Best UQ for the money?

**Martindoms** · 07-31-2013, 02:46

I have recently started hanging every chance I get and since it has been warm I have yet to be faced with the problem of insulation. I have been using a ThermaRest sleep pad and thin blanket. Then ThermaRest is awesome, but an annoyance and I can tell that an UQ is the item for me, I am just unsure about what is the best thing out there, without breaking the bank? Down or Synthetic? How much fill if down? Where is the best place to get them? The typical newb questions..

Sorry if this is a repost, I didn't quite see anything that matched this as I scanned through!

**dedominick** · 07-31-2013, 03:15

arrowhead equipment jarbidge is best bang for Uq buck

**BroChaos** · 07-31-2013, 03:49

is jarbidge synthetic or down?

they don't get much talk here, but www.enlightenedequipment.com makes some really good quilts that are reasonably priced as well.

**Jrprince** · 07-31-2013, 06:15

The jarbidge is synthetic.

Honestly, I doubt you could go wrong with any uq from one of the cottage vendors. They all produce top notch stuff. The best thing to do is look at all the uq's and decide which features work best for you. Are you concerned with weight and compressibility? If so, down is your friend. If not, synthetic is worth giving a look. What temp range do you plan to use it in? After all that, look at dimensions and suspensions.

All that being said, I love me HG Phoenix, but it's what works for me (and the argon fabric is fantastic).

**Turtle Creek** · 07-31-2013, 06:31

I think you need to ask what your needs are in terms of temp rating/protection first, then the other questions you ask are secondary, etc...

If you only plan to hang in the summer and spring, you may get buy with a 3/4 length "XXX" UQ, but If you have plans to hike all winter long, then you would may need a full length "YYY" UQ.

**Gravity** · 07-31-2013, 07:22

Enlightened Equipment makes good quality gear at good prices. Both down and synth.

**Boothill** · 07-31-2013, 07:52

first you need to know what kind of conditions and temperatures your going to be hanging in the majority of the time......if you can find a local hang and go check out other peoples equipment.......every cottage vendor i have ever dealt with on HF has always been super helpful when in came to me asking questions about their products so don't be afraid to email a few if you have questions

it's hard to make a decision on an underquilt just by asking what other people recommend, as one might work better for them and not for you, in my experience there isn't a quilt maker on here that isn't top notch and doesn't makes excellent equipment no matter who you go with

boot

**ohiomp84** · 07-31-2013, 10:25

Glad i found this thread, i was about to start my own with basically the same question! I really like the look and features of both enlightened and arrowhead, decisions, decisions...

**Owl** · 07-31-2013, 13:20

There are several factors that you need to take into account.

What kind of 'camping' will you be using this for?

If you're car camping, for example, then weight/bulk don't mean much to you, so a cheaper, heavier, bulkier synthetic might be a solution for you.

If you're backpacking many miles a day, then you're probably going to want to go with a down UQ that's lighter weight and compacts more...which also tends to mean more expensive.

If you're going to be camping 3 seasons, but mostly summer, you might get away with a higher temp rating, lighter weight, less expensive quilt.

If you're going to be camping out in temps below 20 deg, you're probably going to want to get something with a lower temp rating...again, a little more expensive and heavier/bulkier.

Do you plan on using a smaller "sit pad" type pad to sit on, and use in your hammock under your feet? If so, you can probably go with a 3/4ths length quilt...again, smaller/lighter/cheaper.

Otherwise you might want a full length quilt.

Are you built like a fireplug, or a beanpole? You might want to talk to one of the cottage vendors about some custom sizing to make sure you get one that fits your body style.

Bottom line...there is no "this is best" when it comes to this stuff. There's only "this is what seems to be best for ME".