Name the warmest top quilt [Archive] - Hammock Forums - Hammocks and hammock camping

MedicineMan

11-18-2009, 02:24

I've got stimulus money to spend and if I'm going to the death camp on Mt. Rogers end of January I want to die warm!
Is it the JRB Old Rag?
the Nunatak Arc Expedition?
Others?
I looked at the Old Rag's spec's, 10-15F if I'm reading right...so for me that means 25F and above...anyone use it lower? Not that I'm fearful of single F's in the Highlands but you never know.

Rug

11-18-2009, 03:48

I cannot comment on the non-JRB quilts but let me tell you about my JRB gear.

Last week I slept outside in my back yard. Weatherman said "Low 30's" I saw frost in the morning so I am guessing around 32F. I was HOT but comfortable. My shirt was covered in sweat, my hair was damp from sweat. When i woke-up for a nature-call, I shed all my layers and opened the UQ 'vents'. I climbed back in and fell back to sleep without any problem (and stayed asleep).

My gear only consists of the following:
JrB Old Rag Mountain - TQ
JrB Winter Nest - UQ

I can't wait till we get some snow, so I can really test this combo out. Although the thought of a Nature call at 3am in 2 feet of snow scares me a little. =)

MedicineMan

11-18-2009, 04:03

That's good news. I've always been with Nunatak for TQs but the Jacks are here and supportive of our hangs; just want to hear someone/anyone say they've used a Rag in the 5F range.

LyttleBryan

11-18-2009, 08:07

Out of curiosity, why not consider buying two? It may be a little extra money, but if you're considering nuntak I'm assuming money is no issue :lol: You could get a medium thickness quilt and a lighter quilt which when combined would probably take you to 0 with no problems. Then when Summer comes you've already got your light top quilt. Just a thought.

edit: Just saw in another thread that you own 5 nunataks. You may be carrying more weight, but I'm pretty sure those 5 will take you down to 0 and beyond ;)

Quoddy

11-18-2009, 08:44

For winter I bought a Nunatak Expedition temperature rated (5F), but with 3" baffles and overfilled, quilt. Because the Expedition is so very wide, I had it made in Arc Alpinist/Specialist width. Another, mainly hammock related thing, was to have completely detachable straps.

MedicineMan

11-18-2009, 09:10

LyttleBryan-you're right I could double up on what I've got...will think about that one.
Quoddy-I've got several Nunataks but never thought to have removable straps, good ideal because in the 5 or 6 years I've used the Arc Alpinist and Ghost I've never used them, in fact they sometimes get in my way.
Honestly I'm just using the Mt.Rogers hang as an excuse to get one TQ that is seriously cold rated.
I did go to the Speer site but didn't see anything rated from 0-5F......kinda hoping for an excuse to go with the Jacks again ;)

animalcontrol

11-18-2009, 09:11

warmest TQ?...the one I made for myself!
That being said, JRB lists the Mt Washington 4 as a "0-10*F"

MedicineMan

11-18-2009, 09:55

animalcontrol, i use the MW4 as an underquilt

animalcontrol

11-18-2009, 10:02

animalcontrol, i use the MW4 as an underquilt

would another one not work as a TQ? ;)

MedicineMan

11-18-2009, 10:04

Honestly was thinking Rocky No Sniveller with overstuffing...what do you think?

Ewker

11-18-2009, 10:05

Speer top quilt

Coldspring

11-18-2009, 10:40

The WM Bison GWS I converted into a quilt keeps me pretty warm.

Get a Nunatak made in hammock size, and I promise you it will be warmer per oz. than a JRB.

animalcontrol

11-18-2009, 11:02

Speer top quilt

sorry, gotta disagree with ya....
Speer estimates temp of 25*F on his site (http://www.speerhammocks.com/Products/TopBlanket.htm) and with less than 3" of loft, I believe he is pretty close

angrysparrow

11-18-2009, 11:08

sorry, gotta disagree with ya....
Speer estimates temp of 25*F on his site (http://www.speerhammocks.com/Products/TopBlanket.htm) and with less than 3" of loft, I believe he is pretty close

Agreed. I've used mine to 20ºF, but that was the lower limit IMO.

While the Speer TopBlanket is a fine piece of kit, it was originally designed for supplementing a PeaPod.

The OP asked for warmest, and there are definitely warmer and roomier options available.

