Summer Sleeping Bag/Under Quilt

**WalksInDark** · 06-02-2008, 09:44

NEWBIE QUESTION

I live in S.W. VA (which usually means high humidity and high/medium night time temps) and have a HH ULTRALITE BACKPACKER A-SYM. Now that the temps are on the rise, I am looking for an affordable---probably synthetic fill for ease of washing---summer sleeping bag or under quilt. Having looked at both the commercially produced under quilts (too expensive) and the DIY quilts (sorry, I can't sew & also do not have a sewing machine); I have not been able to find what I want.

Would appreciate any suggestions, plus pictures............especially those based upon personal experience/use in the HH ULTRALITE BACKPACKER A-SYM.

**Ramblinrev** · 06-02-2008, 09:54

I am using a rectangular sleeping bag as a top quilt. I left the zipper intact although some will say it should come out. I don't really want to trash the sleeping bag at this point by removing it. I just zipped up the foot end for a foot box. You can get cheap 40 - 50 degree sleeping bags reasonably cheap.

For an underquilt I grabbed an old bed quilt and just hitched it up to the bottom. I have the luxury of being able to sew... kind of.... But for the amount of sewing you would need to do to convert an old bed quilt you could sew it by hand. It's not that extensive or that hard. The biggest thing would be sewing a cord channel across the ends of the quilt to run the cinch cord. Any loops you could sew on basically like sewing buttons.

My underquilt cost me $5 for the quilt and some shock cord.

**Grinder** · 06-02-2008, 11:34

search Hammock engineer (or Coffee). he documented the conversion of a Sportsman Guide 50 degree bag to a quilt.

The bags cost $29 + S&H (as low as $20 on sale.) I use mine, unmodified, for 3 season with extra clothing and a poncho liner. I've been to mid 30's

Tom