Featherstone Moondance 25 850 Fill Power Down Top Quilt Mummy Sleeping Bag Alternative for Ultralight Backpacking Camping and Thru-Hiking…

I love this backpacking quilt, and it has completely exceeded my expectations! From the moment I pulled it out of the bag, I was impressed by how lightweight yet warm it felt. It’s ideal for colder season camping, providing excellent warmth without the bulk of a traditional sleeping bag.The materials are top-notch, with a soft and durable shell that holds up well against the elements. I love how compressible it is—it packs down incredibly small, making it a breeze to carry in my backpack. The insulation is excellent, and even on chilly nights, I stayed cozy when the temperatures dropped 30 degrees. Paired with my summer quilt I've gone down to 15 comfortablyOverall, this quilt has made my backpacking trips so much more comfortable, and I can’t imagine going back to a traditional sleeping bag. It’s the perfect blend of warmth, comfort, and portability, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys lightweight, high-performance gear. Worth every penny!

I have never seen an ultralight quilt before and upon arriving I was actually shocked and scared about how thin the fabric was. But after doing a bunch more research (after I thought I had already done. ie. reviews and YouTube and Reddit posts) I realized that’s how ultralight bags and quilts work. They are all made out of 10d, 15d, or 20d and some of them are even 7d to save some weight. With every selection of the heavier fabric, obviously the weight of the bag goes up. But apparently 10D is actually pretty tough if you don’t abuse it. I can see through it. I can see the down. No feathers have come through. And I have tired pulling the fabric open with my hands on the stuff sack it’s extremely tough. Yet very soft. The down fluffs pretty fast and as a quilt i can feel it trapping my body heat and warming up fast. I did some compares against the other popular quilts. Here the deal. The standard is 178 and the extra long/extra wide is only 10 dollars more. That’s nothing compared to 4 extra ozs of weight over an extra foot of fabric in the shoulders and length. I’m 6’4” and I could pull this over my head. Now to get an extra long/extra wide on cottage sites (with lead times of 8-10 WEEKS) is now not a difference of 80 bucks for the regular size. It was more like 250 based on options that would equal the Featherdances’ size. For the price, this is an actually extremely well made, light, packable quilt. As I look at other spec sheets and reviews I have less and less buyers remorse and realize this was a great deal. Like I said. Made my entire ultralight tent rain on the inside it was so warm at 41 degrees last night. I’m taking into a thru-hike down to 15 this week with a down jacket. I’ll edit when I get back how it did.Edit. Lol. I forgot I made this review and I said I’d update it. Boy that AT section hike turned into a fiasco. Anyway. I went down to 28 degrees F with no problems. Wear a beanie though.

As the title states, this is a backpacking quilt not a traditional sleeping bag. If you don’t know the difference, that’s OK- but this product probably isn’t for you. Some reviewers cite the quilt’s open back design as a problem, but that’s absolutely intended and not a fault of the product. Below is an overview of “why quilts versus bags”, as well as my own personal review.Down needs to puff up to make small air pockets that create the insulation and warming layer. When you lay on top of “squished” down, it compresses and loses much of its insulating properties. Quilts are designed to pair with an insulating pad (foam, air, etc) to create that insulating layer **so that the back of the quilt doesn’t require material**.Benefits of this are first and foremost reduced weight- this is the primary reason quilts are used vs bags. The quilt design has become a preferred option for long-distance backpackers who are looking to shed weight in moderate to cool climates. Additionally there are mobility advantages for those who toss and turn during sleep. If you’ve felt constricted in traditional mummy bags then a quilt style might be for you! The open back and side design does create more draft, which in very cold environments can be a significant downside versus a completely enclosed mummy bag. Many will use a liner or other material to reduce that effect.In most conditions, especially cold temps, you must pair the quilt with a pad or other insulated back (not a cot). I currently use a Gear Doctors insulated sleeping pad and recently paired it with this quilt in fairly cold weather, reaching 27°F one night (limit) and 17°F on another (below limit). The quilt performed very well on the warmer side of my test (27) which was at the low end of Featherstone’s rating and not surprisingly struggled at the lower temp (17) even when paired with thermals and beanie. Featherstone temperature ratings are accurate based on my experience.For those new to down, it takes some time to fully loft (aka puff up), therefore don’t just take it out of the compression bag and try to sleep in it. Take it out of the bag and set up an hour or more before you intend to go to sleep. That allows those tiny air pockets time to expand and provide that insulating layer that you will definitely want.As far as this specific quilt is concerned, the build quality is very good. The toe box can open up to create a literal quilt/blanket. One night I had an issue with the zipper on the toe box coming undone, but that was easy to remedy and something I will keep an eye on. Hopefully it was a one time occurrence.The pull string around the collar is located in the middle, which can be frustrating during sleep as it will fall into your face, a mild annoyance. I would have much preferred this to have been offset to one side or the other to prevent that. The snap on the collar behind your head is a very convenient way to cinch things up while still being easily undone for a quick late night restroom visit.Lastly- the pad strap design on this quilt is nicer than some other budget designs. I appreciate the straps and clips that allow you to keep the quilt on top of the sleeping pad as opposed to having to tuck under the pad. The former keeps the quilt off the ground, prevents condensation and also provides more material on top to move around and/or tuck between your arms and pad.