So i have thinned out my list of quits to:

Katabatic Palisade with 2-4 oz over fill

Enlightened Gear Epiphany-K

Enlightened Gear Revelation

Golite 3 season UL (being the cheap economic choice)

The use i intend for this quilt is basic three season camping in (hopefully) a Hexamid Twin. I am looking for versatility (i.e the ability to wear additional layers like puffy coat/pants or just base layers), as well as (obviously) it be UL.

What i am thinking:

Epiphany-K: maybe not good for layering beneath? Durability of the cuben.. site suggests not wearing down puffys underneath.. or did i misread? cuben = not best for long lived quilt?

Revelation: possible get instead of epiphany if epiphany gets ruled out...

Katabatic: No one seems to have anything to say about them? relatively "middle of the road in price, Pertex = more durable than cuben (how much does that relaly matter if i take care of it though, ya know?) Anyone who has some experience let me know :)


Golite: meh.. its cheap.... like $200..



Tell me what you think! I like but ruled out nunataks alpinist becasue it is just tooo much $$.... any other suggestions even? looking for 20-25 degree and as UL as possible..

Thanks!

Edited by niconotori on 03/25/2011 10:46:24 MDT.

Although I don't (yet) have a Katabatic Gear quilt, I can say that Aaron was very responsive to my questions about his products. He makes a great looking quilt and I would have no reservations buying from him.

Not the lightest option, but definately the cheapest with the 40% off deal. I have taken mine down into the mid teens with a montbell down inner and a fleece cap on top of a blue foam pad and neoair.

Have you considered the Hudson River from Jacks R Better?

A 3 season quilt is my next purchase too. I've hear a lot of good things about Enlightened, sounds like the highest quality. Where's this 40% off deal for the golite? The only thing that might stop my from Enlightened is I read 7 weeks to receive from purchase.

Right now, based on the reader reviews I'm leaning toward the MLD Spirit Quilt. Here's my list:

Katabatic Gear – Palisade 30°F 16.5 315.00
Jacks R Better No Sniveller 21 270.00
Jacks R Better Sierra Sniveller 22 270.00
GoLite UltraLite 3-Season Quilt - Short 21 255.00
Warbonnet – Mamba 3-season regular 19 250.00
Jacks R Better Hudson River 20 250.00
Hammock Gear – The Burrow - 3-Season 20.1 229.00
MLD Spirit Quilt 18 195.00

I have a palisades I just got in, and it's a great quilt. Tiny bit over weight at 18.3 without straps, so figure 19. with straps. I would say it's conservative in it's rating though. It lofts up much more than my WM summerlite and I love the strap system. Just ordered a 15 degree from them too actually now that I've seen it. They are not any heavier than nunatek, when you compare the down in their quilts. They stock about 3-4oz more down for the same temperature rating and are an inch or two narrower, so I'm kinda skeptical of nuntatek's ratings. If they are right, then katabatic is very conservative in their ratings.

Hi Nico,

There's a few threads floating around this site pertaining to the Katabatic quilts. If you keep looking (try using google, search: "site:backpackinglight.com katabatic gear"), you should be able to find some reviews/input.

FWIW, I have two of the Katabatic quilts (Palisade and Sawatch) and really like them. They're a little narrower than some of the other options and at times I wish I could open up the footbox some, but they're really well made, reasonably priced, light weight, conservatively warm (in my opinion) and customer service has been good.

The strap system works well for keeping me on top of my pad while tossing and turning my way through a night's sleep.

The Golite will cost you $165 plus $5.99 shipping (I believe) with the code BSF10 until March 31. The regular length weighs ~25 oz so if your overriding priority is weight, maybe it isn't the best choice. Though for the price, none of the other options even come close.

I too have a Katabatic Sawatch. Its a solid piece of gear and well made. I love it. I look for excuses to use it. Looked at Nunatak but really liked the collar and strap system of the Katabatic design.

They have a new off the shelf product that sits between the Palisade and Sawatch. The "Alsek" thats stated good to 22F. Could be about what you are looking for, since you were thinking overfill on a palisade.

http://katabaticgear.com/shop/alsek-sleeping-bag/

My Sawatch is virtualy as new. I find it too narrow for me. I was going to get it altered to suit my sleeping style, but it could be yours for a realistic offer.

ok:
David, No I haven't, would you say its equivalent to its competitors? And it seems like the Hudson is mainly for hammocks? does that matter?


