Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#129672 - 02/27/10 06:00 PM Backpacking quilt from down bed quilt
Anne Offline
newbie

Registered: 02/27/10
Posts: 1
Loc: Western NY, USA
Has anyone ever made a backpacking quilt from a down bed quilt? I'd like to give it a try as they can be had inexpensively on ebay... people might have them lying around in fact. Usually they have cotton covers and so would have to be covered with nylon.

Do you think the cotton cover would add too much weight? And of course you could shape the original down quilt to basically be a core for the top by running a double row of stitching then cutting between them (this would keep the down from leaking all over the room when you had to cut the original quilt).

Very interested in making my own gear and I have very good sewing skills... I need to be braver so many people on here it's their first time sewing and they jump right in!

Top
#129734 - 02/28/10 09:32 PM Re: Backpacking quilt from down bed quilt [Re: Anne]
Tango61 Offline
member

Registered: 12/27/05
Posts: 931
Loc: East Texas Piney Woods

Anne,
Welcome to the forum!

I think it would add too much weight if you just added nylon to cover the cotton (even cutting it down to shape).

Since you are new here you may not be aware of all the great articles in the non-forum part of this website.

Go here to see how to make your own down quilt.
http://www.backpacking.net/makegear.html
Scroll down and look on the left hand side of the screen

I've made a synthetic quilt and it wasn't too hard. The hardest part is keeping the silnylon from slipping all over the place. But, if you practice by making some stuff sacks and other things you'll quickly get the hang of it.

You can also get lots of good information over at www.HammockForums.net.

Enjoy and let us hear back from you and oh, take lot's of pictures. We like pictures!

Tango61
_________________________
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you can't. Either way, you're right.

Top
#129770 - 03/01/10 11:18 AM Re: Backpacking quilt from down bed quilt [Re: Anne]
lori Offline
member

Registered: 01/22/08
Posts: 2801
People do this, but they generally harvest the down and put it in the new shell.

Aside from the weight of the cotton, you would need to make the nylon breathable - a totally waterproof shell would make the quilt uncomfortable for you, as it would trap all your perspiration inside with you, and while this is a tactic to keep you warm in sub freezing temps you don't want this when you're above freezing. And if you make the nylon breathable, moisture can get in and saturate the cotton, which will then not dry out fast, which is why so many backpacking primers will tell you not to use cotton clothing, especially in winter. Making the entire quilt heavy and wet.

So I would look at various instructions for homemade quilts and harvest the down to put in the new quilt.
_________________________
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities. In the expert's mind there are few." Shunryu Suzuki

http://hikeandbackpack.com

Top
#130296 - 03/07/10 02:38 AM Re: Backpacking quilt from down bed quilt [Re: Anne]
billk Offline
member

Registered: 08/20/03
Posts: 1196
Loc: Portland, Oregon
This could be worth a try, especially for a relatively warm-weather quilt. The cotton shell would be a bit heavier than you might like, but remember that there was a time when the best sleeping bags had shells of Egyptian cotton...the same material used in good quilts.

Most homemade backpacking quilts are baffled, which makes them much warmer. Many, if not most, quilts are sewn-through, so probably wouldn't be suitable for lower temperatures. The trick is deciding what "lower" means to you.

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 160 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum