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.

Katabatic is far and away the better product, even ignoring EE's racist bullshit.

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

Definitely Katabatic. I'd consider their Flex series too if budget is more important.

EE quilts are straight up poorly designed too. Their baffles shift down to the sides and EE was a well-documented down under-filler before they finally owned up to it. Between the two, Katabatic is a far better buy.

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

I wouldn’t worry about fill power very much. Both quilts are going to be perfectly fine on the PCT, I would expect the Alsek to feel warmer overall.

>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?

Katabatic, no question, for the actual comfort rating and differential cut. People tend to find the EE quilts kinda chilly (and the baffle design sucks). I figure if you do the EE there's a very high chance that you'll spend more than $160 having a puffy shipped to you or holing up at hostels to avoid cold snaps or w/e.

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).