Enlightened Equipment Quilts

[photohiker]

I don't like jamming my down into a small stuffsac.

I get a suitable sized roll top pack liner and loosely stuff it in there with any other items I need to keep dry like thermals and spare socks etc. It then compresses just as much as it needs to, no more. Result is happier down.

[phan_TOM]

I think packing the down too tightly damages the feathers and will reduce the life of your sleeping bag or quilt. I usually pack mine so that it's still a bit squishy and stuff it in the very bottom of my pack before placing the rest of my gear on top.

[Tortoise]

The Thermarest fitted sheets are pretty good. I don't like the feeling of sleeping directly on a mat, thermal clothes or whatever. I'm also happy in a silk liner, but I know for some the constriction negates the purpose of sleeping under a quilt. I have a Techsilk liner that I split along one side, leaving a foot box. Originally set it up for hammock sleeping. Good in theory, but gets a bit twisted in the night.

I'm still playing with my lighter weight sleeping system. As a restless side sleeper, I'm a bit nervous re using my quilt in subzero temperatures. One thing I've found is that while I'm losing some comfort by using my silk inner with the quilt, I gain warmth - if the quilt moves too much, I still have a much warmer layer of air around me than the air outside the inner sheet. I have elastic attached to the side tabs, going either under me or the mat, depending on the temp, which work reasonably well.

When I add my down jacket etc in winter, being left down-less is less likely to be a problem hopefully.

[GPPJ]

Thx all for an informative thread. Ordered today.
Muct be the weather made me do it - its blowing, pouring rain and 5deg - lunchtime in Canberra

[ULWalkingPhil]

I think packing the down too tightly damages the feathers and will reduce the life of your sleeping bag or quilt. I usually pack mine so that it's still a bit squishy and stuff it in the very bottom of my pack before placing the rest of my gear on top.

I also feel very nervous about stuffing my hammock gear quilt into its stuffsack. At home I store my quilts on a bed in a spare room out of its sack.

I have to stuff the quilt in hard to fit into the supplied sack.

About to start bicycle touring, long distance touring, currently setting up my bike for its first tour any day now, concerns me a bit with the time my quilt will be stuffed into its sack while traveling.

Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk

[Strider]

I find if I pack mine too tightly I get a bit of down leakage through the fabric (10D).

[ULWalkingPhil]

I dont have that problem with my hammock gear top quilt, but my warbonnet bottom quilt does have that problem. I personally feel the supplied stuff sacks are to small. Think I will look into slightly larger stuff sacks.

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[Strider]

Stuff sack supplied with my EE is about 13L

[Strider]

Sale on at the moment of quilts in weird colour combinations and/or minor faults.

[DanShell]

I received my new EE quilt today. I ordered wide and glad I did because I doubt id be happy with the regular.

I reserve my judgement as to its 20f rating once I have tested it.

[Ellobuddha]

Hey Dan, i think the wide is a good idea.

I was dubious as to the warmth when mine arrived. However after a night in it i realised it was unfounded.

Im sure you'll love it. If not - let me know.

[Strider]

I commented on the EE Facebook page a few weeks ago regarding their pad straps twisting up and being a bit unfriendly to use and adjust. Tim has messaged me to say he has devised a new strap system and asked for my address so he can send this latest version for me to trial. How's that for service!

[simonm]

I commented on the EE Facebook page a few weeks ago regarding their pad straps twisting up and being a bit unfriendly to use and adjust. Tim has messaged me to say he has devised a new strap system and asked for my address so he can send this latest version for me to trial. How's that for service!

Tim is known for his exceptional service, and that is another prime example.

[photohiker]

I commented on the EE Facebook page a few weeks ago regarding their pad straps twisting up and being a bit unfriendly to use and adjust.

How so, I find them pretty simple and haven't had any dramas with them at all. If he improves on that, they'll just about set themselves up!

[Strider]

I commented on the EE Facebook page a few weeks ago regarding their pad straps twisting up and being a bit unfriendly to use and adjust.

