Making a change in your gear can be stressful and involve a lot of uncertainty in an already uncertain place (the outdoors). Here are some common questions we get and some answers to those questions. This page is split between specific quilt questions and a general section that helps to explain many common UL terms. Many of these questions are also answered in more depth in hyperlinked articles.
Where do I go to get support for my quilt?
This blog page, among others, provides a majority of the necessary after-purchase support for our gear.
You can also reach our support team on our Contact Us page for any specific questions not answered on the blog.
Table of Contents
General FAQs
What all comes with my quilt?
What is a Sleep System?
Does EE have an in-person Store/Showroom?
Can you repair my gear?
What is Thru-Hiking?
Quilt FAQs
Why do Custom Quilts take so much longer before they ship?
How do I pack my Backpacking quilt for a trip?
Are EE's Quilts durable enough for my uses?
How do I clean my quilt?
I woke up with condensation on my quilt, what now?
Can I put my head under my quilt at night?
Why don't EE's Quilts use hoods?
How long should I let my EE Quilt loft?
Why does EE overfill their Quilts?
What is a Draft Collar?
Can you put new down in my Quilt?
Why am I cold at night in my new Quilt?
How are Temperatures rated on EE Quilts?
What's the right quilt for me?
How should I store my Quilt?
What fabric should I choose for my Quilt?
Which Insulation should I pick for my EE Quilt?
Quilt Accessories FAQs
Should I swap out the Stuff Sack that came with my Quilt?
Do I need a sleeping pad?
Apparel FAQs
I'm in between apparel sizes, what do I choose?
How do I layer clothes for Backpacking?
Shipping FAQs
Does EE ship Internationally?
How long does International Shipping take to arrive?
Does EE collect taxes on International Orders?
Can I get Expedited Shipping?
Can you ship General Delivery?
Can you ship to me while I'm on trail?
Policy FAQs
What is EE's Warranty Policy?
What is EE's Return Policy for Stock and Custom gear?
General FAQ's
What all comes with my quilt?
Each quilt comes with a quilt as ordered, stuff sack, pad straps, and a cotton storage bag. Quilt specs are written on a hang tag, including the weight and order number. Oh, and stickers, we don't want to forget those!
What is a Sleep System?
A sleep system is all of the components necessary to sleep outside. In short, this includes sleeping pad, quilt or sleeping bag, shelter, and any sleep clothes.
Does EE have an in-person Store/Showroom?
Our headquarters is based in Winona, Minnesota. We would love to have you visit! please use the Appointment form on our Contact Us page to schedule a time to come down! Otherwise, check out our retail partners here.
Can you repair my gear?
Rugged Thread is our preferred repair partner. For more information on how to submit a request, check our article.
What is Thru Hiking?
Thru-hiking is a long-distance hike that covers an entire trail or route in one continuous journey. It is a physically and mentally demanding activity that requires determination, endurance, and a love for adventure. Thru-hikers immerse themselves in the natural environment, carrying all they need and embracing a minimalist lifestyle during their epic odyssey. Learn more about popular thru-hikes both inside and outside of the US here.Quilt FAQ's
Why do custom quilts take so much longer before they ship?
Custom backpacking quilts take longer to ship than stock quilts because they are made to order. This process can take several weeks, depending on the current volume of orders. If you are in a hurry to get your custom backpacking quilt, you may want to consider ordering a stock quilt. Stock quilts are made in advance and are typically ready to ship within a few days or weeks. However, stock quilts may not be as customizable as custom quilts. For more info about our Lead Times click here.
How do I pack my Backpacking quilt for a trip?
Stuff the quilt into a dry sack or compression sack. Place the quilt in the bottom of your backpack.Surround the quilt with other gear to help keep it in place.Use a stuff sack that is the right size for the quilt to help minimize space and weight.
Are EE’s Quilts Durable Enough for my Uses?
Generally speaking, yes. Our quilts can use such ultralight material because sleep equipment generally experiences much less wear, than say, trail clothes. However, if you are extremely rough on gear to the point of abuse, a 20D outer fabric or less ultralight sleeping quilt might be a better choice.
How do I clean my quilt?
