Quilts?

[MonkeySpacePilot]

Anyone use one? how do they find it?

Thinking of buying one at the next pay day, at the moment probably between a phd or a golite.

http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/product_info ... cts_id=326

http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/ ... g_bag.html

The golite is obviously considerably cheaper and equaly heavier, but i do wonder if its a dissadvantage to have a restrictive footbox when its warm, maybe a loose sheet with some elastic ribbon to keep it in place would be better.

Anyway, any thoughts or other options?

[gairym]

there was this conversation which covered quilts.

i didn't go for one in the end but it's something i think i'll buy when i see one going cheap as an alternative option for the warmer months.

[didnothingfatal]

Goalie quilt is excellent, one of the best bits of gear I own! Have gone back to sleeping bag this year though as quilt doesn't work with Klymit pads.

[Cheeky Monkey]

I don't get the point. They seem expensive and heavy (well, not massively lighter) for what they are when a lightweight bag will do much of it, and be more versatile in the long run (assuming its got a full length zip).

I'm assuming UK use and I've never used them myself, just can't get the logic.

Although I've bought Ti pegs so the idea that I can use "logic" in any discussion is frankly laughable

[didnothingfatal]

They do work, and are fantastic, I would have kept going with mine and it'll see some use, but once I tried a Marmot Plasma bag everything else became 2nd rate! If you look into the ultralight scene, they are the bag of choice in fact Andrew Skurka recommends them, especially the GoLite. Saying that I don't think the PHD version is very good value.

As for Ti Pegs, if you think that stops using 'Logic' on these topics, best stay away from ultralight, I just spent £40 on 8 pegs with carbon fibre cores! :?

[MonkeySpacePilot]

My bag is pretty much ultralight, its a custom phd, but going for the golight I will save 300 gramms, even more from the phd, but the phd looks a bit of a lazy design, I am really not sure about it.

The heat radiance from a neoair just means that I don't need any bag below me, unzipping a bag just doesn't seem to work properly, the hood becomes a faff, the zip becomes irritating and uncomfortable and it needs some cords to keep it in place, a quilt makes sense to me.

I'm assuming UK use and I've never used them myself, just can't get the logic.

I don't get this UK centric viewpoint, beliefs that equipment used in the UK somehow has to be different from the rest of the world, really their is absolutely nothing harsh about the UK climate that requires specialised equipment.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I've got a Go-lite synthetic quilt. The design is really good with plenty of material for 'wrapping around' ... the only trouble I have (and this may be just me) is the bag and me produce more static electricity than I've ever seen, by running my finger along the bag I can produce inch long sparks

[didnothingfatal]

The UK centric view is based on a history of Berghaus and rambling, you need sturdy boots to wander up Snowdown, Trail magazine reinforces the myth encouraging the myth that for a trip out in the hills you need to gear up like a Everest summit mission. Our manufacturers have never embraced ultralight, their definition of ultralight is still heavy by comparison of real ultralight gear. It is further promoted by the gear importers, who prefer to import vast amounts of fleece and GoreTex. But then again can you see the average Cotswolds shop trying to promote the advantages of a Keg Stove over a Trangia? The rambling masses prefer leather boots, crag hoppers and a Berghaus jacket! Me I'll take trail shoes, Haglofs and Arc'teryx and 15l pack, get up the hill and out of there before they warmed their red socks!

[didnothingfatal]

the only trouble I have (and this may be just me) is the bag and me produce more static electricity than I've ever seen, by running my finger along the bag I can produce inch long sparks

Can you light your stove with them?

[Bearbonesnorm]

Another option? ... warmer than the Go-lite for a touch more weight?
http://www.expeditionhardware.co.uk/The ... 20Blue%20)

[MonkeySpacePilot]

I am not looking to go warmer or heavier, in fact I would prefer to take the opposite direction, hence considering the phd quilt.

I think I will probably end up going with the golite one, at least with that one I expect I could recoup a decent percentage of the purchase price if I don't get on with it and sell it on, the phd one looks more likely to be an expensive folly.

[Anthony]

Glad its not just me imagining it, if I sleep in synthetic baselayers the spark storm is amazing in a down bag!

[Cheeky Monkey]

Hey, whatever floats your boat folks. I'm not saying it doesn't work or that you can't justify buying that new bit of gear because you've convinced yourself just that I don't get it, from what's quite possibly a position of less knowledge (BS ). Some interesting stuff / points / opinions though, cheers.

Just comparing a quilt to the ubiquitous Pipedream 400 at £150, -3 degrees and 750g and they don't seem to offer a convincing advantage. Especially in the UK, where (as I was referring to about the "UK conditions" comment) it's usually a bit cold and wet and if it isn't there's a good chance it might turn that way. So, the sort of thing I'd expect most people would get most use out of is a decent bag.

Hey ho 8-)

I just spent £40 on 8 pegs with carbon fibre cores!

[MonkeySpacePilot]

Colder and wetter than where?

The alpkit stuff is too small for me, my phd bag weighs 900g

And really -3 degrees, that's a summer sweatfest, no one needs a -3 sleeping bag in the uk, 5-10 degrees is plenty, less in summer, put some clothes on if its colder.

I guess didnothingfatal was right, you are marketed an Arctic sleeping bag for a summer in the Brecons. I prefer to try a more flexible approach, get my kit weight down and maximise the riding.

[MonkeySpacePilot]

Thats not meant to sound like I'm having a go by the way, its just if you think about it, you are far more likely to face colder, wetter, warmer dryer and more humid, generally far more extreme conditions in the alps, or the mountain regions of America and Canada, than in the UK.

But somehow the British seem to view UK conditions as being especially severe.

Same as every region believes their local mud destroys brake pads like no other.

[didnothingfatal]

The biggest issue we have in the UK is the wet, I'm of the opinion that the US ultralight scene is based around much nicer conditions, but it works fine if you know what you're doing.

Scottish winter climbing is pretty bloody miserable. The Alps can throw everything at you. I've been in base layer with pertex wind shirt on summits and also been freezing my ass off in down, both in the Alps and Snowdonia. We don't get the snow of the Alps, but we do get plenty of rain. The thing is when it starts going wrong, the benefits of having the right gear come to the fore.

[Cheeky Monkey]

sorry I asked

Edit: "UK use" was just shorthand for using it in the typical conditions we get locally, not that conditions here were in some way "epic" or the like. I though "a bit cold and wet" summed it up rather well but then I guess how that got read is one of the joys of "discussions" on the internet.

8-)

[Bearbonesnorm]

no one needs a -3 sleeping bag in the uk

Wish someone had told me that before last weekend ... then I wouldn't have been chilly in a PD600, I could have just taken a +10 ultralight bag and been toasty

[didnothingfatal]

No one piece of gear can cover the conditions we get over a year, blizzards to sunburn. Hence, the assorted tents, sleeping bags and mats, then you end up with various packs to carry the stuff. Then each season technology gets better and there are better toys