I’ve had the EE Convert Apex quilt/bag for a year. I’ve used down for years and decided to go synthetic and so glad I switched. Recently in Hawaii I ended up sleeping not prepared for such wetness. For three nights this quilt was soaked and I still kept warm and dry. Amazing product. I do not fear at all being caught in any type weather conditions as I’m confidant that this product will still do its job. As for the bulkiness and weight as the reviewer said I shave off weight and bulkiness in other areas in my pack. I would much rather carry a little more weight and know I can still sleep well no matter what the weather=piece of mind. Too many downs for me with down. I also have the Apex Torrid jacket which I wore while sleeping and was cozy. I ordered the Apex Torrid pants and with those three items I am a very happy camper. Thank you EE for such quality products.
Nice review, I'm a fan of synthetic for my summer gear (I do a lot of kyack and canoe trips). I still use down in the colder months. I'm going to have to check this out and maybe go all synthetic. Thanks and subbed.
Nice review. Good thoughts about synthetic and down. Well done. I have the EE myself. I do have the down. But, I think synthetic is a very good option. New follower here. Crow✌️
great video. i am considering the Revelation Apex. Question; when you pack it in a stuff sack, how does the insulation disperse when you open it up? it sounds weird that it is made with one piece of insulation. i was wondering if you need to shake it out if it does not stick to the nylon fabric
Thanks for the review. The only reason I am considering a synthetic version is my switch to DCF tent, hiking in endless rain in New England which equals condensation. Before the DCF tent I never had any issues with down. I am very careful. Again thanks
Good stuff. I use an SLD 40 apex top quilt for summer. Not much of a weight penalty vs down at that rating, and although I don’t have a lot of experience with summer down quilts/blankets, I found since they have only a small amount of down I had a hard time fluffing it evenly to avoid cold spot. I also don’t take the greatest care of my gear. ;) Apex is no fuss and takes a beating imex.
I'm planning on buying an EE Revelation 10° down quilt for backpacking and I'm also considering getting a Revelation APEX 20° for car camping. I just watched another video of a guy stuffing his EE Revelation 20° bag into an 8L compression sack from Granite Gear and he was able to compress it down very small. I'm very curious to see an APEX stuffed into a compression sack. I think EE recommends a 12.5L sack for an APEX 20° quilt. I would love to see you make a video showing you get your APEX synthetic quilt into a 12.5L sack. Should I hold my breath?🙂
Awesome video, this REALLY puts into perspective the bulkyness of the synthetic, I am wanting an apex EE but not sure if I should go with 20 or 30 degree, how much does it compress compared to how much space it takes up in the EE bag?
I just bought an Apex Revelation as well. Mine has not shipped yet so I was wondering how small have you been able to pack yours? How many liters do you think it will take up compared to your down quilt
Hey there! While I can't give you exact numbers, I would estimate it to be about 1/3 of my Dan Durston 40L pack. Also you should know that this is without using a stuff sack in order to maximize my use of space. I am still able to get my extra clothes, hammock shelter system, and my food bag in the main compartment without issue. If you are rocking a 50- 65L pack, like most hikers, you should be golden. Hope this helps 🙂!
Yeah sorry about that. I don't personally keep my bag in a compression or stuff sack. I have found it is a more efficient use of space to stuff my quilt in the base of my bag. It fills the negative space that "pod" shaped compression bags leave unused. However, I will try to remember to do that in the future for people who prefer compression bags.
Thank you my friend for putting this video together. Currently looking at the Revelation APEX and Enigma 30 degree. Now that you have had this for a few months now, do you still like the synthetic quiilt? Would you purchase agan or would you go with something else? Now following #161
I am ,personally, quite happy with the quilt. I hiked the entire Ouachita Trail using this quilt, and we had a few very cold nights. It performed brilliantly. Keep in mind that it will not compress as well as a down quilt will, but I am using a 40l pack and was still able to get all of my gear in with the quilt. If you have a larger pack than that then you'll be just fine.
@@EpicOutdoorz I currently use the HMG Southwest 3400 and have the EE Rev 10. Do you wish that you might have stuck with the down or got the enigma? There is a ton of gear reviews and places to hike on my channel that might interest you. Would love to hear your feedback! Thanks for the additional info as I am looking at getting the APEX for my hikes on the wet AT!
