20 degree vs 10 degree bag for a Sept 1st departure?

Going back and forth between getting a 10 degree bag or a 20 degree bag for my September trip.

I currently have an EE Revelation 30 degree that I love and want to get another EE quilt that’s rated colder for this trip.

Will a 10 degree quilt be too warm for a September JMT trip? I sleep cold and my reasoning is I’d rather own a 10 degree quilt and a 30 degree quilt than just a 20 and 30 degree for future trips.

But it seems like most people here recommend 20 degree bags for later season. Curious what people’s thoughts are.

in JMTby legink

75%

17d

MTB_Mike_

17d

Thats the great thing about quilts, it is much easier to adjust to the temperature. I would get the 10 degree quilt personally (for the reason you outlined). A 20 degree is the more appropriate one for that time of year. I am a cold sleeper as well, a 10 degree would be fine for me. You will have nights with pretty wildly varying temps depending on where you camp and the local weather. I have had nights in the high40's and in the teens on the same trip. I prefer late August as a start so Sept1 start is similar weather.

Atlas-Scrubbed

17d

Completely agree here. The 10 degree bag will work at 20. But the 20 will not work at 10…. The weather will be very variable. Last year near Forester pass was in the upper 20s in late July. I only had a 30 degree bag and was very cold. This year I am taking a 15 degree bag in late July.

ziggomattic

17d

MTB_Mike said it well. Though a large part of the equation is also your sleeping pad R value.

I can tell you from firsthand experience on a late September JMT trip using an EE 20 degree Revelation, that 20 degrees is the safety limit and not the comfort temperature.

We had a lot of nights in the 20's in late Sept 2022, woke up one morning at MTR with my thermometer reading 22 before sunrise. I was wearing all my clothing to bed, and I was still warm. My sleeping pad was 2.9 R value, and I typically sleep warm, but I would recommend bringing something higher than 2.9 for September Sierra travels. Low 20's is a bit unusual though not unheard of, it can swing any way in September. Early September 2021 it was nearly 50 degrees overnight at Rae Lakes @ 10K feet elevation.

I think a 10 degree quilt is overkill for the Sierras. When sleeping at lower elevations in warmer weather it will be very warm, even unzipped. If you have good R value pad and adequate clothing should the temps really drop, a 20 degree should do you well.

legink

17d

This is helpful! My pad is the NeoAir Xlite which is 4.2. Since 20 degrees is the safety limit not the comfort rating that’s why I was considering a 10 degree bag, but agree with you it seems like over kill.

ziggomattic

17d

If you have a proper down puffer, with hood for those cold nights, 20 degree quilt sounds like it will be good. It's also pretty rare to get below 20 degrees in the Sierras in September, and if you have a Garmin inReach you can check the weather and plan to camp at lower elevation areas on nights its predicted to be super cold.

Also are you bringing a sit pad? My other trick was bring a 4 piece section of Z-Lite CCF pad which functions as a great sit pad for breaks & around camp, which can also be put under your torso on top of sleeping pad for added R value.

legink

17d

Currently don't have one but was planning on getting one! I think the big reason was long term I feel like I'll get more use out of a 10 degree bag, but then again maybe not.

ziggomattic

17d

I guess its easy to overthink and want to over prepare. Not tryign to talk you out of anything, for what its worth after several seasons I have decided this year to switch to a 30 degree quilt (comfort rated), which paired with a 5.4 R value pad, bivy sack (instead of tent) and an 1/8" thinlite pad, I am confident I will be warm in the low 20's. Barring a big storm forecast I plan to do multiple October trips

legink

17d

Overthinking is part of the fun, no? No I appreciate this, it's helpful! I have to keep reminding myself the quilt is just part of the sleep system.

ziggomattic

17d

Haha of course!! I have personally changed my setup 6 times over the past 3 seasons, talk about overthinking :-) I love every second of it.

Also just making sure you know how to properly utilize the draft prevention straps on your quilt, as that made a HUGE difference for me on my JMT trip. Our first night in Lyell canyon I thought my trip was done, wearing all my closed I was still cold!! I had never actually used the straps previously since I had rarely camped much below freezing. My hiking partner told me they worked great for him so I learned on the next night. Once it dips below 30 those straps make a big difference in maintaining warmth.

bisonic123

17d

Sept can be warm and sunny or get early winter cold. A 20 will prob work, though you may need to bundle up if you get the latter.

Rocko9999

17d

Get 10

MtBaldyMermaid

17d

I used my EE 0 degree quilt during both of my JMT’s in August. There are some very cold nights in the Sierra. Base layer, gloves, puffy and beanie were worn on those nights as well.

Fabulous_Gate_2734

17d

I love my EE 0F quilt for the Sierra. Don't forget to think about covering your head with a quilt. A down or apex balaclava/hood makes a significant difference with head warmth.

Just-Seaworthiness39

17d

I took a 10° Enlightened Equipment Convert quilt to JMT last October and it was great. I had an thin S2S liner as well. It was easy to open up the foot box a couple of the nights when it wasn’t chilly. I’d go with the 10° if you’re wanting the extra versatility.

I don’t think you’ll get cold on the trip during that time of year, but you’ll have a quilt you can take on a multitude of other trips. Good luck, whatever you decide!

legink

17d

Thank you!

Bigncrunchy

16d

I will be bringing a 22* Katabatic Alsek quilt on my JMT hike this year. I am a colder-than-most sleeper. Katabatic quilts are more conservatively rated than EE and the rating works out well for me since I don't expect to be met with temps much colder than the quilt is rated for. I'm not exactly sure how EE and Katabatic's ratings compare on that end, but I have heard that EE tends to be closer to limit rated while Katabatic is closer to comfort rated. Not sure about the validity of this since I have never owned an EE quilt. Obviously YMMV on this since everyone is a unique sleeper.

I also have a Sept 1st start date, so I'll see you out there!

rayfound

17d

My 10f EE revelation is the perfect high sierra quilt IMO. Slightly warmer than needed sometimes, but basically never too cold. Being a quilt easy to let some draft in to cool off.

Z_Clipped

17d

Heck, I'm using a 10 degree quilt for my July thru. I don't screw around with sleep when I'm putting in miles. It's too important. Yes, it will be warmer than I need it to be most nights, but you just vent it or hang a leg out. It's worth it to know that on that one night when a cold front moves in and it drops to 20 degrees, I'm not going to sleep like ass and be tired the next day.