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Just wrapped JMT NoBo from Horseshoe Meadow to Happy Isles with Whitney and other side trips. The Tarn was the perfect insulation layer for this trek! Light weight, durable, warm, versatile across a range of elevations, and dry after four days of thunderstorms. Love this jacket and highly recommend for long grinds like the JMT.
This thing is so easy to carry into the backcountry AND it’s so comfortable to sleep under. Man am I glad I got one.
Needed this super last minute for a camping trip and Katabatic gear's customer service really came through. The quilt is amazing and I love sleeping with it - thanks Katabatic Gear!
First time ever using a Bivy and so far I love it. The mesh makes it extremely breathable, I have plenty of room on the sides to not feel cramped and even a little space at the head to put stuff I like to keep near me at night. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to get one!
I recently purchased this quilt before I set out for the PCT this year, and I can easily say that the Alsek was the MVP piece of gear I had with me for the entire trail. Specifically, I entered the sierras on May 1 and encountered three weeks of 20-degree nights and walked about 350 miles on snow. I can confidently say that for this section, and for every other section, I never woke up once in the middle of the night due to the cold. The quality of Katabatic was off the charts, and the pad attachment system was absolutely airtight and never let drafts in. Easily the best quilt I have ever used, and it's nice knowing I won't need to search for another brand again in the future.
So much better than I had expected. I have owned many many sleeping bags from the standard outdoor brands. But this is my first custom premium bag. And the difference is quite clear. 22F Alsek is warmer than my 15deg brand name outdoor bag. Well done.
I have owned the Katabatic Flex 22 backpacking quilt for more than three years, and every time I use it, I am reminded that it is one of the best pieces of outdoor gear I have ever purchased. It manages to be both highly utilitarian and genuinely luxurious, which is not an easy balance to strike in lightweight backpacking equipment.
What stands out most is its versatility. I have used the Flex 22 in temperatures down into the mid-teens, and I have also used it during warm summer trips in Virginia. That range of use is exactly what makes this quilt so valuable. It is not a narrow-purpose piece of gear that only works in ideal shoulder-season conditions. With the right pad, clothing, and setup, it can be pushed into colder temperatures, yet it remains adaptable enough to use when conditions are much warmer.
The build quality is excellent. Compared with other quilts I have used or handled, the Flex 22 feels more substantial, loftier, and more carefully constructed. The materials, stitching, baffles, zipper, and overall design all give the impression of a product that was developed by people who truly understand backcountry use. It feels refined without feeling delicate.
The pad attachment system deserves special mention. In my opinion, it is world-class and unmatched by the competition. It gives you a tremendous amount of control over how closely the quilt seals around you, while still allowing freedom of movement. You can cinch it down for cold conditions, open it up when you want more ventilation, or configure it somewhere in between. That flexibility is one of the main reasons I keep reaching for this quilt trip after trip.
The design details also make a real difference in use. The neck baffle, footbox baffle, and generous zipper all allow the quilt to be configured in multiple ways depending on temperature, sleeping style, and personal preference. Fully opened, it works like a traditional blanket. Zipped and secured to a pad, it can feel much closer to a full sleeping bag while preserving the comfort and efficiency advantages of a quilt.
After more than three years of use, I still view the Flex 22 as an exceptional piece of equipment. It is warm, adaptable, beautifully made, and thoughtfully designed. There are lighter quilts and cheaper quilts, but the Katabatic Flex 22 stands out because it delivers such a complete package: warmth, comfort, craftsmanship, flexibility, and confidence in the field.
It is not inexpensive, but it is very much a buy-once, cry-once piece of gear that continues to pay off over years of use.
For anyone who wants one quilt that can handle a wide range of conditions while still feeling like a premium piece of gear, the Katabatic Flex 22 is easy to recommend. It remains one of the few pieces of backpacking equipment that I appreciate more the longer I own it.
It’s even frog proof.
Excellent piece! I picked it up out of curiosity when I ordered a quilt. It vastly exceeded my expectations on a recent AZT long section. I put it in my pack as an afterthought and ended up using it every day. It disappears into my fanny pack. It got worn as a sleep shirt, a cool morning wind layer, and town clothes while other things were in the wash on a resupply. Pleasantly surprised!
