Product Spotlight: Therm-a-Rest Vesper 20F Down Quilt
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Why would anyone give up a hood and a zipper? Because the insulation underneath you in a sleeping bag gets crushed flat and barely keeps you warm. Your pad does most of that work. A quilt drops the bottom layer and wraps over and around you instead, which saves weight and bulk.
Tier: premium.
The Vesper 20F/-6C (Therm-a-Rest specs)
- Fill: 900-fill-power hydrophobic down, PFC-free
- Shell: 20D recycled nylon ripstop
- Baffles: mesh-wall baffles to reduce cold spots
- Pad straps: removable SynergyLink straps that attach the quilt to your pad. Therm-a-Rest says they work best with regular-size pads up to 3 in thick.
- Weight: Regular is about 1 lb 3 oz (550 g) and packs to about 5.5 x 8 in
- Included: compression stuff sack and storage sack
This listing is the Long size. Taller hikers will appreciate that, but if you're average height, check whether a Regular is available.
Is a quilt right for you?
Yes, if you sleep on your back or side, you already own a warm pad (R 4 or higher, like the XLite NXT), and you'd rather wear a puffy hood than carry a sleeping-bag hood.
Maybe not, if you toss and turn a lot. Drafts are the classic quilt complaint, and pad straps help but don't eliminate them. Pairing a quilt with a liner like the Sea to Summit Reactor can add warmth on the edge of its rating.
Stock
Only a few were left on Amazon when we checked.
See the Vesper 20F Quilt on Amazon
Availability changes often, so check the Amazon listing for current stock and options.