MYOG Quilts – what's the coldest temp a MYOG quilt could handle?

[Anthony Meaney]

Those of you who MYO quilts – are they primarily for three season use or have any of you made one for very cold temps ie. -20F or colder. If so how did it fare? Is the construction different than a summer quilt or is it the same with more insulating material stuffed in?

 

 

[Brad Rogers]

This would be very subjective, but most people that use quilts only use them to around 20*F and switch to bags below that due to drafts, etc.  There are however commercial quilts that are good down to 0*F.  I don’t think I have ever seen a MYOG or Commercial quilt for below 0 but it could probably be done.

 

[Roger Caffin]

Owing to some unseasonal weather we did use our UL quilts (~600 g) at -7 C one time. We (my wife and I) cheated: we snuggled up real close and overlapped the two quilts.

We have also used the same quilts at a slightly lower temp in the sno by throwing a double-width quilt over the top. That was very snug.

For most people, the BIG weakness will be the mat, not the quilt. Many people just do not realise how much heat they lose downwards.

Cheers

 

[Bob Moulder]

For most people, the BIG weakness will be the mat, not the quilt. Many people just do not realise how much heat they lose downwards.

+1

[Jordo _99]

Is the construction different than a summer quilt or is it the same with more insulating material stuffed in?

Just make larger baffles and add more insulation.

I made a 0F bag (not quilt) and it has (reciting from memory here) 4-5″ baffles and an extra 6-10oz of down to fill up the extra area. Works great.

[Elliott Wolin]

We threw our two-person summer quilt (my design) over our two-person three-season quilt (RayWay kit) and had no problems in a tent down to 15 degF (or maybe lower, not sure).  We wore warm hats and used puffy vests around our shoulders to keep drafts out.  Both quilts had foot boxes.

Half a century ago a friend spent a full year north of the Arctic circle.  On winter dogsled trapping runs she slept under Caribou hides down to below -40 degF.  Perhaps these were the original cold-weather quilts.

[Thomas Conly]

I made a quilt that is probably rated to 5-10 Fahrenheit, but I don’t think I would be able to make a quilt much warmer than that. It gets pretty drafty as it is. However, using a bivy bag can help with that. I made an insulated one you might be interested in that works really well. With the two quilts I have, the system was plenty warm down to -15. I haven’t had it out any colder than that yet.

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/101231/

[Andy Duncan]

I have been using a MYOG quilt down to 10 F and sleeping warm on a TAR Xtherm and wearing a silk long base layer and booties. Last year I removed 4 ozs of down from the upper half (i.e., from the waist up) because I usually bring a Mirage for around camp anyway and it seems to be fine so far. It weighs 19 ozs. Nunatak makes a 4 season quilt, but it’s only rated to 5 F.

[Anthony Meaney]

Thomas:

That’s pretty much the info I was looking for. I noticed in the other thread that you felt it was a little drafty – have you dialed in the best way to use the system yet?

[Thomas Conly]

Anthony:

I haven’t really played around with it too much since then. The issue I have is tucking it around my neck and shoulders. Wearing an insulated jacket with a hood would probably work. If I could start from scratch I would try to make a quilt that attaches around my neck somehow. Having a smaller bivy with the sleeping pad on the outside would probably help too because it might help to wrap the quilt tighter around me. Regardless, I’m still happy enough with the system.

[Anthony Meaney]

Thomas:

I wonder if the quilt you made over  a mummy style bag with a hood would solve the draft problem?

 

[Thomas Conly]

Anthony:

it certainly would, but then I’m back to using a mummy bag which I don’t like. If that’s something you’re interested in, that’s what my friend has done. When he goes winter camping with me, he sleeps with my fall quilt over his North Face mummy. That’s worked down to -35 without any complaints from him.

[Roger Caffin]

Put a ‘hood’ on your quilt, and problem solved. See https://backpackinglight.com/MYOG_down_quilt_bag/  for further details.  Note: the hood goes over the backl of your head, not over your face. Don’t breathe into the down.

Cheers

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