Firstly, a belated Happy New Year to you all.

I'm afraid that my access to the internet has been severely restricted in recent times for reasons too numerous and ghastly to recount.

Anyway, I've just started doing the research for a TGO article about quilts, and I realised that I've never met anyone else who uses one in the UK. I know there are other quilt users out there, as the subject has been discussed briefly on this forum before, but I have a feeling that if all the quilt users in the UK formed a club, we could hold the AGM in a phone box.

Am I right, or are there more of us out there than I realise?

As I have only my experience of using a quilt in the UK to go on, I'd like to hear from anyone else who uses one and prefers it to a sleeping bag, as well as anyone who tried one but hated it. I'd be interested in hearing why you love/loathe quilts and what conditions you're comfortable/uncomfortable using them in.

While I'm at it, I might as well inquire whether there are others out there who routinely use a sleeping bag as a quilt (i.e. completely unzipped), or prefer a top bag to a standard bag.

Of course, this could turn out to be the shortest thread on the forum, but at least I'll know that a phone box will indeed suffice for the inaugural Quilt Users of Britain gathering.

Mick Fae Dundee who used to look at this site and is a daily contributer to Outdoor Magic uses a quilt in preference.

We have converted a rab 400 into a double top bag zipped all round. This is our usual winter sleeping system with 2 exped short mats squeezed together and a bit of foam under our feet.
It is often too warm in the summer, then we unzip it, usually leaving only the footbox connected.

Has Mike fae Dundee stopped contributing to this site? I hope not. I like his occasionally caustic remarks.

Derek, I take it that the 'we' you refer to is you and your wife/girlfriend, and not you and Mike, which is how I interpreted it for a split second.

Sharing a top bag/quilt with someone is a fantastically efficient way of staying warm (as you can no doubt attest). I recently read about the amount of heat you can expect a sleeping partner to add to a sleep system, and it was impressive. I'll see if I can dig up that article again. Unfortunately, I sleep alone (pause to gently sob).

Have you ever used a top bag on your tod? If so, how did you get on with it?

Are there any particular drawbacks to sharing a top bag with a sleeping partner? As long as she doesn't frequent this forum, you can be completely honest with us.

Caustic Mike has not departed from the forum! :)

I have been injured recently, and yapping away on Outdoors Magic to relieve my frustration!

I bought a Nunatak Arc Specialist quilt early last year, and it's the best bit of outdoor kit i've used in years. I wish i had tried a quilt years ago.
The main aim in buying the quilt was to reduce weight, but the increased room over a mummy bag was another factor. I dislike the restrictive nature of mummy bags, and never used the hood on them anyway.

Nunatak have various options for customizing your quilt.
I chose the highly water-resistant and breathable Epic shell for my quilt, as i use tarps, bivvy-bags, single skin and 'normal' double skin tents.
The finished weight of my quilt is 546g. It gives the same insulation as a much heavier sleeping bag, as all the down is above you and at the sides, and is not being compressed wastefully underneath you.
The quilt has a sewn in footbox that stops your feet migrating outwards. Three straps can be fastened around you or your sleeping pad. Personally, i've never used them, and may cut them off.
A snap fastening at the collar, and shock-drawcord, closes off any draughts at the neck. You can wear a hat or not, to suit the conditions.

I have slept better in the quilt than i ever did in a mummy bag. I'm a restless sleeper, and always seemed to get tied in knots in a bag. Some folk reckon you have to sleep still on your back to use a quilt. Before i bought the quilt, i wondered if it would work for me, as i'm mainly a side and stomach sleeper.
I think if like me, you are a restless sleeper, you have to avoid quilts that are too narrow. One of the reasons i chose the Arc Specialist was it's 55" width. I personally wouldn't go any narrower. I may adjust the quilt as i turn during the night, but i must do it unconsciously, as i don't wake up.

I used the quilt most of last year and was very comfortable with it. The last time i used it was November, (injury) and the temp was about -2/3C. I slept on a 3/8" Gossamer Gear foam pad and Montbell UL90 self inflating pad. I wore a merino baselayer and beanie, and was toasty. My injury has almost cleared up, and i'm confident of using it right through the winter at much lower temperatures. I carry down clothing for when at camp, and will sleep in it if needed.

I'll never go back to a sleeping bag, as i now sleep better than ever.


I have never slept with derekoak, despite his pleading. ;)

Eddy, I don't own a quilt, but regularly use my down sleeping bag (Rab Quantum 400) completely unzipped and spread out over me like a quilt. I like the 'airyness' of it and it means I can extend the use of my bag which is rated down to -5C into milder weather which saves having to buy a number of expensive sleeping bags.

