Katabatic Alsek 22 Quilt (250+ Nights)

Word: Katabatic’s Vacation Sale is operating till December 2. All quilts are 15% off, whereas Jackets and Bivys are 20% off. 

I picked up the Katabatic Alsek 22°F quilt in 2018. Over the past six and a half years, I’ve used it in all kinds of environments and have usually taken it past its listed consolation score with out problem (see Discipline Expertise beneath).

The Alsek is the third Katabatic quilt I’ve owned. The primary two – Palisade 30°F and Sawatch 15°F – accompanied me on the 12 Lengthy Walks journey of 2011/12 and are nonetheless going sturdy after 14 years and a cumulative 900+ nights of use. Suffice it to say, they’ve lengthy since earned a spot among the many most dependable objects in my backpacking package.

As to the whys and wherefores, they go one thing like this………….

Cloaked within the Alsek earlier than starting the ultimate day of Scotland’s Cape Wrath Path.

Product Particulars

Description & Value (November, 2024):

• I’ve the 6’6″ Elite common width mannequin (Word: For reference, I’m a 6’1″ medium-build aspect sleeper that ideas the scales at round 80 kg/176 lbs. I don’t have a tendency to maneuver round so much in my sleep).

• For a comparability of the Elite Vs Flex 22°F mannequin, see the FAQs beneath.

Materials:

• Fill energy – 900 FP with Expedry Goosedown
• Shell – Pertex Quantum Ripstop .85 oz/yd.

Sustainability: All supplies utilized by Katabatic are bluesign accredited and Accountable Down Customary (RDS) licensed.

Complete Weight: 23.6 oz (0.67 kg)

Fill Weight: 15.2 oz (0.43 kg)

Discipline Expertise

Since 2018, I’ve used the Katabatic Alsek 22°F greater than 250 nights within the backcountry. Throughout most of those journeys, I slept on a Thermarest NeoAir XL Sleeping Mat and wore a buff or light-weight beanie together with gentle or medium-weight Merino Wool base layers (Word: On the temperature scale, I’m an “common” sleeper—neither sizzling nor chilly).

Journeys with the Alsek have included the Scottish Highlands (2018), Lofoten Islands (2018), Dolomites (2019), fall journeys within the Austrian and Slovenian Alps (2019), prolonged treks by Denali Nationwide Park and Brooks Vary (2021), a number of winter journeys in Mexico’s Sierra Madre, and most not too long ago (Sept.2024), a 300-mile (483 km) hike by Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, which included an extended model of the glacier-crossing Bailey Vary Traverse.

Click on right here for full gear lists from a few of the journeys talked about above.

Getting ready for dinner on the glacier-encircled Camp Pan, Olympic Nationwide Park (mid-September 2024).

Design

• Differential lower – The internal lining is sewn smaller than the outer shell to permit the down optimum area to loft.

• Neck collar. The Elite mannequin has two buttons and a drawcord. Overstuffed. Toasty.

• Foot field: Additionally overstuffed. Trapezoidal form.

• No hood (although you possibly can order one individually): The shortage of a hood is typically cited as a purpose for not utilizing quilts. Nevertheless, in my view, it’s no biggie. Why? Likelihood is I’m carrying a beanie more often than not anyway, and when added to the hoods I have already got on my jackets (i.e., windshirt, down and rain), that is usually greater than sufficient to maintain my noggin heat.

• Attachment system: Every Katabatic Quilt has two choices:

1. Cords: Twin cords might be wrapped round your sleeping pad and clipped at roughly shoulder and hip stage. These clips have two settings: a unfastened mode, which is adjustable, and a good mode, which might be locked in for when temps get nippy (see YouTube clip beneath).

2. Webbing Straps: Three in complete. The highest two are detachable, and the underside one is mounted. The straps are skinny, unobtrusive, and simply adjustable; they lie immediately beneath the sleeper quite than wrapped across the pad.

The three webbing straps on the Alsek 22°F.

• What units the Katabatic attachment system aside?: When studying critiques of Katabatic quilts, you’ll usually hear people converse glowingly about their attachment system. What makes it so good? In a phrase – versatility. The flexibility to regulate the girth in keeping with the dictates of the situations wherein you might be sleeping. The Katabatic attachment system addresses the three principal components to search for in quilt design: 1. Minimizes/eliminates bracing drafts; 2. Retains useless air area to a minimal, and; 3. Permits for freedom of motion.

Click on right here for an summary of why I usually want sleeping quilts to luggage.

