Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => The Knowledge => Camping It Up => Topic started by: Oscar's dad on 26 November, 2010, 07:05:47 am

Title: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: Oscar's dad on 26 November, 2010, 07:05:47 am
I want one.  I won't be cycling up the north face of the Eiger just bike camping in the UK during the winter months.

What do you suggest?

Thanks  :-*
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: YahudaMoon on 26 November, 2010, 07:41:51 am
I'd get a 'Snugpack'. Just put a deposit on one. they cost £70 +. Im not one for buying expensive things though I would not mess about with cheap winter sleeping bags. They pack extremely small and if there good enough for the British Arm Forces there good enough for me. Just make sure you get the right one for the winter conditions you expect to be using it in.
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: JT on 26 November, 2010, 07:43:28 am
Vango Venom 300?

http://www.vango.co.uk/sleeping-bags/venom-300.html (http://www.vango.co.uk/sleeping-bags/venom-300.html)

I think Wowbagger has one.
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: slugwash on 26 November, 2010, 02:50:15 pm
Is £100 reduced from £180 too expensive? Rock & Run has some Rab down bags good to -5 on offer....


Rab Atlas Explorer 700 - Rock + Run (http://www.rockrun.com/products/Rab-Atlas-Explorer-700.html)
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: Oscar's dad on 26 November, 2010, 04:55:05 pm
I had a nasty feeling that your recommendations were going to be £70+.  The alternative is to put two of my existing sleep bags inside one another, this worked fine last winter.

But, what does the International Jury think of this ...? Snugpak The Sleeping Bag LH - 3 Season Camping - NEW !! on eBay (end time  05-Dec-10 10:43:02 GMT) (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Snugpak-Sleeping-Bag-LH-3-Season-Camping-NEW-/230535018976?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Sports_Clothing_LE&hash=item35acf539e0)
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: Chris N on 26 November, 2010, 05:15:48 pm
The clue is in the name, isn't it?
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: CrinklyLion on 26 November, 2010, 05:18:14 pm
I got one of these


   Microlite 950 Sleeping Bag - 3 & 4 Season Sleeping Bags
 (http://www.mountainwarehouse.com/camping/sleeping-bags/3-4-season-sleeping-bags/microlite-950-sleeping-bag-p2760.aspx)

and quite like it.  Haven't tested it in particularly cold conditions, and the stuff sack is very thin fabric so I was a bit dubious about using the compression straps to shrink it down too much in case.  Not really compresseed at all it just about fills an Ortlieb front roller.  Cheap and cheerful :)
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: Speshact on 26 November, 2010, 05:56:00 pm
I don't know how much warmth a silk liner adds to a bag - maybe get one to supplement you summer/autumn sleeping bag? If you get a down bag you'll probably want to use a liner to avoid the need to wash it.
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: perpetual dan on 26 November, 2010, 08:44:06 pm
I have a fleece liner somewhere, which certainly made my bag feel more cosy.
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: TimO on 26 November, 2010, 08:48:26 pm
Of course you've got the buying time a bit wrong, the start of winter is not really the best time to start looking for bargains on winter sleeping bags, early spring last year would probably have been better. :-\
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: Wowbagger on 26 November, 2010, 09:22:49 pm
Vango Venom 300?

http://www.vango.co.uk/sleeping-bags/venom-300.html (http://www.vango.co.uk/sleeping-bags/venom-300.html)

I think Wowbagger has one.


I do indeed have one.

Having as manly a chest as I do, I find it's a bit of a snug fit and is hard to zip up. I have a much bulkier polyester one as well.

When we were on the Andpver camping weekend in September, one of the nights was especially cold - IIRC Rogerzilla reported frost on his tent around dawn. Mrs. Wow was using the down sleeping bag with a cotton & silk liner. She succeeded in getting the foot end of the bag a bit wet in the night by making contact with the tent inner and her feet got cold. Other than that it's very good.
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: Regulator on 27 November, 2010, 01:25:46 am
Gah...

I hate buying sleeping bags.  I can never get them to fit round the chest and shoulders (where my shoulder is wonky the shoulder blade sticks out which means I have to sleep at a slight tilt).

Still trying to find a decent fitting one and may have to venture into town tomorrow on the hunt.
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: gordon taylor on 27 November, 2010, 05:33:44 am
My Alpkit down bag fits me well, and is snug.
I can recommend it for, ahem, "well built" gentlemen.
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: vorsprung on 27 November, 2010, 06:40:53 pm
Vorsprung jnr went on her ten tours training camping earlier in the month and used her old cheap sleeping bag and my silk liner I take on audaxes.  It wasn't entirely successful, the liner wouldn't stay in place around her head
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: Regulator on 28 November, 2010, 01:16:48 pm
Success!

I found a MountainLife Summit 300XL which is a very roomy mummy bag.  And the best thing was it was on special offer at £19.99  :thumbsup:

It's a 3 season bag but, with a fleece liner it should be suitable for 4+.

It's been hard looking for a bag I like.  Most of the roomier bags are down-filled.  Problem is, down makes me wheeze.

I think I shall give it a test outing at the Essex Christmas do.
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: Oscar's dad on 28 November, 2010, 04:50:24 pm
Success!

I found a MountainLife Summit 300XL which is a very roomy mummy bag.  And the best thing was it was on special offer at £19.99  :thumbsup:

It's a 3 season bag but, with a fleece liner it should be suitable for 4+.

It's been hard looking for a bag I like.  Most of the roomier bags are down-filled.  Problem is, down makes me wheeze.

