The NEMO Pulse 20/30 Quilt is a premium backpacking quilt that weighs 1 lb 2 oz and is insulated with 1000 fill power goose down. It has a beefy draft collar to prevent warm air from escaping around your neck, a closed foot box, and pad attachment straps to prevent side drafts. The down has been treated with a waterproofing agent so it will dry faster if it gets damp, and it is sewn into ultralight box baffles that require less fabric to sewn and are, therefore, lighter weight. If you couple the new Pulse Quilt with NEMO’s Tensor Elite Pad (8.5 oz), you get a complete sleeping system weighing 26.5 ounces, which is lightweight enough to make any thru-hiker envious.

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• Insulation: 1000 fill power duck down
• Water Resistant Down: ExperDRY
• Temperature Rating: 34F Comfort, 23 Limit
• Dimensions: 6′ (6’6″ also available)
• Shoulder Girth: 57″
• Shell and Liner- 10-denier recycled polyester ripstop with C0 durable water repellent (DWR)
• Compressed Volume: 2.3L
• Price: $550

NEMO has always championed side sleepers, who make up 74% of the population. Their original spoon-shaped sleeping bags broke the mold when they first came out, allowing you to stay warm and cozy even if you sleep on your side or roll back and forth at night. Coming out with an ultralight backpacking quilt is a natural extension of their product line since quilts provide even greater flexibility and comfort for side-sleeping outdoor enthusiasts.

The Pulse has ultralight box baffling.

The Pulse is a super comfortable backpacking quilt with a silky liner that’s comfortable to sleep under. The size regular has 12 oz of 1000 fill power down insulation arranged in Karo Step Baffles, a type of box baffling gaining popularity in the ultralight backpacking world because it requires less fabric and, therefore, weight to create. Besides its incredible warmth, 1000 fill power down is also highly compressible, helping backpackers who want to use smaller volume and lighter backpacks.

The NEMO Pulse has a think draft collar.

The Pulse comes with a thick draft collar that wraps over your shoulders and upper chest. There’s an unobtrusive flat snap that closes behind your neck and a drawstring on the front of the quilt so you can tighten the collar and prevent warm air from escaping. When getting into the quilt, you snap the back together first, before sticking your head out through the hole that is formed. Only then do you tighten the collar to seal in the warmth.

The Pulses pad attachment straps hood into gear loops distributed along the length of the quilt

The Pulse’s footbax is closed, so you can’t vent your feet like you can with quilts that have a drawstring opening at the end or a zipper that lets you open the quilt and use it like a blanket. While those are nice features, I don’t think they are must-haves for a quilt rated for 20 or 30 degrees. If you’re too hot when sleeping, it’s simple enough to open up the draft collar to release heat or just stick your foot out the side of the quilt to cool off.

The pad attachment straps prevent drafts from entering along the sides of the quilt

The Pulse comes with two pad attachment straps that hook into fabric loops along the sides. I usually use just one near my mid-riff since the draft collar and foot box help keep the sides tucked in and draft-free. The attachment straps are not elasticated, which is something you find on a lot of cottage-made quilts. Instead, they’re made with static cord so that the entire quilt can be recycled if desired, as part of their Endless Promise program where they can recycle used NEMO gear in its entirety. I prefer elastic straps myself, but this isn’t a showstopper. If you really care about it, transferring the hardware from the Pulse’s straps to an elastic strap would be simple enough.

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Recommendation

The NEMO Pulse 20/30 Backpacking Quilt is a premium backpacking quilt insulation with 1000 fill power ExperDry down. It’s exceptionally compressable, shrinking down to 2.3L, making it perfect for those fast and light missions where you want to carry a lighter weight and smaller volume backpack. The Pulse is exceptionally warm and made with highly efficient box baffling to maintain optimum warmth on cold nights. A beefy down-filled draft collar, easy-to-use pad attachment system, and ergonomic footbox round out its impressive functionality. If you’re on the fence about switching from a sleeping bag to a down quilt, the Pulse is an excellent option, especially if you buy it at REI, where you can return it easily if it doesn’t float your boat.

Disclosure: NEMO donated a quilt for review.

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