Ewker

11-18-2009, 11:24

sorry, gotta disagree with ya....
Speer estimates temp of 25*F on his site (http://www.speerhammocks.com/Products/TopBlanket.htm) and with less than 3" of loft, I believe he is pretty close

I know what it says but also notice he says this at the bottom

"My Temperature Ratings are very conservative & many folks find they are still comfortable at 5-10 degrees lower.
I'm a cold sleeper & these are my temperature ratings--you may very well find you are warm at even lower temperatures"

animalcontrol

11-18-2009, 11:41

I know what it says but also notice he says this at the bottom

"My Temperature Ratings are very conservative & many folks find they are still comfortable at 5-10 degrees lower.
I'm a cold sleeper & these are my temperature ratings--you may very well find you are warm at even lower temperatures"

fair enough but no matter...all things being equal (and they should be here) a 2.8" thick quilt (Speer) will not outperform a 4" thick one (Mt Wash 4) and even Ed would admit that

Ewker

11-18-2009, 11:46

fair enough but no matter...all things being equal (and they should be here) a 2.8" thick quilt (Speer) will not outperform a 4" thick one (Mt Wash 4) and even Ed would admit that

how much difference (temp wise) will a quilt made with 900 fill vs one with 800 fill make? Just asking.

Mule

11-18-2009, 11:54

I have an Old Rag Mountain that I take for cold nights and a Speer Snugfit for an underquilt suplemented with a JRB Shenandoah for cold nights. And a Weather cover too, top and bottom.

animalcontrol

11-18-2009, 11:56

how much difference (temp wise) will a quilt made with 900 fill vs one with 800 fill make? Just asking.

nothing.
higher fill power gives the opportunity to fill more space with less down, thus saving weight. It does nothing to increase temp rating when discussing thickness of a quilt.
3" thick quilt of 550, 650, 800 or 900 fill down should be equally warm, just different weights

BTW, my "even Ed..." comment was for Ed Speer, not you! oops, forgot your name Eddy

Ewker

11-18-2009, 12:11

ok thanks .........

pizza

11-18-2009, 12:29

I have an old rag mountain down to 21 degrees and it will easily handle lower temps.

BillyBob58

11-18-2009, 15:31

I think maybe that MWUQ4 is going to be the hands down winner for a manufactured quilt, though I don't really know what all other high end manufacturers, like Nunatak, might offer in a quilt. Is any one else offering a quilt with minimum rated 4" loft single layer? And in my sample at least, I would say that the 4" is a conservative rating.

A Feathered Friends minus 10 bag has 8" double layer loft.

But of course, this is only considering the MWUQ's loft, and that -10 Feathered Friends rating is for a hooded, draft free sleeping bag. We all know the extra challenges that must be accounted for with quilts, plus a thick hood would be needed to even compete. And for that matter, how is the MWUQ as a TOP quilt? I know it is superb as an UQ, but what about size issues for a TQ and blocking drafts? I have never experimented with it in that fashion. But when just looking at loft, it is probably a top contender.

MedicineMan

11-18-2009, 19:38

thanks to all for the brainstorming! i think after mulling it over and over I'll probably just use two of what I've already got, combining a Nunatak Ghost or Edge with the Arc Alpinist. I have to cringe at the weight of the Alpinist-Ghost combo=38 ounces but the good is 4.5inches of total loft and that may be a little conservative. At least for this trip I have good chances of pulkpulling.

cooldays

11-18-2009, 20:24

Can someone tell me what it feels like to sleep with a quilt as opposed to a sleeping bag....does it get drafty at the sides or feet because of the opening? Is using an UQ that is made and shaped to be an UQ a funny shape or uncomfortable shape to use it as a top quilt? Are the quilts shorter than sleeping bags and does it make a difference? Is it differnet to use one in a hammock than on the ground?

koaloha05

11-21-2009, 16:54

would another one not work as a TQ? ;)

Yes! No reason why an UQ cannot be used as a TQ. The Nest (~2.5") has kept me warm down into the low 20*F. Just guessing that the MW4 (~4" loft) as a top quilt would easily get you into at least the lower teens.

At least for use in a hammock personally have had no issues with a TQ being drafty. The hole if an issue can easily "plugged" with any spare clothing. It's not much of a hole to begin with. The JRB uq are rectangular when opened. Some models with differential cut like a quality sleeping bag. The shape does not make it uncomfortable. More comfort if you don't like the confining feeling of a tighter cut mummy bag. I'm short so the ~77" length is not a problem. You do need head protection for cold nights. From a simple knit cap to insulated balaclava. If it's that cold I'm hauling around a hooded parka for sit down time that doubles up as sleep wear.

Just Jeff

11-21-2009, 18:31

Sleeping with a quilt when camping is a lot like sleeping with one at home. It's a blanket. Only it has a footbox to keep your feet snuggled inside. At home, a blanket that's too narrow will give you drafts...just like a quilt that's too narrow will in the woods. But if your quilt fits, you'll save a lot of weight. 48" wide is great for a hammock for most folks, though some bigger people might want a wider one. 48" can be used on the ground but many people want a wider quilt for ground use.

