APEX 6 oz/yd² winter quilts

After making my ultralight 3-season synthetic quilt, I decided I wanted to go all out and make a winter version using double the insulation. This page keeps both finished builds together so their shapes, construction choices, and real-world use can be compared directly.

The two designs

Design 01 - My quilt

This was the summer quilts' big brother. I got a bit carried away, and made the thickest APEX quilt I can imagine really sewing (or want to imagine). Instead of 2.5oz/yd², this thicc boy is made with 6.0oz/yd² - 240% the insulation.

Much like the 3-season quilt, I installed really thick pink stretchy paracord initially, which I replaced with this ## (1.5mm?) nylon cord I got from my local outfitter J&H

Design 02 - Rowen's quilt

Finished. This quilt was a gift for my little sister, made to her specifications.

Double-sewn around the entire perimeter.

Comparison

Warmth - Insanely warm. For me, this is a true 20° F (# ° C) and below with layering or top quilt.

Comfort - I love Argon67 fabric, and this thing is no exception. Soft, breathable, deals well with water.

Weight -

Volume and packability - This thing is huge. APEX doesn't really compress, and the 6 oz/yd² fabric doesn't like to fold like a lighter APEX jacket or quilt does. This means it needs a lot more effort to smoosh down, and fills the backpack like a balloon. Nobody with a 35L pack is taking this on a winter trip, they're taking down.

Durability - Having used my quilt on two different continents and both sides of America, it is holding up fantastic. Durability was a concern, but the Argon67 is a bomber fabric when you aren't abbrating or poking holes.

Materials and measurements

Shell fabric: Argon67 inner/outer

Insulation: Climashield APEX 6 oz/yd²
Dimensions: to add
Finished weights: to add
Pattern or cutting diagram: inspired by Backcountry Banter

Real World Use

I have not used this quilt as much as I would like to.

The primary trip I took in on was Winter trip with Jessie, pictures.

What I would change

Quilt Shape and Sizing - I trimmed my quilt very little, in the same general pattern of the 3-season quilt. I intentionally made this longer than the summer quilt, and the collective bulk feels unnecessary. It results in a sleeping bag volume, enough to wrap around you entirely but without any continuity to fully seal the heat.

Rowen specifically wanted a giant, rectangular bag. What I didn't know, is she would end up using this quilt for SUMMER trips in Washington. I took mine to 15F! This is, in large part, because of the empty space at the box of the quilt. I think I need to get her quilt back, and chop it down for her, so it is actually warm. Same applies to mine. Although the size was nice, and the footbox plump enough not to leak at all, it definitely leaves cold pockets that you interact with. If I finish my APEX clothing, it could be a nice combination to have the space for the poof, but this is a level of deep winter I likely won't encounter.

Pad Attachment - In that same vein, I should have put in draft collars. With the ZenBivy pad straps, or other patches (e.g. dyneema), this could be achieved without any sewing. I will probably modify mine with surgery...

Footbox design - This temperature rating merits only a sewn footbox. Choices were made, and it is a novel item for at-home use or car camping scenarios. But for any weather I take this out into, that footbox isn't opening.