The most important thing about hammock camping in winter and other cold environments is how you stay warm in it during the night. To do this properly, you will need to use the best hammock top quilts for camping and backpacking so that you can sleep comfortably without losing your body heat at night.
Hammock camping in winter and sub-zero temperatures requires proper sleeping gear and a top quilt should definitely be a part of it.
Have you been looking for the best top quilts for hammock camping on the market? It takes some research to find a quality product at an affordable price. The trick, however, is finding the right company and the right product. With so many options available today, how do you know which one will be right?
We’ve done the research for you! In this article, we’ll discuss what to look for in hammock top quilts for camping and backpacking, then break down five of the best options on the market today.
S.no. Preview Products Material Buy 1 
ENO - Eagles Nest Outfitters Vesta Top Quilt Nylon 
2 
OneTigris Featherlite Ultralight Sleeping Quilt Nylon 3 
Outdoor Vitals LoftTek Hybrid Top Quilts Nylon 4 
Therm-a-Rest Corus 20F/-6C Backpacking Quilt Polyester 5 
Onewind Topquilt Hammock Top Quilt 35-50F Nylon
List of 5 Best Hammock Top Quilts for Camping & Backpacking
1. ENO – Eagles Nest Outfitters Vesta Top Quilt
Last updated on 2022-12-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
A great designed product from one of the Top Outdoor gear manufacturers in the US. This top quilt is made from ripstop nylon and it is coated with DWR(double Water Repellent coating). The temperature rating is 35-45℉ and can be used in all three seasons. This top quilt has been specifically designed to suit hammock camping.
Eno Vesta top quilt is a full-size one measuring 6 ft 2 inches in length and 4 ft wide when unpacked. It does fit a 6 feet long and a large person. Thai quilt packs are small and measure 14 inches x 7 inches when packed. This ultralight top quilt weighs 28 ounces or 1.2 pounds.
- Ultralightweight.
- Great Warmth.
- Bigger Size.
- A bit expensive in the range..
2. OneTigris Featherlite Ultralight Sleeping Quilt
Last updated on 2022-12-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
One Tigris Top quilt is a versatile product with 20 Denier inner fabric and provides good insulation out in the wild. This quilt is made of ripstop nylon. This is a lightweight top quilt that weighs only 28 ounces or 1000 gms or 2.2 pounds.
The temperature rating of the One Tigris Featherlite top quilt is 40℉ and suitable for very cold environments. It has velcro straps to secure it with the sleeping pad and drawstrings to close the top hatchet.
This hammock camping top quilt is suitable for taller and large persons as the length is 6 ft 5 inches and the width is 2 ft 8 inches. It packs really small and the final pack-up dimensions would be 13.8 inches x 8 inches.
- It is lightweight.
- Packs small.
- Larger in size fits tall people.
- Durable materials.
- Retained warmth and comfortable sleep.
- The price is excellent.
- Stuff sack tears after a few uses.
3. Outdoor Vitals LoftTek Hybrid Top Quilts
Last updated on 2022-12-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Outdoor Vitals has been a known name in making some of the innovative outdoor gear which is popular worldwide. This top quilt is a great product in the price range. It is a value for money and quality product. The temperature rating is 0℉ which enables you to camp in all three seasons.
The outdoor vitals top quilt is made from ripstop synthetic fibers with DWR(double water repellent) coating which makes it work while it is wet. You get full warmth even in extreme conditions. This hammock top quilt has a 650 plus fill power for that extra comfort but weighs very little.
This ultra-lightweight top quilt weighs only 12 ounces/ 865 gms/2 pounds. It is made from compressed 20D denier materials and it packs very small(the packed size is 28” x 16”).
This quilt is 6ft 6 inches in length and 4ft 6 inches so it covers tall and large people. It comes with a fully sewn foot box.
- Ultralightweight.
- Durable.
- Works even when it’s wet.
- Packs really small.
- Comes with a Stuff sack.
- Fits tall and wide people.
- Ideal for backpacking and camping.
- The foot box is bigger which causes problems for side sleepers.
The Outdoor Vitals Top Quilt is recommended for backpacking and camping.