How so, I find them pretty simple and haven't had any dramas with them at all. If he improves on that, they'll just about set themselves up!

The grosgrain ribbon twists sideways within the slots

[Strider]

I commented on the EE Facebook page a few weeks ago regarding their pad straps twisting up and being a bit unfriendly to use and adjust.

How so, I find them pretty simple and haven't had any dramas with them at all. If he improves on that, they'll just about set themselves up!

The grosgrain ribbon twists sideways within the slots and the buckles pull sideways making them difficult to adjust.

[Oldmate]

Photohiker has a good tip there. I always put my silk liner over my mat (exped) as a kind of fitted sheet. Don't want to be in the liner, as half the point for me is the freedom to move. I don't mind the straps, I use the pad straps if it is cold, but only clip down one side.

Totally love my Revelation 30 and am comfortable taking it down to its limit (with appropriate clothing). Can't see my one planet zephyr -4 getting much more use, thinking of trading it for a -12 bag for expeditions such as kili and base camp. Anyone need a lightly used zephyr?

[Strider]

New straps have been announced this morning

Maybe not the most excited announcement we've ever made, but still one welcome to many of our quilt users. straps, so now one set of straps can do both the elastic strap and pad strap jobs! It should bind much less easily than the simple webbing pad straps of yore. Comes standard with all new quilts, and replacement sets available on our site. 0.4oz each.

http://store.enlightenedequipment.com/r ... ad-straps/

[Onestepmore]

Ha Strider. You beat me to it. I saw that post on FB this morning in bed.
I was going to get a set to try, I'll wait now to see what you say about the new straps. The postage will probably be something stupid, even though it's only a small item.

[photohiker]

The postage will probably be something stupid, even though it's only a small item.

Good point. Maybe we should do a group buy to save postage if they are a worthy upgrade.

[Ellobuddha]

Yeh I just checks and its $20 for accessories postage.

[GPPJ]

Thx all for an informative thread. Ordered today.
Muct be the weather made me do it - its blowing, pouring rain and 5deg - lunchtime in Canberra

Update - my quilt shipped on Jul 10th (Aust time). 16 days to dispatch was way quicker than I expected. I'm hoping it lands here before the weekend of the 19th which would be very lucky timing (i have 9 days off work) and 5 days short of a month since placing the order... its a -"Revelation (Down Type: 750 Duck Down, Temperature: 20°F, Length: Long, Width: Wide, Inside Fabric Color: Black 10D, Outside Fabric Options: Digicam 20D)."

[DanShell]

I got to use my EE revelation 20f/-6c regular length, wide quilt so heres my little review. Im 6', weight around 90kgs using a Tarptent Stratospire 1 with a tyvek home wrap ground sheet and a thermarest prolite mat if that has any relevance to this review.
It was only one night so its not an extensive test by any means but it may help future buyers.

Looking at the 24 hour history it got down to -2c, it was quite a frost, very little wind and the humidity was around 80% give or take.

I bought a quilt because I didn't like the restriction of a bag however ironically I found myself wrapping the quilt around me quit snug to keep warm. I was wearing polypro thermals and once I had the quilt snug I was warm. (my face as usual was frozen but thats another issue)

I was initially using the straps to hold the quilt around the mat but I found they left too much of an air gap around my body. I am a side sleeper so my mat is too wide to allow the quilt to be strapped around it and still hug my body and with an air gap it meant I was cold.

A couple of things to note, I am glad I ordered the wide, had I not I don't think I would have enough quilt to wrap myself up on a cold night to keep warm. Once I was tired and I was close to dosing off I pulled the little cinch cord and it pulled the end of the quilt around my neck nice and snug and felt quit good.

In hindsight I would of got an even wider quilt so I could clip it up like a sleeping bag so I guess what I am really saying is a sleeping bag that allows plenty of room to move would possibly be MY ideal arrangement.

Just as a side note, there was a lot of condensation in the tent. I admit it was perfect conditions for it but I found my breath made the outside of the quilt quite wet, which obviously isn't good for down or a mulitday wet condition hike but I can deal with that I think.