A memorable bivouac with the Alsek on prime of Hermannsdalstinden Peak throughout the Lengthy Crossing of the Lofoten Islands (2018)(Word: The digicam angle is a bit deceiving; the rock was really fairly flat).

Temperature Rankings

• Katabatic quilts have a long-established popularity for conservative temperature rankings.

• Throughout my time with the Alsek 22°F, I’ve been comfy at temperatures six to seven levels colder than its listed score whereas sporting a lightweight or medium-weight Merino wool base layer and a beanie or Buff.

• Word 1: Sleeping bag rankings are subjective. Completely different individuals sleep hotter or colder at completely different temperatures. As I discussed above, over time, I’ve discovered myself to be a mean sleeper. For folk who’re cool/chilly sleepers, the Alsek’s temperature score is probably going shut to identify on.

• Word 2: When utilizing a tarp quite than an enclosed shelter, I’ll usually mix the quilt with a light-weight bivy (e.g., MLD Superlight or Katabatic Bristlecone), which provides an additional 5 to seven levels of heat.

Mid-October in a winterraum within the Austrian Alps. Given the backups available, there was little likelihood I’d be chilly on this specific night.

Camped out throughout a 15-day hike within the Brooks Vary, August/September 2021, the place temps dropped all the way down to a low of -7°C/19°F (Shelter is the Tarptent Aeon Li).

Sturdiness / Lengthy-term Loft

• There hasn’t been any noticeable lower in loft or heat throughout the six years and 250-plus nights I’ve been utilizing the Alsek.

• I usually wash my quilts at the least annually with down wash (e.g., Nikwax or Rivivex).

• Once I’m not utilizing the quilt, I preserve it saved in a big cotton bag (offered by Katabatic). For extra care directions, see the Product Care web page on the Katabatic Gear web site.

In late August/September 2023, I took the Alsek 22F° on an prolonged journey by Iceland. The journey included a loop hike across the Hornstrandir Peninsula and a north-to-south traverse of the island (the Tent pictured is the Tarptent StratoSpire 2). By the tip of the journey, night temperatures have been usually within the low 20sF (-6°C).

Worth for Cash

Katabatic Gear makes use of high-end supplies and their workmanship is first-class. Whereas their quilts aren’t low cost, their aggressive value level and wonderful sturdiness make them good worth for cash. Living proof, the Alsek hasn’t missed a beat in over six years and my Sawatch and Palisade are nonetheless going sturdy after 13+ years.

Professional Tip: As a rule of thumb, in the case of down merchandise – whether or not or not it’s quilts, luggage, jackets, pants, booties, or vests – you get what you pay for.

The Katabatic Sawatch 15 over time. Counter-clockwise from prime: 1. Mixed with the Katabatic Bristlecone Bivy in late Feb.2012 on the Colorado Plateau (Southwestern Horseshoe/1,782 mi); 2. Cowboy camped at 4,692 m (15,394 ft) on the slopes of Volcan Tunupa (Altiplano traverse, 2017), and; 3. Oqaatsut Path, Greenland’s west coast, September 2022.

Comparable Quilts & Baggage

Though I’ve used Katabatic Quilts on most of my backcountry journeys since 2011 (the exception being journeys in sizzling/humid climates after I’ll usually take the artificial Mountain Laurel Designs Spirit Quilt 38), there are a handful of different producers that make high-end quilts or sleeping luggage which might be in the identical class (or at the least the identical ballpark) as Katabatic Gear. Right here’s a fast rundown of some sleeping quilts and luggage which might be similar to the Alsek 22. For a extra complete breakdown, see Sleeping Baggage for Via-hikers:

Quilts 

Baggage 

Mike “The Gambler” Towne and his trusty Western Mountaineering Ultralite 20 (mixed with an MLD Superlite Bivy) in a cave on the Colorado Plateau in late February 2012 (Word: On this specific night time, temps dropped all the way down to single digits Fahrenheit (round -13°C)).

FAQs & Quilt-Associated Musings

• Elite Vs Flex: Which One Ought to I Purchase?:  Katabatics’ Elite and the Flex strains supply the identical vary of sizes and fill choices, use the identical shell supplies, and are identically priced. Relating to variations, the most important is that the previous has a sewn-in foot field, whereas the latter can both be opened up like a blanket or closed shut when the temperatures warrant (by means of a zipper, drawstring, and strengthened snap/draft blocker). Different design variations are smaller and fewer important – for instance, the Elite mannequin weighs round an oz much less and has two buttons on the neck collar quite than one, which minimizes motion of the collar when you are likely to toss and switch. So which mannequin do you have to get? It comes down to private choice. If you wish to maximize versatility, go together with the aptly-titled Flex. If you would like the snugness of a Mummy-style sleeping bag with the adjustability and weight financial savings of a quilt, go for the Elite. 

