It was a chilly and damp autumn day and the early stretch was punctuated with the sound of gunfire - some at close range as the trail passed by a shooting club out in the woods.
Even when I swung off to the headland I'd mapped up for overnight stop there was still sounds of dogs japping and shots echoing off in the woods. But still, it was a nice quiet spot where I set up the tarp - in a gully on the back of a rocky headland.
By 3pm its getting dark, and after eating there's not too much to do except creep down under the quilt. The temperature is a little plus but with that raw damp feeling. The quilt did its job, but I do need to bump up the ground insulation. I've a short pad supplemented by a sit pad and the rucksack back piece. Now when it's cool coverage isn't enough to not get cool spots and an uncomfortable background chill. Especially when it's a loooong night camp - sunrise not before 8am.
Sitting out before turning in I did use the quilt in poncho mode. It wraps well round the body and added welcome warmth. You feel a bit 'Michelin man' with it on, and sitting down I'm still not sure if I want to sit on it or let it sprawl.
I'n conclusion then. Apex 167 seems to work down to a few degrees plus and I could push colder with a better pad and another layer. It is bulky, up to twice the size of down but its nice on a soggy day to not be worried about the damp.
