Turning a sleeping bag into a top quilt

**El-Beardo** · 10-02-2013, 07:21

Apologies if I'm repeating any previous threads (couldn't find much on a search). Has anyone had much success turning their sleeping bag into a top quilt? I'm thinking of lopping off the hood and taking out the zips off mine, not sure if there's any potential problems I should look out for while doing this though?

**Mountnman** · 10-02-2013, 07:24

Should work just fine. The only concern would be the zippers tearing a hole in your hammock but sounds like you are taking care of that. I used a sleeping bag for quite a while. Good luck and have fun!

**Gustavus** · 10-02-2013, 07:36

Down fill bags work fine. just zip the foot end up about one to two feet for a footbox. Most of the newer sleeping bags have softer zippers (plastic), instead of the older brass zippers, that are more hazardous to your hammock.

**Mrprez** · 10-02-2013, 10:32

Here's a good article on the process.

http://asthecrowflies.org/2011/03/22...packing-quilt/

**Zilla** · 10-02-2013, 10:38

I plan on using a mummy for a tq also, not gonna cut off the hood, it could come in handy in real cold, i took off the slider, it was metal but the rest of the zipper is plastic so i cant see it hurting, sometimes you gotta make use of what you have, there is nothing wrong with that, good luck

**diyguy** · 10-02-2013, 11:20

I went hammock camping with my children this past weekend. I let the kids use my two quilts. I used an old sleeping bag. Just zipped the bag 1/3rd the way up and used it just like my quilts. Overall, it work fine though. If I had to use the same setup again, I'd used a safety pin to keep the zipper from unzipping.

**raiffnuke** · 10-02-2013, 11:44

I have converted a few sleeping bags into top quilts before. There are some picture of one of them in my gallery. If you want help or advice before starting your conversion, send me a PM. I am more than happy to share my experience.

**Fixxr5** · 10-02-2013, 13:41

I bought mine from JTXR on the forum, 25deg REI mummy bag, he cut off head and zipper and sewed it back up.
I love it. I use it at home sometimes. Wife gets too hot, no, not the good way, turns off the heat. I get top quilt. I'm toasty. Look here

**El-Beardo** · 10-02-2013, 14:53

Thanks everyone, much appreciated! Sounds like it could be successful and work well, now I've just got to pluck up the courage to take the scissors to a stupidly expensive sleeping bag...

**ggreaves** · 10-02-2013, 15:15

I leave the hood on mine. It comes in very handy on cold nights. However, I use a CPAP machine and have the fresh air coming into the mask from outside the hood. As long as the hood isn't right over your mouth and nose, you'll get lots of air. If you're really concerned about the zipper pull, put a little duct tape on it to take off the rough edges .