This Sierra Designs Backcountry Quilt review is about yet another series of sleeping bags that are ‘designed to shake things up’ as they write in the Sierra Design site. After backcounty bed series you will see some quite new features in the Quilt series. I shall present the features of this completely new design by using a couple of specific examples from the series, one with down fill and another with synthetic.
Sierra Designs Backcountry Quilt 800F 2 Season
Best place to buy
- The best place regarding the price and shipping conditions is usually Amazon.com.
Description
The number 800 in the name of this item refers to the compressibility of the down used as the fill of this sleeping bag. This terminology has been explained in a bit more detail in my another post.
As you see in the name, this is a sleeping tool for 2 seasons, so it is not for extremely low temperatures, though the lower limit of 28 F (-2 C) does not look bad at all to me. But in the same time, it is designed to provide much more comfort than any other traditional sleeping bag.
This is truly different from anything you have seen so far in sleeping bags designs. It is also very lightweight (only 0.68 kg).
In this particular case, we have duck DryDown fill with all advantages that come with this technology. You may see some of it in the second video below. So this is a treated down, with each individual plume treated on the molecular level with a water-resistant coating, with the following effects:
- It stays drier 7 to 10 times longer than an untreated down.
- It is warmer because it retains its loft 2.7 times longer than an untreated down.
- When it becomes wet, it dries out 33% faster than an untreated down.
I am not sure if one should use the term ‘bag’ for this tool because it has no zippers and it is open, and it tappers only in the foot zone where you have a footbag. It becomes wide in the upper area and it has hand pockets in the two corners, as you can see in the picture.
These pockets are full-length and they provide insulation for your arms, and they allow you to maneuver the sides into a sealed tuck when you are cold, or to open it up when it is warm enough.
On the top, you have a tuck away hood which you will use if it is particularly cold. In the first video below you will see how to use this unique product.
The bag comes with its stuff sack which you will use when you are outdoor, and a mesh storage sack to use when you are at home.
800F 2 season bag: technical specifications & features
- Weight: 1 lbs 8 oz (0.68 kg).
- Length: 78 in (198 cm).
- Width:
Shoulder: 56 in (142 cm).
Hip: 45 in (114 cm).
Foot: 40 in (102 cm). - EN Comfort Limit: 38 F (3 C).
- EN Lower Limit: 28 F (-2 C).
- Fit up to 6 ft 4 in (193 cm).
- Stuff Sack: length 14 in (36 cm), width 7 in (18 cm).
- Material:
Shell: 20D nylon ripstop
Liner: 20D nylon taffeta
Insulation: 800 fill duck DriDown.
Sierra Designs Backcountry Quilt SYN 1.5 Season
This is a less expensive version with synthetic fill, 1.5-season. There are no differences in design whatsoever. All the difference comes mainly from the fill. About the synthetic fill, I have said a few words in the post about Backcountry Bed series.
Specifications
- Weight: 1 lbs 12 oz (0.79 kg).
- EN comfort limit: 49 F (10 C).
- EN lower limit: 42 F (5 C).
- Fits to: 6 ft 4 in (193 cm).
- Stuff size: 7 x 15 in (17.8 x 38.1 cm).
- Material:
Shell: 30D polyester ripstop.
Liner: 30D polyester taffeta.
Insulation: poly-fiber synthetic.
Please see this short video from Sierra Design where most important features of the Quilt series are presented:
Here is a video about Sierra Designs DryDown technology:
Summary
It was indeed a great pleasure for me to write this Sierra Designs Backcountry Quilt review, because this is such a unique design, one that I find particularly comfortable for myself. I always feel claustrophobic in any sleeping bag, but this one is completely different.
Thank you for reading and please do leave me some comment in the box below. Have a nice day.
The Sierra Designs Backcountry Quilt looks awesome! I remember the day I got to pick out my first sleeping bag to go camping with. It was a very exciting day! Sleeping bag technology back then was not nearly as advanced as it is now. This is a great review and you did a great job explaining all of the features!
Hi Christina, thank you so much. You are right about the advanced technology. I also remember my beginning 30 years ago, this what we have now looks like extraterrestrial stuff compared to my first equipment. All the best.
I found both the products good. The first product Sierra Designs Backcountry Quilt 800F 2 is good in aspects like it can work at lower temperature till -2 C and the material seems to be very comfortable. On the other hand, the second one Sierra Designs Backcountry Quilt SYN 1.5is less expensive which is also a worth buy. So people searching for sleeping bag can get either of these.
Hi Sangeeta, these bags represent a completely new concept for sleeping bags. You will not make mistake with any of them. All the best to you.
That looks super cool! I like the design and it seems very comfortable. I think Sierra Designs Backcountry Quilt SYN 1.5 Season is amazing because of the side pockets, so when you sleep on your belly you can put your hands around. Thank you for the article! It helps a lot in finding a perfect one for my upcoming trip!
Hi Alisa, yes you realized how it should be used, this is not a typical sleeping bag. After seeing it, I would never again think about an ordinary sleeping bag. All the best to you.
So I work at Cabelas and we have this product in our store. This is one of our best sellers! Everyone seems to love it. I do not work in the department that it is sold in so I did not know the technical specs before this article. I like how you compared it to the other Sierra quilt. Very informative!
Hi Austin, thank you for this. No surprise that you are selling it so much, this is a unique design. One of several innovations from Sierra Designs. All the best to you.