Which sleeping bag

[Johnnyboy1971]

Looking to change from my USMSS to either a Brit Arctic bag or a Carinthia Defence4
Out of the two which would you choose and why?
I will continue to use my Nanok through the warmer months.

 

[Wacker]

I chose the british arctic bag purely because of price. £25 with stuff sack plus P&P, round it to £30 for a bag that allegedly will keep you warm at -15°C (I doubt it will go that far but I'm only using it in the UK) even if it has flaws I won't be too bothered trying to modify the bag myself.

I'm yet to receive it but I'm sure it will be sufficient.

Hope that helps

 

[mick91]

With wacker on this one good old bouncing bomb you can't go wrong for price. I think someone here has one for sale for £20 or so. And I can tell you from experience that it WILL keep you snug to -15 and below. I did find it restrictive across the shoulders though.

 

[bopdude]

Price aside, I can't say for the surplus bag but the carinthia is a superb bag.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[Wacker]

With wacker on this one good old bouncing bomb you can't go wrong for price. I think someone here has one for sale for £20 or so. And I can tell you from experience that it WILL keep you snug to -15 and below. I did find it restrictive across the shoulders though.

Good to know about the temp rating Mick!

 

[Alan 13~7]

Hi guys this arrived today allegedly 3 season (autumn,winter.spring) from IRQ Archery from China inc postage £22.95

for my intended use as a Summer in the UK bag on the ground used with highlander Z mat in a Belgian pup...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281755285308?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

any thoughts..? mine was sleeping bag in kit form supplement it's use it as a liner with a poncho liner if its a bit pants...

 

[The Lord Poncho]

Ive used both - both good, but if you plan on carrying it any distance, you will find the carinthia packs smaller and is (i would think at least), a touch lighter.

 

[Johnnyboy1971]

My concern with the Carinthia is how wide it is.

 

[honisoitquimalypense]

huge diff in cost unless u can get cheap carinthia. the def 4 and def 6 is being issued to many nato cold ops countries units and hopefully we will see them in surplus stores cheap as. never used. but know many have full of praise. if u can hold carinthia cheap please please post where. much greatful cos i ll get one.

 

[brambles]

My concern with the Carinthia is how wide it is.

As in worried it will be too wide for you or too narrow? I'm 6'5'' with large chest and shoulders and my Defence 4 200 is the most comfortable and spacious sleeping bag I've ever found

 

[Johnnyboy1971]

I'm not tall at 5'9 but have a 50" chest and wide shoulders.
The arctic bag fits fine when I have a couple of extra layers but mine is getting old and not as warm as it used to be.

 

[Andy BB]

Wiggys superlight - choose your size! O degree F (circa -20C) rated bag (or if going for Arctic conditions, their Ultima Thule bag), and Wiggys are the only bags I've tried in the last 50 years that are validly rated. Washable - stick in washing machine at home. Add onto that a guarantee for life on loft and workmanship that he actually honours, even on bags 20 years old - try getting that guarantee from any other manufacturer - and you won't go wrong.

 

[gixer]

Wiggys superlight - choose your size! O degree F (circa -20C) rated bag (or if going for Arctic conditions, their Ultima Thule bag), and Wiggys are the only bags I've tried in the last 50 years that are validly rated. Washable - stick in washing machine at home. Add onto that a guarantee for life on loft and workmanship that he actually honours, even on bags 20 years old - try getting that guarantee from any other manufacturer - and you won't go wrong.

Nice bag Andy, does make me smile at someone in the sales department coming up with "superlight" for a 1.8kg bag though

 

[Andy BB]

Nice bag Andy, does make me smile at someone in the sales department coming up with "superlight" for a 1.8kg bag though

Fair comment, that! But the key is in the real working temperature. I'm willing to bet that any other synthetic bag of similar weight (circa 4lbs) will have you shivering at -20C, particularly if its been used a bit.

Mind you, Wiggy himself is somewhat - abrupt - on both calls and emails! I still think it would be better all round for Wiggys if he let someone else handle the customer-facing stuff. Although, to be fair, it is handy to phone up and go straight to the boss's phone, rather than some trainee. Considering he manufactures all the thousands of bags and other Laminite goodies in his own factory, its refreshing to say the least!

 

[Dave]

Couldnt agree more ref wiggys bags. Ive got two of em. One is the -30 Ultima Thule with a hood, rectangular bag, which I used inside a jerven kingsize bag in the arctic, and I think its fair to say the other people on the course were quite envious. Heeheheheee. It had MASSIVE loft. I took up so much room in the tipi. Just that under a tree, is all you need. No tent or tarp.

And the other is the square rectangular ultra light hunter. Again, just soooo comfortable. I use that in a double sized Oware bivy bag, made from quartek upper and sil bottom, with mossy mesh.

I dont sleep well, but Im out like a light in five minutes in those. They're brilliant bags.

 

[Andy BB]

I thought about getting the rectangular bags initially, but went for the mummy shape instead. Like you, I dislike being cocooned in a restrictive bag, but have found no such problems with the Wiggy "mummy" bags. And the Boat-tail on the new bags is inspired - concentrates the loft around the footies. Unfortunately only have that on my Ultima Thule bag - the others are just mummy shaped.

 

[Dave]

I can believe that. The Laminate feels like satin sheets. And it just wicks any sweat, moisture straight out of the bag. Dot know how it works, but it works really well.

 

[Johnnyboy1971]

Still not going to buy a Wiggys bag.

 

[BushBob]

Where do you guys get the Wiggy's bags from. Do you have to order direct from the States?

Cheers,

Bob

 

[Dave]

Where do you guys get the Wiggy's bags from. Do you have to order direct from the States?

Cheers,

Bob

Yes Bob. You can just order direct from their website.