All you quilt users out there... please list the size of your quilt (54 shoulder 38 foot for example) size of foot box, fill weight, single layer loft, and experience of lowest temperature you were comfortable at. Maybe the conditions used: in tent, under tarp, wind, rain (humidity) ect. I will be making a quilt and am undecided as to specs I need. Thanks.

That's A LOT of information.

I like my Katabatic Palisade. I'm generally comfortable with it into the 20's under a tarp.

That's a lot of questions. I like a quilt with about 7.5oz down for 40F, 9.5oz down for 30F and about 12oz of down for 20F.

Check out the spec's on Katabatic's website and consider the regular specs a bit skinny, the wide specs a bit wide. I would aim about the mid-point between the regular and wide specs for a good fitting quilt, or go with the wide specs if you like plenty of quilt.

Edited by dandydan on 09/28/2011 02:41:21 MDT.

JRB No-Sniveller (specs on their site). Was nice and warm at 28F with an R5 mat, bivy, down booties, hiking trousers and BPL Cocoon hoody and merino base layer. Having said this another person could have been cold in this set up and another could have warm in less. Also one person's idea of a successful night is to still be alive in the morning whilst another may not want to feel even slightly chilly from dusk to dawn.

Are you a big guy or a small guy? Makes a difference on width, especially at shoulders. Big feet? A size 13 vs. a 9.5 makes a difference there, as well. Toss & turn, side sleeper, or back-only?

I'm 6'1" and use a Golite Ultra20 Long. Don't know the specs off the top of my head, but as a side sleeping, tosser & turner and the shoulder width is niiiiiiiice!

I'll also point out that raw numbers don't mean that much.

Finished actual dimensions can be a good start, but that assumes the same basic profile of each quilt.

My quilt profiles are highly shaped, and actually wider laterally in other places than at the top of the quilt, where as most of them start wide and either maintain that width half the length of the quilt, or immediately begin to narrow.


People use different footbox styles, which may require different widths and translate differently to roominess, etc.

Katabatic's quilts are highly shaped also, in a totally different way than mine, which makes them uniquely ideal for back sleepers in my opinion. Which is why I recommend most back sleepers toward their wares.


I specialize in comfort for the more acrobatic sleep styles, and as such, design the profiles to be optimal for that.


Anyway, all this to say, it's a complicated issue, much more than just the flat dimensions. Couple that with the fact that some people use raw-cut numbers (which don't represent the finished dimensions very closely at all), or the mysterious "girth" spec, which I haven't been able to nail down a standard definition of, and things start making even less sense.

My recommendation: If you're looking to a buy a quilt, figure out *your* dimensions as much as possible, and more importantly, your sleep style and requirements for comfort. Then ask other users for some recommendations. If you're trying to make a quilt, well, just go ahead and make a basic design, and then refine the next one, because it's a long road to perfection. How long? No clue, I haven't made it yet.

DUDE! where in missouri?

anyhow, I have a JRB Hudson that I really like. As Javan said, it all depends on personal preference. I don't get cold very easily and have used my quilt down into single digits. I like the extra legroom and the shoulder girth does (or lack) doesn't really bother me.

I appreciate the replies here. Weight vs warmth is problematic. Am most concerned about side sleeping coverage.