my daughter would make small lap quilts for her friends to put in their backpacks and take to competitions. (They spent many hours sitting in outdoor stadiums!) She always used a thin flannel instead of backing. This makes it easy to roll up but gives it a little padding so you don't feel all the seams. It was also a manageable thickness for her to maneuver to quilt.

I use fleece instead of battingand a backing on my donated lapquilts. They come out fantastic. They are heavy that way

I would combine a sheet and quilt top if he doesn't want to be warm or even hot. I have two quilts that way. They are play quilts for my kids. They are nice.

I made a coverlet for my twin size bed, using jelly rolls, honey bun, charms and half charms. Most of the fabrics were batik (my first use of batiks..love them!) Just made up the pattern as I went along. I plan to use an old flannel sheet (still in very good condition) that I never use anymore, for the batt, and cotton print for the backing.

I just sent a quilt to Alabama. she has air conditioning, so I used warm and natural and 100% cotton muslin for the backing---the best you see on the shelf, and 108 or 116" wide. (for me)

I have made a few kids quilts without batting but as I was given a lot of Jersey knit fabric, I used this as a backing but to give it a bit more body I used an old sheet or something similar in between to stabilise it. It came up pretty good too with the quilting, didn't pucker....

Flannel will be even hotter. Just quilt it with a backing, no stuffing and call it a summer quilt. If you must have a stuffing, why no just use some cheap batting. I am hot always too. I would be a sweat hog under flannel.

I have two quilts that are just top & backing. My mother in law made one top and my mother backed it with a sheet and hand quilted it. I made one and backed it with regular material. I use both of them in the summer. Even my thinner quilts are too hot for me during summer.

many thanks to all for the ideas

Our guild made quilts for Vietnam and we made a regular quilt top and used lightweight polar fleece as the backing. No batting at all and they were great!