cold weather footbox question

**TrailSlug** · 09-15-2016, 11:22

Originally Posted by bamudd

If your feet get cold, and mine do, absolutely nothing will seal it properly. There is NO substitute for a sewn, properly insulated footbox (Hey George!), and I will never again buy a TQ rated below 40 without it. Below that, the whole open the quilt up thing is a gimmick you'll never use if you're actually using it at the appropriate temps.

I agree and to add to this, the new pocket option on the LocoLibre top quilts that allow you to add the chemical foot/hand warmers is a great additional way to keep the feet warm.

**ironfish77** · 09-15-2016, 12:32

[QUOTE=TrailSlug;1677930]I agree and to add to this, the new poIicket option on the LocoLibre top quilts that allow you to add the chemical foot/hand warmers is a great additional way to keep the feet warm.[/QUOTE

Good idea for the chemical heat.
My experience has been that the throw away heat packs get my hands dirty and anyplace I put them. I use the chemical reusable type that hot water recharges...One near my feet the other on my stomach (not gut).

**somniferous** · 09-20-2016, 22:31

Originally Posted by Shug

I tightly wrap a cord around and around to cinch the end shut on my JRB Hudson River. Works great. No gap.
Shug

I do the same thing with my UGQ Flight jacket, I just take the cord that chiches the end down and wrap it just below the channel a few time to completely get rid of the hole.

**Monkeyboy42** · 09-22-2016, 17:21

Originally Posted by bamudd

If your feet get cold, and mine do, absolutely nothing will seal it properly. There is NO substitute for a sewn, properly insulated footbox (Hey George!), and I will never again buy a TQ rated below 40 without it. Below that, the whole open the quilt up thing is a gimmick you'll never use if you're actually using it at the appropriate temps.

Depending on where you are you can get pretty big swings on a trip. I do a 7 day canoe trip every August, and this year at the start of the trip we had lows near 70 and on night 6 we dropped to 38-39 degrees. I took my DIY down 20-30 degree quilt (haven't dailed in its definitive rating) with cinched and snapped foot box. I had it totally open at the start of the trip and cinched up warm at the end.

I'm glad I didn't bring my 40 degree and I'm doubly glad I have a cinched foot box on my quilt. It provides versatility. I should add that I've experienced swings like that from the Virginia mountains to Ontario.

Edit: I should also add that I wrap the shock cord tail around the cinch to close it!

**DuneElliot** · 09-23-2016, 07:57

My EE Convert cinches down so tight at the end of the footbox the size of the hole is too small to notice, but then I bought the quilt too long for me and it probably just closes up on itself anyway. If there were an issue I would just shove one of my hiking shirts to the bottom of the bag.

**bamudd** · 09-23-2016, 15:16

The problem isn't just the hole though. Yes, you can close the hole off in various ways. The problem is that around the hole there is a thin area that's completely unavoidable in any design I've ever seen. You need, what, 2.5" for 20 degree rating? With a convertible foot box, you have a pretty big area of the foot end that's thinner than that. Cold sleepers or cold footed sleepers will suffer from that anywhere near their quilt's actual rating.

**DuneElliot** · 09-23-2016, 15:47

Originally Posted by bamudd

The problem isn't just the hole though. Yes, you can close the hole off in various ways. The problem is that around the hole there is a thin area that's completely unavoidable in any design I've ever seen. You need, what, 2.5" for 20 degree rating? With a convertible foot box, you have a pretty big area of the foot end that's thinner than that. Cold sleepers or cold footed sleepers will suffer from that anywhere near their quilt's actual rating.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by a "thinner area" but I don't have that problem...I almost have too much down there because what was spread out across the width of the quilt is sudden bunched up.

**Afterparty** · 09-23-2016, 17:12

My EE revultion closes tight but I can sleep better in the cool then the hot. A sock seems logical though.

**Time to Hang** · 09-24-2016, 08:39

Originally Posted by Monkeyboy42

Depending on where you are you can get pretty big swings on a trip. I do a 7 day canoe trip every August, and this year at the start of the trip we had lows near 70 and on night 6 we dropped to 38-39 degrees. I took my DIY down 20-30 degree quilt (haven't dailed in its definitive rating) with cinched and snapped foot box. I had it totally open at the start of the trip and cinched up warm at the end.

I'm glad I didn't bring my 40 degree and I'm doubly glad I have a cinched foot box on my quilt. It provides versatility. I should add that I've experienced swings like that from the Virginia mountains to Ontario.

Edit: I should also add that I wrap the shock cord tail around the cinch to close it!

Versatility ! that is why I got the cinch style foot box. I have one of Georges Loco Libre 20 top quilts and underquilts, I originally in-visioned unsnapping/uncinching the foot box to use as a top blanket in warmer weather, but the quilt is just WAY TOO WARM to even think about using in temps over 55-60. I think I need a 40* top quilt for warmer weather.....Very nice quilts BTW George ! Temps and comfort are very subjective, and didn't really know how it would feel to me since I was new to a down top quilt. Lesson learned.

Thanks, Joe

**Five Tango** · 09-24-2016, 09:38

Now I'm confused.Did I dream it or did I not see Shug zip up a fleece jacket over the foot end of his hammock once for added warmth?Couldn't you stuff your foot end of your TQ inside a fleece or down jacket for more warmth?What am i missing here?(note,I have learned from experience that loose socks are important in cold weather)