I have a Nunatak arc specialist with a little down removed to rate it around 40 degrees. How far can you push a quilt like that? Using long johns, hiking clothes, rain jacket, beenie and 1/4 inch thinlight from GG under a neo air?

Any thoughts? I am generally a warm sleeper.

"I have a Nunatak arc specialist with a little down removed to rate it around 40 degrees. How far can you push a quilt like that?"

Until you die...

There is no real answer to a question like that. Except for mine. ;-)

i was hoping to get a ball park idea. but i guess i am just going to have to field test. :)

Absolutely my friend.

Then tell us how it went.

Agreed about field testing. So many other factors at play. However, I doubt you'll be cozy in much below 35. Nothing else you're wearing is very warm. Some down or synthetic insulation could help significantly.

Edited by sgiachetti on 08/20/2011 22:45:21 MDT.

You can extend a quilt pretty far...it just depends on how much insulation you add. My new strategy with quilts is to use a 35-40F rated quilt for all 3 seasons, mainly so I can carry less weight in the summer. Eventually I'll get a 20F quilt for spring/fall, but in the mean time I'll supplement this 40F quilt for use in all 3 seasons.

I'm getting a quilt made with 7.5oz of down which should be good for 35-40F. Then if it's a little colder I'll wear my Montbell Ex-light vest in there (ie. to 30 F) and then in spring/fall when the temps are dipping down to around 20F I will supplement it with my Montbell Alpine Light down jacket (4.3oz down) and GooseFeet down pants (3oz down) and maybe down booties.

Ideally I'd have the 40F quilt for summer and a 20F quilt for early spring/late fall (and a 0F bag for winter), but you can supplement a 40F quilt quite a bit if you add enough insulation.

I would guess from what you describe maybe 5-10dF.

I dont like extending sleeping gear personally, but I think Ideally a SUL down sweater, johns and some thick socks would be the first extender I would use.

If you were in a desperate situation, a VBL under that.

You might want to try an insultex liner. I am just playing around with IX and it is really thin, but is mostly a VB CCF material with some punched holes from sewing the scrim. The batch I just got weighs 1.5 oz per SY so it would take about 3 yards to make a quilt liner. Not sure I would want to sleep under it with a down sweater though.
I have no idea really how well it really works, but a lot of people over at the hammock forum swear by it.

" have a Nunatak arc specialist with a little down removed to rate it around 40 degrees. How far can you push a quilt like that? Using long johns, hiking clothes, rain jacket, beenie and 1/4 inch thinlight from GG under a neo air? "

So essentially we've got a 40F quilt on top, about R 3.5 underneath and then long johns, basic hiking pants/shirt (doesn't add much), rain jacket (doesn't add that much except a slight VPL affect) and beanie (helps). I would guess maybe 30F with all of this on. You're missing any sort of real insulating layers. Aren't you taking any sort of a down, synthetic or fleece jacket?

only way to know is to test it out as everybody's metabolism is different

unless you are adding something with insulation or a vbl, the gains i suspect will be minimal

also you have no margin for error, a 40F quilt in 30F temp that gets damp/wet ... can be dangerous ....