Paul, it’s refreshing that even though you’ve made your choice... you simply just show the options and the differences and let the viewer decide what’s best for them. The elitist “you must use what’s in vogue or you are a Neanderthal” outdoor community gets old real fast. Thanks for ignoring them and being the same old Paul you’ve been since the old days. Cheers brother!
as a side/front sleeper a down quilt has changed camping so much for the better form me, its night and day after years of never getting any sleep in a bag. Love my quilt.
I got a Cumulus Quilt 450 -7C quilt earlier this year. It's the first quilt I've ever owned - I was skeptical I'd find it comfortable but I'd say I'm now a quilt convert! Half the weight of my old sleeping bag, and 10 degrees warmer.
Addressing the issue of affordability, speaking from a U.S. perspective, I just ordered a 10° BGQ Bandit and it came to about $260 including delivery. I would be hard-pressed to find an off-the-rack 10° quilt or mummy sleeping bag at that price at REI or other outdoor equipment stores here in the States. Thank you for showing the dynamic tensioners and how they work. I plan on adding that to my order as it looks like a very good addition. I too cannot see myself needing the straps so I removed them from my order. Believe me I’ve shopped long and hard, I’m currently using and army intermediate winter bag it is very toasty, but bulky and weighs nearly 4 lbs. I’m looking to lighten my load. The Bandit comes in at nearly $100 less than Enlightened Equipment. I think this is a very fair buy for the price, and I am very frugal, I buy second hand when possible, but a sleeping bag is very personal (like clothing really) and I’d never consider buying second hand unless I knew who it came from. Someone had mentioned using the Black-diamond Costco quilt for hiking/camping. It’s a great bang for the buck, but I’d estimate it to be a 50° quilt, tops. I would freeze in high Sierra with that 😂. It’s awesome on the couch however.
I have watched your videos on you UGQ quilts and mine arrived today it has a 950 fill, 55 inches wide, 78 inch, 20F, and has the zipped foot box, all in blaze orange, tried it indoors it is way too hot but I am sure it will be good for winter, best of all NO import taxes, bonus, can’t wait to get out and try it. Thanks for the advice, stay safe.
I switched to a quilt when I started motorcycle camping. It came down to space for me. And, like you-I need to regulate my temp a LOT at night. I have a 30 degree quilt, which, as I largely camp only during the 3 seasons here now, is adequate for me. But, once I went to a quilt, I never went back, and sold all my bags with the exception of one. I use the straps on mine, because I am a restless sleeper, and it keeps mine in place. Good vid!
The problem is that without the foot box zippered up and on your feet in it the quilt will slide off your body. The quilt is slippery. I wanted to use my Enlightened Equipment quilt as a throw blanket. But it won’t stay on.
@@MsRotorwings I backpack in the south in the US (Arkansas). Even in the winter months here, the temperature can be 60° F overnight. It can also get down to the 20s overnight (in the same week!). I would not sleep with the quilt opened up unless it was 50 or warmer for the overnight low. When that happens, my feet are often hot anyway.
Great info Paul. It’s a lot of money to invest, I’m cautious about the quilts- but I trust your opinion. Always stay unbiased, and your viewers will appreciate it.
Another informative video Paul. Like a lot of other folk commenting, I simply unzip my bag and use as a quilt plus to hood acts a screen to keep the bright morning light from walking me up. Each to their own though and I can see the benefit of the quilt being lighter even with the same of heavier fill. Currently using the Rab ascent 700 . Thanks for the vid though. Keep em coming
I also have a Cumulus 450 quilt it weighs only 710g is currently £239, filled with some of the best down in the world (Polish) a small cottage company and NO import duty, I highly recommended it.
I use my Deuter sleeping bag as a quilt... yes it’s a little heavier but when things get really cold I can zip it up and be warmer than with a quilt :)
Thanks for the great review of the UGQ buddy. Got mine last week and absolutely cannot wait to use it. And you certainly do feel the sting of the custom charges... 40% of the quilt value to be precise! Ouch..stilll feeling it! Definitely ssomething to bare in mind for those interested. Boom tingz! 🤠
That's what put me off it's £275 just to get it to our shores then there's customs charges on top. Shame there isn't a UK stockist or have I just given away a potential business idea
Don't think I will ever go down the quilt route. Get cold at best of the times and the thought of the slightest draught gives me the chills ;) Mid summer possibly but that would be my limit. Atb
fella quilts are really good ive had the -18 ugq bandit for about 12 months or so now and slept out in -10 last winter and I was nice and warm ,you'd really be surprised how good they are
@@waynewanderer you could say that mate ,expected to pay a bit but I almost paid half the price of the quilt again in import and customs ,queried the charge as paid about 190 quid which when I worked out the pound /dollar conversion I paid half the price of the quilt so worked out about 500 quid in total ,really pleased with the quilt just not pleased with the robbing bastards at customs
If you get one wide enough and long enough, drafts aren't an issue. I've gone well below 0 F (wearing a down hood or a mad bomber hat) and remained quite toasty in a hammock.
I've taken the plunge this year and switched out the dossbag to a quilt, I went with the Cumulus 450 , one thing I love with the Cumulus is they have put a baffle in the footbox to completely seal the hole in the end , so simple yet so effective, best move I've made , the freedom and versatility is epic !
UGQ all the way Paul , I opted for only one of the bungy ties so made 2 more myself and they work a treat . And they really do loft up but yeah I got stung for about £50 in postal and custom charges .
Another good gear review Paul! I debated for some time about whether to get a quilt or a sleeping bag and in the end went for the good quality bag (I got a Mountain Equipment Helium 600) on the basis that I could always unzip it and basically use it as a quilt anyway if I was too warm (like you, I tend to overheat at night......). But you do save some weight with a quilt as you say and maybe that's a key thing for some people. The other thing that I think is important is to do your research before you buy - some (often cheaper) bags and quilts look good and have high specs but do not have very good ethics behind them in terms of how they source the down. Some manufacturers are now using only certified down in their kit and that's an important factor for me. It has cost something its life to perhaps one day save yours. That should be respected.
Thanks Paul, as usual a no holds barred description of the quit and sleeping bag- like you I like plenty of room to move my legs around once inside a sleeping bag so I'd probably go for a double rather than the mummy shaped ones.
I use a Vango Stratos Alpha 250S what is a 3 season but a bit bulk but it is very warm with my British army dpm gore tex bivvy bag and very amazing video very amazing information and keep up the great work
You convinced me. I was about to buy the seatosummit sparklll but now am gonna go for the EE Revelation. Even lighter, a lot cheaper and pretty much the same temperature rating. 👍
Hi Paul. Do you know if you can buy the Enlightened Revelation anywhere in the UK? Trying to avoid buying from the States because of large taxes and delivery charges. Thanks. Ed
Hi again. Can’t seem to find the EE revelation in the UK and I know I will be hit with a massive import tax if I buy from the States. Is that UGQ Bandit also American? Thanks. Ed
Love the concept of the quilt. I use my DD hammock quilt through 2 seasons on its own and through 3 with a wool blanket. I’d have the Bandit without hesitation for 3 or 4 season tent sleeping but it’s >£400 before you think about shipping from US and import duties and VAT. That’s silly money and makes backpacking move more and more towards being for people with lots of disposable income. I’m lucky enough to be able to afford this but I’m going to spend it (and much more) on heating my house this winter instead and just carry a heavier pack.
