For those of you mummy bag sleepers who are hesitant to jump into a quilt, especially during the late season, I have a solution for you born from this Enlightened Equipment quilt review. Trust me, I understand your hesitation. I was the person who constantly said I did not think quilts should be used in the late season.
I was fearful a quilt would be drafty and not keep me warm enough during the brutal cold late season nights or the brisk early morning hours of the spring. However, I still decided to spread my wings a little and give the Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt a try. This decision was primarily based upon the fact that I was tired of a tight-fitting mummy style sleeping bag and was hoping to improve my sleep quality on the mountain.
What I Tested – Enlightened Equipment Quilt Review
When this quilt arrived, I unboxed it and was immediately impressed. Enlightened Equipment uses top quality materials and the quilt is obviously well made. This quilt is flat out LOFTY. So much that after leaving it on the living room floor for a short period of time it looked as though someone was already sleeping under it.
I got the Enlightened Equipment Revelation quilt in the 10 degree model in the long and wide size. I also elected to go with the highest offered loft (950 fill power [fp] Grey Goose down) to minimize weight and bulk. Over the course of a full year, my testing of this quilt included a trip in January that held mid-teen temperatures at the night.
On the opposite end of the temperature spectrum, I used this quilt on many summer trips, often opening the quilt up completely and using it like a blanket. I solely used this quilt for every trip I took throughout the year and was extremely happy with the results. So happy I may never go back to sleeping in a mummy style bag again.
I elected to go with the Revelation model due to the versatility that it offered. The Enlightened Equipment Revelation quilt has a zipper that starts at the bottom and goes up 20 inches to create the foot box. You are then able to use a shock cord to close the bottom of the footbox. If you are like me, you first question here is, does this prevent drafts? I quickly found my answer.
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Yes, this design proved to prevent any drafts. It also has two elastic straps that connect to the quilt with a plastic clasp and go around your sleeping pad. This gives you a lot of flexibility to adjust how the quilt sits on the pad depending on the overnight temperature and really helped prevent cold drafts. There is a metal snap and draw cord at the head of the quilt that helps you control how much draft you want to allow at that end.
The Specs – Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt Review
Enlightened Equipment offers numerous different options in the Revelation lineup, giving the user the ability to customize the nylon fabric used on the quilt, as well as options to select either a 850fp Grey Duck Down or 950fp Grey Goose Down, the option to add a draft collar, a temperature range from 0 to 50 degrees, and opportunities to customize the length and width.
I decided to go with a 10 degree, 950fp, in a long and wide, with a 7D exterior and a 10D interior. D stands for denier, and in layman’s terms, it represents the weight of a single strand of fiber. So the lower the number, the lighter the material (i.e., 7D is lighter but less durable than 10D). Here are the specs on my quilt.
| EE Revelation Quilt 10░ Long/Wide | |
|---|---|
| Down | 950fp Grey Goose Down |
| Fill Weight | 19.5 oz |
| Total Weight | 26.1 oz |
| Loft | 3 in |
| Shoulder Width | 58 in |
| Foot Width | 42 in |
| Total Length | 84 in |
| Packed Size | 17.5 in x 8 in |
| Exterior Material | 7D Nylon |
| Interior Material | 10D Nylon |
I decided against the draft collar since I selected the long version. The long/wide version is only 2.1 ounces heavier than the regular, and this choice seemed to really pay off during the colder nights as I could simply pull the quilt over my head and tuck the excess under my feet if I wanted.
Versatility – Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt Review
If you are going with a quilt you probably expect versatility, and the EE Revelation Quilt absolutely has that going for it. It is arguably the most versatile quilt on the market. If you select 950fp you get a cold weather quilt without adding a ton of weight. At 26.1 ounces this quilt compares weight-wise to other quilts with a higher (less warm) temperature rating. The ability to completely open up the quilt into a blanket is just one aspect that make this one of the most versatile quilts on the market today. I love this feature and spent many nights with the quilt completely open during the late spring and early summer months.
The open footbox may cause concern for some people, and honestly, it was a concern of mine at first as well. However, the way Enlightened Equipment has designed the zipper and the shock cord in tandem really prevents drafts from getting to your feet. I also noticed that I could tuck some of the excess material under my feet for extra comfort and warmth.
The pad straps also serve their purpose and can be used to prevent the Enlightened Equipment Quilt from moving and/or from drafts getting into the quilt. This design is similar to that of other quilts. Interestingly, I noticed myself using the straps less than half the time. When I did use them, it was during the really cold nights that I did not want to worry about my movement pulling the quilt off my body and causing drafts.
