family gear upgrade: sleeping bags –> quilts

Catherine, I'm in the hunt for the right quilts for the wife and I as well. Temp ratings are a guide but look closely at fill an fill weights. High lofting end product is a good tell of warmth. I believe sewn foot box models will be inherently warmer. We are cold sleepers and I usually expect at least 10F less performance than a "normal sleeper".

It will also depend largely on what you are already carrying for supplemental insulation. If you will have reliably dry extra layers for adding to the overall sleep system you will of course boost the quilts overall potential. I have decided to try a set of 30 EE quilts for trips down to around 35-40F depending on additional insulation. Our WM Versalights take us through the colder trips in the shoulder seasons and beyond.

Also keep that puffy handy during the night and take the few seconds to put it on as you chill. You will sleep so much better not distracted by the cold.

jimmyb

Jimmy, you might check out 2-person quilts. I got a Zpacks one about a year and a half ago and it's been great. It's lighter than two 1-person quilts, I carry it so my wife doesn't have to carry any sleeping bag, and it balances out the warmth between the two of us. I sleep hot and she sleeps cold and with the 2-person quilt we share body heat and it works out perfectly. My wife was always a cold sleeper and the 2-person quilt solved that problem.

Catherine, I don't know what temp rating you are going for, but before we got a twin quilt my wife needed a quilt with about 16oz of down to stay warm at 20F (along with plenty of insulating clothing.)

I have a Katabatic quilt and the quality of the fabrics, down, and construction is simply the best I've ever seen, including Western Mountaineering. If you use your stuff a lot I'd say it's worth the extra money. The shape of the Katabatic quilts is awesome. Probably the single nicest piece of gear I own.

Thanks Andrew. I really like the looks of those Katabatic quilts to. Mine was more a decision of budget. My skinny butt offers no extra heat to the equation. Probably why the wife wants her own quilt. I would be just dragging her EN rating down :)

jimmyb

The option of zipping/unzipping will give you more leeway in term of hitting the right temp rating.

The simplicity of the Enigma appeals to me. If I could have a whole closet full of quilts, one in each temp rating, I might get Enigmas. But until then my Revelation will do.

Rough estimate: figure out the coldest typical overnight temp. Go down a rating or two if you sleep cold. I conferred directly w/Tim at EE and he helped me make a good choice for me.

The GF and I have an EE quilt "The accomplice" 20 degree quilt with 850 fill. In a tent, at 20 degrees, I start to get a bit uncomfortable with just base layers and a down hoody on, so the temps are just about right. She's a furnace so she just wears merino wool base layers and a hat. The quilt is really nice. Holds the heat well and weighs just over 2 lbs.

I don't at all think you should think of the Enlightened Equipment quilts as just "good enough…" They are wonderful pieces of gear. I've had several (in my search for what works for me…temp and design-wise) and not only is Tim amazing to work with – yes, he will personally guide you in your choices of what to get – his craftmanship is second to none.

I had the old style Revelation (Karo baffles) and sold it for the new version of the Enigma and I couldn't be happier. I have a 20 degree with 2 oz of extra down put in there to take it to about 17 degrees or so. This is my shoulder season/high altitude quilt and it works wonderfully for that. I've had it as cold as 15 with cap 2 tights, cap 4 hoody and a puffy and was warm enough – and I'd consider myself a cold to average sleeper.

I personally did not like the zipper under my feet of the Revelation style and I liked the simplicity of the sewn footbox (even though I didn't think I'd like it). When I'm hot I stick a foot out…when I'm cold I tuck in.

Personally I can't imagine paying for Katabatic when Tim's stuff is so nice. Of course, I'm saying that without having actually SEEN Katabatic Gear's quilts, but I've been so impressed with Tim's work that I don't even remotely feel the need to venture elsewhere. And I'm SUPER picky about my gear.

"I don't at all think you should think of the Enlightened Equipment quilts as just "good enough…" They are wonderful pieces of gear."

+1

I've owned and used EE quilts, Katabatic quilts, Nunatak quilts. All were fabulous, well made pieces of gear, I have nothing but good to say about all of them. But Tim's quilts are, to me, not only the best value proposition, but his willingness to mod to suit my particular wants/style is much appreciated. I own 4 quilts, 3 are EE quilts.

+1 on EE!!!!!! Awesome product.

Yep, when it comes to especially down quilts, EE is probably the best value and bang for your buck you can get.

Besides the good to excellent average quality, i'm most impressed with the lack of mark up on the down quilts. There are companies out there that charge literally twice as much (sometimes more) for similar quality. In a country and larger society wherein many promote "greed is good", it's refreshing to have some non greedy folks and companies out there.

>> How do I figure out what temperature rating to pick?

As a pretty "average" sleeper, temp-wise, my rule of thumb was a bag rated 10 degrees less than the lowest temperature expected. So, a 20-degree bag/quilt for temps down to freezing. This is assuming temperature ratings I can trust, e.g. Western Mountaineering, Feathered Friends. I would trust EE.

Also assumes being paired with an appropriate R-value pad.

I've been sleeping colder as I've gotten colder, so I go with a 15-20 degree buffer these days.

"Besides the good to excellent average quality, i'm most impressed with the lack of mark up on the down quilts. There are companies out there that charge literally twice as much (sometimes more) for similar quality. In a country and larger society wherein many promote "greed is good", it's refreshing to have some non greedy folks and companies out there."

I don't begrudge anyone for wanting to maximize his or her business profits. I admire Tim as a business person. Seems like he's managed to scale-up really effectively—not a given for cottage gear makers! Finding that sweet-spot on pricing probably mean he makes more of a profit, cause he's able to meet the demand. Well earned.

Thanks all for the input. I'm going to jump in with 20 deg. Enigma for me and 20 deg prodigy Jr. for the kid. All the votes of confidence for EE's quality really help.

I got an accomplice for my gf and myself and we could not be happier. We have taken our 20* 850 down to 30* and been more then warm enough. Our quilt weighs in right at 32oz. You can't beat that for 2 people. I was worried it might be a little narrow with my gf being a blanket hog but it's huge inside. We could sleep side by side on out backs and not touch each other. It also puffs up and fills her mld frameless pack nicely.