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

I think 20-30° is the right range for PnW Cascade backpacking in shoulder season. And for me, also summer as I am a cold sleeper. And June is still shoulder season in the PnW. I’ve ran into a lot of snow drifts in June. Hammock Gear makes great quilts that are pretty reasonable. I also have a Katabatic, though that’s a bit more money (though not a ton).

At $500 you have a world of options. Western Mountaineering is by far the most expensive bag I have seen. Whether it is worth it, I don’t know. I’m a hammocker and don’t use bags. I have a Katabatic and it is great. I also have a Hammock Gear UL and it is also great. I have a Superior Gear, guess what, also great. If I had to pick one… Probably the HG because it is very light. But perhaps not great for durability for ground dwellers. I think it is like 8D or something stupid low. After that, the Katabatic. Edit - my bad. Just looked. 7D And main difference in warmth with Katabatic is you get the differential cut (top layer is bigger than inner layer). This helps it not pull tight and compress the down. For a hammocker this is not a big deal. For mouth breathing ground dwellers this is probably more important :)

I have a Katabatic and a Hammock Gear Burrow UL (which does not appear of their site anymore). Both are great. The main complaint that I understand about EE is they are generous with their rated temp. Not that they are bad quilts. But any quilt with less than 20D fabric is going to be a bit fragile. So don’t wear it like a poncho and go off to pee and let it get hung up in brush.

Outdoor Vitals makes good stuff. My only complaint with them is they are expensive for being slightly under top end. Like they are not a budget, nor are they premiere. I have a Katabatic Alsek 22° and a Hammock Gear Burrow UL 30°. Hammock Gear is an awfully good deal especially if you can catch a sale. Which they have frequently. I had the Katabatic first but got the HG UL for others in my house to use. But when solo, I have started using it because it is significant lighter. The only downside is the fabric is 7D (super light weight, but not super tough). I hammock so it is fine and lives in a safe enclosed space. Katabatic would be better for ground dwellers.

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 am also a cold side sleeper, and new to camping, first thing I found is that some manufacturer temp temp values are useless. I bought a Corus 20 for UK, and both me and my son were cold at 10 celsius temperatures. I then bought a Katabatic 22 and 15 and have never been cold, not even in Iceland in summer. One is 6.6” wide, the other is 6 regular, we’re both 6” tall, I’m a bit less constrained in the wider one, but the regular is wide enough, I could have gone regular 6” for both, but didn’t have any chance of trying them out. Couldn’t be happier with them.

Yup. Quilts were a miracle for my sleep when I discovered them. I'm 6'2" / 220 lbs. and turn all night, every night. Probably settle on a "figure four" type position for an hour or two at a time. Just get a long/wide Enlightened Equipment or Katabatic. And quilts are particularly good for above-freezing temps.

Can’t go wrong with Katabatic. I have six of their quilts in my gear closet (to outfit my family of four) and I’m 100% satisfied with them.

I’d try adding a liner first and even if that didnt work I’d opt for anything else that is more in the 1.5-2lb range. I am not familiar with the bag you are considering but it is obviously heavy but I’d imagine it’s bulky too. I carry a Katabatic I think it’s great.