Synthetic overquilt (anyone tried these)

I have a custom Nunatak overquilt sewn to my own specifications.

In my own experience it is a very good alternative to a bivvy sack when used inside a tent and you need a temperature boost. My own overquilt weighs approximately the same as my big Goretex bivvy sack but adds a good 10 degrees C to my bags lower limit when using my standard winter mat combination. My overquilt used the absolute lightest fabric the Robic 0.7 as the outer but it seems robust enough so far.

I asked for 100GSM/3.6 APEX and for winter use I would not use anything less myself but if I was to order another I would use the next weight up, the overall weight penalty isn’t great but the added warmth is substantial.

My design incorporates a mat sleeve sized to fit a wide thick mat because I find a wide mat makes a huge difference to my sleeping warmth on snow and is also sized to go over any deep winter rated down sleeping bag on the market as going Extra Large is only a few grams extra compared to the standard Large size

An extra large footbox gives space to keep your boots and water bottles and filling the water bottles with hot to boiling water seems to work to keep them warm and dry for a quick dress in the morning, at very cold temperatures it should stop them from freezing up solid too, it did work that way for a mate who borrowed this quilt for a trip to Denali last year

Synthetic over-quilts work very well at lowing comfortably sleeping temperature, but with a significant weight gain.

In shoulder season I use a MYOG 2.5oz APEX over-quilt that’s wide, long and has an extra large foot box at 14 oz. The Over-quilt is paired with a 20F EE Enigma quilt and an X-lite pad with 1/8″ foam on top, plus a Goosefeet Gear down balaclava under a 2.5oz APEX EE Hoodlum balaclava. With the quilt only and one balaclava, I sleep cool by OK in the low 30’s F. But with the over-quilt on top, it’s almost too hot in the low 20’s F – and that’s with the over-quilt just draped over the top of the quilt without side clips.

If bundled up well, It would likely be comfortable down to 15F with the quilt, over-quilt and the ThinLite pad on an inflatable pad. For comparison, I’ve slept cool but OK down to 15F with a 30F 25oz mummy bag and a 3 ounce VBL, which is a much lighter option than the over-quilt for similar results. But the over-quilt is way more comfortably and cozy than the VBL, plus it protect the down from condensation too.

@satori @moondog55 So do you guys think its worth it to just get a winter bag? Seems like the weight with the synthetic overquilt may just end up weighing the same as a good winter back, albeit cheaper

I got mine made to help keep my down bag dry or more dry anyway. Not everybody can afford or even need a -40 sleeping bag but if you have a -18C/0F bag big enough to wear warm clothing inside it the overquilt is one way of getting a deep cold rating.

There is a weight penalty naturally but perhaps a lot cheaper than buying 3 or 4 different sleeping bags and for me the synthetic quilt has become my summer sleeper.

I made one – 2.5 climashield – and i like it. My decision to go with an overquilt was based on wanting extra warmth, wanting to manage intra-bag condensation, and not wanting to spend a lot of money. Yes, a combination of summer bag (or summer quilt) and overquilt will be heavier than a dedicated cold weather bag. And yes, if you already have the summer bag you will spend a lot less on the overquilt than you would on the warmer bag. I like the condensation management performance i have had. I used to get significant condensation within the down and onbthe inside of the shell of the bag. Now with the overquilt I get some of that in the overquilt, but being synthetic and relatively thin, it dries really fast. I also have had spindrift invade my shelter and the overquilt handled that much better than any down bag of mine ever has.

I have also made good use of the overquilt as a warm weather quilt on its own.

So do you guys think its worth it to just get a winter bag?

Pros and cons either way. If weight is a priority and you don’t sweat too badly, then the lightest option for a lower comfortable sleeping temperature is a winter mummy bag combined with a homemade VBL, but YMMV. Either setup would likely work for you, after you dial it in with some experience using that setup.

Condensation control on the surface of the bag is another issue to deal with, especially for long trips – and especially with down. Much depends on your environment, temperatures, shelter and intended use. For shoulder season hikes in the PNW, I like the added versatility, reduced hassle and piece of mind of using an over-quilt, even though is weighs more than a dedicated winter bag/VBL.

In contrast, on Denali, most of us used VBL’s and WPB shelled mummy bags (or WPB bivy sacks) which worked well, even though it was uncomfortably clammy, more so for some than for others. One guy on Denali used a -30F synthetic quilt which worked well for him, but it took up a ton of room in his 6000 cu in backpack and must have been heavy.

I appreciate everyone’s input! You guys rock! Also a -30 quilt is insane lol

If you hike as a couple then Rogers idea of an extra large overquilt to cover two LW sleeping bags each is also an excellent idea. Hard man climber Andy Kirkpatrick is also a fan of double quilts for the extra warmth in an Alpine climbing situation.

Nunatak make such a couples overquilt now as a standard item

One way to save weight with an overquilt is to add a head hole and use it as a poncho around camp. You can generally bring a lighter jacket this way.

an overquilt is to add a head hole and use it as a poncho around camp.
This works really well in pouring rain.

Cheers

and When the weather dips down what do you guys use for head insulation? I have a Katabatic gear Windom hood and I love it

When the weather dips down what do you guys use for head insulation?

• Down to the low 30’s at night, a single EE Hoodlum insulated balaclava is fine, with a thin buff in balaclava mode underneath against the skin.
• Down into the low 20’s at night, a combination of the EE Hoodlum covered with the hood of a down parka works well – or a down balaclava over the Hoodlum.
• In the teens or colder overnight, I prefer a full mummy bag with integrated hood.

As for wearing an over quilt around camp, I prefer stuffing it under an oversized rain jacket to protect it from rips and precip – you can wrap the quilt around yourself to cover most of your upper body and head just fine:

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/108581/#post-2238165

many years ago I played did an inner down quilt, outer synthetics with the theory that the synthetic could handle condensation forming inside better than down. In the end I settled on a 3 season quilt, and a winter bag (down) and a vapor barrier which I found lighter and less fiddly, and less prone to drafts which aren’t a big deal at 40F but I very noticeable at 0F. On particularly cold trips I combined my winter bag with my 3 season quilt.

@verber by vapor barrier do you mean a bivy sack?

A vapour barrier is a totally waterproof liner that stops any passage of moisture; passing into and through the sleeping bags shell and insulating material. A specialised extra bit of gear

http://www.westernmountaineering.com/sleep-accessories/hotsac-vbl/

Definitely sounds interesting. Any of you guys throw on down pants and a down jacket to up your quilt temperature rating?

If you use a VB you can’t sleep in your clothing and if you plan to use your clothing as sleeping insulation you need to buy your sleeping bag suitably large in girth. I almost always use my insulated clothing to get the temperature rating I need and therefore don’t use a VB as a matter of course. My winter sleeping bag is naturally enough of an Expedition cut and not UL because of it

Yeah after researching the vapor barrier it seems like that would not be my cup of tea. Perhaps wearing my down jacket and buying down pants might be a worth while investment for me

Most of the year we are carrying UL summer-weight down quilts, even in our Alps here in Oz. It can get a bit cold some nights, so we do wear our synthetic jackets in bed, over our thermal layers, along with fluffy socks and warm head coverings and a down hood over the top. And the two of us snuggle up for warmth too.

If you have any unused clothing on a cold night, you are carrying excess weight.

I have never understood the logic thinking behind hoodless quilts, Imho, stark staring madness. A cold head is a cold night.

Cheers