Help on Ultralight quilt for May east coast bike tour!

New England Bike Tourist here. In August, it still hit 40º at the top of a mountain in New Hampshire. Night-time temperatures on the Masachusetts and Maine coast routinely dip into the 50's and sometimes 40's on wet nights all summer. In May, we can see 30º nights if the jet stream is still off.

So, a synthetic 40º is about perfect. I toured in August 2012 using a simple fleece liner (Alps Mountaineering Razr) and wore all my clothes when it hit 40º that one night, and slept fine. If I were to tour in May, I would use the 30º quilt if I even thought I was getting near the coast or New Hampshire. If I was touring in July/August I'd use something like a 50º quilt.

So, your logic is sound, but it's probably colder than you expect, especially if you live in Florida. If it's a difference of a few ounces, I'd just bring the 30º quilt.

My buddy did a late May hike in NH and got frozen out. He had to be pulled off of the trail. it snowed- twice.

Your current 30° may weigh about 20oz. You can get a 50 for 10oz and cut that weight in half. It would need to be the 850 enigma though.

I am experimenting with a 8oz sts bag liner and a 9oz hammock to lay on top for an upcoming Hawaii trip. The hammock helps block the wind from robbing heat. I'm hoping this is enough. I will have a net tent and a mld speedmid that will help hold heat in. I'm not sure if this is enough insulation for 65° nights?

I think the 40 degree will be good for me. I'm quite averse to the heat, so while bringing my 30 bag would be nice for the east, the thought of sleeping in it in south Georgia makes me have a conniption. I think we're going to follow the adventure cycling routes as much as possible from Washington to Maine, so I don't know how many mountains there will be. I haven't started planning the north section of the tour yet.