MM - I've used my MWUQ4 w/ JRB hood as a top quilt in single digits a few nights now. Works great and will probably be my go-to top quilt for the foreseeable future. The only drawback is that it's so lofty that I breathe more directly onto it, but any big poofy quilt will likely have that problem. The MWUQ is the warmest quilt I've ever used, especially when used with JRB's hood...I bet the Nunatak is the next competitor, though.

warbonnetguy

11-21-2009, 19:19

MM - I've used my MWUQ4 w/ JRB hood as a top quilt in single digits a few nights now.

do you find 42" sufficiently wide?

Hooch

11-21-2009, 19:24

do you find 42" sufficiently wide?
Are you working on a new product that needs testing? :D

lori

11-21-2009, 21:36

I've used the JRB quilts on the ground. It's easier to stay warm in a hammock with it, but if you get to the point that you can tuck in sides in your sleep, the ground sleeping is not hard. I am thinking of adding quilt wings to make it easier to keep tucked, should my ground sleeping endeavors continue to be a percentage of my camping.... Still using the hammock most nights tho.

I also have a Ray Way that I made on purpose to be quite a bit wider than even the standard Ray Way... dead easy to sleep on the ground with it. But it's bulky as heck. Two 3 season down quilts take up less space.

Kobear

11-21-2009, 22:26

warbonnetguy

11-22-2009, 09:48

Are you working on a new product that needs testing? :D

i was just curious, 48" seems standard width for a hammock tq, so i was just wondering how 42" felt.

Shug

11-22-2009, 11:27

My warmest is WarbonnetGuys prototype Winter TQ. It is gonna be good to 0º or below ..... know pretty soon.
It is sweet.
In my picture I was fooling around going for a laugh but you can see the wrap around.......
6709

warbonnetguy

11-22-2009, 11:45

shug, i like your avatar picture, you look kinda like knight rider

Kobear

11-22-2009, 13:39

Thanks for the reminder WBG. That loss of 6" using the UQ on top is significant enough to think consider carefully.

warbonnetguy

11-22-2009, 13:41

well, i wasn't saying 42" wasn't wide enough, just wondering if it was bare min. or adequate or what.

Just Jeff

11-22-2009, 15:00

I find the 42" width fine for the hammock but probably too narrow for me on the ground. For reference, I'm 5'10" and ~190lbs right now.

For max warmth, I'd put the thicker quilt on bottom and use the thinner one on top. Or put the thin one on bottom and supplement with a pad, then use the thicker one on top. If it's gonna be cold enough to need an MWUQ4, I'll usually have at least a torso CCF pad anyway, just for safety and for comfort sitting around camp. But lately I've been using a half-underquilt (or the DownHammock (http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeGearDownHammock2.html)) so I use the pad for leg insulation anyway...saves weight.

MacEntyre

11-22-2009, 15:23

The Speer Top Blanket is 40" wide... works well in a PeaPod, but it might be too narrow for an UQ without as much freeboard, so to speak.

Uticafats

01-20-2010, 21:12

MedicineMan

01-20-2010, 21:19

I've used a Nunatak Arc Ghost and an arc Edge to gain some heat. Stacking works, just like layering clothes...the penalty is weight of those extra nylon layers. I stacked them because my main winter TQ was shipped off for analysis.

Just Jeff

01-21-2010, 21:47

Have you tried stacking the TQ's? I have a JRB ORM w/ 2oz of overstuff and a Nunatak Arc Specialist w/ 2oz overstuff and was thinking of stacking them for below 0F nights. Will stacking the TQ's compress them and thus cancel any added warmth? Has anyone tried this?

I've stacked the JRB NS on top of my 30F sleeping bag several times...last time I used that in -2F with a decent wind blowing right thru my tarp. It works fine, and the TQ isn't heavy enough to significantly compress the bag. As MM said, the weight penalty of two extra layers of nylon is the price you pay for it...but if you only need that much warmth for one or two trips a year, it may be worth it to you. I use that setup when I have to outfit others, like my son Joker, or when I'm just playing around with different setups.

Now that I have the Winter Yeti, I'll probably always use that on bottom and the MWUQ4+hood on top in the winter.

Take-a-knee

01-21-2010, 21:53

While we are on the topic, if someone had both a MW3 and MW4 which would you recommend to use as the UQ and TQ to get maximum warmth? I'm rather new to this - joined the hanging world this summer while on an AT section hike. I'd love to take my set-up into colder territory.

JRB No Sniveler and JRB Rocky Mtn No Sniveler, maybe a two ounce overstuff in the latter. I'm considering narrowing the footbox on my RM No Sniveler since, now that I have a MW4, I'll never use the RMNS as an UQ.