Katabatic Gear New Years Sale.

Personally, I feel like the best comparison for comparing specs/features is the EE Revelation-elite vs the Katabatic Palisade.

The EE quilt is actually one of the very few quilts that can compete (and actually beat) with Katabatic in weight.

***Specs***
EE Elite — 30F / 9.8oz fill / 5.9oz shell / 15.7oz / $365
Katabatic — 30F / 9.5oz fill / 8.0oz shell / 17.5oz / $460

On paper the Elite is much better for price/weight…They use 10D fabric for the quilts vs 20D…a more fragile but lighter material. The Elite wins in materials/weight/cost.

***Design***
EE Elite — Rectangle with a tapered foot, zippered bottom and cinched footbox
Katabatic — Efficient shape (molds to body better), closed bottom and footbox, attachment system

Katabatic wins in design…I could go into the nitty gritty but I'd just be parroting what others have already said. Katabatic design features allow it's quilt to be warmer with the same amount of materials…but also takes more time/effort to make.

***Summary***
EE Elite — Make quilts with the very best materials and a simple design that's easy to make (which keeps prices low). People buy EE quilts because they are a fantastic value.
Katabatic — Make quilts with very good materials and a complex design that performs better than the competition. People buy Katabatic quilts because they are the best designed quilts on the market.

…EE and Katabatic are in the same market but are using different models for their quilts. There are advantages to each but it's up to each customer to decide what they want in a quilt.

Personally, if I were spending my own money I'd go with the Elite because of the money but if I were allowed to have either for free I'd get the Katabatic. Neither quilts are priced incorrectly from my point of view.

Jordo – this was helpful for me personally. Thanks,

"I think the additional design/labor of the Alsek would justify the increased cost."

I have the exact same line of thinking, but if that was true a sleeping bag would always be more expensive than a similar quilt. However, we've seen that isn't the case here. I've made both, and sleeping bags are much more complex than a quilt, plus use more materials.
Isn't economics fun?

Ryan

Do you know where EE gets its down from? I know Katabatic use top quality from Allied.

Allied also.

Ryan

Thanks Ryan!

Wouldn't a Enigma Elite be a more accurate comparison to a Katabatic quilt? Both have a enclosed footbox.

Would you take loft into consideration when comparing brands and their respective temperature ratings? My browser at work isn't cooperating but I seem to remember the Palisade being a bit loftier than the 30F Enigma/Revelation.

In my experience with both, Katabatic is warmer due to increased loft, differential cut, elastic binding, and draft collar.

However, EE is lighter and more economical.

After owning quilts from both manufacturers, I agree with Jordo:

"Personally, if I were spending my own money I'd go with the Elite because of the money but if I were allowed to have either for free I'd get the Katabatic. Neither quilts are priced incorrectly from my point of view."

Allied supplies our 900 fill and in the past our 750 and 800 duck, however at this time our 800 duck and 850 goose products come from the Downtek parent company. We feel the quality of the down they offer is surprisingly superior to what we were getting before. I'm not sure how two batches of 800 fill grey duck down can be so different but we are extremely impressed with the products we get from Downtek.

A question about quilt cut:

It seems the Katabatic's ARC shape with the elastic sides is very well suited to back sleeping. It sounds like you guys prefer that shape which is a surprise to me since the best attribute of a quilt is comfort and coverage in all sleeping positions (and its lighter). I had always favored a boxier cut through the torso to provide more coverage and allow for more variety of sleeping positions. Should I re-evaluate this position?

I think the differential cut only really comes into play when a quilt is sized too small and you are pulling on it to try and make it fit and block drafts. If it fits right you won't be pulling on it and compressing down, again I'm willing to be corrected but that has been my position on the issue.

-Tim Marshall
Owner; Enlightened Equipment

"Should I re-evaluate this position?"

Please don't. Love your quilts.

"I had always favored a boxier cut through the torso to provide more coverage and allow for more variety of sleeping positions."
+1 I don't own an EE quilt, though if I were to buy another quilt, it would be an EE or ZPacks. It would certainly not be a Katabatic, due to the shape. Not to disparage Katabatic's quilts at all, but the shape doesn't look as if it would suit how I sleep.

"+1 I don't own an EE quilt, though if I were to buy another quilt, it would be an EE or ZPacks. It would certainly not be a Katabatic, due to the shape. Not to disparage Katabatic's quilts at all, but the shape doesn't look as if it would suit how I sleep."

That's what I found too. I've owned a boatload of quilts from Tim, a couple from Katabatic, a couple from Nunatak, and used them all. Because of my tendency, when ground dwelling, of tossing, turning and going fetal, I sold both Katabatics and all the Nunataks and stayed with EE quilts. They simply suit my style more. Part of that style: I never snap the top around my neck (as someone mentioned), and I never used the attachment system of the manufacturers (well, after my initial quilting foray with Nunatak quilts anyway – I just didn't like having the quilt 'tied down').

I found all quilts pretty true to rating, and all well made. Can't talk about any weight discrepancies, if there were any, because I don't weigh my gear (until I sell it). To be honest, price never entered into my equation at all (which you'd know from the amount of Nunatak product I've owned over the years) – it usually doesn't when I buy something. I buy what works for me, never really paying a lot of attention to price (I didn't even realize there was a price discrepancy between products.) EE quilts work for me, and Tim has always been a pleasure to deal with, even humoring me when I've asked for non standard mods. FWIW.

"Tim has always been a pleasure to deal with, even humoring me when I've asked for non standard mods. FWIW."

You mean like that 'My Little Pony" character fabric?

"You mean like that 'My Little Pony" character fabric?"

You promised not to tell. At least you didn't spill about the latex thing…..

"At least you didn't spill about the latex thing…."

NEVER!

Which EE quilts are sewn through and which are are box baffled (not sewn through)? I can't seem to find this on the site.

Tim,

I don't care about the differences in the foot box. I'm a side sleeper.

I do like the differential cut since it seems to curl around me naturally versus having to tuck it in under me as much. I buy wide usually since I toss and turn….but still like the differential cut…

"Which EE quilts are sewn through and which are are box baffled (not sewn through)? I can't seem to find this on the site."

They are all baffled aside from the 50*.