I look forward to reading your article!

David

I invariably use my PHD Combi bag opened out during the summer -- I had it fitted with a zip for that reason. I would prefer to have a quilt for this purpose, since it would certainly be lighter and probably rather more comfortable, but can't really justify the cost. With the Combi I can zip it up when it gets a bit cooler and wear a down vest or jacket when sleeping during the winter, because it's not cut as close fitting as most PHD and other qualitfy down bags. Incidentally, the rather more generous cut makes it excellent for use as a quilt.

Good to have you back Eddy!

I've always used a bag and recently, in a weight saving frenzy, replaced an old synthetic with a cumulus quantum 200. It didn't even occur to me to look at quilts but I regret not having given them serious consideration. The quantum 200 is realy light, suitable for most of the situations I find myself in, but its strictly a summer bag. Even on summer trips I've hit my limit with it. Last summer, bivvying high in the swiss alps, it got down to about 2 degrees and I was on the cold side of comfy. Paired with a montbel down inner it was just about right but lower temps would give me a problem. I now wonder if a quilt would have been a better option: all the down where its needed so warmer for the same weight and less constricting so down worn under it would work more effectively (Mike: when you say down clothing do you mean a jacket or jacket and trousers?).

I'm now thinking about how best to extend my system to lower temperatures. I realy don't want to buy a heavier bag but would rather find a way to boost my current bag. I'm thinking about making/buying a lightweight quilt to pair with my current bag.

Perhaps you'll need to hire something biger than a phonebox for that AGM?


PS: Any chance you couldpost some detail on the construction of your homemade bushbuddy ?

Awright Dave,

I have the Montbell UL down inner pants. I also treated myself to a hooded Nunatak Skaha Plus pullover when there was 2 dollars to the pound. I'm a bit of a down lover, and have a few other bits and pieces.
I've worn them in camp, but have had to remove them under the quilt as i have overheated. I am a warm sleeper, but expect to need some extra down clothing when the temp really drops.

Caustic Mike,

I'm glad to hear that you're still with us and that you're not sleeping with Derek.

One of the main complaints about quilts is that they're 'draughty'. By the sound of it, this doesn't seem to be a problem for you - even in the winter. Am I right in thinking that?

Also, is -2/3C the lowest temperature you've used your Arc Specialist in, and what shelter were you using it in at the time? Lastly, have you used it with a tarp and/or bivvy bag? If so, what sort of conditions were you using it in and how did it fare?

David A and Guy Hurst,

At around what temperature would you stop using your bags as quilts and start zipping them up? Do you think that a warmer quilt would suit you at this temperature, or do you find that there's something inherently superior about a fully enclosed bag in lower temperatures. Also, what shelters do you use your unzipped bags in?

Dave Hanlon,

I've tried describing how to make pieces of equipment a few times before, but it's such a pain in the arse as even the simplest procedure takes hundreds of words to adequately describe it. If you'd be prepared to cover the postage costs, I could simply send you my home-made Bushbuddy to have a look at. I'd also rather not put any details on a forum as my stove is a direct rip-off of the Bushbuddy and I wouldn't want to tread on the toes of any cottage manufacturer trying to earn a few bucks.

Hi Eddy.

I haven't had a problem with draughts, as i'll try to take measures to prevent them. In an enclosed tent, i use the quilt on it's own, and haven't had any problems. If i'm in a Tarptent or under a tarp, i'll carry a bivvy-bag. Usually a very lightweight, water-resistant, Titanium Goat Ptarmigan (194g with bug net option). This protects from rain splash and draughts. I'll only use it if needed. It's roomy enough to still enable me to sprawl, and not feel restricted. I don't think this just applies to quilts though, as i often carried a bivvy-bag to use with 'normal' sleeping bags in the same situations.
Most of the time in the summer, the quilt was fine without a bivvy-bag. I often used a MLD Bug bivvy under a tarp when the midgies were bad. The no-see-um netting probably helped to stop draughts.

As i said, i think draughts are only really a problem if you cut it too fine with the width of the quilt.

I last used it back in November in temps of around -2/3C in a Stephensons Warmlite 2R tent. These are the warmest tents i've used. I'm confident of using the quilt in any temps the Scottish winter can throw at me, as long as i have suitable down clothing with me. As i always carry a down jacket when camping in winter, this isn't any extra weight. The only thing that might be classed as extra weight is my 212g Montbell UL Down Inner pants. As i haven't perfected my winter sleeping set-up with the quilt yet, they might never be needed, and i won't bring them.

Injury has stopped me using the quilt since November, but i seem to be on the mend, and hope to start getting out again. Perfecting my winter quilt set-up is an unfinished project.