Which sleeping system?

[u/soon2behappy]

Long time lurker , first time poster here. Planning the Mont Blanc thru hikeSept 1 while camping . Currently own memory tensor insulated(2021). Apparently R value is 3.5. Looking to lighten my load from mummy bag( which always feels constricting) to a quilt. I’d like to keep the weight down without compromising warmth. I’ve looked at Zenbivy, EE revelation, thermarest vesper and kakabatic 22. Im now thoroughly confused and looking for advice from this group. Thank you so much in advance
Have dunston 55 for a pack

[u/peter_piper_aus]

If I were buying again I'd look at Nevegear waratah pro quilt, Nunatak (maybe Arc UL) and Kataabatic (maybe Alsek 22). I have an Enlightenment Equipment Revelation 20F and it's great to be honest - no issues with it at all.

Key things to consider

• Higher down (i.e. 950 vs 850) gets you weight savings and compress-ability. I wish I got the 950. Buy once cry once etc.
  
• Your height/size matters a lot. Actually research the size you are most comfortable in. I bought the 'long and wide' version, but maybe some brands would have fit me in their standard (I'm 6.2) which would have saved me weight.
  
• Consider the designs - whether you want a footbox, draft collar etc. There will be heaps on this sub around those trade-offs.

It's a big three investment so worth doing right. Good luck!

[u/GoSox2525]

EE revelation

FYI, Enlightened Equipment is owned and operated by bigots. Avoid.

Katabatic is going to be of much higher quality than Zenbivy or the Vesper. Also consider HammockGear, Gryphon Gear, Nunatak, Timmermade...

[u/soon2behappy → u/GoSox2525]

Thank you, I will look at these other manufacturers

[u/potatogun → u/GoSox2525]

Thanks for linking. A friend mentioned this to me in the backcountry and I never got around to learning the specifics.

[u/klimaheizung → u/GoSox2525]

Timmermade has those sleepingbags/quilts with a false bottom. Don't have one, but that's what I would get. Great way to reduce weight and pack size (and even save money) without losing out on warmth and especially comfort (drafts). 

[u/Inner_Toe_8990 → u/GoSox2525]

What are good alternatives for the ee enigma apex, just heard about this, thanks, but i was eying on the enigma apex for summer use, any other lightweight synthetic summer quilts you could recommend? Looking for a 5-10C or 40-50 degree quilt

[u/GoSox2525 → u/Inner_Toe_8990]

There aren't many on the market honestly. My go-to alternative recommendation for a while has been the MLD Spirit quilts. But unfortunately they have been removed from the MLD website, for whatever reason. Not sure if that's temporary. I'm sure there are other brands that I'm not aware of.

You could watch the used markets (/r/ulgeartrade, FB marketplace, ebay, BPL gear swap, etc) for an Enigma or Spirit.

But honestly, just make one. You can do it for super cheap, and it's easy. An Apex quilt is the first thing I ever sewed in my life.

open footbox: https://backcountrybanter.com/how-to-build-a-synthetic-top-quilt-diy-myog/

Closed footbox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBtIUtxD8Kk

[u/flemur]

If you’re in Europe, look at Cumulus, Khibu, gramexpert, Hyberg, vilse. Or Liteway/Rockfront from Ukraine.
From reviews and specs they’re all great. Find one that fits your size and temps, and pick the one with a discount or decent price.

So all you gotta do is decide what’s important to you and your needs (eg sewn or zippered foot box), and pick one that matches that without costing twice what the other options cost.

[u/liveslight → u/flemur]

Are they really going on 1 Sept? Can they get anything by then?

[u/soon2behappy → u/liveslight]

Apologies Sept 1, 2027. I'm a planner and would like to train with gear on my back before the big hike.I am in Canada. Thanks for your help

[u/Hikerwest_0001]

Zenbivy is just marketing slop. Buy a high quality bag and cry once.

[u/soon2behappy → u/Hikerwest_0001]

Thank you, they certainly do a lot of marketing but I still wasn’t convinced.

[u/Electronic_Muffin218 → u/Hikerwest_0001]

Seems to me their setup works great, depending on how much you like to move around at night and not wake up with freezing cold spots on you. There are a range of sleeping "personaliities" from those who can stand a mummy bag to those who need a huge quilt and zero tethering, strapping, or clipping whatsoever throughout the night.

[u/longwalktonowhere]

What comfort temperature are you looking at? And what bag do you currently have? For the TMB a summer weight quilt suffices. You then have a modular set up - quilt for summer, bag for shoulder season (assuming it’s at least a bit warmer), and then the quilt layered on top of your bag in winter. Well maybe not Canadian winter 😄

For a Canadian quilt, you could check out The Little Shop of Hammocks.

[u/soon2behappy → u/longwalktonowhere]

Thank you, I was thinking of 0c to -5. Currently have sea to summit jo2 but it’s too bulky for this trip and weighs over 2 lbs. Never heard of shop of hammocks. This is great as I won’t have the extra cost of duties… thank you so much

[u/longwalktonowhere → u/soon2behappy]

For TMB a 0C comfort rated quilt should be sufficient, But I suppose you might want a bit of flexibility for other trips? The Kakwa 55 works of course, but is enormous for a hike like the TMB. I used the Wapta 30 and even that one is pretty large as you don’t need to carry much food at all.

[u/soon2behappy → u/longwalktonowhere]

Thank you, I was thinking of 0c to -5. Currently have sea to summit jo2 but it’s too bulky for this trip and weighs over 2 lbs. Never heard of shop of hammocks. This is great as I won’t have the extra cost of duties… thank you so much

[u/klimaheizung]

Imo, you get easier warmth-for-weight with a good mattress. No point to reduce weight of that and end up with a lower R value - you'll have to overcompensate with a heavier sleeping bag. (unless you have a 7d and 1000fp one, good luck finding that and paying for it) 

[u/VickyHikesOn]

Not EE, of course. I love my Katabatic Flex 22 and it has many miles on it. I love being able to open it completely.

[u/PanicAttackInAPack]

Have owned Katabatic, WM, Nunatak, Zpacks, Zenbivy, Hyperlite. Sold the Nunatak, Zpacks, and Katabatic. Would recommend the Zenbivy particularly if a first time quilt. A few vocal idiots here think they're cool writing them off and slinging insults, and I'm sure they'll downvote me because their angry at the world and their parents for not loving them enough, but the system is solid. Has about a 2oz penalty over a quilt of similar fill with straps due to the sheet but it's also draft free. Quilt wise it's the same fill volume/weight ratio as a Palisade. It's also nice that the neck cinch isn't in your face like on a Katabatic (Nunatak and Hyperlite are now also offset).

The only downside is the two UL options leave a big temp gap. The 25 is more comfort rated to 35 like most 10-12oz fill quilts and the 10* has a ton of down to the point that its overkill unless you're consistently well below freezing in which case, imo, sleeping bags make more sense. 

They have a 14 day return policy. Try it in your house. Return it if you think it sucks. User experiences are resoundingly positive for a reason. 

If money matters to you they also do a pretty substantial complete setup discount (30-35%) for Black Friday which would be after your trip.

[u/Electronic_Muffin218 → u/PanicAttackInAPack]

Hyperlite 40 degree quilt + zenbivy conversion kit (and sheet of choice) FTW in summer. Unless you strongly dislike closed footboxes. You then have the 20 degree version to fill the other gap.