Quilting on Climashield APEX

**Stubbed my toe** · 07-23-2019, 12:46

I have made two sets of Top & Bottom quilts from Climashield APEX, one a 5-oz, the other a 2.5-oz. Both work fine, but I have a couple of bothersome properties of them.
I don't like the way the top quilt's layers slide and feel like I'm getting bunched up with the inner layer of ripstop. I also don't like the "ballooning" of the quilts when I'm trying to pack them down.

I feel like "quilting" these quilts would resolve both of the issues but I don't want to detract too much from the effectiveness of the insulation. Does anyone have any experience with quilting climashield? I think I can minimize the loss by sticking with a large quilted pattern, like a 10-inch grid, or would it be better to do quilt-points (sewn x's) in a pattern across the quilt?

Thanks for any input.

**FJRpilot** · 07-23-2019, 20:24

I don’t think quilting will significantly impact Apex’s ability to insulate. It is marketed as needing minimal quilting or non at all depending on the application. I think for clothing, you don’t need to quilt. For blankets or quilts, a minimal amount of quilting to stabilize the material is desirable.

I would try 20” first and see if that addresses your issue. If you need to quilt more tightly, it’s easy to modify.

YMMV...

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**Wisscy** · 07-24-2019, 22:40

You could try quilting it by knotting individual ties on a grid pattern. That was the recommendation I was considering before I just decided to leave it alone instead of sewing it through. You will likely have cold spots, especially on the heavier one.

The individual ties I saw are made of yarn and get tied around something rigid that is removed to allow the quilt to loft still.

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**Stubbed my toe** · 07-25-2019, 12:04

Thanks for the feedback. I think I'll try a partial grid at 20", good point FJRpilot as I can always go back and halve it again to a 10" grid if needed. I'm thinking a 4" X at every 20" should stabilize it well with minimal compression. Looking forward to the Fall!

**P-Dub** · 07-26-2019, 08:07

See this thread for instructions on how to maintain loft and avoid cold spots

**Just Bill** · 07-26-2019, 08:24

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/58423/

P-Dub beat me to it... look up 'Ray Way Quilt' https://www.rayjardine.com/ray-way/Quilt-Kit/index.htm

Ray Jardine adopts a basic quilt loop for synthetic insulation stabilization. You basically push a ruler or stick the thickness of the insulation into the quilt, then tie a loop of yarn around that and remove the ruler. That leaves a loop that stabilizes without crushing out any loft.
You can use a hot nail/knitting needle to punch the holes so they don't fray.

This method is more effective than sewn through quilting.

Technically; Apex is supposed to be quilted 24" on center per the manufacturer.
For future reference- you can sew Apex to apex and/or sew it to a baffle. Commercial synthetic bags use various shingle quilting techniques.
Generally though- the appeal of apex is simplicity and low cost so these more complicated steps are skipped.

I know I have long since lost this fight... but I would not use more than a single layer of 3.6 ounce APEX to build a quilt. After that switch to down.