Stone Glacier developed a down quilt designed particularly for backpack looking.
A quilt won’t be the very first thing you consider when making a gear listing for backcountry looking. It’s definitely by no means been on mine.
Quilts for backpacking and tenting have been round for ages, however in relation to hunting-specific quilts, there aren’t practically as many choices. After all, loads of backpacking and tenting gear is pretty common. I do know a lot of my trusted looking camp gear is outdated, multicolored mountaineering gear from school.
That mentioned, the Stone Glacier 32-degree Chilkoot Quilt is a bit aimed particularly at backcountry hunters.
From look to make use of, the Chilkoot Quilt attracts many design cues from sleeping baggage. However the large distinction is the shortage of a again or backside. It’s utterly open on the again aspect, with straps to carry it in place over an insulated sleeping pad. The idea is that compressed down doesn’t insulate you a lot anyway, so why carry it?
So, is an open-backed sleeping bag one thing value including to your backcountry package?
I took it out within the wild to see for myself.
In brief: The Stone Glacier Chilkoot Quilt may change what I’ll pack for early season and for ultra-lightweight backpack hunts. It cuts weight in all the proper locations, and the elevated consolation degree over my earlier sleep system was the true clincher. I dig it.
The Stone Glacier 32-Diploma Chilkoot Quilt Evaluation
Stone Glacier has supplied sleeping baggage in its Chilkoot assortment of sleep methods for some time, however that is the primary quilt within the lineup. Recognized extra for looking backpacks, Stone Glacier has slowly expanded its choices, together with tents, sleep methods, and attire.
The Stone Glacier 32-Diploma Chilkoot Quilt ($425) is an open-back sleeping system with straps designed to carry onto your sleeping pad.
That mentioned, it’s essential to have a high-quality sleeping pad to make this a practical system. Stone Glacier doesn’t provide a sleeping pad (as of but), however any high-R-value sleep pad will do.
The quilt weighs in at 1 pound 6.6 ounces. If we’re to check it to certainly one of Stone Glacier’s full sleeping baggage, the Chilkoot Quilt weighs 12.4 ounces lower than the Chilkoot 15-degree sleeping bag.
Stuffed with 12 ounces of 850-plus-fill grey goose down, the Chilkoot quilt is light-weight and extremely insulating. The shell is product of Pertex Quantum materials that’s quilted with vertical baffles to maintain the down in place.
What units this design other than many different backpacking quilts is the footbox and neck seal. The Chilkoot quilt has an enclosed footbox, giving it a sleeping bag really feel. It additionally has a neck seal system that cozies up across the prime, preserving the warmth in and chilly out.
The elastic straps permit for safe attachment to your sleeping bag and in addition provide adjustability. You may tighten the straps to retain extra warmth and loosen them to permit some respiration room.
A pleasant addition to the quilt is the inclusion of each a stuff sack and a storage bag. This permits for tight packing in addition to unfastened storage to maintain your down lofty.
Placing It to the Take a look at
I used to be excited to get my arms on this for a number of causes.
First: I might by no means have thought of going out of my method so as to add this to my gear pile. The thought of what equates to an open-backed sleeping bag simply didn’t enchantment to me. I perceive the burden and house financial savings, however I didn’t really feel prefer it was fixing any downside I at present have.
Second: I do are inclined to get enthusiastic about merchandise that lower weight. I don’t significantly respect carrying greater than I’ve to.
My first impressions had been lackluster. The Chilkoot quilt felt like a high-quality sleeping bag, which I anticipated. The shortage of zippers was good, however the strap system appeared odd. Each the stuff sack and storage bag had been fairly minimalist and easy, preserving in step with Stone Glacier’s really feel.
As quickly as I inflated my sleeping pad and began to configure how this hooked up to that, these lackluster emotions began to glow a bit. As soon as I obtained all of it attached and wiggled my method in — I obtained it.
With the straps unfastened, it’s extra mattress than a sleeping bag. There’s wiggle room to vent with out unzipping. The footbox retains your ft enclosed the identical method a sleeping bag does, with the power to simply slip a foot out and toss a leg into the cool air.
Cinching the straps tight makes all the things sealed up and comfortable. The neck seal construct stops undesirable drafts to your chest and core whereas not feeling claustrophobic.
I spent a 45-degree night time in it and was completely comfy. It had all the power of my light-season bag with out that further, pointless weight.
I additionally spent a 65-degree night time in it, and that was the sport changer for me. The power to make use of it loosely and have the draftiness I needed after I obtained too scorching with out having to unzip, meant a extra high quality night time’s sleep. I didn’t should reconfigure to seek out that good temp.
Professionals
- It packs small and lightweight.
- It permits you to customise your sleeping setting between heat and funky.
- It’s comfy.
Cons
- A sleeping pad is required.
- In the event you don’t have a high-quality sleeping pad, you might not get pleasure from sleeping immediately on it.
- It’s a bit dear.
Not essentially a con, but it surely’s value noting: there are some ultralight sleeping baggage in the identical temperature class which can be lighter than this quilt. In the event you’re counting ounces, it’s an essential factor to know.
Testing tip: I discovered that utilizing a skinny sleeping bag liner over my pad made the entire state of affairs extra comfy. I additionally realized that they make sleeping pad sheets, which might be a simple light-weight improve to make to this technique.
Is the Stone Glacier Chilkoot Quilt Value It?
Is it a mandatory merchandise that everybody wants? In all probability not. At $425, it’s fairly the funding for a quilt that you just actually can’t use all 12 months. For a slight improve in value, you will get one of many Chilkoot sleeping baggage from Stone Glacier and use it year-round.
Is it a beneficial addition for somebody who backpack hunts in variable early-to-mid season situations? Completely.
As somebody who hunts lots, it will discover its place at eye-level, entrance and heart on my gear shelf. I can see this being an asset throughout early-season archery looking when the solar could be brutal, however there’s nonetheless the specter of a chill within the early morning hours.
I additionally see it receiving use in wall tent deer camp, when the range makes the tent both too scorching or too chilly. And I’ll use it behind my truck for late-season fishing.
One bonus shock was it jogged my memory how a lot I cherished hammock tenting. I can not wait to get this into my outdated hammock for ultra-lightweight journeys in deep.
It might not be a necessity, however it’s one thing I’m stoked to have in my gear pile.
