Enlightened Tools is among the greatest names in ultralight backpacking quilts. In final 12 months’s PCT and AT hiker surveys, they crammed the highest two hottest slots by a big margin. Curiously, the PCT survey confirmed they don’t fairly high the record in person satisfaction.
What makes this quilt so widespread, and what’s holding individuals again from giving it their full endorsement?
The Enlightened Tools Enigma has a lot of choices on measurement, temperature, shade, and extra. My overview is for the precise configuration I obtained, which implies some feedback shall be particular to my construct, though some could also be transferable/inferable to related configurations. Others received’t be related, particularly on issues of shade, draft collars, and the consequences of width.
For reference, my construct is as follows:
- 950FP goose down
- 0°F Restrict Temperature
- Lengthy Size (6’ 6”)
- Broad Width (I requested for Common, extra on this later)
- Sure Draft Collar
- 10D Yellow Exterior / 7D Midnight Blue Inside
Enlightened Tools Enigma Quilt At-A-Look
Are you able to inform I like yellow?
MSRP: $270 – $630 (my configuration retails for $540)
Weights:
- Quilt solely: 8.5oz – 40.0 oz choices / 28.5oz as configured
- Pad Straps (Pair): 0.65 oz
- Stuff Sack: 0.7 oz for the 14L measurement
Supplies:
- Shell: Choices for 7D, 10D, or 20D nylon materials
- Fill: 850 FP duck or 950 FP goose down
- Pad straps: Elastic bands with plastic center-release buckles
- Stuff sack: Silnylon (denier unspecified)
- Dwelling storage sack: 100% Cotton
Dimensions:
- Lengths: Quick (<5’6″), Common (5’6″ to six’0″), Lengthy (6’0″ to six’6″), X-Lengthy (6’6″ to 7’0″)
- Widths: Slim (<50″), Common (48″ to 56″), large (54″ – 62″), X-Broad (60″ to 68″)
Meant Use
The Enigma aligns with all of the norms of an ultralight backpacking quilt. So long as you’re on board with the quilt ideology over a conventional bag, it is best to be capable to configure this quilt to your liking.
Circumstance of Evaluate
I obtained the Enigma shortly earlier than I set off for a weather-window-pushing hike of the 100-mile Uinta Highline Path. A couple of weeks later, it accompanied me on a 10-day mountaineering highway journey that concerned many chilly and windy nights.
Enlightened Tools Enigma Quilt Options
Sewn Footbox
The phrase quilt, in a house life context, most likely conjures pictures of rectangular blankets. Whereas some backpacking quilts are rectangular (or unzip right into a rectangle), most have a closed part from the knees downwards to assist hold the toes heat.
The Enigma differentiates itself from the opposite Enlightened Tools fashions by having a completely sewn closed footbox. This helps stop air leakage and additional weight launched by the complexity of partially zippered fashions.
V-Formed Baffles
Enlightened Tools makes use of distinctive V-shaped baffles, that are vertically oriented within the high half however bend round within the backside half. These very lengthy, steady baffles permit a very good vary of down redistribution, particularly between the edges of the higher physique (the realm almost certainly to be squished underneath your torso) to your toes (the realm almost certainly to be chilly whereas sleeping).
The visually distinctive V-shaped baffles that create the footbox.
Double Pad Straps
To assist seal the perimeters of the open again, the Enigma comes customary with two horizontal pad straps. This appears to be the consensus quantity between most quilt producers, and appears good for colder temps.
I usually really feel lazy upon rolling into camp and attempt to get away with utilizing only one, and I nearly universally remorse it when the temps drop.
My Enigma shipped with one pad strap that was only a straight part with buckle {hardware} on every finish, whereas the opposite was a closed loop with one mounted buckle and one buckle that would slide across the circumference. My assumption is that the closed loop is meant for the narrower backside part of a mummy pad, whereas the straight one is for the higher part. This permits a barely bigger diploma of freedom than the closed loop for many who prefer to sprawl.
