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Mountainous Landscape

Neck & Footbox Closures

Other Neck Closure Systems

There are many different types of quilt neck closures to choose from on the market today. Below is a description of how our system compares to others and why after extensive testing, we think it is the best option.

Most quilts close at the neck area with either a snap or buckle and then have a drawcord of some type to close it around your neck and keep out drafts.

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A common type is a rigid drawcord with no stretch that pulls from the top of the quilt. With this system, you snap the quilt closed behind your neck, then reach up by your face and pull the cord to tighten around your neck.

 

It's a good enough system but here is what we don't like:

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  • A lot of people complain about the cord being on top when they sleep, laying on their face or tangling around their ears.

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  • For many, it is uncomfortable when a cord with no stretch is tight around their neck, this feels a little choking. Users will typically leave it a little loose because of this, which causes a second problem...now drafts can get in...so companies started offering draft collars. Draft collars solve the draft problem, but add 3 more problems…more weight, more bulk, and in most cases another ‘add-on’ expense.

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  • With this rigid cord system, when you need to get out (sometimes in the dark), you can either reach around looking for the cord lock to loosen the cord or reach behind your neck and fumble to find the snap or buckle and repeat this when you get back in.

 

There are other systems on the market having cords that pull from the bottom or the side, but they only solve some of these problems.

Our Neck Closure Systems

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El_Coyote_Quilts_Neck.jpg
Mountain Landscape

We put a lot of thought into keeping things simple and light but as useful as possible and what we ourselves would want to use.

 

Our system uses a snap closure and gentle, elastic shock cord and cord locks that pull from the bottom side of the quilt. This thin elastic shock cord is not as aggressive as the shock cord used in the toebox and this is intentional. 

Here is how we recommend using our neck closure

 

Before you get into your quilt, snap the snap and tighten the shock cord one side at a time until it is about the size of your neck. You can pop your head through to check how tight it is (because our cord has stretch). Make it as loose as you can to where it still touches all the way around your neck.

 

Here is what we like about this simple system:

 

  • Get into the quilt and just pop your head through the hole...done

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  • Because it’s not too tight around your neck and because it has stretch, it won’t feel choking and you can toss and turn comfortably

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  • Because it is just tight enough to keep out drafts, you don't need a draft collar

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  • If you need to get out, just leave it snapped and pop your head out...just as easy to get back in

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  • As you sleep the cord is on the bottom of the quilt and will not be on top in your face

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  • We found this system to be the most simple, comfortable, cost-effective and ultralight option available

Footbox Closure

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Quilt Footbox
Camping Site

Our AlphaLite quilt uses a 24-inch YKK zipper with snap and shock cord footbox closure. This lets you open the quilt fully and lay flat, seal it up tight on cold nights, open partially to vent the feet or anything in between.

 

Snaps at the top end of the zipper will secure and protect the zipper when closed

 

The toebox closure uses a snap and a more aggressive shock cord and cordlocks than found in the neck of the quilt. Our design lets you really draw the closure tight, then the snap and cordlocks reduce any hole that would be left behind to little to none.

 

We are not suggesting that our system is watertight, however, there is no large hole left behind like you will find with other manufactures and certainly no need for any plug or draft collar.

Here is how we recommend using our foot box closure

  1. Zip up the zipper and close the snap at the top to secure it

  2. Close the snap at the toe of the quilt

  3. While holding the snap, pull both ends of the shock cord to close the toe end of the quilt

  4. Bring each of the cord locks down to the snap to finish securing the closure

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