I think I shall give it a test outing at the Essex Christmas do.


Where did you get it from?
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: Regulator on 28 November, 2010, 10:36:45 pm
Success!

I found a MountainLife Summit 300XL which is a very roomy mummy bag.  And the best thing was it was on special offer at £19.99  :thumbsup:

It's a 3 season bag but, with a fleece liner it should be suitable for 4+.

It's been hard looking for a bag I like.  Most of the roomier bags are down-filled.  Problem is, down makes me wheeze.

I think I shall give it a test outing at the Essex Christmas do.


Where did you get it from?

Mountain Warehouse.  They tend to carry a lot of crap but every now and then you find a diamond.
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: Butterfly on 29 November, 2010, 09:53:52 am
That's the bag we use with an extention insert as a double. It's not bad at all and we use it comfortably except in really cold weather when we either use 2 down bags zipped together or put it inside a 'proper' double bag.
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: clarion on 29 November, 2010, 10:00:07 am
Just right for two :-*
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: Oscar's dad on 29 November, 2010, 06:36:11 pm
Success!

I found a MountainLife Summit 300XL which is a very roomy mummy bag.  And the best thing was it was on special offer at £19.99  :thumbsup:

It's a 3 season bag but, with a fleece liner it should be suitable for 4+.

It's been hard looking for a bag I like.  Most of the roomier bags are down-filled.  Problem is, down makes me wheeze.

I think I shall give it a test outing at the Essex Christmas do.


Where did you get it from?

Mountain Warehouse.  They tend to carry a lot of crap but every now and then you find a diamond.

Gulp  :o that's a concern, it would appear you and I were of one mind over the weekend, I too visited the Mountain Warehouse where I purchased a Mountain Life sleeping bag as well!  Mine is a Microlite 1400 which aledgedly is good down to -7 degs so mine is clearly better than yours  :smug:  and it cost more at £29.99  :smug:  ;D  :-*

I will also be trying it out for real at the Essex Christmas do, but before you suggest it we won't be zipping our new bags together  :hand:

(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l160/stevenr_01/e014744d.jpg)

(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l160/stevenr_01/968229b3.jpg)

Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: Regulator on 29 November, 2010, 11:39:41 pm
Success!

I found a MountainLife Summit 300XL which is a very roomy mummy bag.  And the best thing was it was on special offer at £19.99  :thumbsup:

It's a 3 season bag but, with a fleece liner it should be suitable for 4+.

It's been hard looking for a bag I like.  Most of the roomier bags are down-filled.  Problem is, down makes me wheeze.

I think I shall give it a test outing at the Essex Christmas do.


Where did you get it from?

Mountain Warehouse.  They tend to carry a lot of crap but every now and then you find a diamond.

Gulp  :o that's a concern, it would appear you and I were of one mind over the weekend, I too visited the Mountain Warehouse where I purchased a Mountain Life sleeping bag as well!  Mine is a Microlite 1400 which aledgedly is good down to -7 degs so mine is clearly better than yours  :smug:  and it cost more at £29.99  :smug:  ;D  :-*

I will also be trying it out for real at the Essex Christmas do, but before you suggest it we won't be zipping our new bags together  :hand:

(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l160/stevenr_01/e014744d.jpg)

(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l160/stevenr_01/968229b3.jpg)



Mines rated down to -8   :P
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: Oscar's dad on 30 November, 2010, 06:46:59 am
[Splitting hairs]

Ah but, is that the comfort or the extreme rating?  Mine is comfortable to -7 and has an extreme rating of -18  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: Regulator on 30 November, 2010, 07:21:20 am
I looked at the Microlite but it didn't have enough width at the shoulder.

But it was on at £14.99 at the shop in Cambridge...  you were robbed!
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: Oscar's dad on 30 November, 2010, 07:47:54 am
I looked at the Microlite but it didn't have enough width at the shoulder.

But it was on at £14.99 at the shop in Cambridge...  you were robbed!

 ;D
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: Canardly on 26 January, 2011, 08:51:31 pm
Mountaint life summit. How does the 2.2kg weight compare with other offerings?
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: mr endon on 30 January, 2011, 06:06:59 pm
Anyone use the Buffalo bags?
Buffalo Systems Performance Sleeping System (http://www.buffalosystems.co.uk/Sleeping_Bags_thumbnails.htm)
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: Canardly on 08 February, 2011, 10:00:57 pm
I have looked a lot and cant seem much wrong with this 3 season bag for £20 quid bit heavy but for newbs?

Snugpak - The Sleeping Bag (http://www.outdoorgb.com/p/snugpak_-_the_sleeping_bag_17848/)
Title: Re: Inexpensive winter sleeping bag
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 09 February, 2011, 09:24:02 am
Anyone use the Buffalo bags?
Buffalo Systems Performance Sleeping System (http://www.buffalosystems.co.uk/Sleeping_Bags_thumbnails.htm)
I have the summerweight one, the 'lightweight outer'.

It's very odd. It's thing, and drapes closely around you. The pile is not pleasant against bare skin, too course.

However. This bag never holds damp - not a bit, not even camping outside in a rainstorm. The pile never feels chill, it almost seems to reflect heat. I've camped outside (not in tent) in -5 and was cold, but not frozen. That's the summerweight bag - the winterweight ones are very very bulky and very very warm.

I would rather carry this bag than a bivvi bag for emergency camping. It's mostly been used when hammock-camping and copes with light drizzle so well I never bothered rigging a cover for my hammock.