Multiple layered quilts or one to rule?

[Longwinters]

Both of the TQs, a UGQ and the HG, are 55”. I am still waiting for the 40 degree HG top quilt and the UGQ 40 degree underquilt so no test runs yet. But according to the EE chart the 40’s and the 20’s combined should get me in the range of -10.

[Bob-W]

For me there's frequency of use to consider. We don't get seriously cold winters here in the UK, we had a recent "cold snap" and some isolated locations got down to -11C or so for a night but -6C was more common. That's pretty rare, we might only get that once a winter. So here layering makes more sense: why have a quilt rated to -20C when you might get chance to use it once every couple of years? A summer quilt and one for spring/autumn offer more flexibility.

Against that, it's more of a faff to get everything "just right" but as @CountryBois says there's not much chance of a layered quilt sliding off you in a hammock - there's a wall of fabric to either side.

There's a bit more weight and bulk when compared to a quilt rated to the correct/combined temperature because you've got an extra shell to consider.