Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a warm quilt that won’t cost too much, the Hammock Gear Burrow 20 is a good option. This quilt is one of the warmest and most durable choices out there, making its affordability especially appealing.
The Burrow is customizable without becoming too complicated. This makes it easy to find the perfect sleep system, which can help first-time quilt buyers who might feel overwhelmed by options from other companies. Hammock Gear lets you choose essential elements like length, width, and footbox style, while skipping more detailed choices such as stitching color. For maximum warmth, go with a sewn footbox, and think about adding a little extra down overfill to the areas you find most important.
If you’re willing to spend a little more to lower your base weight, the Burrow UL is worth considering. It provides the same simple customization options but is a full six ounces lighter and much easier to pack.
You can see more options in our best backpacking quilts gear guide.
How We Tested
Gear Analyst Heather Anderson took the Burrow on an early-season coastal trek in Washington State. She also took it on an overnight trip along the Pacific Northwest Trail. Overnight low temperatures ranged from the upper 30s to low 40s Fahrenheit.
Quick Specs
Hammock Gear Burrow 20
More Affordable than Similarly Warm Backpacking Quilts
CleverHiker Rating: 3.3/5.0
Price: $240
Weight: 1 lb. 9.1 oz.
Fill Power: 850 or 950
Pros
- Warmer than many others
- Less expensive
- Durable
- Customizable
- Ordering process is simple & straightforward
- RDS certified
Cons
- Custom orders can take a while to ship
- A little heavier / bulkier than some
Warmth
The Burrow 20 was warm for its weight and performed well compared to similarly rated quilts. While our testers were comfortable into the upper 30s, the 20-degree rating feels generous. Choosing the 20-denier nylon taffeta fabric for the outer and inner faces makes for a warmer bag overall. Additionally, this fabric is less expensive and more durable, making it a good choice overall if weight savings aren’t your primary concern.
We appreciated the cinchable draft collar and footbox during the coldest nights, and we also used the attachment clips to block drafts. This quilt is relatively narrow, which helps with heating. We would prefer slightly higher clips at the top to keep the quilt more secure around our shoulders.
Comfort
Our average-height testers liked the slim cut of the Hammock Gear Burrow, which made it cozy and easy to heat. However, taller users might want to get the longer version to have more material to tuck around their shoulders, especially if you’ll mainly be using it in colder temperatures. The loft of this quilt made it feel fluffier and cozier than other options in its class.
Overall, we found this to be a very comfortable quilt for various conditions, largely thanks to its versatile features.
We feel that the thicker fabric isn’t as comfortable on bare skin as the lower-denier ripstop used on most other quilts. However, that certainly isn’t a deal breaker if you’re wearing sleep clothes.
Weight & Packability
The Hammock Gear Burrow 20 is a basic model quilt, but it still provides several customization options. You can choose your size, fill power, and fabric weight or color. Additionally, you can select the type of footbox, draft collars, and overfill.
Our testers found the zip footbox to be more versatile than the sewn one, especially on warmer nights when we wanted to vent the quilt more. On colder nights, with the footbox fully cinched and zipped, we didn’t experience any drafts.
Our testers overlooked the inclusion of a draft collar on the model we tested, which would have helped keep our shoulders warmer. The clips on the bottom of the quilt were easy to use for securing it in place, and our active sleepers were impressed by the lack of drafts.
Features
The Hammock Gear Burrow 20 is a basic model quilt, but it still provides several customization options. You can choose your size, fill power, and fabric weight or color. Additionally, you can select the type of footbox, draft collars, and overfill.
Our testers found the zip footbox to be more versatile than the sewn one, especially on warmer nights when we wanted to vent the quilt more. On colder nights, with the footbox fully cinched and zipped, we didn’t experience any drafts.
Our testers overlooked the inclusion of a draft collar on the model we tested, which would have helped keep our shoulders warmer. The clips on the bottom of the quilt were easy to use for securing it in place, and our active sleepers were impressed by the lack of drafts.
Should You Buy The Hammock Gear Burrow 20?
Backpackers wanting to see if a quilt suits their needs will find the Hammock Gear Burrow 20 to be a great choice. It is the most affordable model we tested, but you don’t have to give up warmth or features to keep the price down. Some customizations are available, but not so many that first-timers will get overwhelmed.
Seasoned quilt users will also find this to be a great value. In addition to the budget-friendly price, customers can choose important options such as fill power, size, foot box style, and draft collar.
The Burrow was also one of the most durable quilts we tested, which makes it even more appealing for those who want to invest in a sleep system that will last a long time. However, backpackers who prioritize weight and packability may want to look elsewhere.
What Other Backpacking Quilts Should You Consider?
If the Hammock Gear Burrow 20 isn’t for you, head to our main gear guide to see all of our top picks for the best best backpacking quilts.
Western Mountaineering AstraLite Quilt Review: Our Editor’s pick for the Best Overall Backpacking Quilt has the best warmth-to-weight ratio of any quilt we tested and weighs only 16 ounces.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear 20-Degree Quilt Review: Our Editor’s pick for the Warmest Ultralight Backpacking Quilt keeps you warm without the weight and bulk thanks to ultralight fabrics and 1000 fill power down.
Loco Libre Operator Series Ghost Pepper 20 Review: Our top pick for a versatile sleeping bag hybrid will keep you warmer than the similarly rated Burrow. The slightly roomier cut provides more room to move without making it hard to stay warm.
