Enlightened Tools Enigma Quilt 20 Assessment

Backside Line

The Enlightened Tools Enigma 20 is among 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 greatest backpacking sleeping baggage and quilts.

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

Consolation is superb for an ultralight design, however the lack of a hood, zipper, or pockets means it’s greatest for knowledgeable 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 check 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 may be trickier to remain heat in than conventional sleeping baggage, however the Enlightened Tools Enigma 20 ranks among the many warmest that we’ve put by the wringer. It doesn’t have an official ISO or EN ranking, however the Enigma stored us heat in freezing temperatures within the Himalayas other than the occasional draft.

It’s out there 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 gives barely extra loft, offering the identical heat at a lighter weight.

The Enigma is extremely versatile. Whether or not you’re a scorching sleeper, a frigid sleeper, or simply desire a quilt for each season, Enlightened Tools has you coated. 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 dimension choices.

One main distinction that we’ve observed 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 stated, its vertical baffle design requires correct care. For those who 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 Tools Torrid Hood to remain absolutely heat on chilly nights.

Consolation

The Enigma provides extra blanket-like consolation than bag-like consolation. Its open, zipperless again enables 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 in your ft with a comfortable, 40-inch girth.

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

The 10D shell cloth just isn’t essentially the most luxurious materials on the market, but it surely feels smooth sufficient in opposition to the pores and skin and does a very good job of sustaining mild weight and packability. As with most ultralight gear, it requires just a little care to forestall snags or put on over time.

Weight & Packability

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

The 950-fill-power model is essentially the most compressible, although the 850-fill mannequin nonetheless packs down impressively small – about 13 inches by 6 inches. The ultralight 10D shell cloth additionally contributes to its compact dimension, making the Enigma a simple 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 many who can deal with it, a 50°F quick and slim model is available in at an astonishing 9.21 ounces. Regardless of which setup you select, the Enigma provides distinctive weight financial savings and a few of the greatest compressibility on the market.

Options

Quilts are minimalist by design, so in the event you’re after a completely featured sleeping bag, the Enigma isn’t it. There’s no hood, no zipper, and positively no pockets – simply absolutely the necessities to maintain you heat. In contrast to Enlightened Tools’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 hold you anchored to your pad as an alternative of sliding round on slippery plastic all evening. Sadly, the straps aren’t practically as efficient on foam pads. They’ll assist to maintain every part in place just a little higher, however gained’t eradicate 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 could be 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 methods out there.

Ought to You Purchase the Enlightened Tools Enigma?

The Enlightened Tools Enigma is made for thru-hikers and skilled backpackers trying to lower each potential ounce from their pack to hike farther and sooner. It’s additionally best for many who dislike the restrictive really feel of a mummy bag or for warm sleepers who respect the open, ventilated design.

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

That stated, quilts aren’t for everybody. If you’re an particularly chilly or finicky sleeper, chances are you’ll wish to persist with a conventional mummy bag. They take some getting used to – even some ultralight backpackers discover them a bit tough. However this one is lighter, extra compressible, and extra reasonably priced than sleeping baggage, incomes it a prime rating on our checklist.

What Different Backpacking Sleeping Luggage Ought to You Take into account?

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

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

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

Zpacks Traditional 20 Assessment: The Traditional bridges the hole between a quilt and a conventional sleeping bag. It opens huge like a quilt for simple air flow however includes a ¾-length zipper that lets you absolutely 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 the fact that Zpacks temperature scores are usually very beneficiant.