On the subject of backpacking gear, your nighttime sleep system might be one of the crucial essential choices you’ll make. You could have heard some buzz about backpacking quilts and wish to know what they’re all about. Many backpackers have an interest within the flexibility and flexibility {that a} quilt can present, however are nervous to go away the recognized reliability and heat of a sleeping bag.
We’ve used many various fashions of sleeping baggage and quilts over 1000’s of path miles and we will attest to the truth that there’s a time and place for each. We wished to place collectively this information to debate the variations and clarify among the execs and cons of every mannequin to assist inform your subsequent gear determination.
For extra data on vital issues and proposals of sleeping baggage and quilts, take a look at our lists of the greatest sleeping baggage and greatest backpacking quilts.
What’s the Distinction Between Sleeping Luggage & Quilts?
Sleeping baggage are typically totally enclosed methods with an extended zipper and a cinchable hood. They’re often mummy-shaped and tight-fitting to create an environment friendly and heat inside for holding warmth. A sleeping bag with a full-length zipper may be opened and draped over your physique on heat nights or may be totally zipped and cinched with solely a small opening close to your mouth on frigid nights.
Backpacking quilts provide extra versatility for hotter climate, however not as a lot heat on chilly journeys. There are numerous several types of quilt designs, however on the whole, quilts are just like a down comforter that may be totally opened on heat nights like a blanket, or may be cinched across the footbox and used with pad attachment straps to include warmth on chilly nights.
Heat
There are numerous completely different temperature rankings for each sleeping baggage and quilts so this measurement varies a bit. Generally, sleeping baggage are usually a more sensible choice on chilly journeys the place you’ll need a totally enclosed system with a hood. For us, this tends to be when nighttime temperatures dip to the 30’s and beneath.
query to ask your self is how usually you propose to sleep in temperatures round freezing. If the reply isn’t usually, then a backpacking quilt could also be a good selection for you. Quilts are extraordinarily snug in summer season backpacking situations and are our primary alternative on a lot of the backpacking journeys we take. Take into consideration your down comforter at residence and the way it simply lays on prime of you, however nonetheless retains you heat.
A quilt works the identical method, so long as you get one that’s lengthy and extensive sufficient to fit your needs. One massive draw back with quilts are that the underside is open to allow them to be drafty in chilly and windy situations. Although some quilts include pad attachment methods and the choice of a closed footbox, the heat nod nonetheless goes to the sleeping bag.
WINNER: Sleeping Luggage
Hood
Virtually all sleeping baggage include a hood, which you’ll pull over your head and cinch down tightly to include warmth on chilly nights. As a result of backpacking quilts don’t have a hood, you’ll have to put on a hat, an after-market down hood, or throw on a down hooded jacket on chilly nights to maintain your head heat. For aspect sleepers, you may all the time pull the quilt up over your head and go away a small opening for respiratory.
WINNER: Sleeping Luggage
Weight
There are light-weight choices for each sleeping baggage and quilts, however on the whole, backpacking quilts are likely to have the perfect warmth-to-weight ratios of any sleeping system available on the market. It is because quilts reduce out the additional supplies and down that usually get compressed beneath your physique in sleeping baggage. This places the down fill the place you want it most – on prime of your physique.
This does imply that in a quilt you’ll be sleeping straight on prime of your sleeping pad, which may trouble some who don’t just like the skin-to-sleeping pad really feel. We don’t suppose it’s that massive of a deal, but when this bothers you, you may all the time sleep in full clothes or buy an extra sheet on your sleeping pad.
In case you’re searching for the very best warmth-to-weight ratios, select a quilt with a closed footbox. In case you’re prepared to hold slightly bit extra weight for elevated versatility, select a quilt with an non-obligatory footbox zipper.
There are additionally quilt fashions which have full-length zippers, however these are usually the heaviest of quilt choices, and should even rival weights of sleeping baggage. Generally, sleeping baggage are usually heavier than nearly all of those quilt choices, however they supply the added heat of a totally enclosed system.
WINNER: Quilts
Consolation
An important measurement for sleeping consolation is definitely heat (coated above) as a result of for those who’re too chilly to sleep, you’re in for a depressing evening, it doesn’t matter what. When you’ve obtained heat coated, consolation will rely on how tight-fitting your sleeping bag is or the flexibleness of your quilt.
In case you transfer round loads at evening and dislike constrictive sheets or dislike tight-fitting mummy baggage, chances are you’ll actually want the consolation of a quilt. Conversely, for those who just like the safety of being wrapped up tight and fear about chilly air drafts, chances are you’ll want a sleeping bag.
WINNER: Quilts
Versatility
After we discuss versatility, we’re principally speaking concerning the alternative ways every bit of drugs can be utilized. For instance, a quilt may be opened totally and used like a blanket (in your tent or across the fireplace) or cinched up tight when nighttime temperatures drop.To totally enclose the footbox on some quilts, zip up the zipper and pull the drawstring to create a draft-free enclosure. Although cumbersome, many quilts additionally include pad attachment methods, which can enhance heat as nicely.
Sleeping baggage, alternatively, have much less versatility on account of their closed footboxes, however may also be opened up and used, kind of, like a blanket on heat nights or totally zipped on chilly nights. On heat nights, we actually love the flexibility to make use of our quilts totally opened like a down blanket, so we give the flexibility nod to quilts.
WINNER: Quilts
Value
There are clearly many various merchandise from many various producers of various levels of high quality and value. Generally, we now have discovered that quilts have a tendency to supply a smaller value level, however top quality choices in both class will nonetheless require a large funding. Simply keep in mind, for those who take excellent care of a high quality piece of down gear, it may possibly final for many years.
WINNER: Quilts
Packability
As a result of down quilts are likely to have much less supplies and down fill, in addition they pack down a bit smaller. Top quality down merchandise in both selection (down fill of 800+), will nonetheless pack down very small.
WINNER: Quilts
Conclusion
In case you’re searching for detailed suggestions, take a look at our lists of the greatest sleeping baggage and greatest backpacking quilts.
In case you usually backpack in hotter climate (nighttime temps within the 40s), we’d suggest making an attempt out a quilt. We nearly all the time select quilts for our summer season backpacking journeys. However, for those who’re searching for one piece of drugs that may nonetheless perform nicely on hotter journeys, however will even hold you heat on colder journeys, then a sleeping bag could also be your best choice.
Severe backcountry vacationers might want each a quilt and a heat sleeping bag for the selection, relying on the journey.
