UL Blankets for Summer Sleep Systems

I have a Brooks Range Cloak 45 that seems similar and that I use in the summer if I’m sure of the 50+ forecast.

I’ve used the Sea to Summit Traveler down bag for years. Rated 45°, weighs 21 oz. on my scale. I has a full zipper, neck collar cord, footbox closure cord. I’ve used it on humid Cumberland Island, GA, into the upper 40s, wearing lightweight longjohns. All zipped up it was warm and roomy for my widish body. Used many humid summer nights in southern mountains form partial zip for warm feet to fully unzipped as a loose blanket on nights in the 60s. I have an older version with 750 fill that packs down very small with included compression sack. Not bad for $199.

Thanks for the replies. Clarification. I’m considering a blanket not a backpacking quilt.  The confusion lays in the semantics:  a quilt is a type of blanket but backpacking quilts are really bottomless sleeping bags. My ideal is no snaps, no zippers, no foot boxes, etc. They’re out there and they’re a lot cheaper and nearly as light as backpacking quilts. Here’s a few examples…

the iClimb Warm Camping Blanket

Klymit Horizon & Versa

Mountain Warehouse Compact Camping Blanket

I have a GetOutGear blanket that is similar but without snaps or an optional footbox I find that due to the slippery nature of the nylon fabric that the blanket slides off of me in the night too much.  I am not familiar with these other brands but I love the concept if the fabric weren’t so darn slippery.

if you decide to consider a quilt this is a good one, 800 fill, 17.2 ounces and see it go on sale often for under $100 and regular price is $124.99     AntiGravityGear Stratum 55 Top Quilt .

If you get two yards of alpha fabric and two yards of one ounce nylon and put them together you have a <10oz blanket for $70.  Maybe more expensive than you wanted but also more light.  RBTR has this stuff.

I have not done this but have some warmer camping coming up and am considering giving it a try.

EDIT: I was looking in to this idea some more, and it looks like someone else has had the same thought here a few years ago.

Hi Scott, I saw that too. Great idea. Too bad I can’t sew. Good luck and let us know how the project goes. $70 is a bargain.

I find these lightweight ripstop fabrics very hard to sew myself.  I may just try gluing.  It sounds like a fail perhaps but the modern fabric glues are very impressive.  I have some garments I patched with only glue and they are holding many washes later.  I was thinking of using penny sized glue spots on a one foot grid.  You don’t need a lot to keep them together.  I use B-7000 glue.

Anybody can glue, and if I like it I will post here and you can try it if you want to.

I look forward to your verdict onglueing ripstop to Alpha. At $200 the Montbell Sleeping Wrap #5 coming in at a svelt 346 g / 12.2 oz is awesome if pricey. Next time I win the lotto.

I made a quilt out of this pre-quilted alpha direct from discoveryfabrics. Mine is a bit on the heavy side at 19oz. but it’s wide and long, modeled after the military poncho liner and big enough to double as an overbag in the winter. Given my experience with the fabric you could easily make something with extremely limited sewing and sewing skills. It’s already pre quilted so you just need to singe the nylon edges once you’ve cut it to shape. Heck, you could probably use a stapler to make the footbox and closures.

The one you linked (Alpine Ridge) is 15 oz, probably due to the 20d fabric. 650 fp duck down is also not optimal.

Where I backpack a blanket would be miserable even in summer. For comparison down to 40’ish degrees I use a hoodless mummy bag in size large that’s 12.7 ounces, and box baffled with 8 ounces of 900 fp.

Using similar tech to make a 50°F blanket for your environment  should put it at 10-11 ounces.

I think what you are looking for is a quillow by UGQ, https://ugqoutdoor.com/product/ugq-quillow/

Steve

cristopher, do you have to finish (sew) the edges of the alpha material, or could you just cut it to size – no sewing?  Or just non quilted alpha?

Used a Costco down throw as warm temp bag. Added kam snaps to close in foot box. Was mid 60s and humid. Worked ok. Just not big enough for me. Many use cheap 16oz down throws for budget summer kits.

Jerry,

The pre-quilted alpha didn’t really require sewing the edges, being quilted to the nylon protects the shape. My edges are sewn purely for esthetics. I have a non-quilted piece of alpha I use as a blanket the selvage doesn’t require a folded edge, it wouldn’t hurt on the top or bottom to maintain it, but it isn’t necessary it might just deform alittle bit. The stretch on the weight I have isn’t much length wise but more width wise.

Then it would be a good project for someone that doesn’t sew

Hiking some Hawaiian coastal routes (state forestry permits), for lows just below 60°F is calling for a synthetic travel sheet/“bag liner” with perhaps light fleece (now alpha) doing a little double double duty as a second “blanky” if need be.   If sleeping in, I could see a 48°F MLD synthetic quilt with the head-hole though for that extra luxury.

Now 50°F?  I’d probably go the quilt route above or a simple MYOG version.  Not really sure much of a foot box would be needed unless using it for other environments.  Synthetic as the weight penalty is far less at hotter temps but could see some more humidity.  Headhole as it may be needed on chilly nights and as an individualistic fashion statement.   MLD as met a few serious multi-year thru hikers going through various climates and they swear by their MLD Spirit quilts at colder ratings (holds loft they felt), .. so the hotter one should be primo.

Been a while but I think I found something that’ll work… now selling on GGG, a 60 gsm Alpha Direct liner. Magnet goes into some detail about why he chose 60 (over 90 or 120) and what his use scenarios are. I have a couple of his things and I like them, and him. Here’s a link to his site… https://www.magnetdsigns.com/product-page/the-bend-alpha-sleeping-bag-liner

JRB alpha direct quilt liner.

MLD liner

+1 T T …

I think this is a better solution that nylon sewn onto alpha direct, because when separate  you can mix and match as needed. I wrote up my experience using a poncho, alpha direct blanket, and MLD liner as a system https://verber.com/poncho/

The cheapest option to get to 50F with no skill sewing:

buy bulk alpha direct 120gsm… 1 or 2 yards depending on how small a blanket works for you. 1 yard was OK, eventually I will do a new one with 2 yards of material

buy bulk nylon, fold it, sew two edges closed.

You don’t have to sew alpha?  Edges don’t unravel?

That’s the case with ordinary fleece

Then you just have to be able to find the fabric wide enough so you don’t have to sew two pieces together to get desired width

I don’t think the edges unravel. A sewn edge is nicer. One of my fist projects was a AD90 buff. I found it very easy to sew.

This is an unfinished piece that I have laying around. It has a thicker edge, except where it’s cut. Anybody with a zigzag machine, I’d encourage to put an edge on it.

I bought this as seconds, that’s why it’s flawed. It was on etsy, but the seller checked out.

I found that by fully unzipping my WM Megalite mummy and “hooking” the foot of teh mummy over the fat of my mummy shaped mattress I can use it as a very comfortable quilt. hanging a leg out is easy.

I fit a T shirt over the head of the mattress so I can lay my head on the cloth and not the mattress.

I have been using a piece of AD90 with unfinished ended for a few years.  It was worn like a shawl or a front facing vest for something like 80 full days while backpacking / hut2hut, been my blanket ~90 nights (in field and when traveling),  and been a comforter sitting in the living room  I can’t guess the number of times.  No unravelling visible.