[pct-l] Quilts vs bags

[Paul Mitchell]

Well, if all goes well then it's or bed for six months, so if there's an
actuall quality difference related to the price, than I guess a higher price
is a small price to pay for a good bed.
  -----Original Message-----
  From: Matt Bradley [mailto:mattbradley1 at gmail.com]
  Sent: Monday, March 05, 2007 3:31 PM
  To: paul at bluebrain.ca; PCT-L
  Subject: Re: [pct-l] Quilts vs bags


  Paul,
       Yes, the Nunatak stuff is expensive although not too much more than a
lot of other high-end bags such as Western Mountianeering.  I know that you
have already probably ordered your Ray-Way quilt but (for the benefit of the
rest of the list) one option for down that is cruelty free is Eider Down.
It comes from Eider ducks and is hand harvested from the nests after
breeding season.  It is usually around 900 of 950 fill power which is the
best available , it is hypo-allergenic and it is significantly more
expensive than the more common Goose down.  Last time I checked Nunatak was
able to make Eider down bags but that was a while ago and it would likely
make the production and delivery time longer since everything is custom made
to order.  I highly reccommend that anyone looking for a high end sleeping
bag talk to the folks at Nunatak.  Their stuff is top quality and their
service is the same.
  Peace and Love,
  Matt


  On 3/5/07, Paul Mitchell <paul at bluebrain.ca> wrote:
    Thanks Matt

    Wow, the nunatak stuff is expensive!

    Another consideration is the cruelty factor related to goose down.  I've
got
    three goose down bags, but recently I've found out that the process by
which
    this down is harvested subjects the geese to a lifetime of suffering, so
I'd
    like to buy synthetic from now on, whether it's the best option or not.

    So, I've ordered the rayway couple quilt kit.  Now, what you say about
the
    sizing is very interesting!  Thanks for the tip, I would have just made
it
    to spec otherwise, but now I'll take care to experiment before cutting
and
    assembling.

    Cheers,
    Paul



    -----Original Message-----
    From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net
    [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]On Behalf Of Matt Bradley
    Sent: Monday, March 05, 2007 8:34 AM
    To: pct-l at backcountry.net
    Subject: [pct-l] Quilts vs bags


    Paul,
         I have been using quilts for my backpacking for years now and I
have
    been very pleased.  I have an old Golite Fur quilt, a Ray-Way homemade
quilt
    and a Nunatak Arc Alpinist.  The Nunatak is far-and-away the winner in
    performance with a 20* rating for 18 oz.  My quilt is actaully 20 oz.
with 2
    oz of overfill and I have slept under it in temps near 20* reasonably
    comfortably.  If you go for the Ray-Way kit make sure to cut it wider
than
    you think you need it.  Even following Ray's instructions mine is only
wide
    enough to sleep on my back under and if I roll on my side it doesn't
quite
    reach the ground.
        For my anticipated 2008 PCT hike I am probably going to use some
sort of
    two-person quilt for me and my partner but I haven't quite decided what
the
    best option will be.  I really like the Dual Arc Alpinist but for nearly
600
    dollars is is a hard pill to swallow.  Let us all know what you decide
to do
    and how it works out for you.
    Peace and love,
    Matt
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  --
  Matt Bradley
  mattbradley1 at gmail.com
  http://www.trailjournals.com/peaceandlove