Sea to Summit Ember 35 Down Quilt Review

The Ember from Sea to Summit is a high quality, ultralight down quilt offered in various sizes and temperature ratings. Constructed with a 10D nylon shell and stuffed with 850 down, the Ember rivals any quilt on the market when it comes to quality and performance.

When it comes to backpacking quilts, Sea to Summit isn’t usually the first brand that comes to mind. However, the Ember makes quite an argument for why anyone in the market for a new quilt should give it a good, hard look.

Pros	Cons
+ High Quality	– Cost
+ Simple pad attachment system	– Smaller than other quilts
+ Versatile

Specs

Shell Material	10D Nylon (7D Nylon Inner)
Insulation	Ultra-Dry Down 850+ Loft
Temperature Rating	50-degree, 35-degree, 25-degree
Sizes	Regular, Long, Double
Weight	14.8oz – 1lb 13oz

Fabric

The outer shell fabric of the Ember is 10D nylon, which is normal for ultralight quilts and sleeping bags. The inner shell is 7D nylon, which is a little more delicate.

While the shells are thin, with proper care, the fabric is more than adequate to stand up to many nights of use. If this wasn’t the case, then other brands like Enlightened Equipment and UGQ, two of the most reputable custom-made quilt manufacturers, wouldn’t be using the same.

I personally have used down quilts with this exact shell and have had no rips or tears to date. This includes the Ember 35-degree quilt.

The outer shell is also coated with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish which helps shed water that may find its way onto the exterior of the quilt.

Insulation

The 850+ loft down is responsibly sourced and treated with a non-pvc Ultra-DryDown. This treatment helps reduce how much water is absorbed and speeds up drying time. Sea to Summit claims this will last through at least 20 washings. As for now, I must take their word for it.

One neat thing Sea to Summit includes with their quilts is a copy of a down/loft quality inspection from the International Down and Feather Lab (IDFL). Admittingly, I had never heard of this before but I have never received a certification with any quilt until I received the Ember.

Temperature Rating

The Ember comes in three temperature ratings: 50-degree, 35-degree, and 25-degree. None of these are warm enough by themselves to keep you warm in anything colder than a mild winter night, but they are perfect for 3 season camping and backpacking.

However, the lack of a warmer option is slightly disappointing. Sea to Summit offers no warmer option in a quilt, but they do have the Spark Down Sleeping Bag with temperature ratings down to 5-degrees.

Sizes

There are options for a regular sized Ember, a long version, and a double version. Note the long version is not only longer, but also 8-inches wider and will accommodate a person up to 6’6” tall.  

Weight

A regular 35-degree Ember weighs 21.2 ounces. For a complete overview of the weights of all Ember options, review the chart below.

While you can’t build an exact match of a Revelation Quilt from Enlightened Equipment to the Ember from Sea to Summit, you can get pretty close.

A 30-degree Revelation, with the same fabric (inner and outer) as the Ember, weighs 18.73 ounces, a bit lighter than the 35-degree Ember (21.2 ounces). We will discuss the overall comparison a little later. But as far as weight goes, the Ember isn’t the lightest in its class, but it doesn’t trail very far behind.

Features

How many features can a down quilt bring to the table? More than many may realize and the Ember has a few worth mentioning.

Adjustable Straps for Pad Attachment

First, the Ember comes equipped with four adjustable straps allowing you to secure the quilt around your sleeping pad. This helps eliminate a draft coming in from underneath.

These straps have a buckle that makes wrapping them around your pad quick and easy. Simply unbuckle, route the straps underneath your pad, and re-buckle. They can also be completely removed by unsnapping the buttons from the quilt.

Unfortunately, I do have to ding Sea to Summit a smidge here as my quilt was missing a strap. Ultimately, this works out okay though because I only need to use three of these to assure it stays in place.

Footbox Versatility

The 50-degree and 35-degree version come with a drawcord at the footbox. This allows for more versatility when it comes to dealing with varying temperatures. When it’s cold, cinch it tight, or when it is warm, leave it loose and kick a leg out.

The 25-degree Ember has a sewn footbox, so it is less versatile but more efficient at maintaining warmth inside. This can also slip right over the end of your sleeping pad for maximum efficiency.

Efficient Baffle Design

The baffle design for each version is also different. Sea to Summit prints the temperature rating on the Ember, but if you couldn’t tell, the baffle design is a giveaway, at least between the 50-degree version and the warmer versions.

The 50-degree Ember has square baffles sewn in from head to toe, while the warmer versions have “box baffles” throughout. Honestly, I’m not sure about the terminology, but if you compare them head-to-head, its easy to see the difference.

QuiltLock System

One last feature worth mentioning is the QuiltLock system. This means this quilt can be combined with any Sea to Summit hooded sleeping bag to add a whole new level of warmth. However, I do not own a Sea to Summit sleeping bag so I cannot speak on how this attaches, but I’m sure it is a simple process.

For more details on specs and features of the Ember, visit Sea to Summit online.

Impressions

The Ember from Sea to Summit proves itself to be worthy of mention when talking about the top backpacking quilts, especially regarding quality. But how does it stack up against the competition?

As previously mentioned, I built a Revelation quilt from Enlightened Equipment to go head-to-head with the Ember. Let’s compare.

As you can see, the Revelation is lighter and costs less. This is the biggest negative of the Ember. I feel this quilt should come in around the $300-$350 mark to be more competitive with Enlightened Equipment and UGQ. The difference in weights isn’t a deal breaker for any backpacker not counting grams, but the price may steer potential buyers away.

The Ember is also a smaller quilt, being the slimmest at both the shoulders and footbox. I’m average weight and height, so this doesn’t negatively impact my experience. However, someone larger might find this quilt too restricting.

But, as previously mentioned, the quality of this quilt seems second to none. I have not found any imperfections in the stitching and you can literally feel how well the Ember is made. I even like the graphics printed on the exterior shell even though it adds nothing to the quality (but it looks good to me).

The simplicity of the pad attachment straps is another huge positive. Owning an older Bandit from UGQ, I absolutely prefer the system of the Ember. The way Sea to Summit does this with their quilts makes me wonder why any company ever did it differently.

Conclusion

Admittingly, Sea to Summit was never on my radar when it came to backpacking quilts, but the Ember has proven itself worthy of being in the discussion.  With it’s premium quality and comfort, plus easy to use pad attachment straps, this quilt will find itself in my backpack for many miles to come.