Sleeping Bag or Quilt | Camping Gear

Should you toss your sleeping bag in favor of a quilt for your camping adventures? Let’s dive in to why I switched from my old sleeping bag to a top quilt.

Why I Switched From a Sleeping Bag to a Quilt

Did you know that nearly half your sleeping bag goes unused while camping? That’s right. Any part of the sleeping bag that you’re laying on provides little to no insulation because you’re compressing it all under your body weight. That’s a big chunk of insulation and material (read: weight) that you’re carrying on your back during a backpacking or camping trip.

This was probably the primary motivator for me to start looking at quilts instead of sleeping bags for my sleep system. I’m getting older and anywhere that I can trim weight from my backpack means a more comfortable hike.

Also, down technology has come a long way since I was a young scout camper. Down can now be treated to be water resistant. You get the benefits of down insulation with the water resistance of synthetic insulation. This means my bag takes up less space in my pack.

So, when looking for a new sleeping bag, I knew I wanted treated down and during my research found that I also wanted a quilt that would provide the same warmth as a much heavier sleeping bag. What I found was the Enlightened Equipment Revelation.

Isn’t it Weird, Though?

This is the most common question/thought I get when it comes to camping with a quilt.

“Isn’t it weird, though not having a back?”

“It’s like a blanket, right?”

“Doesn’t it, like, slip off of you in the middle of the night?”

Basically, all questions I get from non-quilters revolve around the quilt coming off you during the night or rising up and letting air in. I’ve never had this issue and it’s mainly due to the fact that quilt manufacturers have had all those same questions. So, they make sure it’s not an issue.

My quilt has a zipped and snapped foot box. You can get them sewn, as well from Enlightened. The quilt has two places in the “open” section that includes clips for bungee straps that go under your sleeping pad to keep the quilt in place. Obviously, I don’t use these when I’m hammock camping.

In addition to the sleeping pad straps, you can get the quilt built extra wide (that’s what I did). This gives you a lot more room to move around, while still keeping the quilt covering you. Try that in an old mummy bag and you’ll end up twisted like a pretzel!

The top of the quilt snaps together to create a circle that goes over your head and keep the quilt from riding down your body. This does bring up another issue with quilts. There’s no mummy hood like you get on sleeping bags.

I correct this issue with a down hood that I bought on Amazon for about $20. You could use a hoodie or a regular winter cap. They all work to keep your head warm. I could never keep my head in a mummy hood, any way.

Sleeping Bag or Quilt Conclusion

In addition to the reduced weight and material that you get with a quilt, they provide so many varied uses because they act like a sleeping bag and a blanket. I use it when I’m sitting around camp on cold days to keep warm. It’s great in spring, summer, and fall when the temp can be a little warm at bedtime and then cools off overnight. I can throw the quilt off when I get in my hammock and then pull it up and over me as it gets cooler. In a traditional sleeping bag, I’d have to lay on top of it and then crawl or wiggle my way into it in the middle of the night.

Pros

• Lighter than traditional sleeping bag
• No unused/compressed insulation
• Multiple uses – blanket, bag, shawl, etc.
• You can be like all the cool kids switching to quilts. :)

Cons

• Can be pricey, but so is a good sleeping bag
• None! Get you a quilt, dang it!