Cumulus Quilt 150 – Tried and Tested.

A simple loft conversion.

The shell of the 150 is made from Pertex Quantum which at 27g a sq/m is about as light a shell as you’re going to get. Like all quilts, the 150 has no bottom but unlike some, it does feature a fully sewn-in foot box that extends to around knee level which not only keeps your feet warm but also helps keep the quilt where you put it.

Simple clip for securing the neck end.

At the neck end, there’s a flat clip and shockcord that can be fastened / pulled tight to help keep the heat in and any draughts out. Three sets of loops and shockcord on the underside let you adjust the girth of the quilt above the foot box and also allows you to attach it to your sleeping mat if that’s your thing … but that’s something I never do. 

Having used plenty of ‘summer’ bags with similar amounts of down in the past, I was expecting something akin to a slightly chubby sheet with very little loft. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the 150g of insulation puffs up the shell nicely and produces something like 2.5″ of loft on the sides (double thickness) and 1.5″ across the top. The down is held in place by H baffles, they’re simple but effective and very unusual on such a light ‘bag’ where much less efficient sewn-through construction is usually employed as a way of keeping cost and weight down.

Shockcord and locks for when it gets chilly.

Packing the Quilt 150 for the first time is quite a revelation … the packsize is tiny. It does come with a stuff sack (and storage sack too) but my usual method is to stuff sleeping bags straight into a dry bag along with my sleeping mat, down jacket, etc. Normally I’d use a 13L dry bag to contain this ‘sleeping’ gear but when I use the 150 I can happily get away with an 8L bag and still have a little spare room in there. Besides a minuscule packsize the lack of weight is also very welcome. Cumulus quote a weight of 372g excluding stuff sack, the Bear Bones scales of truth recorded 380g including stuff sack and all three elastic cords … woohoo – but does it actually keep you warm?

Sewn-in foot box finishes around the knee.

I’ve spent about half a dozen nights curled up under the 150 so far. Conditions have ranged from ‘still wandering about at 11pm in just a base layer’ to ‘I think that’s the last of summer and I’m putting my jacket on’ and so far I’ve yet to be cold. There’s been the odd occasion when I’ve woken and a part of me has felt a little cool but generally that’s because I’ve put my hand / arm out from under it. I think as conditions start to become colder the 150 will still be usable but I’ll need to be a bit more precise with how and what I do. Firstly, I’ll need to properly close the bottom of the quilt to minimise any dead air space and seal out any draughts. Using the neck fastenings will also make quite a difference, helping to prevent any convective heat loss and lastly adding a hat or even a balaclava to the mix should keep things comfortable well into low single figures.

The only negative I can found at present is the size, the quilt measures 175cm long x 75cm at the shoulders and 44cm at the foot, so if you’re much larger than the average you might find it a bit too snug. My own opinion is that an extra 10cm on the length and another 10 across the shoulders would be a worthwhile addition without adding much to the weight … at 5’7″ this is of no concern to me but I thought I’d best mention it ;o)

If you want one then you’ll need to search the net for a European supplier as the quilts aren’t available in the UK … however there’s plenty of out there in France and Germany.