I definitely think the revelation quilt is the one for me. I don't have any need for the enigma. As to whether or not I wish I had stuck with down, the answer is no. I had an incident where I got my down quilt wet on my AT thru hike, and it caused some serious issues for me. I also hate getting cold spots. I definitely would have liked to have had synthetic during the AT, as it is the wettest trail I have hiked to date. When they say "No pain, no rain, no Maine" they mean it.
Great review my friend! I am leaning towards a synthetic quilt for a hike on the JMT. Are you still rocking the EE quilt? Any updates? Cheers my friend, and thanks for the video!
I am still rocking this quilt. I definitely think synthetic is the way to go when you're in a tent. I also use it in my Amok Draumr hammock. Gathered in hammocks are now the only place that I use down. Thanks for commenting and thanks for watching 🙂
I just did a review of my Enlightened Equipment Revelation down quilt, which I love. However, I am always paranoid I will get it wet when I need most. Glad to see your review and may be switching soon. Thanks.
Its great! I've been using it exclusively since this video. Washing it was so much easier. I have no cold spots so far. I also just like the peace of mind that I'm not in danger if I accidentally get it wet. I of course do everything I can to try to avoid that, but mistakes can happen. I like having gear that will forgive a mistake instead of forcing you to pay for not being perfect. For a 9oz penalty I think it's worth it. Thanks for commenting, and thanks for watching 🙂.
@@EpicOutdoorz no worries mate, thank you for making a video on the very thing I'm wanting to get. I want the EE Convert Apex. Needed to see if it was worth it.
Not all down quilts are made with sewn through baffles, and that climashield is bulky/lumpy af. I have the Torrid jacket from EE and while it's warm, the insulation at certain points doesn't remain flat and you get these lumps at certain points. Ugly.
Hey David, thanks for your input. I personally have not experienced the lumps you are referring to on either of my Torrid jackets. I'd be interested to know if we are doing something different with our respective jackets so other people can avoid having this problem.
The argument of down versus synthetic seemed to me to have steered both manufacturers and consumers into a non productive either/or position. So I asked myself why does it have to be such a limiting choice, and not, since both materials have superlative qualities, a combination of the best of both, in designs which play to their strengths. Since the quilt market currently does not offer any solution which answers this question of (warmth n low weight, + high compressibility of down and warmth while wet properties of synthetic) , I decided to try a combination of the two by combining my Alpkit down quilt with a Rab Eco zero synthetic fill summer weight sleeping bag, which can act as water resistant protection for the down quilt and add useful insulation in adverse weather.. It is used opened up to cover the quilt, with the quilt footbox stuffed into that of the sleeping bag. As you would expect this combination is very warm, but does have the virtue of wide temperature range useability by using the components singly or together. The components weigh just a whisker over 1lb each, so I'm pretty happy with a versatile all seasons system that weighs in at only 2pounds and 1 ounce. Now, I'm pretty sure that all those cunning and resourceful guys who make a living designing and making these things can do a better job than I have done and could build some useful bells n whistles and refinements to improve on my basic system. So how about it guys? Let's see what you can come up with in designs which make the most of the insulative properties in combination with each other, or why not make the outer cover of the down quilt of a waterproof but highly breathable fabric such as is used in the waterproofs favoured by mountain marathon and ultra runners. There would be a small weight penalty but a worthwhile gain in usefulness.
As someone who has been using both an Apex and a Down quilt from EE I can't say I understand or agree here. The condensation issue mentioned is complete BS. I've had my footbox slip out from beneath my tarp in the rain using my down quilt with zero impact to performance. You would have to submerge your bag/quilt for an extended period of time to make it "worthless". I use down in the colder months and apex in the warmer months and combine the two for a stupid warm option.
I like synthetic over down most of the time. But man, you just can’t pack any synthetic to a small enough size. My 20* down bag packs easy into a 7”x9” bag. My quality synthetic bags are tough to get into a 12”x18” bag. I have to add an extra set of front panniers when I take a synthetic bag on bikepacking trips. That said, I love synthetics when I have to clean them. My synthetic bag takes 20 minutes to throughly dry in a machine. My down bag takes 6 hours. There you go.
