There are a great many cottage gear companies in the outdoor space. El Coyote has been creating quality quilts for years, and while not as big a name as other outdoor brands like UGQ or Enlightened Equipment, their gear is top-tier in workmanship.
This Arizona-based company takes a minimalist approach to custom-making some of the highest-quality construction quilts used by backpackers on the market.
Their products are all made in America. They have a great story as a small, family-run cottage shop dedicated to providing their customers with the best possible sleeping experience.
Brian Noakes, their founder, is a passionate outdoorsman, commercial helicopter pilot, backpacker, bikepacker, and fly fisherman.
This is why they aim to hand-make your ideal ultralight gear by carefully thinking about each material and feature to create a reliable quilt that can be used for many activities.
El Coyote Quilts strike the perfect balance between lightweight, durability, and versatility.
Why I Love El Coyote Quilts
Unlike most of the more prominent cottage companies, El Coyote keeps the turnover fast and efficient, with custom-made quilts shipping within 1 – 2 weeks instead of the 4 – 10+ weeks many others will provide.
You get your gear in time for even the closest hikes and adventures. If you don’t go custom, they have quilts to ship out in as little as 1-2 days!
30% Down Overstuff Standard
In addition to the excellent turnaround time, they also come standard with a 30% down overstuff. For a thru-hiker, this can be vital to maintaining a good loft for the length and time needs of a 5-6 month trail.
Down overstuff helps to keep loft levels up with the constant use and grime buildup that can happen over a long trek.
This additional loft helps keep the temperatures correct for your body to regulate while you sleep.
900+ Fill Power Untreated Goose Down
El Coyote Quilts only use the finest quality 900+ fill power, untreated goose down. All of our down is ethically sourced, and RDS certified from suppliers who follow best practices for animal welfare.
C6 DWR Shell Fabrics
They created the inner and outer shell fabrics to be soft without compromising quality so that you can enjoy the luxurious feel of down without the sticky or plastic-like feelings.
Their ultralight nylon is calendered for a smooth finish, is down-proof, and has a C6 DWR (durable water resistant) finish.
A C6 DWR finish on the fabric helps to ensure water doesn’t get into the down in the first place, allowing non-DWR treated down, keeping max loft.
Downproof means that feathers should be very limited in leaking out, and a smooth finish helps when laying against your skin all night not to cause issues.
Designed Internal Baffle System
An internal system of compartments and ultra-fine mesh prevents the down from shifting. Each baffle is filled with an exact amount of down, eliminating cold spots that can occur from sewn-through seams.
The quilt’s vertical baffle design prevents the down from moving around inside the baffles as you move and provides a snug fit over the body.
The footbox section’s horizontal baffles keep the down in place when warmth is most needed.
1/3 Taper Design
The AlphaLite quilts are designed with a 1/3 taper, meaning that the top 2/3 torso has a straight cut.
This gradually transitioning into to toe creates a thermally efficient footbox, Ie. it retains heat better.
Additionally, there is less constriction around the waist and knees than full or half tapers, making this an ideal design for side sleepers or people who tend to move around more in their sleep.
Amazing Payment Choices
As always, they have standard credit card processing for purchases but also allow you to use Paypal and Paypal Credit, which provides you more flexibility in purchasing your new backpacking quilt.
They provide Afterpay to help you purchase your kit piece but make payments over a few months, taking products from $300 to $70+ every two weeks instead, allowing some key flexibility in your finances.
They also offer gift cards which are perfect if you want to help a friend get set up with some great gear but are not sure what they need or want.
Final Thoughts on El Coyote Quilts
El Coyote is the perfect quilt manufacturer to order your gear if you are looking for an outstanding piece of gear for your thru-hikes.
The company prides itself on providing the lightest but most functional and durable quilts to give you the best possible sleeping experience.
They have a wide variety of quilts to choose from, so finding one that fits your needs should be easy while offering an outstanding customer service experience.
Even better, their custom-made quilts ship within 1 – 2 weeks, much faster than most other cottage companies.
I highly recommend El Coyote Quilts to anyone in the market for a high-quality quilt!
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