Katabatic Gear - Alsek 22°F Quilt

I just ordered a Katabatic Alsek 22 because I got cold in my EE Revelation 30\* at around 40\* which really sucked (I was wearing all my clothes and hat). I think EE's temp rating is at least 10\* below a comfort rating, whereas Katabatic is a comfort temp rating. If you with EE plan ahead and order 10\* lower than what you think you'll want/need. I'm not sure the zipper/drawstring foot box is worth the extra $$ unless you really want to unzip and use the quilt as a blanket. I opted to go closed footbox this time around. I've used mummy bags primarily in the past and the EE was my first quilt. I think quilts are the way to go for 3 season backpacking.

I’m a little confused. Are you saying on warm nights you just sleep on top of the current Kelly bag, but you’re looking for a ~40° bag for those situations? Are you too hot in it but too cold out of it (if that’s the case try using it like a quilt/blanket)? I’d prefer to save that money for a trip rather than some gear that I’ll only use sometimes. But if you feel you’ll use a 40° quilt/bag often make sure you get a high quality one, it’s worth the extra money. I upgraded from the same Kelty you have to a Katabatic Alsek quilt a number of years ago and the difference is warmth and comfort is somewhat astounding

Let's be very clear and honest about this, so as to not mislead future readers. Canyonlands has average lows of 30F in March. So ideally you want something comfort-rated to 30F unless you're a warm sleeper, plus some wiggle room. Very likely haters quilt you had was limit-rated to 30F, or comfort-rated to 40F. So it's no wonder that you would be cold. We're missing information to put your claim into context, though, because clothing can make significant contributions to the sleep system. What were you wearing? Did you have any insulated clothing like a puffy packed but not worn to sleep? Maybe you're a cold sleeper, but for many people it would be a huge overreaction to jump to a quilt comfort-rated at 15F and an Xtherm for 30F lows. You skipped an entire class of options that would be a more reasonable middle-ground solution (e.g. 20F quilt and an Xlite)

Do you mean 20 F limit or comfort rated? And are you a cold, average, or warm sleeper? The average low in Canyonlands in March is 30 F. So a 20F is possibly even overkill, assuming you're also carrying insulating clothing layers to supplement your sleep system with (which you should be) Fleece layers (alpha direct) plus a puffy, booties and beanie will add 5-10F in my experience. A bivy will add a few more degrees As a warm sleeper, I would carry a quilt limit-rated to 30F for 30F lows, then add clothing. A cold sleeper should do the same, but with a 30F comfort rating rather than limit. So if you're 20F quilt is limit-rated (which is true of EE) meaning it likely has a 30F comfort rating, you're totally good I'd suggest a Katabatic Alsek 22 over EE if you're a cold sleeper. Comfort-rated to 20-ish

>and having my back open to creepy-crawlies etc is not the most pleasant thought If it helps: Using a quilt need not feel all that different from using a mummy bag. A quilt wouldn’t work if it couldn’t prevent drafts; creepy-crawlies are just not a thing. Ultimately, comfort is the priority - some prefer not to cowboy camp because it just *feels* bad - but if you’re comfortable sleeping without a shelter, I wouldn’t rule out a quilt. I don’t know when you plan to start the AZT, but I like the [Katabatic Alsek (22*F)](https://katabaticgear.com/products/alsek-ultralight-quilt) as an all-purpose quilt. Since you’re travelling to Arizona to hike, what prevents you from picking up a bag in the States within your personal exemption?

I have a WM alpinlite. It's incredible how versalite their bags are. I use it as a quilt when it's too warm. The zip goes 95% of the way down. It's actually more useful as a blanket style than my katabatic alsek, which has a much longer sewn footbox. I can also move the down thanks to continuous baffles, which is almost the ultimate thermal regulater. The only issue I have is the down does move around, but most of the time I don't care. If I expect a cold night, I'll shake the down so that it's mostly on top. If I expect a warm night, it's much easier to just cover myself in the part that has the least down. Any warmer than that, and my liner is probably enough.

I mentioned EE because OP had one originally and they were having a 20% sale. As for my recommendation (I live and hike near the southern section of the AT) I am most familiar with Katabatic as our family has 4 Katabatic quilts, 1 HMG 40 quilt, 2 MYOG Synthetic quilts (both APEX and Primaloft Gold, as well as a couple of MYOG Down. As for recommendations for a 1 quilt AT solution I would chose a Katabatic Flex 30. A little bulky and slightly heavy but I have found it very versatile for a much wider temperature range than the closed footbox Katabatic Elite quilts. I was out the other week near Wayah Bald and the night time temps were in the 40s-50s (I run a thermometer) and I was sweltering in the 22F Katabatic Alsek even though I was on a low insulation Uberlight pad. An APEX quilt that was comfortable into the 20f would be very bulky (Mine is 17 oz and around 45f) but cost less. I replaced my synthetic quilts this year with the HMG 40f quilt primarily for stuffed size but also lighter with a lower potential comfortable temperature margin for fall trips. The HMG on sale was about the same price as the Katabatic Flex 40 but is much more compact and lighter. For the record people love to hate on the HMG stuff but this quilt is exceptionally well made with a great material feel. My daughter is a professional seamstress (Broadway, Met Opera, etc) and that is her evaluation compared to her Katabatic Sawatch we got her for Christmas (which is also very well made).

Katabatic Alsek 22 is simple to aquire, high quality, and will see you through any temp dips vs the historical average. In general, it'll be a good three season bag in the mountains as well. Extra down is a super light/cheap way to increase your safety margins if things get rough and quilts are super easy to vent.

As others have said, a 20 F quilt should be fine for March, but you should be prepared for outlier weather. Puffy, extra layers, beanie, etc. will help. Caveat—I’m a cold sleeper. I’ve got a Katabatic Alsek 22F quilt and used it on a thru hike last March (damp climate, not Canyonlands). I was comfortable down to around 32F wearing my clothes and a hooded Patagonia Micro Puff. I had a couple of nights where it dropped down to the low 20s F and I was pretty cold. Not dangerous by any means, but not comfortable at all. I was sleeping on a Tensor all season pad. I ended up getting a Katabatic Windom hood which weighs less than 2 ozs and helped me be much more comfortable down into the 20s. I don't pull it out a lot, but am glad to have it when I need it. Keeping my neck warm goes a long way towards comfort for me. No matter how buttoned up I get in a quilt, after some time, my neck area gets some drafts. The Windom hood and a Merino buff come pretty close to what the draft collar on a mummy bag do without the claustrophobia that can come with a bag.

What sleeping pad are you using? Having one with good r-value will go a long way to keeping you warmer. I use a Katabatic alsek quilt. Rated to 22 deg and i stay pretty warm through October.

I got a 22 degree quilt from katabatic gear about a month ago and I like it a lot so far! It's very small, light, and warm and I like the way it attaches to the sleeping pad. Our last trip it was rainy and froze overnight, and I was plenty warm. It replaced my synthetic nemo sleeping bag which was over two pounds (heavier than my tent) and a pain to pack. I picked katabatic because it seems like the fabric is a bit more durable than the enlightened equipment quilts (but slightly heavier), and also you don't have to pick out all the extras like draft collar, attachment method, etc.