Yeah I totally get it. I think you've painted a pretty clear synopsis of the struggle between synthetic and down. Before too long, I'll be making another video on my 2 years of using only synthetic and what conclusions have come to. Thanks for commenting and thanks for watching 🙂
No reason to choose only one. Synthetic alone wins above 40 F or for paddling trips. Down works great on trips that don't have weeks of exposure with no drying opportunity. Deep cold, down on the bottom with synthetic on top takes advantage of both.
Please do not keep the “down is worthless when wet” myth alive. The 3M corporation started that notion over 50 years ago. I started hiking in 1967 and find down is the way to go. As with all sleeping gear, you need only take care of it like your life depends on it. On the other hand…cotton really IS killer in horrible weather and few channels mention it enough. Thanks for the video.
I’ve had the EE Convert Apex quilt/bag for a year. I’ve used down for years and decided to go synthetic and so glad I switched. Recently in Hawaii I ended up sleeping not prepared for such wetness. For three nights this quilt was soaked and I still kept warm and dry. Amazing product. I do not fear at all being caught in any type weather conditions as I’m confidant that this product will still do its job. As for the bulkiness and weight as the reviewer said I shave off weight and bulkiness in other areas in my pack. I would much rather carry a little more weight and know I can still sleep well no matter what the weather=piece of mind. Too many downs for me with down. I also have the Apex Torrid jacket which I wore while sleeping and was cozy. I ordered the Apex Torrid pants and with those three items I am a very happy camper. Thank you EE for such quality products.
I’ve had the EE Convert Apex quilt/bag for a year. I’ve used down for years and decided to go synthetic and so glad I switched. Recently in Hawaii I ended up sleeping not prepared for such wetness. For three nights this quilt was soaked and I still kept warm and dry. Amazing product. I do not fear at all being caught in any type weather conditions as I’m confidant that this product will still do its job. As for the bulkiness and weight as the reviewer said I shave off weight and bulkiness in other areas in my pack. I would much rather carry a little more weight and know I can still sleep well no matter what the weather=piece of mind. Too many downs for me with down. I also have the Apex Torrid jacket which I wore while sleeping and was cozy. I ordered the Apex Torrid pants and with those three items I am a very happy camper. Thank you EE for such quality products.
Outstanding! Synthetic is best for us silly Grunts that cannot keep our stuff dry.
Translation: Way too many compromises with down just to save space & ounce.
Thanks for the details & real world experiences.
Nice review, I'm a fan of synthetic for my summer gear (I do a lot of kyack and canoe trips). I still use down in the colder months. I'm going to have to check this out and maybe go all synthetic. Thanks and subbed.
Nice review. Good thoughts about synthetic and down. Well done. I have the EE myself. I do have the down. But, I think synthetic is a very good option. New follower here. Crow✌️
great video. i am considering the Revelation Apex. Question; when you pack it in a stuff sack, how does the insulation disperse when you open it up? it sounds weird that it is made with one piece of insulation. i was wondering if you need to shake it out if it does not stick to the nylon fabric
Thanks for the review. The only reason I am considering a synthetic version is my switch to DCF tent, hiking in endless rain in New England which equals condensation. Before the DCF tent I never had any issues with down. I am very careful. Again thanks
Good stuff. I use an SLD 40 apex top quilt for summer. Not much of a weight penalty vs down at that rating, and although I don’t have a lot of experience with summer down quilts/blankets, I found since they have only a small amount of down I had a hard time fluffing it evenly to avoid cold spot. I also don’t take the greatest care of my gear. ;) Apex is no fuss and takes a beating imex.
I'm planning on buying an EE Revelation 10° down quilt for backpacking and I'm also considering getting a Revelation APEX 20° for car camping. I just watched another video of a guy stuffing his EE Revelation 20° bag into an 8L compression sack from Granite Gear and he was able to compress it down very small. I'm very curious to see an APEX stuffed into a compression sack. I think EE recommends a 12.5L sack for an APEX 20° quilt. I would love to see you make a video showing you get your APEX synthetic quilt into a 12.5L sack. Should I hold my breath?🙂
Awesome video, this REALLY puts into perspective the bulkyness of the synthetic, I am wanting an apex EE but not sure if I should go with 20 or 30 degree, how much does it compress compared to how much space it takes up in the EE bag?
