Underquilt temp ratings

**smithobx** · 05-15-2007, 10:13

Originally Posted by blackbishop351

Glad to hear your Potomac worked out well on your Claytor...to my knowledge, you're the first one to try it! I bet you're having a hard time finding your full-camo setup now...

Yea, it's fun to set it up in the yard and watch my wife through the netting trying to find me! Joking aside, the potomac fits the Claytor like you custom fitted it. I really like the way it comes up high on the sides, should eliminate cold spots if you roll against the sides. A great product at a fair price.

**blackbishop351** · 05-15-2007, 10:14

Originally Posted by headchange4u

I think any under quilt (or sleeping bag) temp rating is nothing more that a educated guess. It makes a huge difference on how warm or cold you sleep. My Western Mountaineering bag is rated at 15* and I have taken it to the 0* mark and still been very warm.

That's definitely the case. I sleep really warm, so I've been generally comfortable well below the stated ratings on most of the insulations I've used. Others (not to mention names, NCPatrick

) sleep really cold and can't seem to get anywhere near the rated temps.

**NCPatrick** · 05-15-2007, 10:26

Hey! I... uh... oh nevermind.

**NCPatrick** · 05-15-2007, 10:28

I was able to get my Potomac to about 28F last winter before I got too cold to sleep well.

**lvleph** · 05-15-2007, 10:30

Poor NCPatrick has to use multiple underquilts in the 50s.

**Doctari** · 05-15-2007, 11:01

My KAQ will get me down to 29 degrees, but it dosn't seem to pack nearly as small as the down no sniveller by JRB which is a bit larger (to my eyes).

Which ever quilt you get, FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS for set up, then play with it till you have the "hang" of it. Trust me, 2:00 in the AM freezing your butt off trying to get your quilt adjusted right is not fun!!! I did that, thought I had the hang of it, WRONG!! I set up, warm day, sun shining, I put it on ONE TIME, thought "I got it right" 4 days later @ RRG, well, see above. When I got home I got the instructions, went in back yard, learned how to set up right.

"When all else fails, read the directions"

BTW, while trying to adjust my KAQ that night, just to add to the fun, my headlamp failed after about 30 seconds, so add: adjust unfamilure quilt in the dark to freezing my butt off

**Coffee** · 05-15-2007, 11:11

Originally Posted by Doctari

My KAQ will get me down to 29 degrees, but it dosn't seem to pack nearly as small as the down no sniveller by JRB which is a bit larger (to my eyes).

Which ever quilt you get, FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS for set up, then play with it till you have the "hang" of it. Trust me, 2:00 in the AM freezing your butt off trying to get your quilt adjusted right is not fun!!! I did that, thought I had the hang of it, WRONG!! I set up, warm day, sun shining, I put it on ONE TIME, thought "I got it right" 4 days later @ RRG, well, see above. When I got home I got the instructions, went in back yard, learned how to set up right.

"When all else fails, read the directions"

BTW, while trying to adjust my KAQ that night, just to add to the fun, my headlamp failed after about 30 seconds, so add: adjust unfamilure quilt in the dark to freezing my butt off

I don't remember it being that cold of a night.

Next time I won't lay in my hammock so long trying to figure out what is going on before I ask.

**NCPatrick** · 05-15-2007, 11:23

Originally Posted by lvleph

Poor NCPatrick has to use multiple underquilts in the 50s.

Um... I had to test them all?

I usually use my JRB Stealth quilt in the 50's. Very nice.

**mr. dribbles** · 05-15-2007, 18:40

For what it's worth, here's my latest temp test using a home-made KAQ with two layers of Climashield. I used the plans from from the KAQ website. For the record, I'm a cold sleeper. With the KAQ alone,and sleeping in midweight long underwear and a longsleeve tee shirt, I was comfortable to 28 degrees in Allegany National Forest. I did discover that the "cold mode" of not using the hammock tieouts was helpful. Two weeks ago I was toasty to 19 degrees in the Adirondacks with the addition of a closed cell foam pad. I use an EMS Mountain Light 20 as an over quilt.

If I had to do it over, I would have just purchased the KAQ. You can't beat the price and the durability, and I don't have to worry about moisture as much as with down. As AYCE from ThruHiker suggested, I'm going to compress it, use it, and enjoy it. When it's beat to crap I'll order another from Blackbishop.