In case your quilt is overly large, the bag itself hosts matching pairs of center-release buckles that may clipped collectively with out pad straps. Typically in case your quilt is large sufficient to do that, you’re shedding the burden effectivity of a quilt over a zipperless bag (such because the Feather Pals Tanager), however it’s a useful choice for bunks or different mounted sleeping surfaces the place you is likely to be skipping the pad and pad straps fully.
Draft Collar (non-obligatory)
A draft collar is a slender, densely stuffed baffle alongside the top finish of a quilt. The additional thickness helps plug up gaps to the surface that always kind across the neck. That is most essential for quilts meant for colder climate. Personally, I draw the splitting line at about 35-degree air temperature since I discover freezing chilly drafts extra disruptive than summertime breezes.
Some sleeping luggage additionally function draft collars alongside the zippers, since bag zippers can let in a good quantity of air. The necessity for that is eradicated in quilt design since there’s no zipper to be discovered.
7D vs 10D vs 20D materials
Enlightened Tools provides three cloth weights, every with quite a lot of colours. The D stands for denier, which is analogous to the thickness of the material.
7D materials are the lightest and permit essentially the most air to switch between the air and the baffle chamber. They’re additionally essentially the most delicate, requiring particular care to keep away from snags. Weighing simply 0.5 ounces per sq. yard, that is about as gentle because it will get. EE notes that this cloth is barely much less downproof, that means you might sometimes get a feather coming by. I by no means skilled this, nonetheless.
The 10D cloth could be very near the 7D, a mere 0.15 oz/sq. yard heavier. Its breathability is a bit decrease as a operate of the additional thickness and tighter weave, whereas the sturdiness is a bit greater as a result of thicker yarns that make the weave.
Lastly, there are a handful of 20D choices. The soar to this thicker cloth comes at a much bigger weight penalty, with a completed weight of 1.1oz/sq. yard. It’s also considerably much less breathable. Personally, I feel that is greatest reserved as an out of doors face cloth for frequent cowboy campers who would possibly want the additional wind resistance and sturdiness throughout nighttime rollovers.
The 10D yellow exterior and 7D midnight blue inside. Regardless of being a thicker cloth, the yellow is considerably extra clear than the blue because of its gentle shade. The “marbled” look is from the down feathers inside.
Enlightened Tools Enigma Quilt Professionals
Extremely Customizable
The Enigma is extremely configurable, with two fill powers, six temperature rankings, 4 lengths, 4 widths, an non-obligatory draft collar, 17 outdoors shade choices, and 14 inside shade choices. This implies there are a surprising 91,392 attainable configurations.
Most individuals will be capable to configure the Enigma to their desired match and trend.
Excessive Heat to Weight Ratios
EE’s give attention to superlight materials and a minimalist design positions the Enigma close to the entrance of the pack when it comes to weight effectivity. Omissions like hoods, zippers, and complex attachment techniques assist hold the full weight down whereas sustaining heat.
The 0-degree Enigma with the included stuff sack. I sometimes skip a stuff sack and put my sleep system straight inside my bag liner, however this helps give a way of packed quantity and effectivity. EE lists their packed quantity on their web site for every configuration underneath the “Compression” tab.
Baffles Preserve Down in Place Whereas Permitting Flexibility
I initially dismissed the V-shaped baffles as only a enjoyable design determination with none purposeful influence. The extra I considered it, nonetheless, the extra I noticed that this sample might help people rebalance the down distribution within the bag to their very own physique preferences.
It’s a reasonably widespread choice within the quilt trade to have the ability to “overstuff” the footbox to fight chilly toes for an added charge. However with the V-shaped baffle, it’s attainable to drag some current down from the torso space in direction of the toes at any time. This helps get rid of costly customized fees and offers the pliability to redistribute later.
In case you’re fearful about making the higher physique too chilly doing this, you might need to purchase the following step hotter bag, realizing the torso will get colder and the toes hotter.