4. Therm-a-Rest Corus 20F/-6C Backpacking Quilt
Last updated on 2022-12-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The therm-a-rest top quilt is polyester made and it has been coated which makes it water-repellent. One of the added advantages of polyester fabric is that it dries faster and does not hold or absorb water.
The lightweight top quilt weighs only 824 gms or 1.81 pounds. It is packed with 650 plus fill power to give you the best warmth in extreme temperatures. It is compact and packs really small. One of the major problems with the top quilt is the size but this one measures 6 ft 11 inches in length and 4ft 5 inches in width. This large size can fit tall persons up to 6 ft 6 inches.
It comes with in0built connectors to attach it with sleeping pads. The temperature treatment is 20℉ which is good enough for all the seasons camping. It is wide and can hold up to 2 people. This top quilt comes with a stuff sack and a storage sack included in the package.
- Lightweight, only 29 ounces
- Compact top quilt.
- Water Repellent.
- Good warmth.
- Wide and tall design.
- Storage and stuff sack included.
- Ideal for backpacking.
- Costly Top quilt.
Recommended for backpackers and campers who prefer to camp on the ground in extreme weather conditions.
5. Onewind Topquilt Hammock Top Quilt 35-50F
Last updated on 2022-12-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
One wind top quilt is lightweight and ideal for hammock camping. It is versatile in use you can wear it as a blanket and as a great alternative to a sleeping bag. It comes with a convertible foot box.
The temperature rating is 40℉ and can handle sub-zero temperatures. It is made with 20 deniers soft fabric for better air-permeable making it suitable for use in all three seasons. It packs really small and measures 14 inches wide and 7 inches long when packed.
Cleaning and maintaining the top quilt is very easy and it is machine washable.
- Lightweight.
- Packs small.
- Machine washable.
- Durable.
- Convertible Foot box.
- Value for money product.
- Can not fit larger persons.
Buying Guide
The summer camping season is just around the corner, so it’s time to start shopping for your essentials. If you’re planning a trip to a campsite that’s far from civilization then you need proper protection out there.
If you’re headed out into the wilderness for a few days on an extended backpacking trip, you’ll want to make sure you have all the right equipment with you. A Top quilt is an essential sleeping gear required to keep yourself warm and face any type of extreme weather conditions.
There are many factors that need to be considered while buying a Top quilt because it saves you from hyperthermia in cold weather.
So let’s dive into details of what are these factors and why they matter while selecting a top quilt.
1. Temperature Rating
The first and foremost factor is the Temperature rating. This temperature is what an average-weight adult male will be warm at. You have to choose a top quilt with a temperature rating that suits your camping style. If you are camping in a region where there is freezing cold at night try getting a 20℉ quilt which works well in most cases. But if you sleep colder then try getting a 10℉ to 20℉. Women and children whose mass is less tend to sleep colder than their male counterparts so get a lower temperature rating top quilt for them. If you choose the temperature rating wisely you will have a comfortable sleep even in extreme temperatures.
2. Fabric Denier
The fabric denier is the thickness of the fabric that is used to build the quilt. The fabric thickness is denoted in Deniers and the top quilt comes in 7D, 10D, and 20D. This fabric denier decides the air permeability of the fabric(scope of air or moisture to pass through the fabric). Check the denier for the inside and the outside fabric. A lower inside denier fabric allows moisture to pass through easily and thus does not make you feel wet. The 10D fabric is the sweet spot and it is ideal in terms of weight, durability, air permeability, and comfort.
3. Color Options
Colors do not decide the warmth and comfortability of the top quilt but they can change according to your fabric denier selection. So keep an eye on them while selecting the inside and outside fabric deniers because they tend to change.
4. Foot Box Style
The foot box style is important as keeping your legs warm is crucial when you sleep in freezing cold. There a2 types of Foot boxes available in top quilts. One is Zipper and another is Fully Sown. The advantage of a zipper foot box style is that the top quilt can be fully opened and worn like a blanket when you sleep warm. But the downside is that there can be a small gap at the extreme bottom end of the foot box. The sown foot boxes are fully sown at the bottom and they are lighter than zipper ones.
