is EE’s 20 degree Apex quilt closer to 0??

Odd.  EE used to be more open about the specs on their Apex quilts.  Now I can’t find their spec chart for the synthetic quilts anywhere on their website.  I even tried the Internet Wayback Machine and still no luck.

Back in 2013, their Apex quilt was called the Prodity and OutdoorgearLab reviewed.  They included a brief spec sheet for the EE Apex quilts at the time.

So it seems they’ve adjusted the specs some.  here are two Apex quilts I’ve made.  The red one on the right is 5.0 Apex using a kit from Thru-Hiker with Momentum 90 fabric.  The one on the left is 7.5 Apex from RibStopbyTheRoll, with their OutdoorInk fabric. I think it was 1.6oz HyperD on the shell, and I forget what fabric I made the lining from.

Even though the 7.5 Apex may be pretty light, it’s also pretty bulky.  It doesn’t compress down nearly as small as my 20 degree EE Down quilt, which back in the day was made with the Karo Step baffles and I still love that quilt for its warmth to weight.

I took the red, 5.0 Apex quilt on 93 miles of the John Muir Trail last year.  I think it was kinda cold when it got close to freezing one night, so I think I’d trust EE’s more conservative, current ratings, over the ratings given by RSBTR.  However, people experiences vary greatly, so as always YMMV.

^ that’s a ton of loft on that 7.5 quilt! :)

I fully agree that metabolisms vary widely as do other environmental conditions (wind/humidity/etc), what pad you’re using, shelter, etc

If I’m selling quilts/sleeping bags, I would probably err at least a little on the conservative side.

I’ve Apex to pack relatively well, not as well as down, but not too bad- my 2.5 oz quilt packs really small and my 5 oz pretty small

EE had some “O”ficial testing done a few years ago, but I think not on their synthetics. I think I would trust them on their ratings, based on their testing. Their 20F quilt was warm at 24F, but I wouldn’t want to take it any lower. Quilts generally have problems much below 32F with drafts, insufficient padding, insufficient head covering, etc below freezing. 0F sounds a bit cold for any quilt.

Just one more data point from Nunatuk- they state these are conservative ratings for their synthetic quilts

2.5 Apex 50 degrees

3.6 Apex 42 degrees

5.0 Apex 35 degrees

these are a little higher than MLD and ripstopbytheroll

I’ll have a chance to find out how their (EE) rating works for me as I just pulled the trigger on one of their 8.0 quilts :)

Bringing back and old three from the dark ages.

Mike – Any feedback on the 8.0 Apex?

– Steve

I used it a couple of nights on a backcountry bison hunt; both nights it froze and I only slept in light base layers and was very snug. I’m comfortable saying it is at a bare minimum a 20 degree quilt, beyond that I’ll have to see.

Excellent. Exactly what I was hoping you were going to say. Thanks for the quick feedback.

Steve

PS – hope it was a successful hunt.

was a great hunt; check out Dave C’s blog Bedrock and Paradox he has some good prose and photos :)

Ahhh. And one of the most well written blogs out there. I’m a big fan. Thanks, will check out the pics.

Steve

You can still see the product specs at EE’s website but you have to click on support to find them. I had to email EE a few weeks back to find that out.

yeah I found their spec page, my observation was that if 5.0 Apex is comfortable into the upper 20’s (my Spirit 28 is), that 8.0 Apex that EE is using in their 20 degree quilt, it might be a rather conservative estimate