Why backpacking quilts deserve a place in your pack

Discover the freedom and comfort of Sea to Summit Quilts

When it comes to camping outdoors, a trusty sleeping bag is hard to look past. But there's another option—one that's gaining traction for good reason: the backpacking quilt.

Technical backpacking and camping quilts provide incredible versatility and comfort for sleeping in the outdoors. Until recently, these ultralight quilts were a niche product, but more and more adventurers are discovering the benefits of quilt life.

Admittedly, I was a bit of a ‘quilt-denier’ until recently. But after testing Sea to Summit’s new quilt range in the wild, I'm a convert.

Why Choose a Backpacking Quilt for Your Next Trip

There are plenty of reasons to switch to a quilt for your next adventure—from versatility and freedom of movement to impressive technical performance.

Versatility: Adapt to Any Condition

Sleep systems have a job to do—to keep you warm and comfortable enough to sleep wherever you are. This covers a wide range of temperatures, settings, activities, and climates. Add your personal preferences for comfort, and you have many different sleeping scenarios to cater for.

Backpacking quilts are great because they’re ultra-adaptable. Warm one night? Use your quilt in open mode, not strapped to the mattress. For colder conditions, secure the quilt snugly to the mattress and get cozy. Chilly mornings at camp? Wrap your quilt around you as you move about. Got a down or synthetic sleeping bag that isn’t quite toasty enough for winter? Combine it with a quilt to increase the warmth. The list goes on.

Freedom of Movement: Sleep How You Want

One of the most noticeable differences between a sleeping bag and a camping quilt is freedom of movement. Sleeping bags are designed to be lightweight and compact, which limits their internal width. If you’re a sleeper that moves around in the night, or likes to throw a leg out into the night air, a quilt offers huge advantages.

Technical Excellence: More Than Just a Blanket

When most people think of camping quilts, they imagine a simple blanket—like a duvet or doona (depending on where you’re from). Sea to Summit backpacking quilts are different. They’re feature-rich, highly practical, and carefully designed to meet the needs of outdoor enthusiasts. They've been engineered to solve the often complex, ever-changing, and diverse situations encountered when sleeping outside.

Compact and Ultralight: Pack Light, Sleep Tight

Just like the rest of the Sea to Summit sleep systems, the new range of quilts has been designed to be compact and very lightweight. The down and synthetic fills are high-loft and compress very efficiently. The fabrics, straps, and zippers are minimalist, durable, and high-performing. All quilts come with the same style of nifty compression sack that users of Sea to Summit sleeping bags will be familiar with.

Integrating Your Backpacking Quilt with Your Sleep System

The new Sea to Summit quilts are designed to completely integrate with sleeping mats and sleeping bags. They attach to mattresses via clips and drawstrings at the foot, and they can be secured to sleeping bags to boost warmth. Add a sleeping bag liner and secure a lightweight pillow to the mat via the PillowLock system, and your sleep system is complete!

But what if I don’t have a Sea to Summit sleeping mat? No worries. If your sleeping mat is from another brand, the quilts will still integrate fine, especially if the pad is a similar ‘mummy’ style that tapers to be narrower at the foot end.

Attachment and Adjustment: Secure and Snug

Sea to Summit backpacking quilts are designed to integrate harmoniously with a sleeping pad and sleeping bag. Four adjustable straps along the length of each quilt clip together underneath your sleeping mat, holding the quilt in place. When the straps are pulled tight, it wraps the quilt around the sides of the pad, eliminating unwanted drafts.

The foot area of the quilt is adjusted by a drawstring that pulls the quilt into a foot-box shape, tucking it under and around the end of the pad. At the head end of the quilt, another drawstring and two elasticated hand-pouches on the corners allow you to pull the quilt snugly around your neck.

A clever feature of the quilt range is how they integrate with Sea to Summit sleeping bags. Press studs on the quilts align with matching points on most Sea to Summit sleeping bags, giving a sleeping bag a huge boost in warmth when combined.

Choosing the Right Temperature Rating for Your Quilt

The recommended temperature ranges provided across the Sea to Summit quilt range serve as a guide. Real-world experience will vary depending on conditions, the sleeping mat used, the clothing worn, and personal warmth preferences.

Quilt Myths Busted

Quilts are drafty: Some might be, but not these ones. Sea to Summit’s range of quilts are designed to eliminate unwanted drafts. They can be wrapped around your sleeping mat to retain heat or opened up for more ventilation.

Quilts don’t stay in place: The Ember quilts feature straps to secure them to your sleeping mat and drawcords to create a foot-box that wraps around the bottom of a sleeping pad.

There’s no insulation on the bottom – I’ll get cold: Correct, a camping quilt doesn’t provide insulation from below—that’s the job of your mattress! Combining your quilt with an insulated mattress ensures that cold from below won’t be an issue. Any sleeping bag insulation you’re laying on won’t loft enough to provide much insulation anyway.

So, Is a Backpacking Quilt Right for You?

A backpacking quilt might not be perfect for all situations or everyone’s tastes. In extreme climates with temperatures far below freezing, a quilt used alone may not provide sufficient insulation. However, combining a backpacking quilt with a sleeping bag can be a great option for those who spend less time in extreme cold. This combo offers a lightweight modular sleep system that can be mixed and matched for different camping trips.

For those in cool to warmer climates who value versatility and freedom of movement, a quilt is a very appealing option. The Ember series offers best-in-class technical performance when reducing bulk is crucial.

Technical backpacking quilts offer incredible versatility and comfort. They provide an adaptable sleep system that can handle a variety of temperatures, settings, and climates. Use your quilt in open mode on warm nights or secure it to your mattress for colder conditions. Wrap it around you during chilly mornings at camp. If your sleeping bag isn’t quite warm enough for winter, combine it with a quilt to increase warmth.

Backpacking quilts also offer more freedom of movement compared to sleeping bags. They are lightweight and compact, making them perfect for backpackers who need to minimize bulk without sacrificing comfort. Sea to Summit's quilts are designed to integrate seamlessly with sleeping mats and sleeping bags, featuring adjustable straps and drawstrings to eliminate drafts and keep you cozy.

So, is a backpacking quilt right for you? If you value versatility, freedom of movement, and a lightweight pack, a quilt is an excellent choice for your outdoor adventures.