MYOG Synthetic Quilt

Awhile ago I built a down quilt with a central zip that allowed the user access to the filling. The idea was that the user could replace the filling quickly and without any sewing. I suggested that a quilt built this way would also allow alternative fillings to be used for each specific trip. Perhaps a down filling for a lightweight summer hike or more water resistant synthetic filling for a kayaking trip. This idea was fine except that for the filling to be quickly swappable it would have to be contained in some kind of additional skin that could be inserted and removed from the shell. This added extra weight that I'm not prepared to carry so I inserted my filling directly into the shell and decided to build a second, fully synthetic, quilt with swappable fillings. As most synthetic fill comes as a continuous sheet then no container would be needed. Imagine, 1 shell with 2 or 3 different fillings that could cover all conditions. Sound useful? I thought so!

Finished quilt with 8oz Apex insulation

MYOG Quilt

When I decide I’m going to build a piece of kit I don't just try any copy what’s already out there. I sit and think about the problems of these designs and, more importantly, what it is I really want from a piece of kit. Quilts is an area I’ve been thinking about a lot recently.

This isn't a step by step guide to building a quilt but should show you enough to make something similar should you choose.

Z-Packs Quilt Failure

Another trip, another kit failure. This time it’s the turn of the Z-Packs quilt I gave a positive review to here. In the review I commented that -

“...Quality is excellent. Materials and construction are first rate. I’m picky here and I wasn’t able to find fault with the stitching or materials...”

Unfortunately I will have to change my view on that after a blown seam during my cycle tour around Tasmania.

Z-Packs 20 Deg Down Sleeping Bag/Quilt Review

Note - I am a colder sleeper. This means that I need a bag rated at a cooler temperature than some to keep warm at any  given temperature. I know from many miserable, cold nights that I need to add 6 Celsius to an otherwise accurately rated bag. To be clear - If I want a bag to keep me warm at 0 Celsius then I need to be looking at bags rated around -6 Celsius. Bare that in mind when reading the review and particularly anything to do with temperature ratings. Unfortunately finding out if you are a cold or warm sleeper can be an expensive and sometimes cold experience! Quilts generally don’t have hoods and you will need additional head protection at cooler temperatures. I usually wear a light down hat when it's below 10 Celsius. When comparing quilts to hooded bags take that additional weight into consideration.

Commercial quilts have never really worked for me. My first experience was with a Nunatak Arc Ghost and while this is a fine example, as a side sleeper, I didn’t find it wide enough which made it a cold and draughty experience for me. I soon sold it on. Undeterred I started making my own and converted one of my PHD “design your own” bags into a wearable, hooded quilt. As this was a bag in its pervious life the width was far greater than is normal for commercial quilts. I found it worked so well that I converted my other 2 PHD bags into wearable quilts also. I was sold on the principle.