How bulky are top/bottom quilts?

[redrob]

I am currently trying to figure out a good combo for a TQ/UQ that won't break the bank. Currently, I have a Walmart pad and a poncho liner which is fine for summers in Texas, but is pretty cold in the winter. When car camping, I use the pad and the black bag from a military MSS as a top quilt which is fine at about 40 degrees and may be good for lower temps too. Unfortunately, both these systems are pretty bulky. I would like to ditch the pad and use a down UQ and TQ, but they are out of my price range (unless I can score some down jackets or quilts from goodwill, which is unlikely in Texas). How bulky are quilts made from things like climashield or primaloft?

Thanks,
Rob

[Rolloff]

Down to Synthetic?

Grapefruit to Soccerball.


=

[fallkniven]

yes, it's all about the insulation. Any synthetic filling will be bulky, and I mean any. If you want compact, you need to go with down. Undergroundquilts.com offers a very neat water resistant down, that help combat moisture build up on longer trips.

[The Old Boot]

Each of my TQ and UQ done in 5.0 Climashield compress in DIY compression sacks to slightly smaller than a soccer ball.

I might be able to get them smaller with commercially made compression sacks since they have 4 compression straps to my 2 but I don't worry about it.

The quilts, the UQ in particular might be a bit larger in size than other quilts since they were made with generous sizing and for my use in a bridge hammock. The UQ, for example is 72" long.

[gunner76]

Down vrs Synthetic

Down can be compressed much smaller than a equvelant Synthetic TQ/UQ

However Down products have been going up in price so the Synthetic may be a better option.

I own both and when I take my Synthetic TQ/UQ I use a compression sack and strap it to the outside of my pack.

[Mountnman]

Personal experience and too many quilts hanging in gear room, save up and go down off the start and you will save money in long run and be happy happy happy

[Nodust]

Personal experience and too many quilts hanging in gear room, save up and go down off the start and you will save money in long run and be happy happy happy

That was my experience also. Years of buying cheap sleeping bags that I hated would have paid for nice down. Luckily I wised up when I got into hammocks and went down quilts from the start.

[zooshooter]

That was my experience also. Years of buying cheap sleeping bags that I hated would have paid for nice down. Luckily I wised up when I got into hammocks and went down quilts from the start.

I second the motion. Bought a comparatively cheap synthetic sleeping bag and wasn't happy with it. My parents have nothing but synthetic, they're warm but they weigh, almost literally, 12-15lbs each made of materials like denim. When I decided to be a little more serious about my camping gear I got a down bag and made my own underquilt. Love em both although the quilt is a little messy. Nice & warm though. Combined they pack down to about the size of the synthetic bed that I first bought. Definitely recommend saving and getting a good quality bag initially, you'll definitely save money in the long run....unless you're car camping, then get whatever pleases you.

[arbitrage]

regarding synth vs down: my 40* EE synthetic UQ packs down to about the same volume as my 20* EE down UQ

[streamline]

DIY Down both and you will come out cheaper and custom to you tastes.
I haven't tried a TQ but my second diy project was a down UQ. It was not as hard as you would think and i loved it, and so did the member that bought it from me.