Does anyone have experience with the Quillow yet? I've been wanting to get something for the summer as I feel my 30deg TQ is too much for the summer time and the quillow looks like it might fit the bill perfectly.
Does anyone have experience with the Quillow yet? I've been wanting to get something for the summer as I feel my 30deg TQ is too much for the summer time and the quillow looks like it might fit the bill perfectly.
Have not used it in the wild but I have tried it around the house and it is too warm for prolonged indoor use. Great to take the chill off but it is toasty. My Quillow has 1oz overstuff. If I were to order it again, I would skip the overstuff.
Build quality is superb and the fabrics are really nice and soft.
My Quillow will be on my next camping trip but that’s not until April. The flexibility of the quilt/top quilt/sleeping bag modes and compressibility were the features i liked; the pillow option is unlikely to be used.
I am looking forward to using it in the wild.
I also am unlikely to use it as a pillow, I've just been looking for something to handle 50deg summer temps which my 30deg is a bit too warm for me. I have a S2S liner that I have used but it is not warm enough and I end up throwing a jacket on in the middle of the night. Alternatively, I was also looking at the alpha direct blanket made by JRB. I have no idea which way to go but there is a significant pricing difference between the two. I also wish the Quillow had a 950 fill option for packability.
I have a rectangular quilt made with 2.5oz Climashield which is rated 50*. It’s made from 2 yards of Climashield and 1oz Hyper D on both sides. Approx size is 56X71” finished and weighs just under a pound. I tried stuffing it in the stuff sack for my Quillow and surprisingly, it fits. This quilt could be lighter based on fabric selection and size. However, 71” length may not work if you are tall; I’m 66” tall and it works great for summer. I made it myself and it is super easy to make; however, you must buy full yards of fabric and insulation from RBTR and Dutchware, so making it longer could bring a financial penalty.
For cottage vendors that could make something similar, you might look at Arrowhead Alpine Blanket or Simply Light Designs Eclipse. My WBRR Underquilt was sourced from Arrowhead and the quality is great. I’ve never purchased anything from SLD but they have a great reputation here on HF.
My quilt is usually in shelf/pocket when I am camping in summer and gets pulled over me when I wake up cold in the middle of the night. The 50* rating is correct for me.
I've owned an AH 50deg UQ for my RR as well and felt underwhelmed but I probably needed to use UQ protector due to a breeze that kept stealing some of the heat. I also wasn't a fan of how large it packed compared to even my 0deg HG UQ. I had not considered the SLD but looking at it now because of the options available including the cinch collar and the foot box, both of which the AH does not have. I'm not a fan of the carabiner being used to close the cinch collar and would probably install snaps in place of it. At this point, I have decision paralysis.
In warm summer camping I use a down blanket I picked up at Costco on sale several years ago. Packs down about the size of a soda can and I think they were on special for around $25. Great when my cold weather gear is too much.
I am also eyeing the quillow should I “need” another TQ
I don’t think I have seen them now that you mention it. There are similar quilts on Amazon, both synthetic and down…prices vary. A dedicated TQ in down is my preferred cold weather quilt, but for warm weather a light UQ and light blanket topper usually work well. Looks like we are still waiting to hear feedback on the qwillow setup.
The Costco quilt wasn't really a quilt. It was actually the "Double Black Diamond Packable Down Throw". It was 70" x 60" with a 20D shell and 700 down fill and only weighed 500g (under 18oz). It came in several colors. It was popular due to it's low price and ready availability for DIYers who would convert the the throw into a camping quilt with a footbox. Costco hasn't sold them in years. They were available for a short time on Amazon at over twice the Costco price, but even those are long gone. You can still sometimes find someone selling one on resale sites like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc.
I've seen similar down throws/blankets for sale. There are versions from OneTigris, Get Out Gear, Horizon Hound and other Amazon vendors, really cool designs from Eddie Bauer and Rumpl, and few from less prominent vendors like Easthills Outdoors, Kelty and Alpine Ridge Outfitters. But they are all mostly in the 500-650 fill range and some (e.g. Rumpl) are more expensive than some production camping quilts. I've seen none matching or exceeding the fill power of those basic throws formerly sold at Costco (nor anywhere near their prices). Vendors offering higher fills are generally producing targeted camping quilts at much higher prices.
~ All I want is affordable, simple, ultralight luxury. That’s not asking too much is it?
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