There is a whole lot of gear involved with backpack hunting. One of the most important pieces to the system is our insulation for sleeping. I’m talking about your sleeping bag or your quilt. Which brings me to the topic of this here piece. I’ve used both extensively and am going to break down the pros and cons of each. So, here we go. Sleeping bags or quilts for backcountry hunting?
Let’s get this started off with what is the more familiar of the two options. Everyone knows how to use a sleeping bag. Ya hop in, zip it up, and go to sleep. This is the first pro to these tried and true items. There isn’t a learning curve to using a sleeping bag. Another up is going to be availability. There are a ton of options out there for sleeping bags ranging at all different price points. This means that you can more easily tailor your purchase to not only your needs, but your budget. And lastly, there is a hood(mummy bags). I don’t really use the hood for my head, but I do use it to hold my pillow in place throughout the night. Without that hood, my pillow will constantly fall off of my pad each time I turn over. Kind of annoying.
On the flipside sleeping bags are going to be heavier and less packable than that of a quilt. As backpack hunters weight and space in our packs is always something on the radar, so this is something to consider. More space in your pack means more food, which means you can stay out longer. Another con is the zipper. Zippers break and can be cumbersome to use in the dark, especially when it’s cold out. I’ve had the sleeping bag itself get stuck in the zipper and even my clothing.
Quilts are becoming a favorite among backcountry enthusiasts at a steady rate. For one, they’re lighter and more packable than sleeping bags. The reason being is that a quilt is basically a sleeping bag without a bottom to it, hence less material, hence less weight and more packability. Another standout for quilts is the fact that they are so versatile. You can choose to either sleep with one rather loose on top of you, giving the ability to throw a leg out if your hot, or more tightly mold it to your body to keep the heat in when it’s cold. Some can even be completely opened up, literally like a quilt, and used as a blanket. You can honestly sleep like you do at home with a quilt.
I mentioned there was no learning curve with a sleeping bag and this is where my first downside will come with quilts. There is indeed a learning curve and it has to do with the attachment system. Quilts attach to your sleeping pad via straps and buckles. If you don’t take the time to learn how to properly use this, you will have drafts and an overall potentially bad experience when the temps drop. I’ve heard many stories about folks freezing their butts off due to this. When attached properly, you will not have a draft. Something else to think about are your options. Unlike sleeping bags, there are just not as many options out there for quilts to choose from.
All of this begs the question, which is better? You’re the only one who can answer that, but I’ll lay out how I have used both over the years. In the early season over warm spring bear hunts and certainly in Aug/Sept I’m going to use my quilt. I use an Enlightened Equipment 20 degree Revelation and have for years. I’ve had great luck with this during those times. The swings in temps requires versatility and the quilt screams that. Once October rolls around I reach for my sleeping bag. My sleeping bag is a Lark UL 10 from Feathered Friends and I absolutely love it. Now, this is just the setup that I’ve acquired through the years and it’s not to say that sleeping bags are going to shine in colder weather. I know folks who use quilts down in cold temps and are perfectly happy with no issues. This system is just what I have on hand. I might end up trying a quilt for later season hunts and may like it. Time will tell, but this is what I’ve used for quite some time.
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