Additionally be aware that the spherical disk on the backside of the footbox is its personal pair of baffles, that are remoted from the remainder of the continual baffle system in order that down can not migrate to/from this space.
Dense Draft Collar
The extent of overstuff is good on the Enigma: it’s not so loosely crammed that breath condensation will kill the loft, however it’s additionally not so overstuffed as to grow to be stiff and exhausting to pack. I additionally assume the baffle width is good. A narrower baffle would have struggled to plug gaps, and a bigger one would need to lay flat like the remainder of the blanket.
Enlightened Tools Enigma Quilt Cons
Pad Attachment System Is Annoying
The pad straps hook up with the quilt itself utilizing a middle launch buckle. Sadly, every strap has one “male” and one “feminine” aspect of the buckle, that means placing the pad strap on backwards will stop the quilt from attaching.
Ensuring I acquired the strap on accurately was simply one other tedious chore I didn’t need to take care of at night time, and one I actually by no means improved my first-try accuracy fee on.
I might have most well-liked a pad attachment system that wasn’t directionally particular.
The non-looped pad strap. I discovered this one tougher to make use of than the loop one because it usually acquired pulled underneath the pad throughout setup.
Again Design Liable to Drafts
The sting of the “open again design” is an easy, low-profile seam. Whereas that is good for weight effectivity and retaining baffles lofted, I discovered it underperformed in retaining drafts out. Utilizing both a barely overstuffed draft collar or an edge binding (or a step fancier edge rigidity management system) would possibly assist hold the sting tight to the pad and get rid of some drafts.
This difficulty can be extra prevalent for these pushing temps (sub-freezing particularly) or simply squeezing right into a slender quilt. Thankfully, my hilariously large model mitigated this fairly a bit, at the price of some additional weight.
Customization Can Result in Errors
When ordering this quilt, I requested for a Common width. Many individuals would desire a Broad width for a chilly climate bag, hoping to retailer extra garments, batteries, or gear within the additional area. Personally, I’m stick-thin and needed to additional differentiate from my true winter, zippered sleeping luggage.
It grew to become shortly obvious throughout unboxing that I used to be constructed a Broad as a substitute. I’d reasonably it err outsized than underneath, however it’s an annoying factor to occur for such an costly bag. Whereas I might have written again and tried to right it, I didn’t need to take care of the effort of transport and extra lead time, as I had a visit only a week after supply.
That is, sadly, one thing that appears to occur usually within the customized gear world. The truth is, it’s occurred to me to varied levels on about half the customized gear I’ve gotten up to now few years. Mixed with lengthy lead occasions, it’s price ordering your gear effectively upfront of any main journeys to keep away from issues.
Not Completely Clear About Manufacturing
My first draft of this part was almost 4 paragraphs lengthy, however in the end, this can be a minor level, so I’ll get straight to it. The touchdown web page of Enlightened Tools’s web site proudly says “Winona, MN made,” which isn’t 100% true. Far down on the product web page for the Enigma, one can find that the in-stock/off-the-shelf fashions are sewn in Vietnam. That is true of a handful of their different merchandise as effectively, comparable to Torrid jackets and all their raingear.
In order for you Made in USA, order a “customized” even when they’ve what you need in inventory. Personally my angst is extra with the extent of transparency on this assertion.
General Worth
The Enlightened Tools Enigma is a flexible, extremely configurable sleeping quilt prepared for the triple crown and past. It’s an excellent selection for latest converts and skilled hikers alike, with a eye-catching design.
It weighs a bit lower than the typical quilt, however that financial savings additionally comes at a slight value premium. Nevertheless, with such a crucial piece of substances, I feel the worth variations are nominal.
Store the Englightened Tools Enigmar
A Few Comparability Objects
Katabatic Elite Sequence
Hammock Gear Burrow
Nunatak Strugi-Q
Disclaimer: The Enlightened Tools Enigma Quilt was donated for the aim of overview
No responses yet