Off the top of my head I would say about 50%
Try outdoor vitals synthetic 15 degrees. I love it , works great
I just bought an Apex Revelation as well. Mine has not shipped yet so I was wondering how small have you been able to pack yours? How many liters do you think it will take up compared to your down quilt
Hey there! While I can't give you exact numbers, I would estimate it to be about 1/3 of my Dan Durston 40L pack. Also you should know that this is without using a stuff sack in order to maximize my use of space. I am still able to get my extra clothes, hammock shelter system, and my food bag in the main compartment without issue. If you are rocking a 50- 65L pack, like most hikers, you should be golden. Hope this helps 🙂!
It would be nice to see it actually compressed in a bag. Otherwise, a good summary video.
Yeah sorry about that. I don't personally keep my bag in a compression or stuff sack. I have found it is a more efficient use of space to stuff my quilt in the base of my bag. It fills the negative space that "pod" shaped compression bags leave unused. However, I will try to remember to do that in the future for people who prefer compression bags.
Ditto. I want to see it stuffed into a compression bag. EE apparently recommends a 12.5L sack for a 20° APEX.
Thank you my friend for putting this video together. Currently looking at the Revelation APEX and Enigma 30 degree. Now that you have had this for a few months now, do you still like the synthetic quiilt? Would you purchase agan or would you go with something else? Now following #161
I am ,personally, quite happy with the quilt. I hiked the entire Ouachita Trail using this quilt, and we had a few very cold nights. It performed brilliantly. Keep in mind that it will not compress as well as a down quilt will, but I am using a 40l pack and was still able to get all of my gear in with the quilt. If you have a larger pack than that then you'll be just fine.
@@EpicOutdoorz I currently use the HMG Southwest 3400 and have the EE Rev 10. Do you wish that you might have stuck with the down or got the enigma? There is a ton of gear reviews and places to hike on my channel that might interest you. Would love to hear your feedback! Thanks for the additional info as I am looking at getting the APEX for my hikes on the wet AT!
I definitely think the revelation quilt is the one for me. I don't have any need for the enigma. As to whether or not I wish I had stuck with down, the answer is no. I had an incident where I got my down quilt wet on my AT thru hike, and it caused some serious issues for me. I also hate getting cold spots. I definitely would have liked to have had synthetic during the AT, as it is the wettest trail I have hiked to date. When they say "No pain, no rain, no Maine" they mean it.
@@EpicOutdoorz Thank y ou! This helps a lot! Look forward to seeing more videos. Cheers
I’ve just picked up the sea to summit glow synthetic quilt,we can’t find enlightened equipment products here in Europe unfortunately.
I'm not sure if your aware or not, but Enlightened Equipment does ship to Europe from there website.
@@EpicOutdoorz maybe,but I don’t think it’s cost effective with shipping costs and import taxes etc.
@@robster6868 that may be true. I haven't looked into it in depth.
You can get it, but you would probably pay 50% of the price of the quilt with the EU's sky high vat and duty.
Great review my friend!
I am leaning towards a synthetic quilt for a hike on the JMT.
Are you still rocking the EE quilt?
Any updates?
Cheers my friend, and thanks for the video!
I am still rocking this quilt. I definitely think synthetic is the way to go when you're in a tent. I also use it in my Amok Draumr hammock. Gathered in hammocks are now the only place that I use down. Thanks for commenting and thanks for watching 🙂
I just did a review of my Enlightened Equipment Revelation down quilt, which I love. However, I am always paranoid I will get it wet when I need most. Glad to see your review and may be switching soon. Thanks.
Good video. You should have more subscribers
Good review! Thank you! How do you like it after a year?
Its great! I've been using it exclusively since this video. Washing it was so much easier. I have no cold spots so far. I also just like the peace of mind that I'm not in danger if I accidentally get it wet. I of course do everything I can to try to avoid that, but mistakes can happen. I like having gear that will forgive a mistake instead of forcing you to pay for not being perfect. For a 9oz penalty I think it's worth it. Thanks for commenting, and thanks for watching 🙂.
I agree. Apex Shield ist better and safer on the trail. I switched to Apex (Gramxpert 233) from down some years ago and never regret it.
You are really well-spoken, keep it up.
Pro tip: film more b-roll to engage your audience more.
I appreciate the feedback. I will try and do that. Thanks for watching 🙂
@@EpicOutdoorz no worries mate, thank you for making a video on the very thing I'm wanting to get. I want the EE Convert Apex. Needed to see if it was worth it.
