[An honest, self-funded review] Lightweight, compact, and warm. The HYPERLITE MOUNTAIN GEAR "20-DEGREE QUILT" is the ultimate quilted sleeping bag that can be used from summer to winter

Until recently, mummy-style sleeping bags were the norm for sleeping in mountainous areas. While mummy-style sleeping bags are still popular today, the lineup of quilted sleeping bags, which are designed to be lighter, is also increasing

20-DEGREE QUILT quilted sleeping bag from HYPERLITE MOUNTAIN GEAR, a brand that's essential when talking about UL (ultralight). I tested it in the field and will be reviewing it here. The 20-DEGREE is an impeccable sleeping bag that combines the three key elements of warmth, lightness, and compactness. It's the kind of sleeping bag you'll want to stay in forever, even when it's time to get out and get moving.

Key Features of the HYPERLITE MOUNTAIN GEAR 20-DEGREE QUILT

HYPERLITE MOUNTAIN GEAR (HMG) is a brand from the US, the birthplace of long trails, that offers lightweight, durable hiking gear such as backpacks and tents. The 20-DEGREE QUILT , is a quilted sleeping bag made of DWR-treated (durable water repellent) 7D micro ripstop nylon and filled with DWR-treated 1000FP goose down. Available in short, regular, and long sizes, users can choose the one that best suits their build.

The 20-DEGREE QUILT is a highly portable quilted sleeping bag that boasts excellent heat retention, with a usable temperature of -7°C, is made with high-quality goose down, and features an ultra-thin 7D (denier) fabric. By eliminating the hood and zipper, the weight has been reduced to 570g.

The back of the bag comes with two straps to secure your sleeping mat, preventing it from slipping while you sleep. For even more airtightness, you can attach bungee cords to the four loops on the outside to increase airtightness and prevent cold air from getting into your back

The 20-DEGREE QUILT is a quilted sleeping bag made with the highest quality materials, offering a perfect balance of warmth and portability, making it ideal for three-season hiking (year-round in low mountains), fastpacking, and thru-hiking on long-distance trails.

Recommended points

• Fluffy and comfortable 1000FP goose down for excellent heat retention
• Quilted design for easy ventilation when it's hot
• Lightweight and compact despite its excellent heat retention
• Comes with a loop for attaching to a sleeping mat

Points of interest

• price
• Getting in and out takes some getting used to
• The structure makes it difficult to evenly distribute the down
• Cold air gets in when I turn over in bed
• No dedicated storage bag included

Main specifications and evaluation

Impressions of using the 20-DEGREE QUILT

Fluffy and comfortable 1000FP goose down provides excellent heat retention

The 20-DEGREE QUILT uses 1000FP goose down, which is simply comfortable. The moment you get in, you're enveloped in supple down, providing exceptional warmth. 1000FP down is among the highest grades of down available on the market at the time of writing this article. (Fill power is one of the standards for evaluating down performance, and represents the resilience of 30g of down under certain conditions. The higher the FP number, the higher the performance, meaning it can fill more space with the same weight.)

The use of 7D ultra-thin micro ripstop fabric on the finest 1000FP down also contributes to its suppleness

The 20-DEGREE QUILT 's operating temperature is -7°C. It contains 398g of down, a figure that might raise some eyebrows if you've used a sleeping bag for some time. The 20-DEGREE QUILT . In fact, quilted sleeping bags often have the same warmth as mummy-style sleeping bags. The key difference between quilted and mummy-style sleeping bags is the elimination of the hood and back panel. This allows the down used in the hood and back panel to be shifted to areas that require insulation, such as the torso and feet, for maximum warmth. Furthermore, the use of the highest quality down enhances its warmth. (Because quilted sleeping bags cannot be tested by European standards, the operating temperature figures are calculated independently by each company and should be considered as a reference value.)

No matter how high quality the down is, it cannot retain heat unless it expands. Since the down is crushed where it touches the sleeping mat, it cannot retain heat. Therefore, the idea was to remove the down, and quilted sleeping bags, such as the 20-DEGREE QUILT, (although there are also quilted types with back sections).

The included attachment straps allow you to secure it to a sleeping mat

The included strap can be attached to the mat for secure attachment

Quilted sleeping bags with an open back are designed to be used on a sleeping mat. If they slip off the mat, their heat retention will drop dramatically. Two elastic straps are included, which can be attached to the buckle on the back to secure the bag to the sleeping mat and prevent it from slipping off

The included straps inevitably leave gaps where they connect to the sleeping mat, but if you want to increase airtightness, such as when using in low-temperature environments, the sleeping bag has four loops on the outside, so you can secure it to the sleeping mat with a bungee cord or similar to keep the sleeping bag tightly attached to your body

For increased security, you can secure it to your sleeping mat by attaching a bungee cord to the loop on the outside

In actual field tests, I was able to stay warm in temperatures of around -5°C without feeling cold. Because it's a hoodless, quilted design with an open back, it's essential to take measures to protect your head and back. By using an air mattress to properly insulate the back of the hat from the ground, wearing a down jacket, and a knit cap, it seems that the operating temperature displayed on the device will generally be fine. However, it's probably best to consider the -7°C temperature setting as the lower limit for how much it feels to use