Hi, I have a few of each sleeping bags and quilts. Basically a good sleeping bag is always more versatile than a quilt, you can always open the zip on a sleeping bag and turn it into a quilt if you are warm but you can't do the same with a quilt, well unless it is one of those with a zip which means it's really a bag anyway. It's just a question of mummy bag or normal shaped bag.
"Basically a good sleeping bag is always more versatile than a quilt" Unless space and weight are an issue. Then again, you can carry a regular quilt and a summer quilt for the space and weight of a bag. I actually carry a summer synthetic quilt to go over my down quilt to move the frost point from my down to the Climashield.
@@hubster4477 "if the extra weight is going to ruin your trip, then train some more!" The fact is that the same person carrying a light pack will be able to cover more miles for the same amount of energy as the same person with a heavier pack (or they'll be more rested at the end of the day). That's more of physics thing than a training thing. After all, you don't hear cyclists suggesting that they should just train more when their bike is heavier than their opponents. How many runners are looking for a heavier shoe? Personally, I've covered back to back 30+ mile days with a light pack. Another ten pounds would reduce that ability. It's a physics issue, not a training one.
I'm getting my second quilt from UGQ! My first one was from Hammock Gear and has been fantastic but I got it for three season use (30F rating). I need something for the shoulder seasons and possibly for some winter camping so am getting a 10F with a draft collar and sewn footbox.
Yeah I was about to check out the website until he mentioned they start at 250.. I'll just keep my cheapo berghaus sleeping bag and wear thermals - Total price about 50 quid.
Had a look at these quilts after seeing this video. Lots of review reads and more videos watched. I am now in the queue for a quilt as the lead time is 8-9 weeks at present. Had to decide whether around £300+ for a mass produced quilt from the big companies was the better option, or pay a bit extra (including import costs) for something that is handmade to order and seems to be a much better product. Custom made won.
Sleeping bag with the zip down is the same, particularly if your a side sleeper as you can kick an arm or leg out in the night to cool you of a bit. You’ll find that you pull it back over in the night if it slips off and you generally wake up with it still on you. This does mean importantly that 1 you can buy a higher rated bag to cover you for all year and not need to buy ,,two bags secondly it’s way way way cheaper which for everyone is better.. plus in the height of summer just unzip completely and use as a quilt type deal and wear light socks as your feet always come out as it’s much narrower at the foot box end.. in the summer it don’t really matter. Happy camping folks
Would have been good to see how compact each of them go. I'm interested in quilts, just not convinced they will be as cosy through cold nights, do like the idea of being able to wrap it round you when you're sitting though. Ahhhh big life decision!
Excellent video Paul, I have always used sleeping bags because that’s what we associate with camping, but as a side and belly sleeper I feel like a quilt would work a lot better, as in a bag I tangle myself up tossing and turning Lighter & comfier = WIN WIN! Shut up and take my money 🤣🤣🤣 I’m off shopping 🤘🍻
I managed to find a square bag that is down filled - a rare beast indeed. It's made by Nordisk and has a zip off hood and a split length zip - rated at 0 degrees. I use it as a quilt and it is very warm and comfortable and much wider than a quilt. I just close the foot area around my pad to keep it in place. I also used the hood to wrap my inflatable pillow in which makes it very comfy indeed. Not the lightest in the world but, for a fat middle aged man, ideal!
I started using quilts this year more for the better freedom of movement and pack size was important also so win win for me .... I went for a fully sewn in footbox as I hate cold feet and just couldn’t be arsed with any faffing about with zips,cords and that tiny hole that’s always there .
Hi Paul, I've just been turned on to the ugc quilt... This video has given me all the information I need to make an informed decision now 😉 thanks for that keep up the good work 👍
Great review. That yellow UGQ quilt looks an excellent piece of kit. Personally, I would not get a quilt or bag rated below zero for UK conditions. You can always wear clothes if you are getting cold. PHD sleeping bags are made in the UK and brilliant. They don’t seem to do a proper quilt but if they made one as well designed as the UGQs, I’d buy it. A quilt opened out as a blanket can be used as a top bag over a summer sleeping bag. You mentioned hats. I think their importance needs emphasis. Most quilts do nothing at all for your head.
Brilliant Paul . Just got an accent 700 for the winter purely because I couldn’t wait for a quilt to be delivered from states . I’ve looked at these and the enlightened equipment quilts can’t decide which to order for next years wish list. I’m all for the comfort of duvets like normally have my sleeping bag fully open
my sleeping bag does pretty much this anyway, its a rectangular one, with a zip all down the side and bottom, so it can either be an enclosed bag, or zipped open for a quilt type use. Whilst its great, you really want a mummy bag for really colder weather, which is rare in the UK. but apart from that, I like the option to open it out and be less restricted in warmer weather.
Nice Video Paul! i recently purchased a sleeping bag however i did research the quilt options too. In the end i went for a Mammut Protect Down -18c Bag as it was a hybrid between the two. The bag has arm zippers either side so i can stick my arms out when too warm. it also has a central two way zip so i can poke the feet out if needed too :D i might go for a quilt too someday just to see what the fuss is about;)
I like my Hammock Gear Burrow 20 F quilt I use with the XTherm mat. I wear 200 merino woolens and beanie, and a mask to keep moisture off the down and reduce condensation inside my shelter. If colder, I wear a thermal air mask that helps warm my inbreath. ..so far, I haven’t had to get a quilt rated for 0 F or -10 F. I did have a 0 F rated sleeping bag, but it was too warm except 4 nights in less than -34 F weather I survived by putting more insulation underneath me, then walked out in -34 F with no wind. It is my experience wind and lack of insulation underneath rob our warmth.
On one of your previous videos you talked about snobbery with regards to camping gear. Fair enough but I do think as a safety marker you should warn people against using poor performing sleeping bags for camping/not being prepared. Even on a sunny summer's day the temperature can drop dramatically of a night, and if you've got a supermarket or similar sleeping bag you are in serious trouble. It happened to me in Germany one year camping during the World Cup. I either had a choice of turning on my car engine and waking everyone up or lay there freezing to my core. I still remember the trauma of that night and I'm writing this to warn others not to learn the hard way with poor performing kit. (I won't say cheap as you can pick up some bargains on the internet). thanks Paul.
Hi Paul, another interesting review! As many bags now fully open as a quilt I would stick to a sleeping bag! May I share with all a great buy I got! I purchased a 1000 fill down bag snow+ rock from wish rated -25 for under £70 Inc postage, it is fantastic a very warm peice of kit,it will give the £300 bags a run for there money! If you are lucky there are some great bargains about! Happy post covid camping to our outdoor family.
I got my Bandit just over a week ago so not had a chance to use it yet but along with the Amok hammock (w/ 4 season pad) I got with it, I can’t wait. The quality and design of the UGQ are amazing, I’ve only got a Thermarest Vesper to compare it to but the UGQ makes it look average. I went with the -6 +1oz as I thought that would be more than enough and having gotten in the thing I’m very glad I didn’t go lower. The dynamic tension seems really good too, it appears very effective for drafts. Roll on January.
