Outdoor Vitals StormLoft 15-Degree Down UnderQuilt
An economy underquilt (UQ) that is Chinese made and Chinese QC'd.
Pros
- Price
- Water-resistant
- Easy to set up
Cons
- Not rated accurately
- Construction/Fabrication is sloppy
- Poor customer service
This is not a terrible place to start if you are beginning to hammock camp. The Hammock Gear UQ is of much greater quality for the same price, and I wish I had bought that first. OV is great at advertising and marketing, but they really should put that into the product.
Source: bought it new
Outdoor Vitals' StormLoft 15 Down UnderQuilt combines lightweight components with certified 800+ down, making it one of the most efficient under quilts on the market.
Pros
- The StormLoft 15 Down UnderQuilt is lightweight.
- The cost is incredibly low for such a warm product.
- It packs down to the size of a football.
Cons
- The suspensions system can be tricky to set up efficiently for the first few tries.
- The length of this under quilt felt shorter than marketed.
MSRP: $214.97 R / $229.97 L
Weight: 1lb 7.5oz
Fill: 800-Fill Power Storm Loft Water Repellent Down
Suggested Use: Camping / Backpacking
Hammock Camping isn't for the faint-of-heart. While tents are generally simple to pitch, hammocks involve a tremendous growth-curve. However, Outdoor Vitals' StormLoft 15 Down UnderQuilt makes moderating your sleeping temperature easy. Paired with a Hennessy Hammock, this setup is nearly unstoppable.
Highlights:
- DWR Treated
- Hybrid Baffle Design
- Outdoor Vitals has a Lifetime Warranty
- 800+ Fill Power Down
- Contoured
Overview:
- As a DWR coated product, the StormLoft is water resistant.
- After a few months of use, this quilt shows no signs of wear. I'm confident in its construction and durability.
- You can make adjustments to this underquilt while you're inside of your hammock, which isn't always the case.
- This underquilt is more likely to make you sweat than shiver.
How does the StormLoft compare to other products?
- Competitive Products range from $200-329, and 12.5 oz to 2.5lbs, making the StormLoft quite competitive in terms of both cost and weight.
- Hyke and Bykes' Antero 15 Degree UnderQuilt costs $329 and weighs 2.49lbs.
- WarBonnets' 20 Degree Yeti Underquilt costs $200 and weighs a stunning 12.5oz.
- Outdoor Vitals' StormLoft 15 Degree UnderQuilt costs $214 and weighs 1.47lbs.
Final Thoughts:
If you're not interested in getting seriously into backpacking or camping, there are simpler sleep systems. But if you're not intimidated by the hammock learning curve, the StormLoft under quilt does a terrific job of helping you retain warmth. Outdoor Vitals does a terrific job of providing quality products. Overall, Outdoor Vitals' 15 degree StormLoft performed impressively well in the backcountry.
Background
I spent a few months testing this under quilt in Colorado's backcountry on various backpacking trips. Temperatures ranged from the low 30s to the mid 40s. I typically sleep really cold, and this quilt never disappointed me in terms of warmth. Conditions were dry. While this is my first under quilt, I'm an experienced hammocker.
Source: tested or reviewed it for the manufacturer (kept it)