Enlightened Equipment - Enigma APEX

ADK ULer here, The ADk is a wild and magical place for North east standards. 1. Since you're new to overnighting just go the budget route and definitely get a double wall tent for the Adirondacks. If you find you like it and start pushing bigger miles then you can upgrade down the road. 2. For your sleeping bag concerns I have both down and synthetic. It really only matters what time of the year you're using them. If its more in the summer I'd go synthetic (40F EE apex quilt) as the Daks is a really wet place and condensation can easily build up. But in the more shoulder season (late september early october) I bring my down 20F quilt as it can easily get into the 30s at night and I'd rather be warm then cold. If you're going with a double wall tent then there are less concerns with your down bag as it'll get less condensation on it. 3. Buy both and sleep on them in your house. Figure out what you like better then return the other. This is what I'd do if I started out all over again. 7. The adirondacks can be a tough area and it sounds like you have done a decent amount of day hiking in the park. Just remember that the "Adirondack Mile" is a really thing. Just because you know you can do a specific hiking speed somewhere else doesn't mean it'll hold up in the adirondacks. The place is rugged, can be steep and is muddy as all help. With a overnight pack this can also slow you down even more. So know your capability, have a solid plan to get to a camp site (definitely make a more reasonable plan on your first trip) and enjoy the experience. I think more information on what your overnight . weekend trips int he adirondacks will will help many of us to provide suggestions. As there are many easy trails in the adirondacks that aren't boulder scrambling or mud trudges. Many of the trips I do are 2 nights with a good amount of those trips set up at a base camp so I can bag a ton of peaks. A great place to start your shake down overnight could be the pharaoh lake wilderness. Its a beautiful lake with a lot of amazing campsites along it. Plus you could day hike up to the top of pharaoh mountain for some excellent views.

I switched to an EE Enigma quilt this year to try to cut weight (Christmas present), Already used it in the low 30's and also at about 50f. Very happy with the switch.

I’ve 0F, 20F, 40F down quilts and a 30F Climashield APEX synthetic quilt. The synthetic is bulkier but good. It definitely does have its place when it’s wet or on a long multi-day hike where it could be wet. Also, I’m allergic to down and enjoy not waking up stuffed up when I use the synthetic

I also got an EE quilt and have thoughts on rating - I opted for a 0° bag but this was motivated by spending some uncomfortable nights right around 35° in my Sierra Designs down bag that was rated at that. With a quilt the zero seems overkill but the design has meant I've been comfortable in much warmer temps despite being a warm sleeper generally. I can open it up, hang a leg or arm out, or be just partially covered. They key with the quilt style is having a pad that is matched for the temps you're in. On my last trip i still took my Sierra Designs bag as it packs slightly smaller than my ee quilt but this setup works for me to cover a wide range of temps. Admittedly I missed the mobility of the quilt compared to the mummy but I've spent most of the last 30 years in mummy bags so it's not unfamiliar.

Love my Enlightened quilt. Wish I had read the care instructions first. Hand wash only. Ugh.

I think it's because they were good value back then, but their price has crept up to Katabatic, Nunatak, etc. Still worth it if you them on sale though. I had one of their Karo baffle quilts that was severely underfilled and it would not keep the down in place. Replaced it with an Enigma and it ways also underfilled for the rating and sent it back to get down added. Eventually replaced the Enigma with a Nunatak Sulo and had zero probems with it. They are also the company Defense Mechanisms making tactical gear, and some people might not like that.

Enlightened Equipment! Minnesota company making awesome sleeping quilts. We have two (a one-person and a 2-person) and they pack down so so small. A worthy investment! We usually put down a sarong or towel to not be sleeping directly on the pad.