I'm new to bikepacking, slowing buying the gear for myself. I like the idea of a quilt instead of a sleeping bag. Only thing is i'm vegan so using down isn't an option. So im trying to find a bike packing sleeping quilt which isn't made of down. I hope there's one out there suitable. I will keep looking.
I bought the Rab 900 "mummy bag" (very warm). I packed up for the night. Zipped up the outer tent, then the inner tent, wrestled my way into the bag. Got everything correctly adjusted & settled in ........ then realised I needed a piss. Moral of the story is:- There's no such thing as perfection whilst camping. You have to expect things to be that way, else book a hotel.
My sleeping bag is rated at -8 (used in -10 weather with great comfort) and easy to get in and out of and i can use it as a blanket or open the foot box and use it as a warm jacket. That quilt will get my back freezing the moment i roll in my sleep (i'm not a vampire, i can't stay on my back all night).
I'd you use a bag as a quilt you: - have to carry a bit more weight - have to pay attention to the fill pattern, some bags have less insulation on the base - can turn a narrow bag into a sleep system more compatible with curling up as you sleep (knees & bum do not push out and make cold spots) - get a wider quilt - make your sleeping bag last longer as you are not crushing the down so much by sleeping on it - can pull the hood over, or wrap it around your head (watch for condensation) - can still use it as a quilt. - can use a second summer bag a super insulated liner. I personally believe that with an insulated mat (I use an xtherm) a bag in quilt mode can be warmer than in bag mode. This depends on how you sleep, but with the right tent (narrow tent) and the right sleeper you get more loft as a lot more of the bag is above you, and traps more air.
Last year I used to struggle in and out my bag then I went on the Keto diet and now 4 stone lighter I rattle about in it. I've also treated myself to a goose down bag which is even bigger.🤗
@@AndyWardle Yes.. Spirit's have no Carbs, Wine a few but I get through about 4 bottles a week with no effect on my weight. A FEW beers is ok. Once your in Ketosis you'll be fine.
Interesting points there. I can't get on with the mummy style bags I like to be able to move my feet apart no one seems to make an envelope style warm bag that isn't a massive pack size.
Paul, I really enjoy your videos here in the states. I’m into motorcycle camping, so there’s a lot of crossover in gear choices between moto camping and backpacking where we make similar trade offs and compromises. I have the same UGQ quilt for 3 season camping and use it as a blanket since I’m an active sleeper. To make it even more cocoon like, I run the 2 straps under my sleeping pad (Exped Downmat XP9). Overall a really great versatile setup. Besides, UGQ is a great small business company that’s local to me, about an hour away, so that’s a bonus too.
Just ordered an UGQ last week very similar spec to yours, 20F/-6c comfort rating one, zipped foot box. I went for the 78” x 65” (I’m 6’3”, and I wanted the width if/when my wife comes camping too, we can then use it as a normal quilt.) I went for the draft collar too,and the dynamic tension control Differences to yours,I went for 950 fill and MRS10 outer fabric - both as weight saving measures as I went for a larger quilt. I’ve also asked for a draw collar to be added to the bottom....idea being that when you cinch the footbox, the draft collar on the bottom will seal the hole in the middle. I went for a bright colour on the outside (Orange) and a dark one on the inside. Idea for me here was that if I ever end up injured, having a large bright orange square might come in handy for people to find you. I was going to go for the black on the inside, a dark material should dry faster, but at the last minute, I decided to go for purple, which should be dark enough for drying purposes, and it’s a complimentary colour to the orange. Not sure if I will regret this choice, and which I’d stuck with black, also not sure if I will regret going for the lighter MRS10 material vs the heavier duty 20....I figured that quilts should not see much abrasive type wear if they are laying on top of you....and if the 10T is good enough for the inside, then the slightly better durability of the MRS10 on the outside should be good enough. Time will tell. I had great difficulty deciding the temp rating to go for (10F vs 20F) & also any of the over stuffing options. But in the end, decided that 20F would be more versatile and overstuffing was just going to put the weight up...if I needed lower temps, I’d be better to go with the 10F from the start. If the temps push down to 20f /-6c, then I’ll sleep with my down jacket on too, and hat etc, plus, inside a double walled tent should help a little too vs outside temps. My main driver for getting this is that I have an old 5c mummy style sleeping bag, and I don’t like being confined when sleeping, I often sleep on my side with one leg straight and one leg bent, and I can’t do that in my sleeping bag, and I also find I get twisted up in my sleeping bag as I toss and turn in the night.
@@chrish3305 hi Chris, no not here yet, but it is in transit! Think it’s slow due to covid which is understandable. It left UGQ on 20th Jan,got as far as Chicago I think, but it seems to have got stuck there for a number of days now, or at least, that’s that the tracking’s showing. I am 6’ 3.5”....I suppose it depends how you sleep, but I’m mainly a side sleeper and often bring my legs up anyway. I struggled a little with the sizing as I’m between recommended options. So what I did was measured the quilt on my bed, which was 78” or there abouts. I figured that I’m fine with that size quilt normally, and if I’m struggling for warmth, then I’ll bring my legs up, which I normally do,,and pull the quilt around or even over my head. I also requested a draft collar at the top and bottom (it’s not shown as an option to have it on the bottom on the website, but they did say they could do it, and it’s been asked many times before, and they said they really should add it. The logic for this was than if you close the foot box up there is always a hole in the middle where you cinch it up. Some folk on line have suggested stuffing a sock in the hole to stop chill breezes, but with a draft collar, once you cinch it,mahatma should well and truly seal the hole. Plus, when opened out as a quilt, it looks like it might give an extra couple of inches at each end to the overall length. I struggled with the colour choice a bit too, as there are many options. I read it suggested to make one side (the inside black or at least very dark. Logic for this is that if it gets damp, then you hang it up with the dark side to the sun & it should dry out a little faster. I also thought about the outer colour a lot too. It was tempting to get a nice shape of blue or something, but as I plan to potentially use this wild camping, I thought practically....if I get ill or injured, and need to get rescued, what you want is something large and bright orange so people can spot you. So, that’s what I went for. The other plus with this, a bright exterior should help finding things in a dimly lit tent. Logically this all makes sense to me....just not sure if I’m going to regret this colour choice from very aesthetic reasons! Now, having gone for orange outer, I could have stuck with black Inner, but I decided to go with a contrasting purple....it’s dark enough to be good if I need to dry it in the sun, and I thought the orange & purple combo being contrasting colours might be a bit ‘different’. Orange & purple would not be my first choice of colours as my favourite colours though! At the end of the day, I’m going to hopefully be asleep most of the time I’m using it, so I decided the colour doesn’t really matter how much I like it or not, but if it saves my life one day because I’m spotted as a result of it being bright orange, then I’ll be very glad of this choice. I’m using it in a tent, so it doesn’t need to be stealthy.
