SPIRIT QUILT 28 °
The Original.
WEIGHT: 19 oz – 26 oz | 539 gm – 737 gm
LOW TEMP RATING: 30 to 28 F | -2 to -6 C
JUNE 10, 2019 NEW: #5 YKK Tooth Foot Box Zipper – No More Velco.
Locking Pull Tab! Stays put at whatever height you want.
Same Weight, More Function.
XLG + LG = 36″ Zip
S + M = 30″ Zip
Pics Coming Soon.
COLOR NOTE:
A Black outside and Yellow inside we call the Bee Hive Color Scheme! The black outside is quick to dry in the sun and the yellow inside is happy happy. Green outside is also great.
Yellow Inside Best Choice!!!
1: Bright and Cheery.
2: Can see bugs, dirt and stuff on the Yellow easy.
3: Signal if lost.
MLD has been building ClimaShield Apex synthetic backcountry style quilts longer than any other company. This is where it all started, the original. Our design goal with the Spirit Quilt was to build the warmest for the weight, fully feature enhanced, multi-purpose synthetic quilt possible. And, by the Spirit Quilt’s wild success, we’re happy to say we succeeded in that goal. National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, Andrew Skurka, even chose an MLD Spirit Quilt 28 ° for his incredible Alaska-Yukon 4700 Expedition.
“There was a time when I thought hikers that used synthetic hiking gear had no clue what they were really doing. I was so wrong. Everything about what I have learned and experienced using the Mountain Laurel Designs ‘Spirit’ 28 ° Quilt, has just further confirmed to me that the decision I made last year to make the switch was a brilliant decision.” – Thru Hiker & Trail Builder John Alba | HikeLighter.com
Many users of the Spirit Quilt use it on top of a 2-3 season mummy bag, for full winter temps. Doing so helps keep a down inner bag dry. In below-freezing temps, insensible perspiration from your body or wet clothing cools as it moves through the sleep system. Some of that perspiration condenses back to liquid water near the colder outer surface. Using a synthetic quilt over a down inner bag, holds more of that moisture in the faster drying synthetic layer, so the down bag stays dry and the synthetic quilt dries fast and retains most of it’s insulation when wet. Most hikers switching from a full mummy bag to a quilt get the hang of it after a few nights. Commitment!
The Spirit Quilt 28 °, is a true Ultra Lightweight Specialists tool; if you are new to backcountry sleep quilt systems and their use, please read the entire product description and specs before adding to cart.
FEATURES
• Large foot box for more comfort vs other light weight quilts and bags. Allows the use of insulated socks, booties or other clothing in the foot box with out compression formed cold spots.
• Can be used over ALL other bags to boost temp ratings because the foot and leg circumference can be adjusted – unlike a fixed foot box quilt.
• Hammock Under Quilt Use Ready : Corner webbing loops for use as a hammock under quilt.
• Foot box and lower leg area is larger than many other lightweight quilts. Body mapped shape offers warmer torso area and less bunching at the neck.
• Anchored no-fumble cord locks at each end.
• Removable dual sided adjustable back strap. Back strap has a long webbing to secure under a sleep pad. Sleep pad elastic clip on connection system supplied to make it easy to clip the quilt on and off of a sleep pad if desired.
• Quilt can be reversed to use inside out if one side gets wet.
• Head and Foot elastic cord sleeves.
• Foot box vent plug for the Spirit 28 and 38 – Prevents heat loss through the tiny gap after cinching the foot box closed.
• We recommend Black or Olive Green color, for speed drying
Available in small, medium, large, x-large, and custom sizes. See “Specs” tab for dimensions. Color(s): Black, Olive Green, Citrus Orange (See “Quilt Options” tab for color recommendations.)
SPIRIT QUILT 28 ° TEMPERATURE GUIDE
We hesitate to offer exact temperature comfort ranges, as there are so many variables. The following temperature ranges assume users understand standard UL clothing, shelter, campsite selection, and UL quilt sleeping strategies. With multiple years of testing and extensive customer feedback from many many users – we feel these ratings are a good general guide to your comfort level.
NIGHT TEMPS OF 28 F | -2 C: Lightly insulated clothes, 4.0 oz MLD APEX Balaclava, and the SuperLight Bivy
NIGHT TEMPS OF 20 F | -6 C: All of the above plus the raw animal willpower of a Honey Badger
* With the right shelter and sufficient clothing, adventurer Andrew Skurka has comfortably used a Spirit 28 to about 15 F.
Check out our APEX Balaclava, it pairs perfectly with our quilts!
