The Enlightened Equipment Enigma Apex Custom Sleeping Quilt is a synthetic-insulated quilt with a closed footbox. Custom-made, it can be insulated for different temperatures and is available in multiple widths, colors, and shell fabrics. It is insulated with Climashield Apex, a synthetic continuous filament insulation used in many outdoor products from jackets and sleeping bags to footwear. Enlightened Equipment also makes a version of the Enigma using goose or duck-down insulation, which is more compressible and expensive.
Custom product reviewed
- EE Enigma Apex Custom Sleeping Quilt
- Temperature Rating: 20F
- Weight: 29.6 oz
- Compressed Volume: 12.5L
- Insulation: Climashield Apex
- Width: Regular: 48″-56″ in width
- Length Regular: Suitable for 5’6″ – 6″ in height
- Fabric: 10D shell and liner
The Custom Enigma Apex is a simple, bare-bones quilt with a closed foot box and a drawstring neck closure at the head of the bag. It comes with two elastic straps that can be connected to the quilt using unobtrusive wafer clips at various points along its length to keep it on a sleeping pad at night and prevent drafts from entering along the sides. A cloth storage bag and drawstring stuff sack are also included with your purchase.
The Enigma Apex is only available with a closed footbox, which is fine on a colder weather quilt when keeping. your feet warm is of paramount importance. A drawstring footbox opening is nice to have in warmer weather to vent your feet or to open the quilt up like a blanket when sharing with a friend. While that option is unavailable on the Enigma, you can get it by ordering the Enlightened Equipment Revelation Apex Quilt instead.
The top of the Enigma Apex closes with a snap behind your neck and is tightened with a simple cordlock positioned below your face that is easy to reach and pull closed when you’re inside the quilt. However, the quilt does not have a draft collar or even the option to order one (they’re not available on any of EE’s synthetic quilts). A draft collar is a tube of insulation that wraps around your neck and upper shoulders to prevent warm air heated by your torso from leaking out of the quilt. I always add a draft collar to down quilts that I order and think it’d be a great enhancement if Enlightened Equipment offered it on their synthetic quilts, even if it was filled with a different synthetic insulation like Primaloft. I worked around it by wearing a down hoody to achieve the same result.
Unlike down quilts, the Custom Enigma Apex has a smooth exterior that does not require the baffling that characterizes down quilts. It is insulated with a synthetic insulation called Climashield Apex that stays warmer than down when damp, dries faster, and is considerably less expensive than higher fill-power down insulation. For example, a 20 degree Custom Enigma Apex Quilt costs $250 while the equivalent quilt insulated with 850 fill-power down insulation costs $320.
The downside of owning a quilt insulated with Climashield Apex is that it will lose its insulated loft faster than a down quilt after repeated compression. It is also much less compressible and takes up considerably more space in a backpack. For example, I can barely cram the Custom Enigma Apex reviewed here into a 12L roll-top stuff sack, while I own equivalent down-insulated quilts that stuff down to 4L. If you get an Enigma with synthetic insulation, you’ll want to pack it using a compression sack to reduce its packed size. I didn’t have one when testing this quilt its hand-stuffed size left a distinct impression on me.
Recommendation
The Enlightened Equipment Custom Enigma Apex Sleeping Quilt is a simple quilt with a closed footbox suitable for backpacking and camping. It’s insulated with a synthetic fill called Climashield Apex, which is warmer than duck or goose down when damp and dries faster but considerably bulkier and less compressible. While it is heavier than the down-insulated version of the Enigma, it’s considerably less expensive, lighter, and far more comfortable than a synthetic sleeping bag if you want more comfort and continued moisture protection.
Disclosure: Enlightened Equipment donated a quilt for review.
SectionHiker is reader-supported. We only make money if you purchase a product through our affiliate links. Help us continue to test and write unsponsored and independent gear reviews, beginner FAQs, and free hiking guides.
