Katabatic Gear Sawatch: Extreme temp. limits?

I have taken mine down to about 0 degrees while wearing Thermawrap parka and pants- with a good pad combo. Above 40 it's kinda too warm. One of my favorite pieces of gear.

While I haven't taken my Sawatch down to zero yet, I do not doubt that I can easily get me there with with a parka and some lightly insulated pants. If we ever get winter here in So Cal, I plan to take this setup to the San Gorgonio wilderness area to test it out. Right now we only have a few inches of snow above 9000 ft. :(

Keep in mind that Katabatic Gear pads their temperature ratings by 10 degrees. All the other cottage manufacturers would rate the Sawatch as 5 degree quilt. For example, take a look at the Zpacks and Enlightened specs for baffle height and down fill. From there you can extrapolate a rating of 5 degrees from the 3.25" baffle height of the Sawatch.

Oh, and Katabatic quilts really are that good. You don't really hear much about it, but in my opinion, one of the best features is the elasticized hem on the bottom. It's kinda like a self closing seal on the bottom. It does an excellent job of keeping out drafts for those times when you don't need or want the pad attachments.

While I have not pushed the temperature envelope as has John R. I can give you some notes from a Wind River Mtns. backpack in mid September, 2012. The padding consisted of an Exped Syn UL7 plus 1/8 inch thick foam. On my head was a BPL Cocoon Pro. I was *probably* wearing a Montbell UL Down Inner Jacket though my memory is not clear regarding this. Nylon hiking pants with no additional insulation on the lower half.

The lows the first three nights were similar. Inside the single-wall tent at ground level: 20, 23, 23 degrees F. Outside the tent at ground level with a clear view of the sky: 8, 7, 6 degrees.

I was comfy/warm in those conditions.

Finally, some brisk temps in the W.R. Mtns! I was wondering where they were. In typical fashion the temps moderated nicely by 10am.

Not a Sawatch, but I got a regular length/wide Palisade a few weeks ago, and have yet to use it at the rated 30F, but have been testing it at lower temps "just to see".
So far, 24, 10, and 0F week before last, and one night at upper teens to 20 this past week.
I used Capilene 3 baselayers with grid fleece ECWCS(like R1) bottoms, a light down hoody and a Polartec200 balaclava on the two coldest nights, with just the hoody last week, and only needed Capilene 1 baselayers and the balaclava on the first 24F night.
I'm a very warm sleeper. If you're not…well, the Sawatch is warmer than the Palisade. I suppose the limits depend on you, and the layers you can effectively add.

Edit: the pad was an Exped Downmat UL 7.

The katabatic sawatch has been one of my favorite pieces of gear, and I've used it a lot. I've taken it considerably below the recommended rating (about 10-below) car camping with a puffy jacket and thermal pants. From talking to Aaron, he uses the honest, if subjective, testing method of what temp is comfortable to him. So he was comfortable at 15 in the sawatch, but I sleep warmer, so I'm comfortable to lower. However, I wouldn't recommend this bag as your primary winter bag. Its definitely warmer than other 15 degree quilts and bags, but its still a quilt and if I was going to use it regularly in near 0 temps, I'd just go with a warmer bag. I got frostbitten toes last year from a very cold climbing trip, and I wouldn't go testing the limits of this bag for fun. Better to carry the extra weight if you might see really cold temps. I repeat, frostbite is a drag…
On the other side of the spectrum, I've used this bag in the June on the colorado trail and it was considerably hot if I tried to sleep late. I got a chisos for the warmer months, but with a neo air therm, I use it for about 5-6 months of the year, and then switch to the sawatch for the colder months. Its hard to decide on a quiver of bags, especially considering the expense, but if I were to add one bag to my quiver it would be like a -10 degree sleeping bag, or a katabatic or enlightened equipment 0 degree quilt. I can't speak to other quilt manufacturer's, but Aaron's quality is hard to beat. Right up there with Western Mountaineering, and certainly warmer for the weight.

I have routinely taken a Sawatch down to zero, give or take, with the addition of a hooded puffy and insulated pants atop a downmat UL7. Very warm and comfortable.

I have purchased 4 quilts and a hood from Aaron and the quality is first rate – you will not be dissappointed. I have seen and handled pretty much everything out there and the level of commercialization is second to none. If Western Mountaineering made a quilt, Katabatic would be it.

I just received a wide Alsek to replace my recently stolen Sawatch. I decided to stay at 24oz but go a bit wider which fits my active sleeping style better. I am convinced that either a wide quilt and/or a wide pad is key to making a quilt work at below freezing temps.

Gents, thanks for sharing your experiences. Although the insulation you need is individual (as seen also in this thread), your answers give a good indication that I won't go wrong with the Sawatch for my intended use.

As I have yet to find a review that doesn't rave about the build quality, I believe that this was all the nudge I needed to make up my mind. Unless someone out there is itching to sell me a Regular length/Wide Sawatch within the next few days(…) I'll go ahead and lighten my bank account a bit.

Thanks again and happy winter camping.

Cheers.

Send me a pm Andreas if you're interested in a Sawatch. (yours is not enabled)