@@TheLDunn1 thank you for taking the time to write this detailed reply - lots of brilliant information and thought gone in to your purchase, am sure it’ll bring you the most comfortable nights. Understand your choice on the colour, wise and bet you’ll soon get used to it even if it’s not your first choice aesthetically. Great that it’s in transit, hope it arrives to you soon 👍
@@chrish3305 happy to try and help. Hopefully some of the points I’ve flagged up will have made you think about your own purchase. There are lots of options & it took me quite a while to make my mind up. I got to the point where I couldn’t decide on a few items and ended up thinking ‘sod it’, and just went with the lightest/most expensive option on my shortlist...it’s an expensive ‘one off’ type purchase, so an extra £20 or £30 for a more expensive option isn’t going to break the bank. One example of this was the outer material, I think I ended up going for the lighter M10T fabric rather than the M20. The trade off is cost & durability vs weight. I figured than I’m not using the quilt on a daily basis, and it’s laying on top of me, so durability concerns should not be too much of an issue (I hope), and because I’d gone for the larger size, the weight save,while small was more noticeable than on a smaller quilt.... ...I think that’s an important point, I did an Excel spreadsheet showing cost vs weight on all the options I was trying to make my mind up on, and the weight savings on smaller quilts start to become pretty small/questionable. As the quilt gets larger, it starts to become more worthwhile. None of the weight saving options are particularly large in themselves, but when you start adding them up, it starts making a difference. I want to hike with a camera, tripod and a few lenses, as well as tent, sleeping gear, stove, water, food etc. So feel that I need to save weight ever possible really. The width was also a dilemma for me. I ended up going for the widest Bandit XL from memory. This is wider than I probably need, so extra weight and bulk. However, because it can be opened up and used as a quilt, I went for the larger size to protect for if/when my wife wants to come along too, we can open it right up and it will cover both of us. That was one trade off I made on size. Oh the other option I struggled with was overstuff. I don’t think I went for one in the end, but I went for a lower temp quilt instead. If I remember, when it arrives, I’ll write more thoughts about it here.
@@TheLDunn1 hoping your quilt arrived ok? Soon after reading your advice (thanks again) I ordered a Garage Sale quilt from UGQ, not exactly what I would have specced but close and importantly, ready to ship and saved me from a lot of decision paralysis. It was sent USPS Priority and arrived after about 2 weeks, which was surprisingly quick. I did get stung for import duty though sadly. Yet to try it properly but very, very impressed with the quality and build. It’s only 55” wide which may be it’s downfall but fingers crossed it’ll be ok or I can find a way to make it work for me... all the best
Really appreciate this review, Paul - most quilt reviews seem to be US based so it's great having a good UK review. Let's us know US brands are still competitive even with the steep import costs, and also that they are still suitable for the conditions despite the dampness in the UK even with down in the quilts. I enquired about costs with Cumulus (based in Poland) and import costs are about £9. Hydro treatment of the down is £40 for medium (710g) or £45 for long (785g) for a -7C rated quilt. Other details are on their website but they're not doing custom at the moment (I think they have and will do again). Still a competitive EU option though from the looks, not that I've invested in a quilt yet myself, but I'm keen!
Went back to Cumulus to ask about quilt prices and they're the same as they were a few months ago, however due to brexit, import costs have increased and the prices are now excluding VAT, so my guess is cumulus is now on par if not more expensive than ugq for UK campers... Thanks Brexit >_
My home made queen sized merino wool quilt I bought for $90, just fold it and sew into a foot box. Works great with both thermarest pad on the ground or hammock with under quilt. Waking up at 4am and the bladders screaming, the sleeping bag zipper jams ........ nope i'll stick to the quilt
Before I got married i slept in my sleeping bag(s) every night, for about 10 years. It has a full length zip so in summer I just unzip the bottom half and stick a leg out. I bought it in 1978 and still use it, even in a snowhole in the Cairngorms once. I like to know that if I turn over in the night I still have a padded surface regardless of which way up it is. Downside is it weighs 3.5lbs...
Hi Paul, What do you think about using down trousers and a down jacket combo rather than a quilt? I love your videos and inspiration you offer us viewers. Ian
I like the idea of a quilt but since I already have a sleeping bag--I simply use it it unzipped most of the way down, except for the foot box. It works great hammock camping and I see no reason to buy a separate item as a quilt. Id rather spend the money to upgrade my hammocks under quilt, which is currently a little cool for below freezing nights.
Hey Paul! New Subscriber here! You have a Super successful channel!! Way to go my man! Very inspiring! I hope to have a successful TH-cam channel as well one day! Happy Trails
I'm just a grown man, watching a video of another grown man wrapping himself up like a cocoon in the park 😂
Me too but I am a women.
If you want to over simplify it and make yourself look ridiculous then yeah.
I thought the same thing when he started to get into his quilt! Lmao
@@SophisticatedDogCat I bet you're a fun person to be around.
@@Allisori Nope, I’m lame.
Paul, it’s refreshing that even though you’ve made your choice... you simply just show the options and the differences and let the viewer decide what’s best for them.
The elitist “you must use what’s in vogue or you are a Neanderthal” outdoor community gets old real fast. Thanks for ignoring them and being the same old Paul you’ve been since the old days.
Cheers brother!
as a side/front sleeper a down quilt has changed camping so much for the better form me, its night and day after years of never getting any sleep in a bag. Love my quilt.
I got a Cumulus Quilt 450 -7C quilt earlier this year. It's the first quilt I've ever owned - I was skeptical I'd find it comfortable but I'd say I'm now a quilt convert! Half the weight of my old sleeping bag, and 10 degrees warmer.
have one (350) and love it so much, for any quilt manufacturer : consider a closed footbox (no zip) if you're afraid of being cold
@@Coreycry they have closed footboxes under their hammock quilts
I found this video helpful. Slept in sleeping bags my whole life. Maybe time to make a change. Thanks from Canada
I'm in the middle of updating my sleep system and your videos have been really helpful on what to look for. Thank you for all the good info!
Just got the Featherstone Moondance 25 from the states, same fp as yours to be paired with the xtherm nxt... can't wait to try it.
Same here bud....always need to stick a leg out no matter how cold it is!!! Great video!!
Quilt all the way, I love them I find them. So much better and less faff, great vid again dude
I do sleep in my bag with the zip down just like you did with the quilt..
I like to sleep outside a tent even in colder temps so a bag is best for me ❤️
Addressing the issue of affordability, speaking from a U.S. perspective, I just ordered a 10° BGQ Bandit and it came to about $260 including delivery. I would be hard-pressed to find an off-the-rack 10° quilt or mummy sleeping bag at that price at REI or other outdoor equipment stores here in the States. Thank you for showing the dynamic tensioners and how they work. I plan on adding that to my order as it looks like a very good addition. I too cannot see myself needing the straps so I removed them from my order. Believe me I’ve shopped long and hard, I’m currently using and army intermediate winter bag it is very toasty, but bulky and weighs nearly 4 lbs. I’m looking to lighten my load. The Bandit comes in at nearly $100 less than Enlightened Equipment. I think this is a very fair buy for the price, and I am very frugal, I buy second hand when possible, but a sleeping bag is very personal (like clothing really) and I’d never consider buying second hand unless I knew who it came from. Someone had mentioned using the Black-diamond Costco quilt for hiking/camping. It’s a great bang for the buck, but I’d estimate it to be a 50° quilt, tops. I would freeze in high Sierra with that 😂. It’s awesome on the couch however.
I have watched your videos on you UGQ quilts and mine arrived today it has a 950 fill, 55 inches wide, 78 inch, 20F, and has the zipped foot box, all in blaze orange, tried it indoors it is way too hot but I am sure it will be good for winter, best of all NO import taxes, bonus, can’t wait to get out and try it. Thanks for the advice, stay safe.
