Sleeping bag advice

[Velo_Exp]

Ok,

I am looking to do some bike touring, camping, with the main aim being lightweigth and not with a huge outlay.

So I'm thikning of either a Snugpak or a ranger lite system.

Any advice, both for use with either hammock of tarp.

I'm swaying towards the Ranger Lite as is considerably cheaper!

Or like the look of Vango Venoms.

Or is it worth looking for a down bag rather than synthetic?

Many thanks.

 

[Celt_Ginger]

The main thing I look for in a sleeping bag is room to move. I hate being in a "straight jacket" I know that it's not as warm and that a sleeping bag is supposed to be cloce fitting to conserve heat, but I'd rather waer more clothing in the bag and have more room. My advice would be to go to a shop and try some bags for size. Actually get into the bag and zip yourself in (this also shows you if the zips are prone to snagging which can be a right pain in the bum) Don't be put off if the attendents give you a funny look as it's not them that has to sleep in it.

 

[Velo_Exp]

hhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmm that's a good point.

I'm heading towards the Vango Venom 300, for weight cost and performance.

Any reviews of Vango Venom?

 

[Squidders]

One system that has interested me is the Alpkit PipeDream 200 (http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16329&category_id=253)

I imagine cycle touring isn't a dead of winter thing and also that while you're around camp after cycling in a sea of lycra a down jacket and this tiny half sleeping back might be ideal.

Aside from a snaggy zip, I can't fault the SkyeHigh 800 bag for value.

Has anyone got the PipeDream 200??? If so, what's it like?

 

[Praetorian]

I'd go for a synthetic fill bag.

If a down filled bag gets wet it's practically useless, and takes an eternity to dry.
A synthetic filled bag will still keep you warm when it's wet and will dry quicker.

What seasons are you looking at sleeping outdoors in the bag you choose?

 

[verloc]

the snugpaks are good bags but the zips are a little snaggy - the bag im trying to get a hold of is the exped wallcreeper down (no link cos the site is a java thing - goto www.exped.com and you will find it there). It looks the beesknees for hammock camping - although it does look a little daft - ok quite a lot daft! but being a big chap and liking an easy option to get into my hammock i think this looks perfect.

Anyway back to your question - I have the snugpak special forces system which is very versatile and my mate has a alpkit down something or other - cant remember the model but it cost him £130 if that's any guide but he loves it.

I dont think you would go wrong with any of them and the great thing about buying a decent bag is that its easy to move on a little later if you decide its not for you without losing very much.

 

[Squidders]

You're right - that exped one looks bonkers!

cunning idea though, about time someone executed a versatile sleeping bag design well.

 

[crazyclimber]

I'd go for a synthetic fill bag.

If a down filled bag gets wet it's practically useless, and takes an eternity to dry.
A synthetic filled bag will still keep you warm when it's wet and will dry quicker.

What seasons are you looking at sleeping outdoors in the bag you choose?

That's true but I too have been looking with interest at the pipedream 200... half a kilo saves a lot of weight and they make some good arguements FOR down rather than synthetic. For 65 quid I think I may just have a play this autumn / winter

 

[Squidders]

I used to have only synthetic because of the price of good down bags... these days I rely on cunning and quality equipment so my sleeping bag never does get wet and I air it every day.

If being wet and warm is your thing, you can't get better than a buffalo sleeping bag (assuming you like carrying it!)

 

[Velo_Exp]

looks good, the Piepdream.

Ideally would like to do many seasons, sort of see how much I can cope with and at what weight, so it looks like its between the Pipedream and Venom.

Althought with the Piepdream could be good for summer also, airtex for summer and thermals etc for winter.

 

[Celt_Ginger]

I pretty much only use 2 sleeping bags. Mainly it's a Nanok endurence 0 because it has plenty of room inside it. In the spring and autumn I wear a softie jacket and a pair of fleece trousers and I'm always warm enough. I've only ever camped out in winter a couple of times but when I do, I put a Nanok comfort down -5 bag inside the endurence 0 bag and get inside both bags. The down bag fits inside the larger endurence bag perfectly. If it was really cold, I'd just wear my softie jacket as well. There is a lot of hype about sleeping bags, but if you look at how the comfort ratings of bags are worked out, you will see that even for the warmest bags, the sleepers only wear a base layer inside the bag, yet we always take warm clothing with us on a trip anyway, so why not wear that inside your sleeping bag as well? I'm guessing that for most (though not all) UK conditions, this would work.

 

[Lasse]

There is a lot of hype about sleeping bags, but if you look at how the comfort ratings of bags are worked out, you will see that even for the warmest bags, the sleepers only wear a base layer inside the bag, yet we always take warm clothing with us on a trip anyway, so why not wear that inside your sleeping bag as well?

If you wear too much/too tight clothing the blood circulation under your skin can be hindered and cause your body to get cold. Depending on how restricting the clothes are, it's perfectly possible that you'll be warmer with less because of the improved blood circulation...
I personally think it's a lot more comfy with just my (night use only) base layer inside my sleeping bag...

 

[sandbender]

yet we always take warm clothing with us on a trip anyway, so why not wear that inside your sleeping bag as well? I'm guessing that for most (though not all) UK conditions, this would work.

It can, however disasters happen, if you warm clothing is soaked through your not going to want to wear it while sleeping and as Lasse2 has pointed out the clothing will restrict your circulation, be uncomfortable and you may get a bit sweaty wearing all that too

 

[gregorach]

Or is it worth looking for a down bag rather than synthetic

If you're looking for lightweight and compact, hell yes. Not cheap though...

Cheap, lightweight, good - choose two of three. You can't have them all at once.

 

[Celt_Ginger]

If you wear too much/too tight clothing the blood circulation under your skin can be hindered and cause your body to get cold. Depending on how restricting the clothes are, it's perfectly possible that you'll be warmer with less because of the improved blood circulation...
I personally think it's a lot more comfy with just my (night use only) base layer inside my sleeping bag...

I wouldn't disagree at all, It's just not my experience though. I sometimes wear a softie jacket inside a sleeping bag that has plenty of room in it. If I get too warm, I unzip the bag or the jacket. So far, I've never been too cold. I will admit though, I'm not camping in the Arctic.

 

[spamel]

If only blankets weren't so heavy and bulky. I slept with just blankets on my thermarest in my hex 3 for the whole moot and wasn't cold once. An old army blanket, a reclaimed wool blanket which is quite soft and I had the hand crocheted blanket my wife made just in case the temperature dropped. I was warm every night, I tucked my trousers into my socks before bed and my shirt into my trousers to stop the warm air being pumped out of the openings by body movement during sleep, and used my blankets as I showed a while back. The only drama is pack size, they took up the most of the main compartment of my PLCE bergen!

 

[sapper1]

I often use blankets and pack them in a longish drybag and carry them outside on the top of my bergan in the same sort of way german WW II soldiers used to .Works for me.

 

[spamel]

I'll keep an eye out for something suitable then. Blankets rock!