Anthony, thank you for the list but curse you haha more options....

to everyone else thank you for your suggestions and comments!

Is there a quilt in the 20-25 degree area with a drawstring footbox or any other type of opening?

I have gone through this exercise myself over the last 3 months

JRB quilts = ship today or tomorrow, good quality, not ultra lite in comparison to others on this list, but not by any means heavy. I believe they are a bit underated in their temp ratings, but i do belive if you go away from the product page and go to the specifications page the ratings there are more realistic. It is easy to get up to two oz more stuffed into them and still get it shipped in a day or two.

Really all in all a great quilt for the money.

Katabatic= this was going to be my next quilt...I had decided on getting one of the new wider ones he plans to release in may. I think what has been said above about the quality and simply just comparing the fill weights and fabric choices he list on his website set him apart. I really like what I found in my research.

Enlightened equipment: this is what I went with. I think its very hard if not impossible to top tims reputation on this forum for his build quality. I would say javan does an equally great job but when I contacted him, he told me he was burned out on quilts and wanted to make other gear.

I decided to go with tim's nylon quilts. After talking to him so many times i am surprised he didnt shoot me :) I moved away from the cuben. while the vapor barrier has a lot of advantages, for me I thought nylon just made my life simpler and frankly allowed me to buy multiple quilts with the cost savings between the two.

Of course I dont have one in yet, but the reputation and my personal experience talking to him was enough for me.

I dropped nunatek as well for cost and seeming low fill rates...not to mention the same wait period as other custom guys.

I went with Enlightened also. Tim is great to work with. 12 oz quilt with 2" of fill. Mine is smaller in girth compared my Nunatek, but has more fill and weighs 3oz less with a 12 degree F higher rating (if you just consider fill weight).

Nunatek has much better strap system, which of course weighs more and is wider (of course both companies can customized your size).

More venting might be necessary with the Enlightened, as cuben acts like a vabor barrier.

I am not too worried about the cuben lasting/abrasion, as my quilt or bag gets tender loving care in storage and on the trail.

For 3 season, I like my Nunatak Arc Specialist. It only weighs 16 ounces, straps and all. I like the extra width for when I wear extra insulation at night . Someone sent me Golite that was modified as an underquilt; I added a footbox to it and now it's a proper quilt again, sans straps. Definitively more down in the Golite.

like others, I can vouch for Tim's work- it's top notch (he converted a sleeping bag to quilt for me)

based on the dimensions of my current quilt, the Katabatic offerings (save their 0 quilt) wouldn't work for me- I'd need more room in the shoulders, I am anxious to see Aaaron's wide offerings a shoulder season quilt is something I've been eyeing for awhile

I haven't seen too many complaints on the Golite quilt and at that price point it's hard to ignore- according to the dimensions a little more roomy than the Katabatic ones

last thought- I believe Tim is having a $100 off sale on his high end cuben quilt http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=44222

"I had decided on getting one of the new wider ones he plans to release in May."

Good news.

The JRB No-Sniveller (which I have) is on the narrow side for a quilt.

I have the Hammock Gear Burrow. Adam makes really a great product. I had mine widened because I use it on the ground as well as in a hammock. He was great to work with on the modifications. Not the lightest option, but really a great product.

ok how about Enlightened's revelation? I like that is has a drawcord foot box.. actually a cheaper than the Alsek..... Thoughts? Also i guess i can get a palisade with 3 oz overfill for the same price as that...

Revelation; Karo baffling + drawcord footbox Vs. Alsek (@$350) Vs. Palisade 3 oz overfill (@$300)

Edited by niconotori on 03/26/2011 09:32:49 MDT.

not sure if you have the prices turned around, but the palisade in reg length is $330 (+ overfill)

you'd be getting a good product either way, if the footbox venting is an option that is important than it's a pretty easy decision- also not sure of your size, but Tim does offer up a couple of options for bigger folk

yea that $300 for the palisades represents a deal on a previously owned one. And i am unsure as this is my first quilt- is footbox venting a big deal? I think i would like to have it just in case but could be my inexperience talking.


ALSO: any people wanna speak for the KARO baffles Tim uses?

Edited by niconotori on 03/26/2011 09:31:05 MDT.