Children's 4 Season Sleeping Bags

[Dan00001]

My son wants to continue camping with me over winter. I won't be taking him anywhere crazy like the Brecon beacons, just local hills or maybe even some 'wild' camp sites.

His current sleeping bag from Go Outdoors has reached it's limit and I'm struggling to find a really decent kids 4 season sleeping bag. The other option I have considered is buying a down quilt and combining it with his current sleeping bag i.e he sleeps inside his sleeping bag with the quilt over the top/ wrapped around his sleeping bag.

Has anybody any experience with winter camping with young children, can recommend a good 4 season children's sleeping bag or offer any input on my idea of layering up a sleeping bag AND a down quilt?

Thank you.

 

[Tengu]

No experience with this but dont some folk use an adult bag and tie it around with a strap or belt?

 

[Dan00001]

No experience with this but dont some folk use an adult bag and tie it around with a strap or belt?

I did consider buying an adults bag, cutting and sewing it smaller.

I have purchased a Thermarest Corus 32 from Ultralight Outdoor Gear which are on sale for £115. I think in theory this should take his 3 season up to a 4 season. I can also continue to use it through the summer, it's half the weight of my summer sleeping bag.

 

[Jared]

Big Agnes make a few, 20° which I presume is in Fahrenheit.

Kids’ Sleeping Bags

All of our Kids sleeping bags are insulated and have an integrated pad sleeve, so they won't roll off their pad overnight (you’re welcome).

www.bigagnes.com

 

[Dan00001]

Big Agnes are the only ones I could find that looked pretty decent.

I think I will likely upgrade his current sleeping bag to a big Agnes at some point.

 

[Dogoak]

I had the same issue some years ago, there just didn’t seem to be anything available for children's 4 season use.
In the end I got some fibrepile and made a mummy shaped liner for his Vango bag. Worked well, a few nights at circa -10° / -12° and no complaints of the cold.

 

[Dan00001]

I had the same issue some years ago, there just didn’t seem to be anything available for children's 4 season use.
In the end I got some fibrepile and made a mummy shaped liner for his Vango bag. Worked well, a few nights at circa -10° / -12° and no complaints of the cold.

I have considered making something myself as I'm OK on the sewing machine. Will try his 3 season bag with a down quilt and see how well that works. I doubt I will see those temperatures.

 

[Moondog55]

I had similar issues back when my kids were small.
Luckily I had a down half sack that while small on me was large enough that my 8YO fitted inside with room to spare for a polyester jacket if needed.
Later on I have loaned my Western Mountaineering Tamarack to a mate for his 12YO son and that was also excellent. A lot depends on your budget; the PHD series of half bags seem to be good quality if expensive

 

[Dan00001]

I had similar issues back when my kids were small.
Luckily I had a down half sack that while small on me was large enough that my 8YO fitted inside with room to spare for a polyester jacket if needed.
Later on I have loaned my Western Mountaineering Tamarack to a mate for his 12YO son and that was also excellent. A lot depends on your budget; the PHD series of half bags seem to be good quality if expensive

I don't mind spending the money, safety and being out with my son enjoying the outdoors and creating memories is priceless.

The PHD half bags look like they might be perfect, they do one that is rated to -7 and only 350g. That even combined with the down quilt is lighter than his sleeping bag alone. Thanks for that.

 

[Tengu]

What do people like the Saami do?

Your not going to tell me they have nice, centrally heated, cabins all these days?

I suspect even the young uns go out in all weathers.

 

[Moondog55]

Something else you may want to consider is an ultra light overquilt. EE in the USA are currently having a sale and the Enigma is reduced in price.
I have found that the combination of a LW down bag and an UL synthetic to be a very versatile package and keeping in mind that kids do grow quickly

Enigma APEX Custom Sleeping Quilt

An Ultralight Minimalist Backpacking Quilt to save weight and sleep more comfortable in the outdoors.

enlightenedequipment.com

Not sure how long this sale goes for,

 

[Moondog55]

Hi Dan I have googled that quilt and I am wondering if the 650FP down being quite heavy will limit the loft of any PHD half bag and thinking that while I prefer to use the synthetic over my down; for a small person and with the lower lofting down of the T'Rest quilt; the PHD Zeta Primaloft half bag might work more efficiently.
That combination should work down to well below freezing, depending on clothing down to -18C

 

[Dan00001]

Thank you, I don't think it would be much of a problem, the corus is pretty light weight tbh.

