so far most important point made is that the Mamba is hammock specific, intended to be used with an UQ....versus the JRB which can be splayed out flat and square and used on the bed at home too if you want...the Jacks offer a system as does Warbonnet--you have to decide which system you want. The Jack system is as stated above more variable, the Mamba probably lighter for a specific use. You can go to ground with a Mamba, dont think you cant but it is a tighter fit and you wont be rolling around as much as you can say under a Hudson River....personal choice here, just like religeon!!
Get the Mamba and save yourself on shipping.
Jacks use 7" wide baffles vs. 5" baffles on the Warbonnet. Warbonnets are stuffed full of down and it won't shift around causing cold spots like the Jacks' underfilled quilts do. The Warbonnet footbox is far superior to the drawstring footbox on the Jacks', which requires a sock to keep cold air from cold air drafting.
I have absolutely no problem with the JRB footboxes. If I want to cinch it up tight, I just wrap the drawstring around the bottom and get no drafts whatsoever. Never had a problem with it, ever. Actually, I think it's an advantage b/c in the summer I'll leave a smaller opening so I can stick my feet out when I need to cool off...can't do that with most other quilts or bags.
Re: the underfill...you can always request an overstuff if you think the stock is inadequate.
Not knocking the Warbonnet b/c I haven't tried it yet, but I've got four JRB quilts, and have had two of them for over five years, and I haven't had the problems you're so adamant about. (I did send the first two back for an overstuff, but JRB has now made that amount standard.)
“Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall when the wise are banished from the public councils because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded because they flatter the people, in order to betray them.” ~Judge Joseph Story
- My site: http://www.tothewoods.net/
- Designer, Jeff's Gear Hammock / Pack Cover by JRB
IMPOSSIBLE JUST TAKES LONGER
That's unfair, Coldspring.
There are literally hundreds of people that have no problem with the JRB footbox closure, and the thousands of warm nights spent under those quilts is at odds with your opinion.
I'm certain that the Mamba is a fine design, well executed. But that doesn't make the JRB design less, somehow.
There are a lot of hangers, and there is a lot of variation among those hangers. One design is not perfect for everyone...
“I think that when the lies are all told and forgot the truth will be there yet. It dont move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt.” - Cormac McCarthy
Voivalin - I often wear my JRB No Sniveller. I usually wear my raingear over it so the quilt doesn't get dirty, and if I get an ember on it the raincoat will be much cheaper to replace than the quilt. It's really great for trips that are just a bit colder than I planned for...I always have backup, w/o carrying the bulk and weight of an extra jacket.
“Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall when the wise are banished from the public councils because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded because they flatter the people, in order to betray them.” ~Judge Joseph Story
- My site: http://www.tothewoods.net/
- Designer, Jeff's Gear Hammock / Pack Cover by JRB
IMPOSSIBLE JUST TAKES LONGER
My coldest recorded temp (-17F) was under a JRB RMS. Not a thing wrong with that quilt IMO. I'm sure the WB Winter Black Mambas will allow me to go just as low, but I can't knock a quilt that will take me that low with such relative comfort.
A big part of my preference for the Black Mambas is because I don't need the flexibility of being able to use the quilt as a topquilt or underquilt because I use the Yetis almost exclusively for underquilts. A dedicated topquilt just makes more sense in conjunction with the rest of my set-up.
I will promise you this much about the RMS, you'll never see mine in the "For Sale" forum. Nope, it's mine and I'm keepin it!
Then again, you won't see any of my Warbonnet quilts there either. Basically, just don't look for my stuff in that forum.
Trust nobody!
agreeing with AS, the issue is not build quality at all. I too am blessed with several JRB quilts and love them all. Slept under a mt.rogers this afternoon in fact. The issue of inadaquate amounts of fill is also moot in my eyes...from what I've seen ALL of our industries (Te-wa,WB,Jacks,Speers,etc) provide more than adaquate fill and more than that if you insist. The comparable issue is intent of use. If I want to be able to wear my TQ then no doubt the Jacks have the advantage; if abs. efficiency in weight carried for a TQ them Mamba wins.
I use a JRB quilt on my WBBB and it works perfectly. But, by judging by the usefulness and design of the WBBB, I'm sure anything that Brandon makes is probably fist rate. So, I think you have to ask yourself if you want a head hole or not?
"In your face space coyote"-HJS
I have been pondering and pondering.
I like the idea to get up in the morning and take My warm over quilt with me to keep me warm during breakfast. Then at the evening it would be very nice to be dressed up warmly and sit down watch for example sunset. And also there would be no need to take extra layer of clothes with Me for warmth if I could use top quilt as a jacket if the colder weather hits by suprise.
But I'm bit worried that when using my sleeping system as an extra clothing it could get damp. And that would not be nice to use damp top quilt during night. So even if there would be need for extra clothing the weather may be too wet or the user can be too sweaty for using top quilt as an extra clothing.
Are those few times when I could use Jack's-R-Better quilt as clothing enough to purchase their top quilt - that is the question.
Last edited by voivalin; 02-05-2010 at 14:18.
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