Outdoor Vitals 30F topquilt - opinions

[Girotogo]

just purchased this topquilt at discounted price. anyone tested this or any opinions. i pulled it out of the stuff sack and tried to fluff it up. still see empty spots.

[Miquel Westano]

This stuff caught my eye with all it's ads on YouTube. But, i see more negative comments on it than positive. What i understand is that it is basically low quality stuff similar to the amazon china stuff.

I tell anyone who ask me, to buy quality cottage vendor stuff and only cry once. I'd rather complain i spent a lot of money, than complain i was cold and wet all night. And truthfully for what you get most of the cottage vendor stuff isn't that high anyway.

Let us know after you use it. I would love to see more owner reviews on it.

[SilvrSurfr]

I've only seen a few posts on HF about Outdoor Vitals and one response from the owner (his only post).

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...=outdoorvitals

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ighlight=aerie

Looking at their videos and product offerings (made in China), they're not very competitive with our cottage vendors. Caveat Emptor.

[Wmt90]

I havnt seen much good. Read the down smells, and reports of unequal fills. Price point dosnt really compete well with HGs Econ or Arrowhead. Both of which are great balues.

[mirrorslap]

just purchased this topquilt at discounted price. anyone tested this or any opinions. i pulled it out of the stuff sack and tried to fluff it up. still see empty spots.

~

I have owned the Aeries 30° quilt (UQ, TQ, pod, sleeping bag, all-in-one). Here is my .02

Loft: it took awhile, several weeks out of the stuff sack and hanging up, but I felt it lofted very well once it finally did.

Smell: I did not notice any disturbing odor

Used as a TQ: It is a large quilt (seems like it was 78" in length and 63"-72"ish wide?). That is a lot of down on top of and around you and I thought it worked just fine as a TQ but I only used it in warmer weather so I cannot address the temperature rating as a TQ

Used as a Pod: never did

Used as a UQ: I feel this is where the all-in-one is not the best option. First the suspension is very basic - 1 strand of shock cord looped through grosgrain loops on each end with cord locks for adjustment. Simple yet not as effective as say a dual suspension set up. The "foot end" is where I had the most problem. I call the foot end the end where you have to zip up the zipper to help cinch the quilt up against the hammock. There is a shock cord there as well and I could never get that area to completely seal off. And the zipper...every time I wen to move the zipper it would always snag some fabric. Lastly, because it is so wide, I would have a panel of the quilt hanging above my shoulders on both side of me once I got in the hammock. This was great for keeping the wind from hitting my face but that meant that there was 2 panels worth of down not contributing to the insulation / warmth of my bottom side. Definitely not as efficient as an UQ. I was a bit cool using the UQ in mid 40° weather (if my memory serves me correctly).

I did not have long term use with the quilt. Three overnighters as a TQ and 1 night as a UQ. I decided to buy a dedicated UQ before getting into colder weather and I can say there is definitely a gap between the Aeries quilt trying to be all things in one verses a dedicated UQ.

Having said that, if you got into cheap enough and plan to use it solely as a TQ and/or understand / overcome the drawbacks as a UQ then it may well be worth what you paid for it and you can feel good about what you have.

Like Shug says in a lot of his videos, you do not have to spend the most money and have the best gear. If what you have helps you get out and enjoy / experience the outdoors then consider that a win!

HYOY.