The flexible design of the Enlightened Equipment Revelation quilt has been a game changer for our backcountry trips, and we love it’s warmth-to-weight ratio. We tend to prefer quilts over sleeping bags for most of our trips where we don’t expect temps to dip below freezing.

This quilt can be left open like a blanket on warm nights or cinched up tight when the temperature drops. You can choose to custom order your Revelation to your desired color, size, and warmth, so we bumped up a size in length and width for full coverage on chilly nights. We’ve found that the 20°F model keeps us warm to right around freezing or just a little below.

Quality like this will usually set you back a pretty penny, but the Revelation comes in at an amazing price when compared to similar quilts. We’ve been using ours for years, and it’s still one of the best investments we’ve made in our backpacking setup.

For more info, check out our full review of the Revelation here.

Cold sleepers and winter wanderers, this one’s for you. We usually don’t recommend backpacking quilts for sub-freezing temperatures, but the Loco Libre Operator Series Ghost Pepper 20 is up for the challenge. This is our top quilt choice for ultralight adventures at or below freezing.

One thing that makes this quilt warmer than others is the unique chevron baffles. They’re very effective at preventing the down inside from shifting away from areas where you need that heat-trapping power the most. For those who go out in extreme cold, the Ghost Pepper is also one of the only quilts on the market that’s available in sub-zero temperature ratings. There are plenty of custom options available to dial in the best warmth-to-weight for your needs; we recommend going with the sewn footbox for the best insulation.

The plethora of customization options on the Ghost Pepper can be a little intimidating for first time quilt users, but we assure you it’s worth the effort to get exactly what you want out of this toasty warm quilt.

The REI Magma Trail Quilt 30 is our top choice for trips where nighttime temperatures stay in the 40s or above. This pared down design will keep your summer base weight to an absolute minimum, and it compresses down small to leave room in your pack for other luxuries.

The Magma Trail Quilt has a fully-sewn footbox, which means it can’t open up fully like many of the other quilts on this list. This design limits versatility a bit, but it will be lighter, less drafty, and much easier to keep tucked around you to seal in the heat.

Since the Magma isn’t custom, there’s no long lead time, so you can get one right away if you need it quickly. Check out our full review of the Magma here.

If you’re looking for something more affordable, the Hammock Gear Econ Burrow 20 is a much more basic option with an accessible price tag. Don’t confuse basic with low quality, though. This quilt is one of the warmest and most durable on our list, which makes the low cost all the more enticing.

The Econ Burrow doesn’t offer quite as much customization as many of the others on our list, but that can make things easier if you’re in the market for your first backpacking quilt. It’s made with 20-denier nylon taffeta, which is thicker than the low-denier ripstop used on most other quilts. This contributes to the slightly higher weight and bulk. But that’s also part of what makes it more affordable, and the Econ Burrow is still quite light and packable.

For those who’d rather spend a little more to save some weight, the Premium Burrow is a nice choice. It has the same user-friendly custom ordering process, but you can upgrade the down to 900 or 950-fill-power.

With a weight that’s competitive with the higher-end quilts on our list but a much smaller price tag, the UGQ Bandit 20 is an incredible value.

UGQ allows for a ton of customization on their quilts and has one of the widest arrays of color options we’ve ever seen. All of the customization options can be a bit overwhelming if this is your first quilt, but there are some very handy informational sections in the Features tab of the ordering page that can help you make your choices. If you have a little extra cash to spend on your quilt, one upgrade we recommend is the neckline draft collar for extra warmth.

Backpackers who want the luxury of a custom quilt without having to break the bank will absolutely love the Bandit. We think it’s an especially great option for thru-hikers looking to save a little money on their setup while still getting an exceptionally lightweight quilt.

Zpacks tends to be a leader when you’re in the market for the lightest gear possible, and their Classic Sleeping Bag is no exception. It provides ultralight warmth using high-quality and responsibly-sourced materials.

The ¾ length zipper and fully-sewn footbox slightly limit versatility, but this build is one of the best for keeping warm when temperatures dip. If you’re new to backpacking with a quilt, the design of the Classic can also feel like an easier transition than a fully open quilt.

The Classic is one of the more expensive quilts on this list, but there’s no better choice if saving weight is a top priority. For this reason, it’s a common pick for thru-hikers and ultralight backpackers covering big distances.

Check out our full review of the Zpacks Classic here.

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 20 is made with the absolute highest quality materials – namely 1,000-fill power down – and it makes a noticeable difference in the performance of this quilt.

During field testing, we found the Unbound warmer than many other quilts in its weight class with the same temperature rating. It’s warmer than the Therm-a-Rest Vesper 20 and Zpacks Classic 20, and weighs less than 2 oz. more. It’s about the same warmth as the Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20, and weighs a little under an ounce less. All this to say, we find the warmth-to-weight ratio of the Unbound superior to similar quilts.

Of course the higher quality comes with a higher price tag. The Unbound 20 is tied for the most expensive quilt on our list, and whether it’s worth the added cost or not will depend on how much you value saving a few ounces while getting a boost in warmth. We think hikers wanting to use a quilt in shoulder seasons would benefit from the boosted specs of the Unbound, but fairer-weather hikers would probably be just fine with a slightly less warm/heavier quilt that costs less.

The Flicker 30 UL Quilt from Feathered Friends is well-constructed, comfortable, and versatile. When completely unzipped, it functions as a cozy blanket on warm summer nights. On chilly nights, you can cinch the footbox and fully zip the quilt to create a draft-free enclosed system.

Feathered Friends is known for using some of the highest-quality materials around, which contributes to the larger price tag. But that price gets you 950+-fill-power down, a smooth zipper, and some of the nicest outer shell fabric available.

Feathered Friends’ temperature ratings tend to be pretty accurate in our experience, so we like the 30°F option for 3-season backpacking trips. If you don’t mind a little extra bulk and weight in favor of saving some bucks, the Flicker also comes in a YF model that’s more affordable.

Check out our full review of the Flicker here.

We love the versatility, warmth, and comfort of the Katabatic Flex 22, and we’re impressed with its performance on the trail. It comes in several temperature rating options that are all organized in a more simple ordering process than many of the other quilts on this list.

For trips that won’t dip below freezing, the 22 is our top pick for warm sleepers and the 15 is our top pick for cold sleepers. The Flex is similar in design to the EE Revelation, but it costs a bit more. That said, we think the quality of the craftmanship on the Flex is a little better and Katabatic adds some value by including an effective pad attachment system, a storage bag, and a stuff sack. If warmth-to-weight is your top consideration, Katabatic’s closed-footbox Elite quilts might be a good fit.

Check out our full review of the Flex here.

The Enlightened Equipment Accomplice is our favorite shared sleep system for couples who like keeping weight to a minimum and snuggles to a maximum.

It’s one of very few double backpacking quilts on the market, and it’s a great value compared to heavier double sleeping bags – especially considering its top-notch materials.

It’s also worth considering for car camping if you’re looking for an unbeatable warmth-to-weight ratio and plenty of roominess to move freely. The Accomplice has a customizable option too, so you can choose the exact temperature rating, size, and colors you want.