It appears my camping quilt, whilst being packable and light is just not going to cut it for bikebacking.
I have a 400 pipedream but it's way too bulky and heavy for a bike bag.
In true STW style, what do you use?
What are you sleeping on?
I used to have a exped synmat ul 7 but it's baffles failed and expanded.
I replaced it with a decathlon mat. Its lightweight and comfortable but it doesn't have as much insulation. The exped had a 3.9 r rating, the new mat is 1.5 (i think)
All my other gear is the same. My last trip I was cold for the first time. I think your mat is just as important as your sleeping bag.
I also take a down jacket and if I get cold I sleep in that and put a buff on my head.
https://alpkit.com/products/pipedream-400
Website suggests it weighs under 900g for a minus 6 sleeping bag. That's probably lighter than most people's sleeping bag. Remove it from the stuff sack and put it in a waterproof dry bag and squish it down and get rid of all the air. It will pack down pretty small.
What was your issue with the quilt? I'm an occasional quilter but normally use a (pretty ancient) Mountain Hardware Phantom 32.
Also using an Exped HL7.
Marmot Hydrogen on a Thermarest XTherm.
I think this is bikepacking's achilles heal - the fashionably minimalist look comes up hard against the reality of sleeping well if the night temp drops. So a planned trip in the cooler months, or camping at a bit of altitude or further north all stretch the concept.
However, my thoughts.....
I have a pipedream 200. It works fine when its not too cool. I think the 7deg advertised limit is pretty ambitious, but it depends if you are a warm or cool sleeper.
As already said, what you are sleeping on makes a huge difference.
I carry a rab thermal jacket thingy for the evenings. If using the pipedream 200 in marginal conditions I'll wear it at night inside my bag.
If the maths does not work, you might need more luggage to carry that warmer 400 - this is meant to be fun! Consider fork mounted bags too (you'll see from another thread, I'm going down this route albeit for other reasons).
On an (sort of) related note - I'm now vegan and all my bags predate the switch. Not sure how comfortable I'd be with buying another feather bag - the synthetic bag/ bickpacking/ warmth maths is even harder to get right.
@damascus My Pipedream is in fact the 600-650+ fill from about ten years ago. Its a bulky thing albeit toasty.
@scotroutes the issue with the quilt is is just not warm enough. Its the Alpkit Cloud Cover or similar. There's no rating, I imagine it'd be handy as complimentary additional warmer but on its own it's not much cop.
I like the Cumulus ones but I need a solution before the Trans Scotland Trial next week and it wouldn't make it from Poland in time.
I'm not against a quilt but a bag is probably the best solution given I feel the cold.
I got lucky with a Cumulus Quantum off eBay for half retail price. I’ve had it down to -4 and was comfy. Packs down to a 20cmx20cm ball approximately.
I’m pretty sure Criterion bags are the same manufacturer? Seems to be in stock in the UK at ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk and backcountry.scot
My ultra lightweight system is to use the quilt (Cumulus 200) in summer, the Phantom in the shoulder seasons and I take both in winter. I do have a full-on winter bag too but I prefer the flexibility of the combo and they pack easier. I'll also wear warmer clothing as part of my choices. I bought some Montane Primaloft trousers a couple of years ago and they've been great, for sleeping in, for wearing in the evening before sleeping and also for after cold water swims.
I also have two synthetic bags - both MH Laminas. Originally bought these as I was trying to "look after" the down bags but then realised there was no point in having good kit and not actually using the bloody stuff. For synthetic they are a good weight and pack size.
I have a pipedream 200 but it's very restrictive in terms of range so only gets used for the fast and light missions where Its either warm or I can live with being a bit cool.
I normally plump for my north face blue kazoo.
On a thermarest neoair in a Rab survival bag.
On fast and light nights I normally end up with the bag draped over me sleeping on the grass......tick central