Backpacking quilts are rapidly gaining popularity among lightweight backpackers and for good reason.
Top quilt vs sleeping bag.
Essentially the main difference between a sleeping bag and quilt is that a quilt is like the ultralight sibling of the sleeping bag.
This is a huge plus for anyone who prefers to keep their pack lightweight.
The quilt has a foot box just like a mummy bag and is thrown over you like a blanket.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of a quilt vs sleeping bag is the weight.
Bikepackers are increasingly choosing quilts over traditional mummy bags largely because they re lighter simpler and less bulky.
Many ultralight sleeping bags use a zipper to cinch all the way closed while others like the feathered friends tanager drop the zipper for a simple slip on tube.
Whether you re bike packing thru hiking or simply prefer lightweight trekking eliminating extra weight can almost always be helpful.
It can oftentimes attach to your sleeping pad so that you can tuck yourself in when it s colder out.
It s your sleeping pad that keeps your under body warm.
Quilts are almost always lighter than sleeping bags.
A down quilt simply removes the down under you and the fabric enclosing it saving nearly half a pound vs a sleeping bag.
A quilt can easily be opened up flat in warmer weather.
But a well designed quilt can also be more versatile.
Quilt vs sleeping bag.
Katabatic alsek 22 zpacks solo down.
The main benefit of a quilt is that it weighs less than an equivalent fully enclosed sleeping bag.
Finally quilts don t use a zipper which is a surprisingly heavy component of a sleeping bag.
Sleeping bags differ from sleeping quilts in one significant way.
The quilt takes care of insulation on the top while the pad takes care of insulation on the bottom.
In fact the average sleeping bag on our list of top picks is 366 whereas the average quilt is 318.
They wrap fully around and enclose your body whereas quilts generally cover only your top and sides more on this below.
Designed to be lightweight highly compressible and incredibly simple quilts are great for the ultralight hikers among us who need the lightest and most compact pieces of gear.