Before we talk about how to clean a quilt, it’s essential to understand why it’s worth cleaning a quilt. Our sleeping quilts function best and are most comfortable when clean. Obviously, backpacking is anything but a clean pursuit, especially for extended trips like thru-hikes, but excessive dirt can clog insulation and reduce loft (insulative power) and smell bad.
There are only two methods Enlightened Equipment typically recommends. A professional CO2 cleaner (we recommend and work with eClean), or hand washing yourself. Cleaning with a professional service like eClean yields the best results by far, but comes at a higher cost than handwashing to avoid using water, heat, or nasty chemicals.
eClean - A New Way to Wash Your Quilt How to Handwash Your Down Quilt or Sleeping Bag How to Wash Your Synthetic Quilt or Sleeping Bag
I woke up with condensation on my quilt. What now?
Condensation is totally natural and nothing to be concerned about. We recommend airing the quilt out at lunch or upon reaching camp that evening to ensure a dry quilt for the following night.
Can I put my head under my quilt at night?
We strongly recommend against this. The primary reason is condensation from breath will begin to collect in the quilt and degrade its ability to insulate. If keeping your head warm at night is an issue, we recommend a beanie, hooded jacket or torrid hood to provide additional insulation.
Why don't quilts use hoods?
The absence of a hood helps maintain freedom of movement. Side sleepers can feel restricted with a hood. We recommend our Torrid Hood as an alternative as it moves with the sleeper.
How Long Should I let my Quilt Loft?
A quick rule of thumb is an hour for every day in solid compression. This means a short time after a day in a backpack or a few days after transit. Long-term compression of a quilt is not recommended, but if necessary, requires significant time to re-loft.
Why does EE overfill their quilts?
Our quilts come with a standard 30% overfill. We do not any additional overfill beyond this standard as it comes with diminishing returns. We recommend purchasing a warmer quilt if this is a concern.
What is a draft collar?
A draft collar is an additional horizontal baffle at the top end of a quilt near the neck. The draft collar provides a buffer against drafts (hence the name) when cinching the quilt tightly.
Can you put new down in my quilt?
This is not a service we offer at Enlightened Equipment. However, there are external vendors who can do this service. We do not recommend this and it will void our warranty.
Why am I cold at night in my new quilt?
Though this question occasionally comes up, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. There are so many different factors, both external and internal that can lead to an uncomfortable night out. Learn more about these and some troubleshooting here. Here are some of the most common reasons we find that people are cold at night:
Insufficiently insulated sleeping pad Not using their pad straps with their quilt or using pad straps improperly Not consuming enough calories vs. calories spent that day Damp equipment or clothes Sleeping with the quilt/bag over the head (condensation from their breath gets the down wet, reducing insulative performance) Improperly sized quilt leading to inefficient insulating The quilt is dirty and has lost insulative performance Insufficient sleep clothes or head coverage Altitude, local geography, wind, humidity, or improper Shelter protection
How are Enlightened Equipment Quilts Temperature Rated?
We have subjected our quilts to EN testing; however, it is crucial to note that the ratings on our website and specifications chart may not necessarily represent the EN test outcomes for a particular product. We evaluate our quilt temperature ratings by employing our own testing methods, incorporating customer feedback, and utilizing our design expertise of more than a decade of building quilts.
Typically, the quilt temperature ratings we claim fall between the Comfort Ratings and the Lower Limit Rating for quilts that have undergone testing using the EN 13537 standard. Our aim is to declare temperature claims that are more conservative than the industry standard, ensuring that our customers feel comfortable in our quilts at the temperatures we specify.
What’s the right quilt for me?
The Revelation and Enigma are the way to go if you want the lightest and most compressible options. The Revelation is by far the most versatile, able to be fully opened up like a blanket. The Enigma is our lightest, simplest quilt and has a sewn closed 3D footbox. If you need the absolutely lightest option, or you just always have cold feet, the Enigma is the way to go!
Our Convert and Conundrum quilts are similar to our Revelation and Enigma, but they offer full-length zippers to fully close up like a sleeping bag when needed. The Convert is the same design as the Revelation (with a full zip), while the Conundrum is the same design as the Enigma (with a full zip). Both