I'm still considering all of my options, I've also come across a couple of other options.

Morrison Outdoors childs down sleeping bag - not sure I'm fused on the arms but weight and temperature rating is good.

Mighty Mo 20° Down Kids Sleeping Bag (Ages 4-6) - CLOSEOUT

Introducing the ultimate cocoon of coziness for your little adventurer! The Mighty Mo 20° Down Kids Sleeping Bag is ideal for kids aged 4-6 years. Our first down-insulated sleeping bag to feature adjustable open and close cuffs, this unique sleeved design was created to keep your child safe and...

morrisonoutdoors.com

Nordisk Tension Junior - traditional mummy shaped bag, only rated as a 3 season, more expensive than the morrison outdoors.

Nordisk Tension Junior Sleeping Bag | Trekkinn

Buy Nordisk Tension , Sleeping bags from Sleeping bags for only 178.99 £. Find outdoor deals in Trekkinn | Fast delivery

www.tradeinn.com

 

[Falstaff]

Depending on his age/size, one solution is a small adults/ladies bag and fold the bottom back underneath, with ties or a cord if necessary. Helps keep the feet/legs wam and off the ground.

 

[Dan00001]

Depending on his age/size, one solution is a small adults/ladies bag and fold the bottom back underneath, with ties or a cord if necessary. Helps keep the feet/legs wam and off the ground.

I'm carrying everything so I also need to think about weight and packability, otherwise I would have far more options. That's why I do plan on replaying his current sleeping bag for something down regardless temperature rating, to reduce weight and pack size.

 

[Moondog55]

Up until my kids were about 6YO I had to carry almost all their gear and food.
After about 8YO tho; they had to carry their own survival gear ; which was a raincoat and warm layer and a beanie and a torch plus whistle; and waterbottle with snacks of course.
I found that my kids slept surprisingly warm and I often woke up to find them outside their sleeping bags.
What seems to make the difference was my kids using cheap insulated jackets and fleece to sleep in; and of course good mats underneath but kids being light it was just the standard short Thermarests an inch thick over thin CCF.
Gear is so much lighter now than 30 years ago and should point out that my youngest is now 42YO

 

[Falstaff]

I'd never heard of PHD, very interesting kit and ideas, top end quality stuff but too pricey for me. However, I might be able to utilise their ideas to come up with more affordable kit upgrades for myself.

 

[Dan00001]

Up until my kids were about 6YO I had to carry almost all their gear and food.
After about 8YO tho; they had to carry their own survival gear ; which was a raincoat and warm layer and a beanie and a torch plus whistle; and waterbottle with snacks of course.
I found that my kids slept surprisingly warm and I often woke up to find them outside their sleeping bags.
What seems to make the difference was my kids using cheap insulated jackets and fleece to sleep in; and of course good mats underneath but kids being light it was just the standard short Thermarests an inch thick over thin CCF.
Gear is so much lighter now than 30 years ago and should point out that my youngest is now 42YO

My son is 4, and yes he also sleeps very warm, as do I. He sleeps way warmer than my girlfriend.

For mats, I'm currently using CCF mats underneath Multimat self inflating mats. I will always double up as CCF offers redundancy in case the inflated mat fails.

I'm right around 15kg now for a 1 night winter camp for both me and my son so it's not too bad weight wise. I do struggle for space as I use a 45L backpack and it's full to the brim. The food is the annoying one, trying to squeeze burgers, buns or sandwiches in without them being flattened can be a real pain!

 

[Moondog55]

KIds are why I have a 120 litre rucksack, well 80+ 15 in the extension and 3 big exterior pockets
Walking and camping with kids can be an amazing experience if just a little hard on the back. One thing I can possibly recommend is to take a cover big enough to use over both of you and use lighter sleeping bags each, a technique used by climbers and our own Roger Caffin of UL stove fame, shared warmth works

 

[Dan00001]

I'd never heard of PHD, very interesting kit and ideas, top end quality stuff but too pricey for me. However, I might be able to utilise their ideas to come up with more affordable kit upgrades for myself.

It's good gear by all accounts. The founder, Peter Hutchinson, who has passed now, was also also the founder of Mountain Equipment.