A few weeks ago, Underground Quilts (UGQ) got in touch with me to do a review of their quilts, specifically their Flight Jacket top quilt. I went back-and-forth with Paul to select the fill and finish of the quilt as they wanted to build a custom quilt for me. The attention to detail is evident in the finished product: the stitching is exacting, the material is comfortable, and even the sewn button hole for the cord lock at the head end is a nice touch.
This quilt is designed for more than just hammock campers. The pad clips that run down each side help convert this quilt to ground sleeping. Thru hikers or other weight-conscious backpackers will want to look at this quilt as they compare their options. UGQ uses a standard cinch-style closure for the foot box and six plastic snaps to form the box.
UGQ promotes the illume15 fabric, a lightweight and down proof 15d 0.9oz DWR ripstop nylon, with their quilts, but they offer other options (and colors) when ordering a quilt. According to Paul, they worked with International Down and Feather in Salt Lake City to have the illume15 fabric independently tested. My inspection of the quilt confirms these claims as I found no down poking through, even after some “abusive” packing and smashing.
Another feature that sets UGQ’s quilts apart is the use of DWR-treated down. Water-resistant down is trending with outdoor manufacturers and I’m glad to see a hammock-specific quilt set following suit. Down fill—while arguably warmer, lighter, and less dense as synthetic options—typically collapses and is rendered useless if it gets wet. The DWR treatment give some reassurance that the insulation will perform better in wet conditions (e.g., survive a night with thick condensation from a rolling fog), although care should always be given to keep the insulation out of pouring rain.
With temperatures already hitting 30°F (-1°C) here in Flagstaff, I’ve got to do some quick testing in order to take advantage of the Flight Jacket’s 40°F-rating. I’m looking forward to putting the Flight Jacket through its paces this fall!
Product Information
MANUFACTURER: Underground Quilts Outdoor Equipment
YEAR OF MANUFACTURE: 2013, made in USA
MANUFACTURER’S WEBSITE: http://www.undergroundquilts.com
MSRP: $175–205 USD
LISTED FEATURES
- Illume15 a light weight 15d 0.9oz DWR Ripstop Nylon
- 16-21 baffled down chambers
- Zipperless, quilt-style sleeping bag with foot box
- Sewn or snap-and-cinch foot box options
- Silnylon stuff sack
- DWR-treated 700 fill-power grey duck down or 850 fill-power grey goose down
MANUFACTURER STATEMENT
“Allied Resist-Down™ is hydrophobic, engineered to keep you warm and will stay dry for hours longer than untreated down. If Allied Resist-Down™ does get wet, it dries up to three times faster than untreated down, retaining over 30% more loft than untreated down when exposed to moisture. Allied Resist-Down™ is also completely allergen free.”
MEASUREMENTS
Weight: 500 g (17.6 oz) in the stuff sack
Dimensions: Head 51 in (130 cm); Foot 42 in (107 cm); Length 73 in (185 cm)
Warmth Rating: 40°F (4°C)
Disclosure of material connection: The author (Derek Hansen) was provided with a free sample from the manufacturer for testing and evaluation purposes. The comments in this post (written & spoken) are of my own opinion, which I formed after personally handling the quilt.
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