I switched to a quilt when I started motorcycle camping. It came down to space for me. And, like you-I need to regulate my temp a LOT at night. I have a 30 degree quilt, which, as I largely camp only during the 3 seasons here now, is adequate for me. But, once I went to a quilt, I never went back, and sold all my bags with the exception of one. I use the straps on mine, because I am a restless sleeper, and it keeps mine in place. Good vid!
I love having the option to open the footbox and use the quilt like a big blanket. Makes it super versatile for weather fluctuations.
The problem is that without the foot box zippered up and on your feet in it the quilt will slide off your body. The quilt is slippery.
I wanted to use my Enlightened Equipment quilt as a throw blanket. But it won’t stay on.
@@MsRotorwings I backpack in the south in the US (Arkansas). Even in the winter months here, the temperature can be 60° F overnight. It can also get down to the 20s overnight (in the same week!). I would not sleep with the quilt opened up unless it was 50 or warmer for the overnight low. When that happens, my feet are often hot anyway.
Snugpak softie expansion 4. I swear by it. Kept me alive all over europe. From latvia to norwegian arctic.
Good video Paul, I've been so close to taking the plunge on a quilt then got cold feet and closed the browser. 😂
Me too !
@@maxflight777 I reckon I'll get one eventually. But I invested in a new sleeping bag recently, so not any time soon. :)
Getting cold feet is never good - especially when camping......
@@Andy_ATB haha, excuse my pun. 😁
@@Gfls00 I'm never lucky enough to get a coupon code. 😂
Great info Paul. It’s a lot of money to invest, I’m cautious about the quilts- but I trust your opinion.
Always stay unbiased, and your viewers will appreciate it.
Completely agree. I’m a convert as well. Keep up the awesome videos Paul. Happy hiking! ATB - Julia (UK)
Another informative video Paul. Like a lot of other folk commenting, I simply unzip my bag and use as a quilt plus to hood acts a screen to keep the bright morning light from walking me up. Each to their own though and I can see the benefit of the quilt being lighter even with the same of heavier fill. Currently using the Rab ascent 700 . Thanks for the vid though. Keep em coming
Very helpful video! I'm looking forward to trying out my new UGC quilt.
I also have a Cumulus 450 quilt it weighs only 710g is currently £239, filled with some of the best down in the world (Polish) a small cottage company and NO import duty, I highly recommended it.
Excellent demo and commentary. Useful. Thanks
I use my Deuter sleeping bag as a quilt... yes it’s a little heavier but when things get really cold I can zip it up and be warmer than with a quilt :)
Brilliant, I'm convinced... 👍👍👍👍
Just ordered mine, like you paul I get very warm, burnt orange inner green tea outer, another great vid 👍👍👍.
Thanks for the great review of the UGQ buddy. Got mine last week and absolutely cannot wait to use it. And you certainly do feel the sting of the custom charges... 40% of the quilt value to be precise! Ouch..stilll feeling it! Definitely ssomething to bare in mind for those interested. Boom tingz! 🤠
40%????? thats enough to put me off
That's what put me off it's £275 just to get it to our shores then there's customs charges on top. Shame there isn't a UK stockist or have I just given away a potential business idea
Don't think I will ever go down the quilt route. Get cold at best of the times and the thought of the slightest draught gives me the chills ;) Mid summer possibly but that would be my limit. Atb
fella quilts are really good ive had the -18 ugq bandit for about 12 months or so now and slept out in -10 last winter and I was nice and warm ,you'd really be surprised how good they are
@@Wildernessoutside did you get stung for import duty??
@@waynewanderer you could say that mate ,expected to pay a bit but I almost paid half the price of the quilt again in import and customs ,queried the charge as paid about 190 quid which when I worked out the pound /dollar conversion I paid half the price of the quilt so worked out about 500 quid in total ,really pleased with the quilt just not pleased with the robbing bastards at customs
If you get one wide enough and long enough, drafts aren't an issue. I've gone well below 0 F (wearing a down hood or a mad bomber hat) and remained quite toasty in a hammock.
A properly fitted quilt will reach it's given temperature rating just like a bag, what makes you think otherwise?
I've taken the plunge this year and switched out the dossbag to a quilt, I went with the Cumulus 450 , one thing I love with the Cumulus is they have put a baffle in the footbox to completely seal the hole in the end , so simple yet so effective, best move I've made , the freedom and versatility is epic !
UGQ all the way Paul , I opted for only one of the bungy ties so made 2 more myself and they work a treat . And they really do loft up but yeah I got stung for about £50 in postal and custom charges .
Another good gear review Paul! I debated for some time about whether to get a quilt or a sleeping bag and in the end went for the good quality bag (I got a Mountain Equipment Helium 600) on the basis that I could always unzip it and basically use it as a quilt anyway if I was too warm (like you, I tend to overheat at night......). But you do save some weight with a quilt as you say and maybe that's a key thing for some people. The other thing that I think is important is to do your research before you buy - some (often cheaper) bags and quilts look good and have high specs but do not have very good ethics behind them in terms of how they source the down. Some manufacturers are now using only certified down in their kit and that's an important factor for me. It has cost something its life to perhaps one day save yours. That should be respected.
Thanks Paul, as usual a no holds barred description of the quit and sleeping bag- like you I like plenty of room to move my legs around once inside a sleeping bag so I'd probably go for a double rather than the mummy shaped ones.
I use a Vango Stratos Alpha 250S what is a 3 season but a bit bulk but it is very warm with my British army dpm gore tex bivvy bag and very amazing video very amazing information and keep up the great work
Another great video Paul! I’m always impressed with the quality of all your videos. Enjoy the day!
I keep one on my bike from december to april . The below zero ones are heavy but they are the best .
You convinced me. I was about to buy the seatosummit sparklll but now am gonna go for the EE Revelation. Even lighter, a lot cheaper and pretty much the same temperature rating. 👍
Hi Paul. Do you know if you can buy the Enlightened Revelation anywhere in the UK? Trying to avoid buying from the States because of large taxes and delivery charges. Thanks. Ed
Hi again. Can’t seem to find the EE revelation in the UK and I know I will be hit with a massive import tax if I buy from the States. Is that UGQ Bandit also American? Thanks. Ed
@@edwardstroud8245 Valley and Peak sell them in UK now
Love the concept of the quilt. I use my DD hammock quilt through 2 seasons on its own and through 3 with a wool blanket. I’d have the Bandit without hesitation for 3 or 4 season tent sleeping but it’s >£400 before you think about shipping from US and import duties and VAT. That’s silly money and makes backpacking move more and more towards being for people with lots of disposable income. I’m lucky enough to be able to afford this but I’m going to spend it (and much more) on heating my house this winter instead and just carry a heavier pack.
Hi, I have a few of each sleeping bags and quilts. Basically a good sleeping bag is always more versatile than a quilt, you can always open the zip on a sleeping bag and turn it into a quilt if you are warm but you can't do the same with a quilt, well unless it is one of those with a zip which means it's really a bag anyway. It's just a question of mummy bag or normal shaped bag.
"Basically a good sleeping bag is always more versatile than a quilt"
Unless space and weight are an issue. Then again, you can carry a regular quilt and a summer quilt for the space and weight of a bag. I actually carry a summer synthetic quilt to go over my down quilt to move the frost point from my down to the Climashield.
