Information
FABRICS WITHOUT TONGUE IN CHEEK:
The fabrics used to design your Quilt French Light Outdoor are the result of months of testing and trials to guarantee you the best products available on the market. Ultra-light, soft, water-repellent and windproof fabrics for 10D TAFFETAS and 20D TAFFETAS.
After hours of research to find the best fabric manufacturers, it's a shame to see that none of them are in Europe... Since my aim is to offer you the most eco-responsible raw materials possible, I'll be continuing my search in this direction, because at the moment, fabrics from any European or American retailer all have the same origin: Asia.
I want to guarantee you products of the highest quality, with their full technical specifications and origins.
20 DENIER NYLON POLYESTER MICRO RIPSTOP RECYCLES
At last, a little softness in this rough world... I proudly present a 100% recycled fabric treated and finished with natural wax.
Guaranteed OEKO TEX, this water-repellent fabric is highly resistant to abrasion and wind - thanks to its Micro Ripstop calendering - and will follow you on all your adventures, no matter how technical.
Bivouacs under the stars, on the ground, without a care in the world with this soft-touch 20D.
Origin: Asia.
NYLON RIPSTOP 7D SOFT
Allow me to introduce you to the lightest fabric on the market, 7D SOFT.
At 19 grams/meter, it's perfect for the inside of your quilt.
Extremely soft to the touch, similar to a silk fabric, it will lull you to sleep during your bivouac nights.
Highly breathable, it will help you manage condensation on humid or hot nights.
The icing on the cake is that the fabric treatment is of natural origin (EcoElite™ DWR), with a low-water, low-waste creation process.
Origin: Asia.
10 DENIER NYLON TAFFETA
Known to users and manufacturers the world over, including all the major outdoor brands, 10D Taffeta has more than proved its worth in this sector. Note, however, that some manufacturers do not use the same products to finish the fabric...
This OEKO TEX-certified fabric is breathable, windproof and water-repellent, making it perfect for both outdoor and indoor use of your quilt.
It can accompany you on the most delicate bivouacs and nights under the stars, but will be less resistant to abrasion than 20 Denier fabric.
The inner side of the fabric is soft to the touch and matte. The outer side, on the other hand, is shiny and brings out the magnificent color of your fabric. That's why I use it on the outside of your quilt, so you can admire all the nuances of this ultra-light wax-finished fabric, guaranteed to be free of harmful products for you and the environment.
Origin: Asia.
APEX by Climashield®
You can rest easy knowing that CLIMASHIELD 'sAPEX will keep you warm whether it's crushed, damp or soaked.
Here we have the most advanced, high-performance synthetic insulation on the market. Made in the USA, patented technology, tested and approved by every Thru-hiker on the planet.
"Recognized by the U.S. military and leading outdoor retailers for more than 30 years, our sleeping bag solutions are designed to provide continuous warmth and confo rt in moderate to sub-zero temperatures and to be compact for every adventure."
Their AQUABAN® technology is an exclusive surface encapsulation treatment designed to minimize the impact of moisture on warmth and improve the passage of moisture to the outside of your quilt.
You stay warm in wet and humid weather.
Nevertheless, I advise you to use a protective cover over your quilt if you are subject to showers...
Origin: U.S.A.
A quick point about temperatures... I won't give you the comfort temperatures for Quilts, as they vary from one user to another.
NB: Comfort temperature is the temperature at which a human being can sleep in a relaxed position.
But I can give you the COMFORT LIMIT temperature, tested and given by the manufacturer.
The comfort limit temperature is the temperature at which a human being can sleep through the night in the fetal position. For most people, these temperatures are tolerable if you wear thermal underwear.
The insulation and warmth of your Quilt go hand in hand with the quality and R-Value of your mattress.
If you're a chilly type, for a good night's sleep in the warmth of around 0°C, the Apex 267 will be perfect for you.
Here are the LIMIT COMFORT operating temperatures:
- A67 : 10°
- A167 : 2°
- A200 : -1°
- A267 : -6°
- A334 : -10°
- A400 : -17°
♦In 2024, I'm launching a world first: Quilts in APEX400, -17°c comfort limit temperature.
I needed to carry out more in-depth field tests.
