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does anyone use a down quilt instead of a sleeping bag ,,
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Hey Swede
Yes I have a few. Enlighten Equipment Revelation, Therm-a-Rest one can’t remember the model and a couple of custom ones from Little Shop of Hammocks.
To be honest though I’m moving back to bags. I have a zpacks classic bag for summer and a Western Mountaineering Versalite bag for colder weather.
If your question is because you are thinking of moving to them I will say this.
I like them for summer but if the weather has any chance of turning colder I prefer a bag. Yes most quilts offer good strap systems to attach to your pad and you can keep them closed up pretty well but if you move around a lot I just find there is always 1 spot a draft can get in. Again no issue in July and August.
I like that they open all the way on hot nights though.
The zpacks classic bag I use now I find is a good compromise. It zips down 3/4 of the bag so will still open up quite a bit. It is also the lightest bag I have at 14 ozs but well warm enough for summer.
Last edited by ShawnD (4/05/2025 7:42 pm)
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I bought my first quilt in 2008, back when I used to hammock. It's a wide Golight 30f quilt. I still use it from mid May through September. 17 years later it's still holding up. I do get the occasional draft.
In early spring and October/November I used to use a 20f Thermarest sleeping bag that I bought in 2010. Sometimes it felt like it couldn't keep up with the colder temps. it's been leaking down for years and the stitching on it started to fail a couple of years back.
I replaced it with a wide Enlightened Equipment Enigma 10f quilt. Got it on clearance 40% off from Geartrade.ca . It's great! Super light and toasty and I have yet to feel a draft. The wider the bag the better for this. I wouldn't say it is made as well as my old GoLite. It does leak a bit more down through the stitches than I expected. I also don't bother with the strap systems. It's fiddly and I think it puts too much tension on the relatively delicate fabrics. If it weren't for the discount I would have bought a 12f Katabatic Sawatch. That company is buy it for life quality.
Anyway quilts work for me. Mine are 850 and 900 fill down. I love how light, lofty and unrestrictive they feel. I'll never go back to a sleeping bag except in true winter conditions.
Last edited by MartinG (4/06/2025 6:32 am)
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I use a down sleeping bag (Western Mountaineering Sycamore) for the shoulder seasons and an Enlightened Equipment quilt, which I ordered directly from them so I could customize everything, the rest of the time. In colder weather I definitely use the straps - it's as toasty as a sleeping bag when secured around a sleeping pad. Love it.
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Hello Swede
For the longest time (10yrs?) I used an ENO quilt in the winter and a lighter Klymit for the summer, on a hammock. Love them. However I recently purchased a Big Agnes sleeping bag that has no insulation on the bottom, but instead a sleeve for your pad.
I used it in -27⁰C in a hot tent on the ground, with an R5 pad and surprisingly it did the job.
I am planning on using it in my hammock this spring.
An alternative to think about.]
Last edited by Forrest Huggs (4/06/2025 5:31 pm)
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Really enjoy a down top quilt with an under quilt when using a bridge hammock. For times when hammocking is not convenient, and have to use a tent, i go with an air mattress and wide sleeping bag. As an active sleeper always changing positions never tried using elastic/straps/cordage to sleep with a quilt on an air mattress during cold weather.
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I use quilts when hammocking and would recommend Little Shop of Hammocks- Canadian and accurate to comfort ratings.
Last edited by ChristineCanoes (4/09/2025 8:45 pm)
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great replies thanks,,
the hammock idea from c.c. is great,, 14 week wait,, that tells the story about there great products , canadian made , most excellent !!
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ChristineCanoes wrote:
I use quilts when ham I king and would recommend Little Shop of Hammocks- Canadian and accurate to comfort ratings.
Over the years have bought a couple hammocks and a custom tarp from them. Great customer service.
On the rare occasions I'm in a tent, quilt and a pad works well (though I'd use a regular sleeping bag in real cold).
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Not to derail this thread but what are the advantages of switching from a sleeping bag to a quilt?
I ese both a Hennessy and an Amok hammock as well as a tent and a quilt seems like sleeping in an unzipped barrel type sleeping bag.
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Not to derail this thread but what are the advantages of switching from a sleeping bag to a quilt?
I ese both a Hennessy and an Amok hammock as well as a tent and a quilt seems like sleeping in an unzipped barrel type sleeping bag.
That's what I do - leave the sleeping bag's footbox zipped. If I get cold, I can still use my bag as intended.
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Not to derail this thread but what are the advantages of switching from a sleeping bag to a quilt?
I ese both a Hennessy and an Amok hammock as well as a tent and a quilt seems like sleeping in an unzipped barrel type sleeping bag.
So likely not an exhaustive list but people usually move to quilts for the following reasons.
1. Weight Savings
• No hood or zippers. Plus limited insulation on the bottom of the quilt allowing your pad/underquilt to insulate you.
2. Packability
• Can likely compress down smaller than most bags.
3. Versatility & Temperature Regulation
• Quilts vent easily, which is ideal in summer. You can stick a leg out, open it up like a blanket etc..
4. Comfort
• Quilts generally allow for more room to sprawl out.
I think they are great for all those things but for me I came to the conclusion if you get a good lightweight hoodless bag with a 3/4 zip down the back of the bag and not the side you can accomplish most of these things while still being less drafty when it turns colder and easier to cinch up.
Last edited by ShawnD (4/10/2025 6:14 am)
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great replies thanks,,
the hammock idea from c.c. is great,, 14 week wait,, that tells the story about there great products , canadian made , most excellent !!
If you message James he will help you figure out exactly what you need. He sells basically everything you need to hammock.
Online!
Does anyone else use a pad in their hammock??
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Thanks guys I see the advantages but do not see me switching from my bag.
Shayne in the amok I use their winter pad that slips into a slot and in the Hennessey I slip my prolight ys inside my summer mummy bag so it does not slide around.
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Does anyone else use a pad in their hammock??
Have used a Klymit Static V insulated Luxe pad, as it's a perfect fit between the 2 layers of Warbonnet Ridgerunner bridge hammock.
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Cool. I was beginning to think I was the only one NOT using quilts lol. I use thermarest between layers. Full length durring shoulder season and winter then a 3/4 prolite in summer. Recently find myself considering how a quilt would work inside the sleeve of Hennessy. To avoid installing quilt on exterior or hammock. I'm feeling it would still compress but less. Would certainly not retain full loft and may not come up around you enough . Any thoughts on this method?
Last edited by Shayne74 (4/11/2025 6:30 am)
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