Nick I'm sure you didn't mean this to sound funny but what you wrote made me chuckle
Absolutely!😂
@@wisenber what's the weight difference? 5 pounds, 10 pounds?😂if the extra weight is going to ruin your trip, then train some more!
@@hubster4477 "if the extra weight is going to ruin your trip, then train some more!"
The fact is that the same person carrying a light pack will be able to cover more miles for the same amount of energy as the same person with a heavier pack (or they'll be more rested at the end of the day). That's more of physics thing than a training thing.
After all, you don't hear cyclists suggesting that they should just train more when their bike is heavier than their opponents. How many runners are looking for a heavier shoe?
Personally, I've covered back to back 30+ mile days with a light pack. Another ten pounds would reduce that ability.
It's a physics issue, not a training one.
I'm getting my second quilt from UGQ! My first one was from Hammock Gear and has been fantastic but I got it for three season use (30F rating). I need something for the shoulder seasons and possibly for some winter camping so am getting a 10F with a draft collar and sewn footbox.
Thanks mate for all your info really helps me
Great video for sleeping bags for camping good Intro video nice one Paul 👍👏👌
I use my sleeping bag as a quilt, mainly because the quilt prices are shockingly High!
I do the same, mainly because I'm overweight and that way I fit better into my bag.
yeah for a long wide rated down to 10 degrees fahrenheit can get very expensive. I think approx $400 U.S.
Yeah I was about to check out the website until he mentioned they start at 250.. I'll just keep my cheapo berghaus sleeping bag and wear thermals - Total price about 50 quid.
Ditto. Has a footbox too, and when it's open it's pretty close in size to the quilt.
@@delinhuo381 Yea mate same as i also am a bit overweight and sleep on my side so using my sleeping bag as a quilt suit's me perfect
Had a look at these quilts after seeing this video. Lots of review reads and more videos watched.
I am now in the queue for a quilt as the lead time is 8-9 weeks at present.
Had to decide whether around £300+ for a mass produced quilt from the big companies was the better option, or pay a bit extra (including import costs) for something that is handmade to order and seems to be a much better product.
Custom made won.
Looking at getting one of these quilts imported into the UK. How much was the import tax you paid on delivery?
Great video very informative 👌🏼 keep em coming!!
I have a couple of the cheap costco down quilts ... they work great !
I have one of those too. It’s superb value for money.
hmmmmmmmm food for thought. thanks for the info, my s bag has lost most of its loft, now i have seen yours!
Sleeping bag with the zip down is the same, particularly if your a side sleeper as you can kick an arm or leg out in the night to cool you of a bit. You’ll find that you pull it back over in the night if it slips off and you generally wake up with it still on you. This does mean importantly that 1 you can buy a higher rated bag to cover you for all year and not need to buy ,,two bags secondly it’s way way way cheaper which for everyone is better.. plus in the height of summer just unzip completely and use as a quilt type deal and wear light socks as your feet always come out as it’s much narrower at the foot box end.. in the summer it don’t really matter. Happy camping folks
Would have been good to see how compact each of them go. I'm interested in quilts, just not convinced they will be as cosy through cold nights, do like the idea of being able to wrap it round you when you're sitting though. Ahhhh big life decision!
Excellent video Paul, I have always used sleeping bags because that’s what we associate with camping, but as a side and belly sleeper I feel like a quilt would work a lot better, as in a bag I tangle myself up tossing and turning
Lighter & comfier = WIN WIN! Shut up and take my money 🤣🤣🤣 I’m off shopping 🤘🍻
Digging that color selection on your Bandit! Thanks Paul!
I managed to find a square bag that is down filled - a rare beast indeed. It's made by Nordisk and has a zip off hood and a split length zip - rated at 0 degrees. I use it as a quilt and it is very warm and comfortable and much wider than a quilt. I just close the foot area around my pad to keep it in place. I also used the hood to wrap my inflatable pillow in which makes it very comfy indeed. Not the lightest in the world but, for a fat middle aged man, ideal!
A great comparison - a quilt and UL80 on a warm summers night is bliss!
First time I've ever seen one of those quilts.
Nice video Paul, I do love the look of the UGQ Bandit Quilt. I'm still not sure whether many people have them in the UK. Take care mate
I never used to worry about sleeping bags until I watched that episode of that series bottom, the camping episode of course.
I started using quilts this year more for the better freedom of movement and pack size was important also so win win for me .... I went for a fully sewn in footbox as I hate cold feet and just couldn’t be arsed with any faffing about with zips,cords and that tiny hole that’s always there .
Hi Paul, I've just been turned on to the ugc quilt... This video has given me all the information I need to make an informed decision now 😉 thanks for that keep up the good work 👍
Great review. That yellow UGQ quilt looks an excellent piece of kit. Personally, I would not get a quilt or bag rated below zero for UK conditions. You can always wear clothes if you are getting cold. PHD sleeping bags are made in the UK and brilliant. They don’t seem to do a proper quilt but if they made one as well designed as the UGQs, I’d buy it.
A quilt opened out as a blanket can be used as a top bag over a summer sleeping bag.
You mentioned hats. I think their importance needs emphasis. Most quilts do nothing at all for your head.
Paul I either use my sleeping bag like the quilt or I use a square bottom Snugpak with a jungle blanket over it.
Take it easy atb Taff 🤠
Brilliant Paul . Just got an accent 700 for the winter purely because I couldn’t wait for a quilt to be delivered from states . I’ve looked at these and the enlightened equipment quilts can’t decide which to order for next years wish list. I’m all for the comfort of duvets like normally have my sleeping bag fully open
my sleeping bag does pretty much this anyway, its a rectangular one, with a zip all down the side and bottom, so it can either be an enclosed bag, or zipped open for a quilt type use. Whilst its great, you really want a mummy bag for really colder weather, which is rare in the UK. but apart from that, I like the option to open it out and be less restricted in warmer weather.
Thanks for the video. I initially clicked on your video because we have a very similar last name. Messmer here.
Nice Video Paul! i recently purchased a sleeping bag however i did research the quilt options too. In the end i went for a Mammut Protect Down -18c Bag as it was a hybrid between the two. The bag has arm zippers either side so i can stick my arms out when too warm. it also has a central two way zip so i can poke the feet out if needed too :D i might go for a quilt too someday just to see what the fuss is about;)
I like my Hammock Gear Burrow 20 F quilt I use with the XTherm mat.
I wear 200 merino woolens and beanie, and a mask to keep moisture off the down and reduce condensation inside my shelter.
If colder, I wear a thermal air mask that helps warm my inbreath.
..so far, I haven’t had to get a quilt rated for 0 F or -10 F.
I did have a 0 F rated sleeping bag, but it was too warm except 4 nights in less than -34 F weather I survived by putting more insulation underneath me, then walked out in -34 F with no wind.
It is my experience wind and lack of insulation underneath rob our warmth.
Quilt here. Cost me a pretty penny but my UGQ bandit is da bomb.
