Quilts Are Better Than Sleeping Bags
Quilts are becoming a popular alternative to traditional sleeping bags among backpackers. They are lighter and provide a more comfortable sleeping experience by laying over the user rather than wrapping around them. While quilts may not be suitable for everyone, they offer significant advantages for those who prefer more freedom of movement while sleeping.
- ▪Quilts are made of nylon and filled with down, similar to sleeping bags, but they lay over the user instead of wrapping around them.
- ▪Using a quilt can reduce pack weight and improve sleep quality for those who move around at night.
- ▪Quilts are especially favored by backpackers looking to save space and weight in their gear.
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Scott GilbertsonGearMay 30, 2026 6:04 AMQuilts Are Better Than Sleeping BagsTired of sleeping like a mummy in a bag? Improve your backcountry sleep and carry less weight with an ultralight quilt.Courtesy of ZenbivyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyI used to say that all my best days started with waking up in a sleeping bag. Waking up in a sleeping bag usually means you're out there somewhere, doing something interesting. In the past couple of years, though, I've found myself waking up out there to wonderful days spent doing interesting things, but without a sleeping bag in sight. Instead, I'm sleeping in what thru-hikers and ultralight redditors call a quilt.This is not a quilt like the one your grandmother gave you.
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