5. Length
The length of the Top quilt should cover the person wearing it and ideally, it should be above your length. The below Top Quilt Length Size chart will help you select the right one.
| Length/Girth | 50 Inches | 48-56 Inches | 54-62 inches | 60-68 inches |
| Up to 5 ft 6 in | Short/Slim | Short/Regular | Short/Wide | Short/Extra Wide |
| 5 ft 6 in- 6 ft | Regular/Slim | Regular/Regular | Regular/Wide | Regular/Extra Wide |
| 6 ft – 6 ft 6 in | Long/Slim | Long/Regular | Long/Wide | Long/Extra Wide |
| Above 6 ft 6 in | Extra Long/Slim | Extra Long/Regular | Extra Long/Wide | Extra Long/Extra Wide |
6. Width
The next important element when choosing a top quilt is the width. Choosing the width depends on a few factors like the
- size of the person,
- Active or passive sleeper
- Sleep in the hammock or on the ground
Top quilts come in different widths arranged from 48 inches to 65 inches. If you are a large person then selecting 55 inches-wide top quilts is preferable. If you are a large and active sleeper then consider buying above 55 inches wide top quilts. If you are smaller in size then you will be comfortable with a narrow-width quilt.
If you are sleeping in a hammock then you will do well with the narrow top quilt as you are covered from three sides. A 50 inches wide top quilt is enough for hammock camping. But if you are sleeping on the ground then consider buying at least 55 inches wide top quilt.
7. Overstuff
Overstuff means more fills than the required amount of feather that goes into making a top quilt. So more stuff in your quilt ensures better insulation and mustered absorbing power. It increases the surface playing area for the top quilt to deal with moisture. A 30% overstuff is good rough for hammock camping and any other camping trip.
8. Pad Straps
It is essential for the top quilt to be locked in its place especially when you are sleeping in extremely cold or sub-zero tem[peratures. There are two types of pad starts that are available on the market. One is a simple elastic thread type with clips on both sides so that you can attach the sleeping pad to the top quilt. The other type of pad strap is a continuous loop with clips that really lock the quilt.
9. Neck Baffles
Neck baffles are very useful when camping in sub-zero weather. This is a small tube that runs along with the top quilt and closes in the quilt when fully applied. It does not allow any air to get into the quilt and keeps your body warm.
Benefits of a Top Quilt vs. Sleeping Bag
Top quilts were initially designed to be used for hammock camping but recently they are widely used even for ground camping. Let’s dive into the pros of a top quilt vs a sleeping bag so that you can decide which is the best setup for you.
| Why Choose a Top Quilt | Why Choose a Sleeping Bag |
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hammock top quilt?
When hammock camping you are exposed to cold wind, and moisture from all sides, so you need protection from the bottom and top. A quilt that is used on top is called a top quilt. It provides insulation and protection from the wind blowing on top. It saves our body warmth from releasing and keeps us from drafts.
How do you stay warm while camping in a hammock?
Use an underquilt and a top quilt in a hammock and it will keep you warm. You can also use a sleeping pad under the top quilt for better protection.
Can you sleep in a hammock in the winter?
Sleeping in a hammock in winter is absolutely possible and with the right sleeping gear, it can be enjoyable. You should use a hammock underquilt and a sleeping pad and a top quilt to have a pleasant night of sleep.
How do you keep a hammock warm without an Underquilt?
An underquilt saves the body from the breeze blowing tinder into the hammock. But in case you don’t have an underquilt with you, you should hang your hammock as close to the ground as possible this will eliminate the possibility of a cold breeze blowing under the hammock.
Why do you trust us
Our product reviews and buying guides are written by experts who are passionate about outdoor camping and they are hikers and backpackers themselves. The products that are reviewed in the article are put to test out in the wild and our recommendations are very practical and fact-based.
Conclusion
Top quilts are great for keeping you warm and comfortable, so it’s important to choose a good one. The right hammock top quilt can mean the difference between a good night’s sleep and a bad one. We hope our list of best hammock top quilts for camping and backpacking has been helpful. If you’re having trouble deciding on what type of top quilt is best for your hammock, consider reading our article on the subject. We hope this has been helpful!