I am a stomach sleeper the majority of the time and I would often just tuck one side of the quilt under my body while I slept. Likewise, during some of the colder nights, I would simply tuck both sides of the quilt under me, cinch down the footbox and sleep like a baby! When I did this, I did not attach the pad straps and rarely got drafts throughout the night.
Warmth – Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt Review
If you are looking for a quilt that you can take into the late season, the Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt is a fantastic option. I have numerous 0 to 15 degree mummy style sleeping bags that do not keep me as warm as this 10 degree Revelation. The temperature rating on this quilt was a true “comfort” rating rather than a “lower limit” rating that is often advertised on many sleeping bags. Not only did it keep me warm during the cold, dry nights, but it also performed exceptionally well when wet. Don’t worry, I will explain how that happened…
One night last April I relocated from one spring bear spot to another. I was on a backpack hunt and was a few miles from my truck. I elected to move camp after an evening hunt and knew it would make for a long night. I eventually got to my next destination late that night and decided to not set up a tent. I laid out a tarp, blew up my pad, and threw my quilt on top of my pad. The temperatures were in the mid-thirties that night.
I went to sleep and woke up the next morning to everything, including my quilt, completely soaked from dew and a light rain. I honestly had not even noticed it until my alarm went off and crawled out of my quilt. This led to a lot of confidence in the DWR finish as well as the warmth rating Enlightened Equipment gives their quilts.
Importance of the Sleeping Pad – Enlightened Equipment Quilt Review
I know this review is on the EE Revelation quilt but I feel it is paramount to talk about sleeping pads and their R-value. If you do not have a high enough R-value rating on your pad, it does not matter how impressive your quilt or sleeping bag is, you will be cold. This is even more crucial with a quilt because of the lack of insulation between you and your sleeping pad.
That is one reason wrapping your quilt undeneath you often leads to more warmth, but it will not fully make up for a low R-value pad during those cold nights. It is important to understand that you get cold from the ground up. If your pad is not properly insulated, you will be constantly fighting to stay warm.
Head Warmth – Enlightened Equipment Quilt Review
Another often talked about concern with quilts is keeping your head warm, and it is a valid issue. There are a couple options to consider to address this problem:
- I will sometimes sleep with a beanie on my head and leave my head out of the quilt.
- My preferred option is to wear a lightweight hooded base layer to bed. I then pull the quilt up over my head and use the material to almost make a pillow underneath my head.
On really cold nights, I will combine both of these methods and have had great results. One thing to be aware of when using my preferred method though is that your breath can cause condensation internally, so keep an eye on the quilt to make sure the inside of the quilt does not become wet.
What I Liked – Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt Review
After testing this Enlightened Equipment Quilt I can truly say I am a quilt fan. I loved the versatility that this quilt gave me in my sleep system. I loved the fact that I could open up the quilt and use it as a blanket or I could cinch it down during the cold nights and be warm. It was nice bringing this quilt during the spring and into some high country spots where the temperature and storms can be unpredictable.
I knew that even if a nasty storm rolled in and the temperature plummeted, I would not have to wear every article of clothing I had to bed. I also knew that if the opposite happened and the weather was warm, I could simply open up the quilt and sleep in as little clothing as I wanted.
I cannot say enough good things about the loftiness of this Enlightened Equipment Quilt. The 950 Grey Goose Down is truly impressive. It makes for some serious warmth but even more than that, it is ridiculously comfortable to sleep in. Sleep is paramount to recovery and the loft of this quilt is almost inviting you to go to bed every night.
To summarize, the characteristics I liked about the Revelation quilt were:
- LOFT
- Extreme Versatility
- Warmth
- Ability to completely customize the quilt
What I Disliked – Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt Review
In all honesty, there was not much that I did not like about this Enlightened Equipment Quilt, but one thing that is not ideal is the price point. If you select the same quilt I did you are going to be paying around $520. You can save $110 if you go with the 850 Grey Duck Down, but remember, you are definitely paying for what you get.
The only other complaint that I have would be the substantial packed size, although I expected this when I got a 10 degree quilt in the long and wide version. This was my doing and not really any fault of Enlightened Equipment. If I had selected a regular version the quilt would pack down much better.
To summarize, the characteristics I disliked about the Revelation quilt were:
- Price point
- Stuffed/packed size
Conclusion – Enlightened Equipment Quilt
I have certainly not tested every quilt/sleeping bag on the market, but I do feel confident in saying that the Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt is going to make you very happy if you are looking for a versatile quilt. This quilt’s loftiness is inviting and feels as though it is welcoming you to sleep every night. I do not think you can go wrong with a reputable brand like Enlightened Equipment and the Revelation 10 quilt.
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