Enlightened Gear Enigma Quilt 20 Overview

Backside Line

The Enlightened Gear Enigma 20 is without doubt one of the warmest backpacking quilts we’ve examined, providing excellent warmth-to-weight efficiency for ultralighters and thru-hikers. We examined it on chilly nights within the Himalayas, the place it held its personal in freezing temps with solely minor drafts. That’s why it ranks close to the highest of the finest backpacking sleeping baggage and quilts.

The 850-fill down model we used packed down extremely small, and the non-compulsory 950-fill improve provides much more loft and effectivity. Its large lower and easy pad-strap system assist seal in heat higher than most quilts we’ve tried. Although, it nonetheless takes some apply to make use of successfully.

Consolation is superb for an ultralight design, however the lack of a hood, zipper, or pockets means it’s finest for skilled backpackers who worth minimalism. For these prioritizing low weight, packability, and high-end craftsmanship, the Enigma delivers glorious long-term worth.

HOW WE TESTED

We put the Enigma 20 to the take a look at in a few of the world’s least hospitable environments – the Himalayan mountains. We relied on it to maintain us heat for 100 miles round Mount Manaslu, all whereas assessing its heat, consolation, and have set.

Heat

Quilts might be trickier to remain heat in than conventional sleeping baggage, however the Enlightened Gear Enigma 20 ranks among the many warmest that we’ve put via the wringer. It doesn’t have an official ISO or EN score, however the Enigma stored us heat in freezing temperatures within the Himalayas other than the occasional draft.

It’s obtainable with both 15.46 ounces of 850 fill energy duck down or 13.83 ounces of 950 fill energy goose down. We tried out the 850 model, however the 950 choice supplies barely extra loft, offering the identical heat at a lighter weight.

The Enigma is extremely versatile. Whether or not you’re a sizzling sleeper, a frigid sleeper, or simply desire a quilt for each season, Enlightened Gear has you lined. They provide the Enigma in a variety of choices from 0º all the way in which as much as 50º in 10-degree increments in addition to a slew of measurement choices.

One main distinction that we’ve seen with the Enigma is that it appears to do a greater job at blocking drafts than different quilts we’ve tried. The quilt’s beneficiant width and included pad straps assist it keep cosy round your physique and sleeping pad. That mentioned, its vertical baffle design requires correct care. If you happen to don’t take excellent care to maintain the down dry and lofted, it has the potential to clump up and shift round, creating unlucky chilly spots. As a result of quilts lack a built-in hood – by design – we suggest pairing the Enigma with a beanie, hooded puffy, or the Enlightened Gear Torrid Hood to remain totally heat on chilly nights.

Consolation

The Enigma provides extra blanket-like consolation than bag-like consolation. Its open, zipperless again allows you to unfold out freely on heat nights or tuck in when the temperature drops. The sewn footbox is completely closed, making a heat and safe cocoon on your ft with a cosy, 40-inch girth.

On the prime, the 54-inch shoulder width feels beneficiant, particularly for a backless quilt. It’s large sufficient to wrap comfortably round most customers and attain the perimeters of a normal sleeping pad, serving to to reduce drafts with out feeling restrictive. 

The 10D shell material is just not probably the most luxurious materials on the market, but it surely feels comfortable sufficient towards the pores and skin and does an excellent job of sustaining gentle weight and packability. As with most ultralight gear, it requires a bit care to forestall snags or put on over time.

Weight & Packability

One of many greatest benefits of a quilt design is the dramatic weight financial savings. By eliminating the insulation and material that might usually sit beneath you – and as an alternative relying in your sleeping pad for floor insulation – the Enigma cuts severe ounces.

The 950-fill-power model is probably the most compressible, although the 850-fill mannequin nonetheless packs down impressively small – about 13 inches by 6 inches. The ultralight 10D shell material additionally contributes to its compact measurement, making the Enigma a straightforward slot in even the smallest packs.

At simply 1 pound 5.6 ounces for the common width and size, the Enigma 20 ranks among the many lightest, true, three-season choices on the market. For individuals who can deal with it, a 50°F brief and slim model is available in at an astonishing 9.21 ounces. Irrespective of which setup you select, the Enigma provides distinctive weight financial savings and a few of the finest compressibility on the market.

Options

Quilts are minimalist by design, so in case you’re after a completely featured sleeping bag, the Enigma isn’t it. There’s no hood, no zipper, and undoubtedly no pockets – simply absolutely the necessities to maintain you heat. In contrast to Enlightened Gear’s Revelation Quilt, which has a zippered and drawstring footbox for adjustable air flow, the Enigma’s footbox is completely sewn shut to extend thermal effectivity and reduce weight.

To compensate for the open-back design, the Enigma comes with two elastic straps to safe the quilt to your sleeping pad. These assist seal out drafts and maintain you anchored to your pad as an alternative of sliding round on slippery plastic all evening. Sadly, the straps aren’t almost as efficient on foam pads. They’ll assist to maintain every thing in place a bit higher, however received’t get rid of gaps totally. On the prime, a pair of snaps and an adjustable drawcord allow you to cinch the quilt snugly round your shoulders and neck.

Though the shortage of options is perhaps an enormous change to some, the bare-bones design is what retains the Enigma’s weight and bulk very low, making it one of many lightest and best sleep techniques obtainable.

Ought to You Purchase the Enlightened Gear Enigma?

The Enlightened Gear Enigma is made for thru-hikers and skilled backpackers seeking to lower each potential ounce from their pack to hike farther and sooner. It’s additionally perfect for individuals who dislike the restrictive really feel of a mummy bag or for decent sleepers who admire the open, ventilated design.

With its sewn footbox and minimal function set, the Enigma trims away every thing however the necessities to maintain you heat and comfy at evening. Enlightened Gear makes it straightforward to dial within the good match with a really wide selection of measurement and temperature rankings. Each the 850-fill and 950-fill energy variations use premium down that packs impressively small whereas delivering a strong warmth-to-weight ratio.

That mentioned, quilts aren’t for everybody. If you’re an particularly chilly or finicky sleeper, it’s possible you’ll need to persist with a conventional mummy bag. They take some getting used to – even some ultralight backpackers discover them a bit difficult. However this one is lighter, extra compressible, and extra inexpensive than sleeping baggage, incomes it a prime rating on our record.

What Different Backpacking Sleeping Baggage Ought to You Think about?

If you happen to’re not bought on our favourite quilt, make sure you try our full information to backpacking sleeping baggage to check it with our different prime picks. 

Enlightened Gear Revelation 20 Overview: The Revelation is extraordinarily just like the Enigma, however the footbox has a zipper and a drawstring to regulate air flow on the ft. This provides a bit little bit of weight and isn’t fairly as heat on chilly nights, but it surely means that you can utterly open the quilt right into a blanket.

Feathered Associates Swallow UL20 Overview: That is our favourite ultralight mummy bag. It’s made with lots of the luxuries of a normal mummy bag – full size zipper, cinchable hood, draft collar – however rivals the burden of a quilt. 

Zpacks Basic 20 Overview: The Basic bridges the hole between a quilt and a conventional sleeping bag. It opens large like a quilt for straightforward air flow however incorporates a ¾-length zipper that means that you can totally shut it as much as the neck. Like most quilts, it skips the hood in favor of a easy drawstring closure on the prime. The result’s an extremely light-weight and versatile design, however remember that Zpacks temperature rankings are typically very beneficiant.