Summit Backpacking Blanket Options Guide
The Summit Backpacking Blanket is a customizable, open-design insulated blanket for backpacking, hammock camping, ground sleeping, and general outdoor use. This guide explains the available fabrics, insulation, dimensions, attachment loops, collars, and footbox options.
For a comparison with the Eclipse Top Quilt and Trail Winder Underquilt, see the Quilts & Blankets Comparison Guide.
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Shell Fabrics
The Summit uses lightweight synthetic shell fabrics. Fabric selection affects breathability, wind resistance, finished weight, and maximum available blanket width.
| Fabric | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Argon 67 | Ultralight fabric available as an option to reduce weight. |
| Argon 90 | Lightweight, breathable fabric offering a balance of weight and durability. |
| Ion | Lightweight fabric with greater wind resistance than Argon 90. |
Side 1 and Side 2 fabrics and colors may be selected independently.
Climashield Apex Insulation
The Summit uses Climashield® Apex continuous-filament synthetic insulation.
Apex provides warmth without requiring the internal baffles used in many down-filled products and retains useful insulating performance in damp conditions.
Temperature Ratings
| Apex Insulation | Comfort Rating |
|---|---|
| 2.5 oz/yd² | 50°F |
| 3.6 oz/yd² | 40°F |
| 5.0 oz/yd² | 30°F |
| 6.0 oz/yd² | 20°F |
These approximate comfort ratings are for guidance and are not guarantees of individual comfort.
Actual warmth depends on weather conditions, wind, clothing, sleeping pad or underquilt insulation, personal temperature sensitivity, and how the blanket is arranged.
Because the Summit has an open design, gaps and drafts can affect warmth, particularly when compared with a more enclosed quilt configuration.
Blanket Dimensions
The Summit is available in customizable lengths and widths.
| Dimension | Available Range |
|---|---|
| Length | 66”–84” |
| Width | 42”–58”, subject to fabric limitations |
Choosing Length
Select a length appropriate for your height and intended use.
Consider whether you want the blanket to cover your shoulders, wrap around your feet, or extend above your head.
A longer blanket provides additional coverage but also increases finished weight and packed size.
Choosing Width
A wider blanket provides more room for movement and additional material for wrapping around the body.
Consider a wider configuration if you:
- Have broader shoulders.
- Prefer more room when sleeping.
- Plan to wrap the blanket around your body.
- Expect to use the optional footbox snaps.
The fabric combination determines the maximum finished blanket width.
- Any combination containing Argon 90: Maximum finished width of approximately 57”.
- Argon 67 and/or Ion, without Argon 90: Finished widths up to 58”.
For the full 58” width, select Argon 67 and/or Ion for both sides, without Argon 90.
Attachment Loop Options
The Summit offers three attachment configurations.
| Configuration | Included Loops |
|---|---|
| Blanket Only | No attachment loops |
| Corner Loops | Four loops, one at each corner |
| Extended Loop Set | Four corner loops plus three additional loops along each long side, for 10 loops total. |
Blanket Only
The simplest configuration, intended for customers who primarily want an open blanket without attachment hardware.
Corner Loops
Adds four attachment points for securing or positioning the blanket.
Extended Loop Set
Provides additional attachment points along the sides for more flexible positioning and securing arrangements.
Choose the loop configuration based on how you expect to use the blanket rather than assuming additional loops are necessary for every application.
If a head-end collar is selected, it comes with an additional set of loops with a snap closure to help secure the collar around the neck.
Collar Options
The Summit offers independent head-end and foot-end collar choices, allowing you to configure the blanket for your intended use.
| Collar | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| No Collar | Keeps the blanket edge simple and unrestricted. |
| Cinch Collar | Provides a lightweight, low-bulk way to gather the blanket edge and help reduce drafts. |
| Insulated Draft Collar | Adds a soft, insulated cushion along the blanket opening, with additional weight and bulk. |
Choosing a Collar
For customers who prefer the Summit primarily as an open blanket, no collar may be the simplest option.
Both the Cinch Collar and Insulated Draft Collar can help manage drafts, but each has different advantages.
The Cinch Collar is lighter, less bulky, and generally easier to tighten. It is an excellent choice when you want a simple, adjustable closure.
The Insulated Draft Collar provides a soft feel around the neck and shoulders and can help with drafts and heat retention. The trade-off is additional weight, bulk, and greater resistance when gathering the opening tightly.
Head-End vs. Foot-End Collars
At the head end, an Insulated Draft Collar may appeal to those who prefer cushioned contact around the neck and shoulders. A Cinch Collar is the lighter, simpler alternative.
At the foot end, the ability to close the opening tightly becomes especially important when the blanket is configured as a footbox. The Cinch Collar generally gathers more easily, while the Insulated Draft Collar adds bulk that can make a tight closure more difficult.
An insulated draft collar is not automatically warmer or better at preventing drafts than a properly adjusted cinch collar.
Footbox Configuration
The Summit is an open blanket by default, rather than a quilt with a permanently sewn footbox.
Optional footbox snaps allow the lower portion of the blanket to be joined together when additional enclosure is desired.
Footbox Snaps
A series of snaps is installed along the lower 25” of the blanket.
Closing the snaps creates a partially enclosed lower section while preserving the flexibility of an open blanket when the snaps are released.
Using Footbox Snaps with a Collar
When footbox snaps are combined with a foot-end collar, the lower section can be drawn together to form a configuration similar to a traditional quilt footbox.
This can help reduce gaps around the feet.
The snap configuration allows for the footbox to be adjustable and removable rather than permanently sewn.
Customers who want an open blanket for general use may prefer no footbox snaps. Customers who intend to use the Summit frequently as sleeping insulation may benefit from the added configuration flexibility.
Storage and Accessories
The Summit includes a stuff sack and an oversized storage bag.
Use the stuff sack for transportation.
For long-term storage, keep the blanket loosely stored in the oversized storage bag rather than continuously compressed.