Quilted type with high specifications, operating temperature is -7℃

The foot box is also three-dimensionally constructed and is filled with down to keep your feet warm. Although we didn't use a cover during testing, we felt it could be used actively in temperatures between 0 and -5°C by wearing the jacket in combination with a cover or inner layer in addition to wearing the appropriate clothing depending on the environment

3D stitched foot box with securely filled down

Nowadays, camping options have become more diverse, and tenting is not the only way to stay in nature. I sometimes use a hammock to sleep, and hammocks and quilted sleeping bags work well together. Because a hammock is suspended in the air, getting into a mummy-style sleeping bag can be more difficult than you might imagine (as can getting out), but with a quilted sleeping bag, all you have to do is lie down and then put it on, which is easy

Hammocks and quilts go well together

I'm concerned about whether there will be any bias in the down

It has excellent heat retention, but one thing that bothered me was the structure of the upper part of the sleeping bag. It has a vertically long structure, and according to the official website, it is locked down so that it doesn't move from its designated place, but I was concerned about whether the down would shift with use

A photo was taken from the backside, with the sleeping bag lit. The transparent areas are cold spots where there is no down

the 20-DEGREE QUILT , so you can prevent cold spots by breaking it in well before use to eliminate any imbalances in the down.

Quilted design for easy ventilation when it's hot

Quilted types are less airtight, so blocking cold air from entering can be a challenge, but in other words, they have the advantage of being easier to ventilate and easier to control when it's hot

Compared to the mummy type, it is less airtight but it is easier to adjust to heat and humidity

In the first place, quilted sleeping bags are typically chosen not for harsh environments like snowy mountains in the dead of winter, but for more gentle environments. For example, from early summer to autumn, or in areas where it doesn't snow even in winter. In such areas, I tend to feel hot and stuffy and need to adjust my clothing more often than I do freezing cold. A quilted sleeping bag can essentially be used like a futon, so it's less stuffy and allows for a more comfortable sleep

Getting in and out takes some getting used to

The buckle on the back. It's small, so I had some difficulty connecting it until I got used to it

The 20-DEGREE QUILT has no zipper and only three connecting parts on the back . Getting in and out of a quilted sleeping bag for the first time takes some getting used to. Fastening the small buckle on the back while inside the sleeping bag can be a tricky task. Compared to the mummy sleeping bag, which can be used by anyone, the quilted sleeping bag has a slightly more quirky design and is more suited to experienced users.

Cold air gets in when I turn over in bed

The 20-DEGREE QUILT provides complete coverage all the way up to the neck , but it cannot completely eliminate the intrusion of cold air caused by movement while sleeping. When you turn over in your sleep, gaps are created, allowing cold air to get in. This is good ventilation in mild environments, but it can be a nuisance when you want to keep out cold air in low-temperature environments.

If you leave the sleeping bag on when you turn on your side, cold air will be able to seep in from your back. As you get used to it, you will be able to minimize the amount of cold air that seeps in when you turn over, but when using it in low-temperature environments, you need to make sure to secure it to your sleeping mat and take measures to block as much cold air as possible

Lightweight and compact despite its excellent heat retention

Measure the weight of the storage bag first

The 20-DEGREE QUILT weighs just 570g (regular size). It's undoubtedly one of the lightest sleeping bags available for temperatures down to -7°C. Mummy-style sleeping bags with a similar temperature range weigh around 800-900g. While the two bags differ in structure and cannot be directly compared due to versatility, the 20 -DEGREE QUILT 's lightness is striking when comparing only the temperature range and weight.

Sleeping bags are one of the heaviest and largest items of equipment. Choosing a thinner sleeping bag can reduce weight, but it also increases the risk of exposure to the cold. Choosing a thinner sleeping bag to reduce weight and then enduring the cold at night can be extremely harsh (I've experienced it myself)

20-DEGREE QUILT solves all of your sleeping bag problems .

It comes with a storage bag, but no storage bag

The included storage bag allows you to store the down without damaging it

The 20-DEGREE QUILT comes with a storage bag for storage when purchased , but it does not include a portable storage bag, so you will need to purchase that as an option or obtain one separately.

Although it is possible to compress it and fit it into a fairly small storage bag, excessive compression can cause stress to the down, so it is recommended to use a slightly larger storage bag for easier storage. I personally use a bag with a capacity of about 10L

Compared to a 500ml plastic bottle. It can be made quite compact

Summary: In terms of functionality, pointed quilting patterns can be very useful depending on how you use them!

Quilted sleeping bags, which have no hood or zipper and an open back, are unique items that are not easy for everyone to use, but what they do offer is "lightness."

Sleeping bags are one of the heaviest pieces of equipment you can carry. Reducing the weight of your sleeping bag will have a significant impact on the overall weight, and for those who understand the characteristics of their sleeping bag and can use it in a way that suits their level, this lightness will help them walk more freely and farther

I have made many mistakes when trying to make my sleeping bag lighter, but the 20-DEGREE QUILT is a sleeping bag that I can confidently recommend for hiking in the mountains during the snow-free season!

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Yosuke.C (Yosuke)

A person who travels around with just one backpack, with the motto of "as light as possible" without causing inconvenience. From spring to autumn, he goes fishing in mountain streams in pursuit of char deep in the mountains. He hikes the mountains in search of spectacular views that cannot be seen from the ground. He camps to be soothed by a bonfire. He snowboards to experience the feeling of floating in the snow-capped mountains. A freelance writer who enjoys the outdoors all year round. He shares his experiences and the gear he has found useful

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