Old rag mountain quilt

**cshama** · 04-13-2009, 08:18

I have an orm quilt and I am having a problem with it as a top quilt. First let me say it is a quality piece of gear. When I use it at 50 degrees I wear boxer shorts and tshirt and get too hot. But when it gets down to 35degrees I wear bulky clothes and I more or less freeze. I think part of the problem is the bulky clothes are causing the orm to lift away from my body letting cold air in.

I am figuring the solution is to wear tight fitting thermal underwear so the orm lies flat against my body? But not sure. What kind of thermal underwear is most useful and economical.

Does the orm work ok when the temp dips below 40?

**Dale** · 04-13-2009, 08:28

I have used my ORM down to 25 with no problems at all, wearing just a tshirt and light fleece pants, and socks of course. What insulation are you using underneath? That could be the problem. I use the nest for underquilt.

Dale

**neo** · 04-13-2009, 08:28

i love my old rag mountain quilt.it rocks

neo

**lori** · 04-13-2009, 08:32

Isn't the ORM the 4 season quilt? I have the Hudson River, which is the 3 season version, and it works fine to below freezing. What are you using for bottom insulation?

**Coffee** · 04-13-2009, 08:40

It is the 4 season one. Are you a cold sleeper (get cold real easy) and have you had similar problems with other bags/quilts? I am a cold sleeper. I never seem to make it close to the bags rating. I use my montbell super stretch #3, about a 25 degree bag, when I work off shore and the AC is cranked up to around 50 degrees. I get cold in it in the mid 30's. Not the bags fault, I am just a human popscile.

For me I think wearing more clothes is warmer. Same effect as wearing more layers when hiking. As long as you are not compressing the insulation. Also a good hat or my jacket around my head or the jacket around my feet goes a long way.

**cshama** · 04-13-2009, 09:17

I think the problem is I am 6"4 and 215lb. I have the tall orm but I think its still too small and lets in the cold air when I have bulky clothes on. I wonder if JRB can somehow expand the quilt or maybe I will just buy a summer quilt to help up when temps get under 50.

My bottom quilt is a custom KAQ which overstuffed and very cosy. Its the top quilt thats failing me right now. Mostly cause it is letting cold air in

**Rushthezeppelin** · 04-13-2009, 11:28

Try to go with some thinner layers like you said. Don't get anything too tight as you don't want to cut off any circulation in effect making yourself colder (at least it seems to be this way for some people). Also if you have even a slight amount of moisture in the clothes you're sleeping in than that could greatly reduce their effectiveness. Check out this thread and maybe you might find you are one of those people that are better off with less clothes on.

**winger** · 04-13-2009, 12:06

Also, you may be getting condensation up into the quilt (by not allowing damp clothes to dry BEFORE you get under the quilt) as has happened to me on several occassions, then it gets cold real quick.

**turk** · 04-13-2009, 17:06

I am a huge fan of JRB quilts and own 5 different models.
However, I experience much the same complaint in around the same temps
as you describe. This is the primary reason that I am still firmly set on a
proper mummy bag at those temps and below as part of my winter sleep
system. Its not that my insulation is not adequate but rather how I sleep
opens up too many cracks and crevices for cold air drafts to creep in using
just an open top quilt.

Breathable clothing is key. You don't want to bulk up to the point that
perspiration will hit the dew point before getting through and out of your
down ORM bag. I really like 200wt fleece pants and shirt with a micropore
tshirt and long johns.
I would suggest going heavy to the point of overkill on your socks, and
go with a full face fleece balaclava or a down hood. Use the ORM with the
full footbox sealed up and take care to really tuck yourself in around the
head and shoulders. This is perhaps the biggest problem for someone as
tall as you, just not much fabric left up around the head and chest area to
tuck in with. One of the things I will often do is use my rain shirt/jacket,
slip it over my head just so it seals up around my neck and put the hood on
to cover my balaclava, but leave the rest of the jacket open and drape it
over my topquilt as a sort of air dam against those pesky shoulder and
neck drafts.

**Dutch** · 04-13-2009, 17:36

I just used my OMR this weekend down to mid 30s and I was cold also. I was wearing good quality mid weight running tights and warm socks. As Turk said I think it was operator problems more then the quilt. I kept getting drafts and air gaps and wake up cold. It wasn't too bad but I didn't get much sleep. The next night I was more careful to tuck it in where I could. It was much better.