• Ought to I am going for Vast or Common Width?: Katabatic’s wider fashions are a few ounces heavier and $17/18 dearer, however they supply an additional 4″ of width within the shoulder, hip, and foot field. If you happen to’re a much bigger particular person and/or toss and switch in your sleep, the broad fashions are possible your best choice. If you happen to’re comparatively slim and/or don’t transfer round an excessive amount of in your sleep, chances are you’ll need to save a few ounces and some bucks and go for an everyday. In my very own case, I’ve the Elite fashions of the Alsek, Palisade 30, and Sawatch 15. I picked up the latter two earlier than the introduction of the Flex line in late 2015. If and when the time comes that I have to retire both of the unique fashions, I’ll possible keep on with the Elite model of the 15°F quilt and go for the Flex mannequin of the 30°F model for elevated versatility in hotter temps (Word: For an in depth breakdown of the Common Vs Vast query, see Katabatic’s FAQ web page).

• Horizontal Vs. Vertical Baffles: Which is Higher?: Neither. A quilt’s toastiness primarily comes all the way down to stuffing, workmanship, and high quality of supplies. “However I’m confused; some commenters on Gear Boards are adamant that Vertical is greatest, whereas others keep that Horizontal is the best way to go.” Ultralight gearheads tend to overanalyze. Some even have a penchant for drawing definitive conclusions relating to their most well-liked manufacturers. The fact is that in the case of quilts and different backpacking gear, usually there isn’t a “better of the most effective.” Likelihood is, when you choose up a Katabatic Quilt with horizontal baffles, you’ll be blissful along with your buy for a very long time. The identical holds true when you purchase a Nunatak Quilt, which sports activities vertical baffles. “Why?” As a result of each firms use prime quality supplies, have wonderful consideration to element, and correctly stuff their well-designed baffles (i.e., Understuffed and/or outsized baffles are those that are likely to have important migration points). The identical holds true for sleeping luggage – when you shell out huge bucks for a Western Mountaineering or Feathered Buddies mannequin, odds are (when you handle it) you’ll have a dependable piece of package for a few years to return. 

Paul “Mags” Magnanti, using out a storm in his Feathered Buddies Hummingbird 20 (photograph courtesy of pmags.com). As with the Gambler’s Western Mountaineering bag pictured above, Mags loved a very good twenty years of normal use together with his Hummingbird earlier than passing it alongside to mates (and switching to a Katabatic Alsek).

• The Insulation Bundle Deal: Getting a very good night time’s sleep could make or break your backpacking journey. So as to take action, it’s essential to have your sleep system dialed in earlier than you hit the path.  Whereas an appropriately rated sleeping quilt (or bag) is important for mitigating convective warmth loss, it’s equally essential to have a sleeping mat with an R-value (resistance to warmth circulation) enough to deal with conductive warmth loss from the bottom. Each objects work collectively to be able to preserve you heat. Certainly, as many a hiker has found over time, you possibly can have the warmest, puffiest quilt/bag in the marketplace, however when you don’t have the suitable insulation beneath you, chances are high you’ll be colder than a mother-in-law’s kiss.

Cowboy tenting at over 14,000 ft throughout the Altiplano Traverse. On this specific night time, temps dipped all the way down to -15°C (5°F). My sleep system for the journey consisted of a Katabatic Sawatch 15 quilt, Bristlecone bivy, and the Therm-a-Relaxation XTherm sleeping mat (Click on right here for the total gear listing).

Suggestion:

If I had to decide on only one quilt, it will be the Alsek 22°F or the Flex 22°F. Why? As a result of it’s the “Goldilocks” of the Katabatic secure – not too heat, not too chilly, excellent for porridge-gobbling trespassers and versatility-seeking hikers. It hits the temperature candy spot for multi-month thru-hikes and/or journeys wherein hikers are usually oscillating between completely different elevations and environments. If you happen to haven’t gone too far down the mountaineering gear rabbit gap (i.e., you personal a number of quilts and luggage) and easily need one quilt/bag that meets a number of your backcountry wants, the Alsek represents a superb alternative.

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Disclosure I obtained the Alsek 22 (900 fp Expedry) freed from cost in change for suggestions from the sphere. I used to be beneath no obligation to jot down a evaluation, and the opinions expressed are my very own. 

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