So overall, I like the quilt and I think its temp rating is pretty close, I was warm with some fiddling around so I can't complain. The build quality for my untrained eye appears to be good and they are great value for money.

[photohiker]

Which straps were you using Dan?

The non stretchy ones allow you to connect the quilt TO the pad rather than 'around' it and eliminate those air gaps that kept you cold. You can adjust the position of the quilt connection clips on the straps to reduce the gaps. Takes a few uses to get the hang of it.

[Bluegum Mic]

I'll be keen to get the new straps too if there's a group order going.

[Ellobuddha]

Hey Dan,

Ive got a revelation and find that I get the condensation on the top near the mouth. I find it is really only on the surface and dries off superquick. Mine has the 20D outer. Im about the same dimensions as you though a bit heavier. Defintely the wide is better.

For an experiment, try moving the quilt clips onto the top of your mat, not at the edge of your mat. (only a inch or two or so should do) By that I mean slide them further in on the pad strap section on top of your pad. It will tuck the quilt around you a little more. A little more semi circular than flat from edge to edge. Works for me and I wrestle with imaginary people all night lol.

Also be conscious of where the pad straps are in relation to your body when laying down. I like them a little higher than I thought they would go. If they are a little higher you get the hold-down where you need it. From memory my top one is usually right up at armpit or similar.

As you said it makes a huge difference to warmth when you cinch up the neck too

Hope this helps.

P.S. - Hows the tyvek after a few runs in the machine??

[DanShell]

Which straps were you using Dan?

The non stretchy ones allow you to connect the quilt TO the pad rather than 'around' it and eliminate those air gaps that kept you cold. You can adjust the position of the quilt connection clips on the straps to reduce the gaps. Takes a few uses to get the hang of it.

I feel a bit silly, on closer inspection I was using the straps wrong! Thanks for the clarificaation.

[DanShell]

Hey Dan,

Ive got a revelation and find that I get the condensation on the top near the mouth. I find it is really only on the surface and dries off superquick. Mine has the 20D outer. Im about the same dimensions as you though a bit heavier. Defintely the wide is better.

For an experiment, try moving the quilt clips onto the top of your mat, not at the edge of your mat. (only a inch or two or so should do) By that I mean slide them further in on the pad strap section on top of your pad. It will tuck the quilt around you a little more. A little more semi circular than flat from edge to edge. Works for me and I wrestle with imaginary people all night lol.

Also be conscious of where the pad straps are in relation to your body when laying down. I like them a little higher than I thought they would go. If they are a little higher you get the hold-down where you need it. From memory my top one is usually right up at armpit or similar.

As you said it makes a huge difference to warmth when you cinch up the neck too

Hope this helps.

P.S. - Hows the tyvek after a few runs in the machine??

Yes I'll do that now I've realised I was using the straps wrong! I'm such a goose.

The tyvek is heaps softer now it's had two runs through the wash, again, thanks

[GPPJ]

Thx all for an informative thread. Ordered today.
Muct be the weather made me do it - its blowing, pouring rain and 5deg - lunchtime in Canberra

Update - my quilt shipped on Jul 10th (Aust time). 16 days to dispatch was way quicker than I expected. I'm hoping it lands here before the weekend of the 19th which would be very lucky timing (i have 9 days off work) and 5 days short of a month since placing the order... its a -"Revelation (Down Type: 750 Duck Down, Temperature: 20°F -6°C, Length: Long, Width: Wide, Inside Fabric Color: Black 10D, Outside Fabric Options: Digicam 20D)."

Arrived this morning, $312 incl postage. Great timing. Took about 25days from the day I ordered it, 9 days of that was shipping.
weighs 764g on the kitchen scales incl the stuff sack. The stretchy strap width is 16mm (10/16ths). The 10d inner feels v nice and the 20d outer in digicam looks great.

They also included a freebie large stuff sack in olive silnylon, its about 50litres.

Great service. I will order another for the wife soon. Shakedown tonight depends on the forecast.

[Strider]

Seriously good value!