Sierra Designs Nitro Quilt Review: Staying Warm on the Trail

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Since I found quilts I have come to the realization that I will never move back to sleeping bags ever again. This is more because I like to move, or more correctly, I move a lot regardless. Sleeping bags have been uncomfortable forever and I used to unzip them on purpose to get the freedom to move.

In this Nitro quilt, I found something that is nice quality, lightweight and durable for my use as a week, section and thru-hiker. I hope you decide the same or for the first time become aware of the quilt world and maybe you’ll be sucked in like I was!

If you want to look at a more exhaustive list of quilts check out our quilt compendium here.

RIBBON TEXT

Sierra Designs Nitro Quilt

20 & 35 Degree Options

Part blanket, part bag, all cozy, the Nitro Quilt brings the best of both worlds together in this backcountry collision of features. With an integrated hood plus hand/arm pocket, you can seal in warmth and still have room to move around.

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Here’s a rundown of what we’ll provide in this Sierra Designs Nitro Quilt review:

  • First, we’ll share the features and benefits that you’ll find useful
  • Next, we’ll take a look at the drawbacks you might need to know about
  • Then, we’ll tell you a bit about the Sierra Designs company
  • And finally, we’ll provide a sampling of the actual customer and Independent reviews to give you better insight into the product.

Sound good? Let’s get started!

Features and Benefits of the Sierra Designs Nitro Quilt

Think Outside: Part blanket, part bag, all cozy, the Nitro Quilt brings the best of both worlds together in this backcountry collision of features. With an integrated hide-away hood plus hand/arm pockets, you can seal in warmth and still have room to move around. The hood gives you an EN rating you can trust on the trail.

  • Features:
    • Hide-away hood
    • PFC Free DriDown insulation
    • Hand/Arm Pockets
    • Versatile use, blanket or bag
    • Ultralight Weight
    • Oversized design for more coverage and comfort
  • Specs:
    • Weight 1lb 4oz
    • Fits 6’ 3”
    • Width 56”
    • Footbox 46”
    • 800 Fill Power DriDown
    • 15D Nylon Ripstop Fabrics
    • Storage bag and stuff sack included
  • Temperature rating: EN Limit 27 F | EN Comfort 37 F. As a rule of thumb, the “Limit” rating should be applied for men, and the “Comfort” rating should be applied for women.

Special Features (Pros) of Sierra Designs Nitro Quilt

Incredibly Warm – Users rated it as much more warm than the rating would suggest and that they have been able to easily make it through very cold nights.

Ultralight Quilt – At only 1 pound 4 ounces this quilt provides an amazing amount of warmth to the weight required to carry it, does this at a very good cost on top of it!

Drawbacks (Cons) for Sierra Designs Nitro Quilt

Quilt Requires Pad – Unlike a mummy bag or sleeping bag, a quilt is open on the bottom leaving you exposed if you didn’t bring a sleeping pad.

Video: Sierra Designs Nitro Quilt

About the Sierra Designs Company

A company who’s driving quote is to “Think Outside”. This is a company I can get behind.

THINK OUTSIDE.

It’s our credo, but what does it mean? It means planning your days around the pull of exploration. It means filling your soul with a sense of wanderlust every time you step on the trail. It means celebrating your moments of campfire crackles and limitless starry skies. But it also means getting a little beyond your comfort zone every once in a while, and never settling for ordinary. Think Outside – because life is found in the adventure, not the destination.

Born in California and bred on the trail, Sierra Designs has been committed to supporting people’s love of the outdoors since 1965. Today, that means creating equipment and apparel that is functional, beautiful, and most importantly, attainable.

Sierra Designs About Us

Sierra Designs Nitro Quilt Reviews

Looking at the features and benefits is great, but taking a look at what real-and-actual customers have to say about a product offers a deeper dive of insight. Here we’ve curated reviews that reflect the Sierra Designs Nitro Quilt, providing feedback from product users and reviewers on independent review sites as well as on Amazon.

Independent Reviews and Recommendations for Sierra Designs Nitro Quilt

is a very odd-looking quilt that doesn’t look a whole lot like the other backpacking quilts sold today. However, the head covering system is quite comfortable and helpful in staying warmer.  Still, the quilt does tend to flop open when you roll around at night, letting cold air in since it doesn’t have a pad attachment system. 

Read more…

Backpacker.com

Our take If you like a quilt’s roominess but do not like letting all your heat escape every time you roll over, the 800-fill Nitro Quilt and its smart design set is just what you need. An integrated footbox, head hole, and two interior hand pockets at the top corners give you comfortable spots to tuck your extremities, making custom coziness easy to dial in.

Read more…

What Sierra Designs Customers Have to Say About the Sierra Designs Nitro Quilt

Rated year-after-year consistently with good reviews on Sierra Designs, this quilt comes highly recommended.

Great versatile quilt. Recently tested camping at 9000 ft in 20 degrees and was very warm. The reason for 4 stars was that I wish the arms were a bit longer and the sides a bit wider to tuck. I have long monkey arms at 6’ 1” tall.

I rarely write product reviews, but I love this quilt. Its maiden voyage was two nights at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, followed by two nights in the canyon- lows at the top got into the mid thirties, while the bottom was in the mid sixties. I was toasty warm in the mid thirties in thermals and a knit hat, and kicked my feet out at the bottom to stay cool.

I am in love with this quilt. I’d been using a down bag unzipped as a quilt for years and finally decided to track down a proper quilt for weight-saving purposes. Depending on my mood, I will sleep on my stomach, my side, or my back.

With this quilt, I was able to do all three. I’ve got a pretty wide frame and the quilt still hit the ground and kept me warm while side sleeping. The pockets for hands made wrapping up easy while stomach sleeping, and the hood-like pocket kept my head and face warm while sleeping on my back.

Final Thoughts on the Sierra Designs Nitro Quilt

If you’re in the market for a solidly crafted, lightweight sleeping quilt with a lot of bells and whistles, you’ve come to the right place. The Sierra Designs Nitro Quilt offers super good warmth and comfort while you’re out in the middle of nowhere camping.

Sierra Designs has been a player in camping bags and camping gear products for many years and they don’t disappoint now. A variety of reviewers from different walks of life recommend this sleeping quilt and I can’t argue their reviews! 

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