Katabatic quilt vs. Zpacks bag

Thanks for any and all feedback.

I’ve owned both.  Well, actually the Alsek which is a bit closer in temp rating to the ZPacks 20.  In the end, I chose weight over comfort.  I sold the Alsek (never used it) and kept the ZPacks 20.  The Alsek was about 3-4 oz heavier, if I recall correctly.  It was probably a bit warmer, though.  I think the ZPacks 20 is somewhere between the 30* Palisade and the 22* Alsek.

Pluses of the Katabatic quilts include a much roomier footbox and attention to quality.  The hood collar is really nice.  The strap system, while innovative, I found to be a bit fiddly in practice.  Having to loop around a guyline around your pad and then hook it up to your quilt wasn’t my thing.

The ZPacks design has simplicity going for it.  It is much slimmer, but that translates to better warmth.  I don’t like the footbox on the ZPacks quilt/bag.  I asked Joe if he could make a wider one, and he said to go with a wide.  But I don’t need a wide bag.  My toenails are visibly hitting on the top of the bag.  There is not much wiggle room for my lower legs.  The zipper underneath can sometimes be hard to zip up.  But it’s simpler than the strap system.

If you really care about weight, go ZPacks all the way (this applies to most everything–shelter, backpack, etc.).  If you want a more refined product and want roominess, go with Katabatic.  Hope that helps.  I agonized over this but couldn’t afford to keep both in the end.

What width EE do you have?

I’ve seen two super users (John Zahorian and EDDAKA) reject Zpacks bags. Makes me think twice. Granted, zpacks has changed their design.

Matthew, its a 20* EE Enigma, Long/Wide. Order date was December 2014 so sizes and design may have changed since. I’m looking to pull the trigger here. Based on David’s post I would rather give up a few ounces for extra warmth and comfort as I tend to sleep cold which leads me to think I will try the Katabatic 22*. I dont mind cutting weight in other areas but being warm and comfy and night is one of those musts for me. Im still sub bw a 7-8# base. A few ounces is worth the warmth for me at least.

If I dont like it or the attachments as David and others have mentioned Im sure selling a Katabatic will be a cinch.

Forgive my typos, Im typing from my phone.

I’d consider going with a Nunatak and ordering exactly what you want in terms of dimensions and fill. Zpacks may be a hair lighter because of the cuben baffles but I figure it can’t be much more than an ounce. For that penalty you could surely get everything you’re looking for.

After using both an EE quilt an a Katabatic (Palisade and Alsek), I much prefer the Katabatic attachment system. I’ll agree, it is a bit fiddly, but once strapped in it is solid. To make the attachment process easier, I marked in sharpie where the cords attach on my pad, and keep the guyline attached. I use a short prolite, and after a few breaths, and a quick adjustment to the guylines, attaching the quilt is pretty simple.

To me, the fiddle factor is worth the incredible warmth and comfort and quality of Katabatic quilts. I really enjoy the attention to detail and the various ways to seal yourself off from drafts.

Dylan are the drafts completely gone when you lock it in to the guylines?

Robert I have never heard of this brand. Looking at their site now the products look great. What type of attachment system do you they have? I like the customization factor. Interesting.

I bet you can DIY make the strap attachment system that Katabatic uses. It seems quite simple and make the absolute most sense to turn inside the bag rather than with it.

Nunatak makes great quilts and jackets and have been around for many years( I have a number of  pieces from them from over the years), starting a couple of years ago they have a new owner and HE posts here frequently and have heard great things about his new and improved quilts and jackets. HERE is what their attachment system looks like per the site. THIS is a BPL review of the Nunatak Arc Alpinist that Don Johnston and Ryan Jordan did in 2002(not that it’s relevant but just to show that they have been around for a while things have changed).

Yes, Nunatak has been around forever before ZPacks and Katabatic became popular.  Nowadays we are spoiled by having so many options to go UL.

@Matthew,

What does John Zahorian use these days? Why did he reject the Zpacks bags?  I agree, the cut is narrow, but that’s also the best way to boost efficiency.  I think that Katabatic could get away with lighter material.

I think in the end it may come down to whether you want to mess with straps on the bottom or a zipper.  I prefer the zipper.  Seals out all cold drafts.

@annapurna,

Looks like you meant to say Nunatak, not Katabatic.

David, apparently John did not like the footbox on the Zpack bag, he has been using a Katabatic bag  which he really likes but is thinking about making his own synthetic bag, here is what he wrote

i have goosefeet gear down socks. can’t say i know much about the options, as i got them as a gift. i wouldn’t have a need for them if the zpacks sleeping bag footbox was any good. hoping to make my own sleeping bag to eliminate all my down/sleeping layer redundancies

I own both.  The Katabatic’s loft, in my personal opinion, seems to be twice that of an EE at their listed similar temperature rating.  I like that I can custom order an EE quilt because I am a big guy but I would buy a 20 degree bag to get a 30 degree rating.  That’s just my personal opinion from my own experience.  Meanwhile I’ve taken my Katabatic Palasades to some cold Sierra temps at or below its temperature rating and stay very toasty.  It’s the first bag I grad when hiking but I wish I could order it wider.

Whoops, sorry.  I mistook the OP comparing the Katabatic to EE and not Zpacks.  My bad.

https://instagram.com/p/BSMs6ghgkDC/

@nomadic Check the site for the options. You can get a couple variations on the webbing straps, an UL shock cord option and a no strap option. There isn’t an option (that I know of) for a zipper like with Zpack. They have a very unique zippered bag concept that Patagonia has now emulated with their recent release.

Shopping at Nunatak is a terrific experience as you can design virtually every component. This is not an option at Katabatic Gear and Zpacks. Further, the craftsmanship and communication is 10/10. Small wait but not bad given the fact that it is made to order.

No affiliation although they do follow me on Instagram.

Hopefully these pictures help illustrate how the attachment system works.

In this picture you can see the plastic piece and how it attaches to the cord you attach to the sleeping pad. The first position, which I’ve shown, lets the plastic piece slide along the cord. I sleep about 90% of the time like this. If you need to seal off drafts, move the cord into the ‘locked’, second position (smaller hole). This then stops the movement of the quilt (or stops the cord sliding through the plastic piece).

Where the plastic piece is positioned is why it allows you to seal off drafts: the plastic piece is sewn almost under the quilt, so that when you attach it to the cord there are no air gaps on the side.

Finally, if you were to put the cord into the locked position so that the quilt did not move, you could then engage the little plastic piece i’m holding to ensure the sides of the quilt totally covered the sides.

The elastic on the underside of the quilt does a great job at making the quilt naturally tuck under you. Combined with the cords pulling the quilt sides in, I haven’t had any trouble sealing off drafts. I generally sleep under an open tarp sans bivy too.

What does John Zahorian use these days? Why did he reject the Zpacks bags?  I agree, the cut is narrow, but that’s also the best way to boost efficiency.  I think that Katabatic could get away with lighter material

He does a Katabatic Palisade, the Zpacks footbox was too narrow and his feet were always cold. EDDAKA complained of the weak warmth; but given the Zpacks 2.25in loft, it’s not going to be as warm as the EE 20F at 2.5in of loft (note the 2.5in loft on the 30F Palisade.)

I’m held back from the Katabatic based on baffle design. I haven’t had anyone convince me that the Katabatic down won’t migrate over the course of the night as I toss and turn. I rotisserie sleep fiercely.

I agree with John Z’s assessment of the footbox.  (BTW does John Z. post here?  Just discovered his youtube channel and been watching quite a bit of it lately).  My feet were always cold.  I ended up getting a pair of Goosefeet down socks and it’s much better.