Wow I had no clue about the quilt, sometimes I do use my sleeping bag just like you use the quilt, so it is probably worth going for a quilt
On one of your previous videos you talked about snobbery with regards to camping gear. Fair enough but I do think as a safety marker you should warn people against using poor performing sleeping bags for camping/not being prepared. Even on a sunny summer's day the temperature can drop dramatically of a night, and if you've got a supermarket or similar sleeping bag you are in serious trouble. It happened to me in Germany one year camping during the World Cup. I either had a choice of turning on my car engine and waking everyone up or lay there freezing to my core. I still remember the trauma of that night and I'm writing this to warn others not to learn the hard way with poor performing kit. (I won't say cheap as you can pick up some bargains on the internet). thanks Paul.
Hi Paul, another interesting review! As many bags now fully open as a quilt I would stick to a sleeping bag! May I share with all a great buy I got! I purchased a 1000 fill down bag snow+ rock from wish rated -25 for under £70 Inc postage, it is fantastic a very warm peice of kit,it will give the £300 bags a run for there money! If you are lucky there are some great bargains about! Happy post covid camping to our outdoor family.
I got my Bandit just over a week ago so not had a chance to use it yet but along with the Amok hammock (w/ 4 season pad) I got with it, I can’t wait. The quality and design of the UGQ are amazing, I’ve only got a Thermarest Vesper to compare it to but the UGQ makes it look average. I went with the -6 +1oz as I thought that would be more than enough and having gotten in the thing I’m very glad I didn’t go lower. The dynamic tension seems really good too, it appears very effective for drafts. Roll on January.
I'm new to bikepacking, slowing buying the gear for myself. I like the idea of a quilt instead of a sleeping bag. Only thing is i'm vegan so using down isn't an option. So im trying to find a bike packing sleeping quilt which isn't made of down. I hope there's one out there suitable. I will keep looking.
Super useful videos; thanks :)
I bought the Rab 900 "mummy bag" (very warm). I packed up for the night. Zipped up the outer tent, then the inner tent, wrestled my way into the bag. Got everything correctly adjusted & settled in ........ then realised I needed a piss. Moral of the story is:- There's no such thing as perfection whilst camping. You have to expect things to be that way, else book a hotel.
My sleeping bag is rated at -8 (used in -10 weather with great comfort) and easy to get in and out of and i can use it as a blanket or open the foot box and use it as a warm jacket. That quilt will get my back freezing the moment i roll in my sleep (i'm not a vampire, i can't stay on my back all night).
Great video. I had no idea camping quilts existed. I find sleeping bags a bit claustrophobic. Could be the solution.
I'd you use a bag as a quilt you:
- have to carry a bit more weight
- have to pay attention to the fill pattern, some bags have less insulation on the base
- can turn a narrow bag into a sleep system more compatible with curling up as you sleep (knees & bum do not push out and make cold spots)
- get a wider quilt
- make your sleeping bag last longer as you are not crushing the down so much by sleeping on it
- can pull the hood over, or wrap it around your head (watch for condensation)
- can still use it as a quilt.
- can use a second summer bag a super insulated liner.
I personally believe that with an insulated mat (I use an xtherm) a bag in quilt mode can be warmer than in bag mode. This depends on how you sleep, but with the right tent (narrow tent) and the right sleeper you get more loft as a lot more of the bag is above you, and traps more air.
Good job man regards from Norway #Piotur 🤗
Can you recommend any similar Norwegian channels? I love Norway :D my time hiking and camping there was the best of my life!
this video is satisfying
Great video Paul. Didn’t know anything about quilts. Very informative 👍 - ATB Dave
Last year I used to struggle in and out my bag then I went on the Keto diet and now 4 stone lighter I rattle about in it. I've also treated myself to a goose down bag which is even bigger.🤗
Bloody hell 4 stone is impressive, well done! 👏👏
Serious question. Can you drink alcohol on that keto diet?? I only have drinks at weekends like I’m not a raging alky as my videos would suggest 😂
@@AndyWardle Yes.. Spirit's have no Carbs, Wine a few but I get through about 4 bottles a week with no effect on my weight. A FEW beers is ok. Once your in Ketosis you'll be fine.
@@malcbarrass7090 oooh I’ve been researching I could go with a few pounds (stone) off. Cheers.
@@AndyWardle Best thing about Keto is you retain muscle. I'm on one meal a day but I eat till I'm stuffed.
2.58 its a beautiful butterfly 🦋
Fab vid Paul 👍
Damn, the price of the UGQ is wild!
Yes. I spent around 950$ for 2 quilts from UGQ. Temperature rating 0F. Because I live in Canada.
Interesting points there. I can't get on with the mummy style bags I like to be able to move my feet apart no one seems to make an envelope style warm bag that isn't a massive pack size.
excellent quilt of very good quality
what size is it
55/78?
The quilt looks way faffier to me to be honest!
Paul, I really enjoy your videos here in the states. I’m into motorcycle camping, so there’s a lot of crossover in gear choices between moto camping and backpacking where we make similar trade offs and compromises. I have the same UGQ quilt for 3 season camping and use it as a blanket since I’m an active sleeper. To make it even more cocoon like, I run the 2 straps under my sleeping pad (Exped Downmat XP9). Overall a really great versatile setup. Besides, UGQ is a great small business company that’s local to me, about an hour away, so that’s a bonus too.
Just ordered an UGQ last week very similar spec to yours, 20F/-6c comfort rating one, zipped foot box. I went for the 78” x 65” (I’m 6’3”, and I wanted the width if/when my wife comes camping too, we can then use it as a normal quilt.) I went for the draft collar too,and the dynamic tension control
Differences to yours,I went for 950 fill and MRS10 outer fabric - both as weight saving measures as I went for a larger quilt. I’ve also asked for a draw collar to be added to the bottom....idea being that when you cinch the footbox, the draft collar on the bottom will seal the hole in the middle.
I went for a bright colour on the outside (Orange) and a dark one on the inside. Idea for me here was that if I ever end up injured, having a large bright orange square might come in handy for people to find you. I was going to go for the black on the inside, a dark material should dry faster, but at the last minute, I decided to go for purple, which should be dark enough for drying purposes, and it’s a complimentary colour to the orange. Not sure if I will regret this choice, and which I’d stuck with black, also not sure if I will regret going for the lighter MRS10 material vs the heavier duty 20....I figured that quilts should not see much abrasive type wear if they are laying on top of you....and if the 10T is good enough for the inside, then the slightly better durability of the MRS10 on the outside should be good enough. Time will tell.
I had great difficulty deciding the temp rating to go for (10F vs 20F) & also any of the over stuffing options. But in the end, decided that 20F would be more versatile and overstuffing was just going to put the weight up...if I needed lower temps, I’d be better to go with the 10F from the start. If the temps push down to 20f /-6c, then I’ll sleep with my down jacket on too, and hat etc, plus, inside a double walled tent should help a little too vs outside temps.
My main driver for getting this is that I have an old 5c mummy style sleeping bag, and I don’t like being confined when sleeping, I often sleep on my side with one leg straight and one leg bent, and I can’t do that in my sleeping bag, and I also find I get twisted up in my sleeping bag as I toss and turn in the night.
Has it arrived yet Lawrence? I’m 6’2+1/2” (important that 1/2!) and wondering if the 78” length is ok?
@@chrish3305 hi Chris, no not here yet, but it is in transit! Think it’s slow due to covid which is understandable. It left UGQ on 20th Jan,got as far as Chicago I think, but it seems to have got stuck there for a number of days now, or at least, that’s that the tracking’s showing.
