This is the Fetal Position version of the Newt Hybrid Quilt. It has a huge differential cut to prevent the down from being compressed when the sleeper is curled up inside.
The Newt is a hybrid system between my false bottom design and a traditional quilt. It has a false bottom up to about the hip area to keep the edges under control and the drafts out. 12″ of the total torso circumference is the false bottom. The top third of the system is open like a quilt so the user can ventilate or cinch down. This combination is an attempt at joining the benefits of each system into one. The draft free and warmth of the false bottom design and the easy ventilation and open feeling of traditional quilts. It’s also meant to improve upon the drawbacks of each. The lack of ventilation options of the false bottom for warm sleepers and the drafty nature of quilts for colder sleepers.
Another benefit to this design is that the top width can be trimmed down to shave weight if desired. While the False Bottom Sleeping Bags require a top circumference that is large enough for the shoulders to fit through and often 5″ more than the shoulders circumference for comfort, the Hybrid Newt can be sized right at the shoulder circumference or 5″ under.
It has horizontal baffles, a large differential cut so you can’t compress the down fill in fetal position, a puffy draft collar, dense 160% overstuffed chambers with Hyperdry 900 fill power down. It is important with any sleep system that it is paired with a sleeping pad rated to similar temperatures. It is especially important with quilts and false bottom bags and it should be noted that pads that utilize empty spaces are generally not suitable for these types of sleep systems.
See https://timmermade.com/sizing/sizing-hybrid-false-bottom-quilt-sleep-systems/ for information on sizing.
This should be used with a Waterbear Balaclava or it can be used with other types of head insulation. https://timmermade.com/product-category/sleep-systems/balaclavas/
This can be paired with an overbag to manage moisture and boost it’s temperature rating. https://timmermade.com/product-category/sleep-systems/overbags/
See the “Technology” section on this site for information about this system’s features.
Hannah –
I received this quilt in April 2021. I purchased it for my pacific crest trail thru hike, and ended up using it again on my Colorado trail thru hike in September. Out of all of my gear purchases, this may be my favourite.
I spent over 130 nights in this bag between April and September, and only felt slightly chilly once, during a small snow squall in late September in Colorado. Temperatures dipped to under 20f that night. I am a very cold sleeper, normally I would be freezing at that temp. I was fine and I didn’t even have a puffy!
Impossibly light, soft, and just roomy enough to move around while still trapping body heat. I really liked the false bottom— didn’t miss the bottom insulation at all. I am planning on taking this quilt on the CDT and am confident in its performance.
Ps. I purchased this before Dan changed his temperature rating system. I found that the quilt was true to its temperature rating of 20f!
Pss. I got the regular newt (not the fetal position version).