Not all down quilts are made with sewn through baffles, and that climashield is bulky/lumpy af. I have the Torrid jacket from EE and while it's warm, the insulation at certain points doesn't remain flat and you get these lumps at certain points. Ugly.
Hey David, thanks for your input. I personally have not experienced the lumps you are referring to on either of my Torrid jackets. I'd be interested to know if we are doing something different with our respective jackets so other people can avoid having this problem.
Any updates?
Coming soon.
The argument of down versus synthetic seemed to me to have steered both manufacturers and consumers into a non productive either/or position. So I asked myself why does it have to be such a limiting choice, and not, since both materials have superlative qualities, a combination of the best of both, in designs which play to their strengths. Since the quilt market currently does not offer any solution which answers this question of (warmth n low weight, + high compressibility of down and warmth while wet properties of synthetic) , I decided to try a combination of the two by combining my Alpkit down quilt with a Rab Eco zero synthetic fill summer weight sleeping bag, which can act as water resistant protection for the down quilt and add useful insulation in adverse weather.. It is used opened up to cover the quilt, with the quilt footbox stuffed into that of the sleeping bag. As you would expect this combination is very warm, but does have the virtue of wide temperature range useability by using the components singly or together. The components weigh just a whisker over 1lb each, so I'm pretty happy with a versatile all seasons system that weighs in at only 2pounds and 1 ounce.
Now, I'm pretty sure that all those cunning and resourceful guys who make a living designing and making these things can do a better job than I have done and could build some useful bells n whistles and refinements to improve on my basic system. So how about it guys? Let's see what you can come up with in designs which make the most of the insulative properties in combination with each other, or why not make the outer cover of the down quilt of a waterproof but highly breathable fabric such as is used in the waterproofs favoured by mountain marathon and ultra runners. There would be a small weight penalty but a worthwhile gain in usefulness.
You make some compelling points here 🙂
Cloud nine Alpkit quilt?
As someone who has been using both an Apex and a Down quilt from EE I can't say I understand or agree here. The condensation issue mentioned is complete BS. I've had my footbox slip out from beneath my tarp in the rain using my down quilt with zero impact to performance. You would have to submerge your bag/quilt for an extended period of time to make it "worthless". I use down in the colder months and apex in the warmer months and combine the two for a stupid warm option.
I like synthetic over down most of the time. But man, you just can’t pack any synthetic to a small enough size. My 20* down bag packs easy into a 7”x9” bag. My quality synthetic bags are tough to get into a 12”x18” bag. I have to add an extra set of front panniers when I take a synthetic bag on bikepacking trips. That said, I love synthetics when I have to clean them. My synthetic bag takes 20 minutes to throughly dry in a machine. My down bag takes 6 hours. There you go.
Yeah I totally get it. I think you've painted a pretty clear synopsis of the struggle between synthetic and down. Before too long, I'll be making another video on my 2 years of using only synthetic and what conclusions have come to. Thanks for commenting and thanks for watching 🙂
No reason to choose only one. Synthetic alone wins above 40 F or for paddling trips. Down works great on trips that don't have weeks of exposure with no drying opportunity. Deep cold, down on the bottom with synthetic on top takes advantage of both.
Hmmm interesting. I've never seen that done.
Love synthetic because I love animals!
🙌🙌
Please do not keep the “down is worthless when wet” myth alive. The 3M corporation started that notion over 50 years ago. I started hiking in 1967 and find down is the way to go. As with all sleeping gear, you need only take care of it like your life depends on it. On the other hand…cotton really IS killer in horrible weather and few channels mention it enough. Thanks for the video.
I’ve had the EE Convert Apex quilt/bag for a year. I’ve used down for years and decided to go synthetic and so glad I switched. Recently in Hawaii I ended up sleeping not prepared for such wetness. For three nights this quilt was soaked and I still kept warm and dry. Amazing product. I do not fear at all being caught in any type weather conditions as I’m confidant that this product will still do its job. As for the bulkiness and weight as the reviewer said I shave off weight and bulkiness in other areas in my pack. I would much rather carry a little more weight and know I can still sleep well no matter what the weather=piece of mind. Too many downs for me with down. I also have the Apex Torrid jacket which I wore while sleeping and was cozy. I ordered the Apex Torrid pants and with those three items I am a very happy camper. Thank you EE for such quality products.