I am 6’ 3.5”....I suppose it depends how you sleep, but I’m mainly a side sleeper and often bring my legs up anyway. I struggled a little with the sizing as I’m between recommended options. So what I did was measured the quilt on my bed, which was 78” or there abouts. I figured that I’m fine with that size quilt normally, and if I’m struggling for warmth, then I’ll bring my legs up, which I normally do,,and pull the quilt around or even over my head.
I also requested a draft collar at the top and bottom (it’s not shown as an option to have it on the bottom on the website, but they did say they could do it, and it’s been asked many times before, and they said they really should add it. The logic for this was than if you close the foot box up there is always a hole in the middle where you cinch it up. Some folk on line have suggested stuffing a sock in the hole to stop chill breezes, but with a draft collar, once you cinch it,mahatma should well and truly seal the hole. Plus, when opened out as a quilt, it looks like it might give an extra couple of inches at each end to the overall length.
I struggled with the colour choice a bit too, as there are many options. I read it suggested to make one side (the inside black or at least very dark. Logic for this is that if it gets damp, then you hang it up with the dark side to the sun & it should dry out a little faster. I also thought about the outer colour a lot too. It was tempting to get a nice shape of blue or something, but as I plan to potentially use this wild camping, I thought practically....if I get ill or injured, and need to get rescued, what you want is something large and bright orange so people can spot you. So, that’s what I went for. The other plus with this, a bright exterior should help finding things in a dimly lit tent. Logically this all makes sense to me....just not sure if I’m going to regret this colour choice from very aesthetic reasons! Now, having gone for orange outer, I could have stuck with black Inner, but I decided to go with a contrasting purple....it’s dark enough to be good if I need to dry it in the sun, and I thought the orange & purple combo being contrasting colours might be a bit ‘different’. Orange & purple would not be my first choice of colours as my favourite colours though! At the end of the day, I’m going to hopefully be asleep most of the time I’m using it, so I decided the colour doesn’t really matter how much I like it or not, but if it saves my life one day because I’m spotted as a result of it being bright orange, then I’ll be very glad of this choice. I’m using it in a tent, so it doesn’t need to be stealthy.
@@TheLDunn1 thank you for taking the time to write this detailed reply - lots of brilliant information and thought gone in to your purchase, am sure it’ll bring you the most comfortable nights. Understand your choice on the colour, wise and bet you’ll soon get used to it even if it’s not your first choice aesthetically. Great that it’s in transit, hope it arrives to you soon 👍
@@chrish3305 happy to try and help. Hopefully some of the points I’ve flagged up will have made you think about your own purchase. There are lots of options & it took me quite a while to make my mind up. I got to the point where I couldn’t decide on a few items and ended up thinking ‘sod it’, and just went with the lightest/most expensive option on my shortlist...it’s an expensive ‘one off’ type purchase, so an extra £20 or £30 for a more expensive option isn’t going to break the bank.
One example of this was the outer material, I think I ended up going for the lighter M10T fabric rather than the M20. The trade off is cost & durability vs weight. I figured than I’m not using the quilt on a daily basis, and it’s laying on top of me, so durability concerns should not be too much of an issue (I hope), and because I’d gone for the larger size, the weight save,while small was more noticeable than on a smaller quilt....
...I think that’s an important point, I did an Excel spreadsheet showing cost vs weight on all the options I was trying to make my mind up on, and the weight savings on smaller quilts start to become pretty small/questionable. As the quilt gets larger, it starts to become more worthwhile. None of the weight saving options are particularly large in themselves, but when you start adding them up, it starts making a difference. I want to hike with a camera, tripod and a few lenses, as well as tent, sleeping gear, stove, water, food etc. So feel that I need to save weight ever possible really.
The width was also a dilemma for me. I ended up going for the widest Bandit XL from memory. This is wider than I probably need, so extra weight and bulk. However, because it can be opened up and used as a quilt, I went for the larger size to protect for if/when my wife wants to come along too, we can open it right up and it will cover both of us. That was one trade off I made on size.
Oh the other option I struggled with was overstuff. I don’t think I went for one in the end, but I went for a lower temp quilt instead.
If I remember, when it arrives, I’ll write more thoughts about it here.
@@TheLDunn1 hoping your quilt arrived ok? Soon after reading your advice (thanks again) I ordered a Garage Sale quilt from UGQ, not exactly what I would have specced but close and importantly, ready to ship and saved me from a lot of decision paralysis. It was sent USPS Priority and arrived after about 2 weeks, which was surprisingly quick. I did get stung for import duty though sadly. Yet to try it properly but very, very impressed with the quality and build. It’s only 55” wide which may be it’s downfall but fingers crossed it’ll be ok or I can find a way to make it work for me... all the best
Really appreciate this review, Paul - most quilt reviews seem to be US based so it's great having a good UK review. Let's us know US brands are still competitive even with the steep import costs, and also that they are still suitable for the conditions despite the dampness in the UK even with down in the quilts.
I enquired about costs with Cumulus (based in Poland) and import costs are about £9. Hydro treatment of the down is £40 for medium (710g) or £45 for long (785g) for a -7C rated quilt. Other details are on their website but they're not doing custom at the moment (I think they have and will do again). Still a competitive EU option though from the looks, not that I've invested in a quilt yet myself, but I'm keen!
Went back to Cumulus to ask about quilt prices and they're the same as they were a few months ago, however due to brexit, import costs have increased and the prices are now excluding VAT, so my guess is cumulus is now on par if not more expensive than ugq for UK campers... Thanks Brexit >_
My home made queen sized merino wool quilt I bought for $90, just fold it and sew into a foot box. Works great with both thermarest pad on the ground or hammock with under quilt. Waking up at 4am and the bladders screaming, the sleeping bag zipper jams ........ nope i'll stick to the quilt
I use a Therm-a-Rest Corus 20. Perfect for side sleepers who wriggle around in their sleep 💤
Before I got married i slept in my sleeping bag(s) every night, for about 10 years. It has a full length zip so in summer I just unzip the bottom half and stick a leg out. I bought it in 1978 and still use it, even in a snowhole in the Cairngorms once. I like to know that if I turn over in the night I still have a padded surface regardless of which way up it is. Downside is it weighs 3.5lbs...
Hi Paul,
What do you think about using down trousers and a down jacket combo rather than a quilt? I love your videos and inspiration you offer us viewers.
Ian
So the quilt.. Is a open sleeping bag? Gotta love how brands can sell the same thing as two different products
lol no doubt
But you save 1 entire ounce!
A small pack down quilt can be used to go over your sleeping bag to raise the R value.
Good vid. Quilt all day long for me.
got alpkit 900 , and it good can use it like a quilt.
Great video Paul. Thank you
Superb information. Subbed 👍🏾
I like the idea of a quilt but since I already have a sleeping bag--I simply use it it unzipped most of the way down, except for the foot box.
It works great hammock camping and I see no reason to buy a separate item as a quilt. Id rather spend the money to upgrade my hammocks under quilt, which is currently a little cool for below freezing nights.
Hey Paul! New Subscriber here! You have a Super successful channel!! Way to go my man! Very inspiring! I hope to have a successful TH-cam channel as well one day! Happy Trails