Hyperlite Mountain Gear 40-Degree Quilt Review
JUMP TO: SPECS | PROS & CONS | HOW IT PERFORMED | FEATURES | ACCESSORIES | SUMMARY
Author: Steve Edgerton | Updated: Nov 5, 2023
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The Hyperlite Mountain Gear 40-Degree Quilt is one of the brand’s first forays into sleep system gear. Having previously tested and loved HMG packs like the 3400 Southwest, I was eager to test out this new quilt from the ultralight stalwart, but I was not without my reservations.
Most notably, I was skeptical that the quilt’s rather temperate 40-degree Fahrenheit comfort rating would be too much of a limiting factor. It is essentially a one-season quilt. Many backpackers who, like me, mostly hike in unforgiving and unpredictable mountain regions like the Canadian Rockies would rarely consider a 40F (4.5C for my fellow Canadians) quilt as adequate — even in summer.
Despite my skepticism, the quilt’s performance exceeded expectations. If you’re after a quilt with maximum insulation or affordable versatility, you’re better off looking elsewhere. But as part of an ultralight, packable sleep system for summer fastpacking or longer ultralight trips where snow and near-freezing temps are a rarity, the HMG 40-Degree Quilt is a compelling and high-performing option.
SPECS
MEASURED WEIGHT: 14.3 oz / 405.4 g (Regular Length)
INSULATION RATING: 40F / 4.5C
SHELL MATERIAL: 7D micro-ripstop nylon
INSULATION MATERIAL: 1000-fill power RDS certified down
PROS
Lightweight and exceptionally packable
Easily secures onto a variety of sleeping pads
1000-fill power down insulation offers excellent warmth-to-weight ratio
CONS
Expensive for what is mostly a summer-only fairweather quilt
Dull colorway means the quilt looks like a garbage bag
No compression sack included
HOW IT PERFORMED
WARMTH: I tested the HMG Quilt to its temperature limits during early fall, with nighttime lows dipping close to 40F. For typical summer conditions and favorable late spring and early fall forecasts like this, I find quilt’s warmth to be nearly perfect. The quilt also secured easily around my sleeping pad to eliminate any cold drafts of air from entering.
As a relatively hot sleeper, sleeping bag and quilt comfort ratings generally align quite well with my own subjective comfort ratings. I’d rather sleep in thermal base layers than go with a warmer (and heavier) quilt than I need in most conditions. For me, this HMG quilt succeeds in providing all I need for summer trips, and absolutely nothing more.
The 40-degree quilt is warm enough for most summer conditions and roomy enough to layer comfortably for colder nights.
WEIGHT & PACKABILITY : The medium size quilt weighs in at just over 14 ounces, certainly light enough to form the foundation of a serious ultralight backpacking or fastpacking kit. The 1000-fill power insulation is lofty and compressible — I had no trouble fitting it into my 24 L Pa’lante Joey fastpacking pack, along with the rest of my multi-day kit, even without storing the quilt in a compression sack.
Light and packable, the HMG quilt even works well with a ¾ length sleeping pad as the base of an impressively ultralight kit.
DURABILITY: Just like any piece of gear featuring duck or goose down, wet conditions and damage to the nylon shell are the biggest tests of the HMG quilt’s durability. The down insulation is DWR-treated, which will help with long-term loft retention and water damage.
The 7D micro-ripstop nylon shell is also DWR-treated. Strong for its weight, the 7D nylon will tear relatively easily on sharp objects. Be mindful of how you pack and store the quilt, and always travel with Tenacious Tape in your repair kit to minimize down loss in the event of a tear.
COMFORT: The quilt’s nylon shell is quite soft and comfortable on bare skin. Its wider design is not constraining, even in the foot box. I prefer the breathable comfort of quilts over traditional sleeping bags, and the HMG 40-Degree Quilt is no exception.
The oversized design of the quilt is cozy, yet never constraining.
NOTABLE FEATURES
1000-FILL POWER DOWN: 1000-fill power down offers just about the best weight-to-warmth ratio you’ll find in a summer quilt. The down is RDS-certified and DWR-treated to help preserve its insulating potential in soggy conditions.
PAD ATTACHMENT: Two adjustable pad attachment straps can be tightened or loosened to clip securely around any sleeping pad. Four additional sewn-in loops provide extra versatile options for securing your pad and eliminating any shifting and sliding throughout the night. The straps and the quilt’s long sewn foot box provide secure coverage for shorter sleeping pads as well.
The sleeping pad attachment straps are simple and effective
ADJUSTABLE OPENING: A cinch cord around the quilt’s opening can be kept slack for comfort and breathability through warmer nights or tightened shut to trap in warm air when things get frigid.
Like all of the quilt’s features, the drawstring opening is unfussy and functional.
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
LINER: You can use a sleeping bag liner to boost the temperature rating of the HMG Quilt by a few more degrees without adding too much weight or packed size to your sleep system. They usually are more comfortable than the technical fabrics used in most quilts as well.
COMPRESSION SACK: The quilt includes a mesh storage bag, but not a compression sack. The HMG Side Entry Pods are a durable, ultralight, and waterproof storage option for quilts and other compressible gear if you prefer storing your quilt in a compression sack for added protection and packability.
SUMMARY
Summer conditions are painfully brief in the mountains. I was skeptical that it would be possible to squeeze enough consistent use out of the HMG 40-Degree Quilt to make its considerable price tag justifiable.
While the quilt’s comfort rating is questionable for most trips featuring extended time in or near the alpine, its potential versatility was pleasantly surprising. The oversized design makes it possible to comfortably wear warm layers to bed or add a liner to the quilt if trip conditions will test its 40-degree limits. The quilt is lightweight and extremely packable and manages to be quite comfortable as well.
The downsides of this quilt are few and relatively minor, including a loss of insulation when wet (an inevitable feature of any natural down quilt) and its rather uninspiring kitchen garbage bag colorway. It is also no fully three-season quilt, though it never claims to be. If a wide majority of your backcountry nights are reserved for the summer months, the ultralight and packable HMG 40-Degree Quilt is likely all you need.
DISCLOSURE
Hyperlite Mountain Gear provided me with a free sample for this review – but the views expressed here are all my own. The review might also contain affiliate links, which help us keep churning out more content.
MORE INFORMATION
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Happy hiking and take care out there in the wild!