I’ve used this bivy for over five years on more than 20 trips. I’ve definitely been made fun of for sleeping in a “coffin,” but truly, there’s no better system for going light. What makes it so great is the bathtub-style waterproof material around your feet. I’ve paired it with a tarp in some pretty extreme, wet weather, and it has held up every time. Yes, it’s small, and if you’re claustrophobic, a bivy might not be for you. But if you’re interested in trying a lighter sleep system, do yourself a favor and grab one of these to see if it works for you. I haven’t regretted it.
This is my 11th quilt, and my best. Incredible loft, and the overstuff is apparent…especially in the foot box. Pad attachment system is brilliant, effective, and easily adjustable. Neck baffle is unobtrusive when not needed, and very effective when temps drop. Mine is 900 FP (no additional fill), standard length and width. I’m 5-11, 170, and this size is right for me. Can pull it up to my hairline when fully stretched out, and easily over my head when on my side w knees tucked. Width is fine for me, especially given how the attachment system and secondary hooks keep it secured. It packs nice and small. Min temp I’ve seen so far was 36. I wore lightweight baselayer top and bottom and thick socks and was snug as a bug (on an R5.4 pad). So I consider the 30-deg rating accurate, and probably a comfort rating for me, with margin. Buy once, cry once. This quilt is excellent.
I don't write reviews. I felt the need to review this one because it was my metaphorical rock while hiking the pacific crest trail. I have used this quilt as low as 23 Fahrenheit and have been extremely pleased that it has survived the distance and travel I have put it through. It has always been very warm when paired with a well insulated sleeping pad. I washed it with down wash when the trail was over and it looks like a new quilt still. Very little down shed. If I could give this a 100/5 I would.
This bivy is my new go to. Paired with a light tarp this shelter is extremely light and takes up very little space in your pack. Highly recommend
I have been backpacking since 1988 and I have watched the quilt phenomenon develop for the last 20 years or so with skeptical interest. As a cold sleeper, I had doubts that a quilt would be warm enough and keep out drafts enough for me to sleep in cold weather. Anyway, I finally took the plunge and ordered the Sawatch for high mountain backpacking where the lows are often near freezing, even during summer. The first night I had the bag I slept out in my backyard right after a snow storm had blown through. The conditions were brisk and breezy with temps right around freezing. I laid out a ground cloth, Exped 6.5R sleeping pad and my Sawatch. I was dressed in thin fleece tights, sun hoody and a beanie. I fell asleep in the cool, fresh air and slept like a baby. When I woke up at 2am, the bag was covered in frost, but I was still toasty warm! Adding a tent, I should be good for anything the mountains can throw at me until winter sets in. I was impressed with the lack of drafts and I didn't even use the pad attachent cords. Excellent product.
This is such a fabulous quilt - the weight in comparison to enlightened equipment to the actual warmth - a true warmth rating. Love this thing!
James Augustine
I roll around all night and this quilt kept me warm and draft free regardless of my sleep position. I love how versatile, light, and warm it is.
The movement toward ultralight backpacking is growing, and we’re glad you’re joining us. Maybe you’re planning a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail and need to cover maximum miles. Perhaps you want to continue backpacking into your golden years without your joints and muscles lecturing you along the way. Whatever your reason for reducing pack weight, we know you’ll be happy with the change.
So, why choose Katabatic Gear over all the other lightweight backpacking gear companies out there? Because we were founded on the premise that you should not have to sacrifice function, comfort or design to use ultralight backpacking gear. In fact, we believe your lightweight gear should function better than its traditional counterpart.
Years ago, as a backpacker switching to ultralight gear, our founder was dissatisfied with the lightweight gear that was available to him on the market. It seemed like most lightweight backpacking and hiking gear addressed weight reduction by stripping away features. This often resulted in gear that was light, but didn’t function well. He had ideas which he thought could solve many of the issues that seemed inherent in ultralight backpacking gear. Through innovative, thoughtful design and the use of cutting edge materials, Katabatic has aimed to create backpacking and hiking gear that functions better than traditional gear, at significantly lighter weights. We believe that features such as our patented quilt attachment system, down filled collars, and differential cut (to name a few) make our backpacking quilts the best you can find. The 30°F hovers just over a pound, and even our 15°F weighs well under two. Features and weights like these, combined with our incredibly detailed and precise manufacturing standards, results in gear that is going to exceed your expectations and last for years to come.
Whether you’re considering one of our award winning flagship models like the Palisade mummy-style backpacking quilt, or our highly versatile Flex series of blanket style sleeping bags, we are confident that you’ll be well rested for your next day’s adventure. And we’re honored you’re considering Katabatic Gear.
