pad to keep drafts out and to keep the quilt wrapped around you nice and snug.

The sense that I get from others is that most do not use the straps because of the hassle factor.

What is probably more important is having a way to snap the quilt around your neck to keep heat from bleeding out the "top" of the quilt around your shoulders.

Sleeping with the edges of the quilt under the sides of your body may prevent drafts….just a function of if you are an active sleeper or side sleeper.

Also, if you use a bivy with a quilt, that will help with preventing heat loss.

-Tony

I use shock cord and a cord lock for my strapping.

I use it when it's especially cold, or when I'm tossing and turning a lot.

I never go around my sleeping pad.

Keep in mind I've only just started using a quilt.

I don't think I'll ever use the straps for the reason Tony mentioned. Too much fuss.

If you have a closed footbox and a way to secure the quilt around your neck, then the rest of it seems to stay put as long as the quilt is adequately sized for you.

I'm trying out a MYOG groundsheet that has a shaped footbox and side walls that can be adjusted. Early in my testing, but it seems to keep out the drafts.

I'm a relatively new quilt user. My quilt came with adjustable (and removable) 3/4 grosgrain straps. I thought they were fiddly and removed them. Then one night it was cold enough I wanted the quilt to wrap more securely, so improvised a couple straps from thin cord. Worked just fine, and that's what's on the quilt now. I slide my pad between the cord-straps and the quilt, and crawl in more or less like I would with a sleeping bag. I'm a side-sleeper and find my quilt a little more comfortable and less confining than a bag.

WOW! You are all terrific. I got my quilt just before an outing last fall and I was cold at 30d. I am a side sleeper and I sleep cold in my bed at home! I am getting a wider sleeping pad and I expect to try the straps. Already I have learned from you that, generally, straps are useful and that however I want to use them is up to me as there is no consensus. My current guess is wrap around the pad if for no other reason that that I don't want the cord to bother me (like a pea under many mattresses). I like the idea of the stop-cock, although I do not want to add much weight or space with cord and such. Any more guidance on quilt usage would be appreciated.

Again, thanks to all for the immediate response!

One thing that can help with drafts with the shoulders is wearing your insulating jacket/layer.

In my case, I have a Jacks R Better Quilt, which is a good value and basic quilt.

It lacks a neck snap, so the top of mine is often leaking heat, so I wear my jacket.

I am very interested in the Katabatic quilts because they have a baffle or draft tube at the chest area to prevent the heat leakage that I am experiencing.

-Tony

My quilts have two straps, I find them useful and effective and I don't find them particularly fiddly. I usually set them before I go in but I can adjust from my sleeping position without difficulty. I understand this all may be subjective.

Thin gross grain and thin, flat buckles are fine, neither need to hold much tension and the whole arrangement is light and goes virtually unnoticed under your body.

The one thing I'd advise against is placing the straps/cord/whatever under and around the pad, particularly if it's a wide one: this prevents the quilt from draping snug around the body. Under and across (a CCF pad :) ) would be fine but this would be indeed fiddly.

I recently ordered a quilt from Gooses feet and at the same time ordered a Box Wall Balaclava thats long enought to tuck in to the top of the quilt.

Cheers,