That's when Namastrek and Tri-haut. Two Grenoble-based student associations with fabulous projects in Nepal.
Quilt and other French Light Outdoor products have been tested at altitudes close to 6,000 meters with temperatures ranging from -10°c to -20°c.
The products were tested over several nights/weeks and the conclusions were more than positive!
TRI-HAUT: "[...] The quilts that came in very handy and withstood a night at 5800m!"
NAMASTREK: "[...] But we're super-super-satisfied with the products, they're top-notch! "
↓Some photos of the NAMASTREK team in the heart of Annapurna at 5400m.↓
THE FOOTBOX BY FRENCH LIGHT OUTDOOR
Closing the FOOTBOX is very easy:
Simply close the zipper at the bottom of your Quilt and secure it with the snaps at the top.
All you have to do is pull on the elastic cord with its secure double cord clamp.
The result is a perfectly sealed FOOTBOX that doesn't let in any cold air.
You can, however, pull on the secure cord clamp on the side to open the footbox to your liking for better ventilation.
The secure cord clamp is a plastic product with two entrances and exits for elastic cords.
It is secured in one direction, locking the cord in place so that the FOOTBOX opening doesn't move during the night.
To open, simply pull on the sides.
New for 2024! To go even further, the Quilt cord passes have been reworked and redesigned for Apex starting at 267. From now on, for even greater comfort, the cord loops will be made of non-woven fabric and padded with Apex to create a cold-cut "bladder". The elastics will close from the ends, and a snap button will secure the system. Only on Apex 267/334/400.
MATTRESS FASTENERS BY FRENCH LIGHT OUTDOOR
As Uncle Napoleon used to say:
A good sketch is worth a thousand words.
Here's my video sketch on how to attach your quilt to your mattress to avoid cold spots overnight and stay tucked in like a baby.
Video coming soon
Ties are placed every 35cm (40cm on extra-large models), minimizing the possibility of cold air getting in. Your Quilt has a neck fastener, 4 fasteners running the length of your Quilt and a fastener at the top of the zipper. A total of 6 ties on your Quilt for unrivalled warmth performance.
The snap fasteners are from KAM SNAP (Asia Origin), a company with a proven track record in snap fastener quality and durability.
Fasteners are not supplied with the Quilt but are an optional extra.
It's best to have two different button colors, so you can pair them more quickly with the Mattress Clip option . Without color options, your quilt will have a white side and a black side.
The drawstrings are sewn onto the outer fabric of your quilt for better closure and so you don't feel the elastic drawstring on you.
Choose the fabric and color of your "pass cords" options . Choosing 20D fabric will add a few extra grams to your QUILT.
The ribbons for the neck closure and footbox zipper are white.
The buttons on top are always red if the button colors on your quilt are : Left side white/Right side black.
If you choose colored options for your quilt buttons, the buttons on the neck and zipper will be white.
QUILT SIZE BY FRENCH LIGHT OUTDOOR
Every quilt manufacturer, whether European, American or other, has its own definition of the right size for a user.
Here's mine:
1: Take your size.
2: Add 10cm.
Now your quilt will be above your shoulders, at chin level.
It's up to you to choose the size that suits you best. Keep in mind, however, thatthe larger your quilt, the heavier it will become.
In terms of shoulder width and footbox width, here's a quick guide:
For a Man of 180cm for 75kg, the size for his Quilt will be :
-190cm high
-135cm shoulder width
-110cm Footbox width
THE WEIGHT OF YOUR QUILT
As you can see, the weight of your quilt will vary according to its size and width characteristics, but also according to the size of the zipper (add 4 grams with a 50cm zipper and 6 grams with a 60cm zipper).
Insulation also plays a crucial role, of course, since its name corresponds to its weight.
For example: APEX 200 = +or- 200 grams/m
Note that its weight may vary by +/- 10% during manufacture.
Some indicative weights for a 200cm/135cm/110cm quilt with a 40cm zipper:
APEX67 : 430gr / volume+/- 4.5L
APEX167 : 650gr / volume +/- 8.3L
APEX200 : 790gr / volume +/- 10.5L
APEX267 : 990gr / volume +/- 13L
APEX334: 1kg200gr / volume +/- 15L
APEX400: 1kg400gr / volume +/- 18L