John Abela –
I have been using the MLD Spirit 28 since 2014 and it is my go-to quilt for temps that the MLD FKT cannot reach. The Spirit 28 has been around a long time and has been used by some of the most well know big mileage hikers in the world, and for a good reason. Before getting mine I asked around the smallish group of hikers with 10,000+ miles of hiking that use synthetic quilts, and the absolute 100% consensus/recommendation was the MLD Spirit 28. So glad I listened. If you need a quilt for this temp range, just buy this quilt and get it done and over with.
Dave Stone –
I have owned the 28 degree Spirit Quilt for several years now. I’m 5’11, 180ish lbs and own a large. The fit is good, and it will cover up to my nose when pulled all the way up. What I like about it: warmth to weight ratio, build quality, versatility in most weather conditions, and fabric does a great job at trapping air and retaining it. Dislikes: I feel the 28 degree rating is way conservative. Maybe its good for a woman, but as a man, its a thermal nuclear reactor underneath. I swear I’m radioactive some nights even when the temp is high 20’s low 30’s. I’m wearing the minimal clothing and MLD Bivy. If your a cold sleeper than maybe its for you, but I would recommend going 38 if you want a quilt that you can use more often in a greater temperature range.
But! This quilt is a go to. If you’re a gram weenie, and using a low volume pack, then I can see you wanting a goose down sleeping bag, but after my switch, I really don’t see a need to have a down bag. This bag has not lost loft in the East on the A.T were my down bag has, and when I’m hiking in the West where its dry…mostly, I still can get to a 7lbs base weight in 3 season hiking conditions.
Recommendations: I would go with buttons instead of Velcro as a closure system. It will help lighten it up a gram or two, and stop your socks getting stuck to the Velcro. 28 is in my opinion much warmer. 15-20 is my comfort range. Go with a 38 if youre thru hiking the CDT or PCT and, A.T if you are SOBO.
Karl Krohn –
If I were single I would probably use this as my everyday quilt! I used this for 3 nights on the southern AT. Nights were in the mid to upper 40s and I was plenty warm in my large tent on a decent inflatable insulated pad. Footbox was closed but the rest of the quilt was open. Using a single wall tent, I had some condensation that did get on the quilt with no effect on the warmth. I have an XL and while compression is not comparable to down, it is still fairly good with the right compression bag and the weight is good. I’m very pleased with the product and would highly recommend.
Troy (verified owner) –
Used my Spirit 28 Quilt last weekend in 26 degrees and high winds on top of a thermorest pro life pad. I was plenty warm enough in socks, long johns, ls top and light fleece jacket. I like the footbox zipper. The pad strap kept the quilt in place. Also liked being able to snap it together behind my neck. That really increases the warmth. It performed as I had hoped it would. I got a large and it fit my 5′ 11″ 195 lbs fine.
Jeff Borne (verified owner) –
Took my Spirit 28 out for it first trip this last weekend on the Oregon Desert – Badlands Challenge
Spent 2 nights out in the Oregon Badlands Wilderness
1st night – light drizzle and temps in the high 30’s to low 40’s
2nd night – cloudy after lots of rain and temps in the low 30’s
Quilt performed AMAZINGLY! Stayed warm and cozy both nights.
I have been using a Feathered Friends Flicker for years, but I think I may have a new favorite go to
Thanks again MLD for creating amazing gear !
ArthurWei (verified owner) –
Spent two warm nights in a camp that was cold in all seasons, (-2 degrees c)
Many small designs are good, worth buying
Peter (verified owner) –
I used this quilt for my PCT SOBO last year, with night temps ranging from 75-20 deg F. The ability to lay the quilt flat like a blanket was a huge plus in the hot or slightly cool summer nights, while at the same time this quilt also synches up nicely when pushing the lower limit.
Having a synthetic quilt is a huge plus; I cowboy camped most nights and sometimes woke up with condensation when I didn’t choose my campsite wisely. That never effected the warmth of the quilt, and it dried quickly when splayed out the next day. I would definitely recommend this quilt if you’re looking for a versatile piece of gear that will work great in most 3 season conditions.
I’m 6’1 175 lbs and use the XL which fits great lengthwise and has a roomy width.
Professor Gary Campbell (verified owner) –
Just back from a backpack in highlands of Scotland. I am a cold sleeper and so this was ideal for a cool spring night or two. Used it in a sinylon single skin tent with plenty of condensation, which was not a problem with this quilt. This is also my quilt of choice for an afternoon’s nap 😉
The footbox system is pure genius and the warmth to weight is awesome. The only issue is the air trapping outer takes a bit to squash into a stuffsack but nothing serious. I have used many many sleep systems including best quality (1000) down, synthetic and pile (Buffalo) I wish that I had started with this quilt. Tempted by a 38 to get the poncho slit.