Down-Filled Backpacking Quilts (Market Survey and Gear Guide)

[Keelan Rose]

And one other comment too, I have read before that 900 fill power (usa) is equivalent to about 850 fill power (eu).
Is that true or do they all use the same test method and unit nowadays?

[JG H]

@ Jeff

Mating an EE to a ZB sheet isn’t too difficult, but keep in mind that the ZB sheet will bunch up and twist a bit on your pad as you sleep at night and roll side-to-side. I’m a rotisserie side-sleeper, too, and its the reason I ditched my ZB sheet. I tried the same with a ThermaRest Synergy sheet with the same results. If you figure out how to get it to work, please let us know!

My solution for my Katabatics is to affix snaps directly onto my pad and then use 3/16 shock cord and mini barrel locks, mated to a snap on a grosgrain loop, to hold the quilt in place. Like you, I’m a bigger dude and my quilts are all wide widths and this works fine for me. I don’t sleep in the buff, so that helps a bit, too. I have slept in this system down to 30° with no issues.

[Dan]

And one other comment too, I have read before that 900 fill power (usa) is equivalent to about 850 fill power (eu).
Is that true or do they all use the same test method and unit nowadays?

It’s weird to think that manufacturers in Europe would use that rating since it involves Imperial units (ounces and cubic inches).

[Jerry Adams]

https://www.facewest.co.uk/down-fill-power-explained.html

Subtract 50 from Eu measurement to get u.s. measurement.

Yeah, weird that eu uses cubic inches.

[Jerry Adams]

Subtract 50 from u.s. measurement.

Subtract? Add?  Whatever…

[Jeff McWilliams]

@JG H Thanks for the tips about the Zenbivy sheet!

I have an OG Enlightened 20degree quilt that’s about 13 years old now, but I had EE add more down fill to it during COVID when they were offering that service.  It’s gonna be 30 degrees overnight this weekend and I’ll be using it.  I don’t have a Zenbivy sheet to experiment with yet, but I have a decent set of pad attachment straps and I plan to overcompensate a bit with a Thermarest NeoAir XTherm mummy.

[David D]

I estimated a numberof scenarios (silk, nylon, different MYOG fastener methods) to make a zen-bivy sheet like idea before that product ever showed up and there was no combo or material type and weight that seemed better (lighter) than just getting a wider quilt

Adding a data point from a synth-by-necessity user, synth quilts are much lighter and sleep warmer than any “lightweight” synth mummy bag.

After buying and trying a couple best options, I’ve yet to discover a synth bag anywhere near the weight of an equivalent quilt that tolerates side sleeping and rotisserie sleeping without exposing the cold under-stuffed part of the bag and waking me up shivering.  That’s always proven much harder to manage during sleep than quilt drafts with straps.

 

[Terran Terran]

I concur that the ZB sheet does tend to twist up and honestly, I don’t like being latched in. That’s the reason I went with a quilt. That said, on a cold night, it’s hard to beat the ZB hood.

[Author]

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