I finally decided it was time to take a serious look at increasing my comfort level on the trail so I started looking at new options.  I wanted to make a transition to down along the way and also see what other possibilities were out there.  In the end I made the transition from a sleeping bag to a quilt. After a lot of research and questions I went out or rather, stayed in and ordered an Enlightened Equipment Revelation Pro Quilt from their own website.

There were a few factors that influenced me in this decision.  One being the experience from a friend and the other simply the fact that as I get older I have more and more of a dislike for the notoriously constricting, heavy and non-venting sleeping bag.  When I was younger it didn’t bother me too much but I guess as I get older I want a little more comfort and so I’ve been looking for alternatives for about a year now.

I have always had synthetic sleeping bags but after listening to all of my hiking companions tout about their one pound something down sleeping bags I’ll admit that became envious .  One thing that always scared me about down though was the fact that if it got wet it was pretty much just a piece of  water-logged material that didn’t insulate.  Not to mention that it takes it awhile to dry out and by that time your backpacking trip is over and you’ve had zero nights sleep from being cold.  But now, with all of the water resistant down out there I felt it was time to start seriously looking and get over the price tag of a down bag purchase.

 

 

My first temptation was Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed series of sleeping bags that are very unique and one of a kind.  These babies are built like a cocoon, with no zippers to fiddle with or add extra weight they make a nearly sealed system.  And the integrated comforter flap that you can pull up or flip down in an instant to vent looks like it would work very well.  It also comes in a large size for bigger backpackers like myself that need the extra room.  I had justified the heavy weight of this bag and was ready to pull the trigger but reality set in when I read a review that confirmed it’s basically still a sleeping bag in the end.  And although the top half looks large and comfy, the bottom half is still built like a mummy sleeping bag that can get all twisted up if you are a restless sleeper and simply won’t allow a person to sleep in a non-mummy position.  I looked briefly at Sierra Designs Backcountry Quilt but it’s very limited in that it pretty much only comes in one temp rating which wasn’t in the 20 degree range that I was looking for in a quilt.  I may take a second look when it comes time to get my 40 degree quilt but it will be hard to stray from the Enlightened Equipment Revelation series after receiving mine and loving it.

Then I took a hard look at the Noctourne series of sleeping bags from Nemo, whose designs are aimed toward keeping people like me comfortable.  They have their trademark spoon shape design that allows a side sleeper like myself to bend, flex and hopefully move around without getting all twisted up (I don’t know if their design prevents this or not but their reviews are outstanding so it must work).  And they also make a square sleeping bag called a Strato Loft that looks outrageously comfortable and I’m certain would allow me the extra comfort that I’m looking for in a sleeping bag.  But, I couldn’t get on board with any of these sleeping bags because I’d have a down bag that would weigh as much as or actually more than the comparably rated synthetic bags that I own.  So I lost my justification for the new purchase again!  Then I spied the Nemo Siren quilt that is super lightweight and has some great features but it doesn’t fit people over 6’0″, what what??!!

Then I realized that a quilt was probably the way I needed to go and I started doing some serious research on them.  There are a few top brand names out there in the quilt world and they all make great quilts and their reviews speak for the quality.  After my investigation was complete, I came up with the Enlightened Equipment Revelation Pro quilt.  It’s a work of art that you have to see to appreciate because the craftsmanship and features are outstanding.

Below is a breakdown of the reasons I have moved over to the quilt side…

I have a friend that I’ve hiked with quite a bit and he nearly always backpacks with a quilt.  His quilt is ridiculously light, warm and compact and probably tips the scales at a little over a pound.  He explained to me the fact that there is no need for bottom insulation since you have your pad underneath you(if you choose to use one) and it’s much warmer than a compressed sleeping bag could be.  The sleeping bag underneath you is compressed by your body weight which makes it essentially useless.

Another reason is the fact that I’m pretty big so I need a big sleeping bag(which equals big weight) in order to give myself the room to be comfortable because I don’t like to be mummified in a sleeping bag.  So, even a large mummy bag can be heavy, not to mention I’d still be semi-uncomfortable.  Now if I get a square style bag that’s halfway comfortable I’m up in the 3+ pound range even with good 800fp down.

So, I started researching quilts and low and behold I can have the best of both worlds with a slight caveat which is the possibility of drafts because you’re open on the sides and it’s just not a sealed system like a sleeping bag.

Fortunately, Enlightened Equipment has integrated a cool system that should alleviate that problem.  It’s basically clips and bands that secure it to your sleeping pad and I can’t wait to try it out.

I got the Revelation Pro model because it has some very cool features, though at the expense of a little weight.  It has a zippered foot box and cinch cord at the bottom that allows it to be fully opened if one so desired.  I like this because in a pinch it could work as a bottom quilt for my hammock in colder temperatures.  I also like the fact that it’s able to open completely because for one it could be used in conjunction with a sleeping bag and two just plain wide open versatility.

JMT Trail August – September 2015:

I took this quilt on my 95 mile JMT section hike and once again it didn’t let me down.  It’s so light!  I coupled it with my Thermarest NeoAir XLite air mattress for one light combination on the big hike.  My quilt weighs 25.40oz and the mattress weighs 16oz with a combined total weight of 41.4oz or 2.587Lbs which I’ll be more than happy to carry on any hike.  We were expecting temps of in the 20’s F and we received them so it’s a good thing I didn’t opt to take my lighter 40deg quilt.

 

If all goes well I’ll be testing this baby out at the Big South Fork on 12/12/14 thru 12/14/14.   At which time I’ll know if I made the right choice plus I’ll be throwing in my two cents afterwards.  Pictures to follow!

UPDATE:

BIG SOUTH FORK BACKPACK TRIP 12/12/14 THROUGH 12/14/14

I carried my quilt in a Sea To Summit Ultra-Sil Compression Dry Sack to prevent any unnecessary moisture from compromising the down and ruining my day(night actually).  So as soon as we got to our campsite I unpacked the quilt to allow it to regain its loft.  Once it had lofted up to an uncompressed state, it stayed that way all night and showed absolutely no signs of allowing the dampness in the air to seep into the down.  And believe me, the valley we were in was extremely damp to the point that everything was saturated.

The size I purchased was more than ample for a restless sleeper like myself and gave me the freedom to not sleep like a mummy.  For the added couple of ounces the extra wide is the way to go for me.

I was very impressed with how well it stayed in place with the small and unobtrusive attachment clips provided by Enlightened Equipment.  And even though it stayed in place I was still able to move around and get comfortable without letting too much unheated air in or heated air out.  Not once did I slip off my pad!  The second night it got down to about 29 without the dampness and I actually had to vent a little bit to cool down.

Free Shipping at REI! EVERYONE gets U.S. standard free shipping on orders of $50 or more!

I purchased the Revelation Pro Long Extra Wide 20 Degree and needless to say, I will be purchasing a 40 degree version of this quilt come spring.

Here is a description from Enlightened Equipments website.

At A Glance:

• 850fp Down Quilt

• Partially Zippered Footbox

• Super-adaptable Ultralight Quilt

 

Featuring the same elastic drawcord and zippered footbox as the best-selling Revelation, the Revelation Pro comes standard with ultralight 850fp down for adventures where adaptability, weight, and compressibility are at a premium. Optional HyperDry water resistant treatment added to the down makes for an even more versatile quilt that performs better when condensation and humidity are encountered. The footbox makes it simple to adjust to warmer temperatures and vent excess heat, or allows it to be cinched tight for maximum warmth on cold nights. This is the perfect quilt for canoeists, kayakers, hikers, climbers, and cyclists who need minimal weight while being able to adapt to any situation they may find on the trail.