Hammock Gear vs Enlightened Equipment

By topquilt.com · Updated Oct 21, 2026 · 5 min read

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Hammock Gear vs Enlightened Equipment is one of the most common questions new quilt buyers ask, because these two US cottage makers dominate the market for custom down quilts. Both offer flagship quilts with opening footboxes, high-fill-power down and many configurations. This comparison is based on published specs and widely reported owner experience, not lab testing, and both brands update their specs and prices regularly.

The brands in brief

Hammock Gear (HG) grew out of the hammock community. Alongside top quilts, it makes underquilts, tarps and hammock accessories, so it can supply most of a hammock sleep system. Its flagship top quilt is the Burrow, with the budget Economy Burrow below it.

Enlightened Equipment (EE) is a Minnesota maker best known for the Revelation and Enigma quilts. Its focus is broader backpacking, and it offers a very wide range of sizes, fabrics and both custom and stock quilts. EE also makes underquilts and synthetic-insulated options, but its identity is the ground-sleeping thru-hiker quilt.

Side-by-side overview

Quilt lineups compared

Hammock Gear

• Burrow: the flagship. Zippered, cinchable footbox that opens flat, multiple ratings, lengths and widths, with down upgrades.
• Economy Burrow: the value version with heavier fabric, lower fill power and fewer options.
• Underquilts: a full range, which matters if you hang. See our underquilt guide.

Enlightened Equipment

• Revelation: zipper and drawcord footbox, the do-everything model.
• Enigma: sewn footbox, lighter and simpler.
• Stock quilts: pre-built popular configurations that ship fast.
• Synthetic options: EE also offers synthetic-insulated quilts for damp or budget use; see best synthetic top quilts.

Down and warmth

Both brands use high-quality down in multiple fill power tiers, and both offer premium upgrades that cut weight and packed size. At the same rating and size, flagship quilts from both makers land within an ounce or two of each other. That's close enough that fit and features should drive your decision, not weight.

Neither brand's ratings are ISO/EN lab results. Owner feedback treats both as roughly limit-style ratings for average sleepers with some sleep clothing. Cold sleepers should go one rating warmer or add overfill with either brand. See top quilt temperature ratings and fill weight and overfill.

Sizing: EE's biggest advantage

If your body is outside the average range, EE's sizing is hard to beat. Four widths and four lengths mean very tall, very broad or very small sleepers can get a quilt that fits without excess fabric. Hammock Gear covers the core sizes most people need, and for most average-sized hikers that's plenty.

Width is the single most important sizing choice for warmth. Side sleepers and ground users typically need more width than they expect. Read quilt width and length sizing or try the quilt size calculator.

Footbox designs

The Burrow and Revelation both use a zippered footbox with a drawcord, so they open flat into a blanket. That's ideal for hammocks and warm nights. If you want a sewn footbox, EE's Enigma is a dedicated model, while Hammock Gear has offered sewn-footbox options on some builds. Compare the designs in open vs sewn footbox.

Pad attachment and ground use

EE's strap-and-clip pad attachment is designed for ground use and is well regarded by thru-hikers. Hammock Gear quilts accept pad straps too; whether they're included depends on the product and current offer. If you sleep on the ground often, EE has a slight edge out of the box, but a pair of generic elastic straps closes the gap for little money (Check price on Amazon). See quilt pad attachment systems.

Hammock use: HG's home turf

Both brands' flagship quilts work beautifully in a hammock. Hammock Gear's advantage is ecosystem: it designs underquilts, top quilts and accessories together and has long been a staple of hammock forums. If you want to buy a matched top quilt and underquilt in one order, HG is a natural choice. Read our hammock top quilt guide and hammock insulation guide.

Price and value

Flagship prices from both makers are close and shift with promotions and material costs. Where they differ is how you save:

• Hammock Gear offers the Economy Burrow, often the cheapest route to a quality cottage down quilt.
• Enlightened Equipment offers stock quilts in popular configurations, usually a little cheaper than fully custom and much faster to ship.

For other value picks, see best budget top quilts. Mass-market options such as Paria's Thermodown are cheaper still and sold on Amazon (Check price on Amazon).

Lead times and buying experience

Both brands build custom quilts to order, and both see their busiest season in late winter and spring as thru-hikers prepare. Custom lead times from either can stretch to several weeks. EE's stock program is a strong advantage if you need a quilt quickly. Hammock Gear also keeps popular configurations in stock at times. Always check current lead times before ordering for a specific trip. See custom vs stock quilts.

What owners say about each

• Hammock Gear: owners praise value, the versatile Burrow footbox, and the ability to buy a matched hammock system. The common caveat is limited size choice for very large or small sleepers.
• Enlightened Equipment: owners praise the size range, pad attachment and fast stock options. The common caveat is that the options menu can overwhelm first-time buyers.

Both brands have long track records and active owner communities, and both are generally described as responsive when issues arise.

Which should you choose?

For a model-to-model breakdown, read Burrow vs Revelation. To see both brands against the wider market, see best top quilts and best hammock top quilts.

Bottom line

You won't go wrong with either. Hammock Gear is the natural pick for hammock campers and value hunters; Enlightened Equipment is the natural pick for ground sleepers and anyone with unusual sizing needs. Decide based on where you sleep, how you sleep and how soon you need the quilt, then pick the rating, width and length that fit. That decision matters more than the logo.

Visit Hammock Gear · Visit Enlightened Equipment