Sleeping bags - What does £60 buy?

  • Hey Guest, Early bird pricing on the Summer Moot (29th July - 10th August) available until April 6th, we'd love you to come. PLEASE CLICK HERE to early bird price and get more information.

Buster80

Forager
Apr 12, 2015
235
0
Scotland
Hi

Got a bit of a bonus so looking to buy a new sleeping bag,currently using the British army artic bag but I'm sick of lugging it around.

Also have changed rucksacks to a Highlander 33ltr for overnighters, this is down from a 65ltr so the sleeping bag has to fit the smaller bag,I'm experimenting between hammocks and ground dwelling if that matters.

I want to carry less weight yet not freezer my bottom off,does £60 get you much nowadays??

This has to do as many seasons as possible with it being unzipped in the summer and extra clothes worn in winter (does that work for winter camping??).

Any thoughts??

Cheers

Buster.
 

brambles

Settler
Apr 26, 2012
771
71
Aberdeenshire
You *might" be able to find a used Carinthia Defence 4 for a wee bit more on eBay , which is one of the very best all rounders and far , far better than the new bags you would get at that price from budget shops
 

mountainm

Bushcrafter through and through
Jan 12, 2011
9,990
12
Selby
www.mikemountain.co.uk
You'll definitely get a warm one for £60. You'll also get a light one for £60. But you won't get a warm light one for £60.

At least not 4 season warm.



Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
 

Barney Rubble

Settler
Sep 16, 2013
553
284
Rochester, Kent
youtube.com
Hi,

You might want to check out the vango ultralight bags they get good reviews. Think the ultralight 600 is in your price range and the warmer ultralight 900 is just a bit more. I use the alpkit mountain ghost all year round and can recommend it (although it's a bit more money!). Packs down really small. Also use it in conjunction with the forces 33 (great pack) and it fits in the bottom nicely with the dd underblanket alongside it.
 
Last edited:

Big G

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jul 3, 2015
3,144
0
Cleveland UK
Your best bet is evil bay.. for a decent used down bag.. but you may have to up your budget a bit.
 

Trig

Nomad
Jun 1, 2013
275
60
Scotland
I use the vango ultralite 900 as posted above and it is quite warm. Not tried winter temps with it yet, but have been down to about 0 in it and been alright. Slightly above £60 i think, maybe 70-80. Not very light or compact though.

As mountainm said, your not gonna get 4 seasons warm and light for £60. But perhaps a cheap bag plus a down jacket/extra clothes might see you through winter.
 

Buster80

Forager
Apr 12, 2015
235
0
Scotland
Thanks all,I'll get searching! I'll see what extra cash I can scrounge from the wife!

Maybe going against the grain of going lighter but would the addition of a wool blanket be worthwhile? So a cheaper bag boosted by the blanket.

I reckon I could roll it and pop it in a dry bag and then under the lid of my pack? Any recommended blankets?

Down jackets are out of my reach hence my blanket thinking.

Buster.
 
Last edited:

Big G

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jul 3, 2015
3,144
0
Cleveland UK
Maybe going against the grain of going lighter but would the addition of a wool blanket be worthwhile? So a cheaper bag boosted by the blanket.

Down jackets are out of my reach hence my blanket thinking.

Buster.

Yes.. deffo recommend a wool blanket.. worth their weight in gold :)
 

Old Bones

Settler
Oct 14, 2009
745
72
East Anglia
does £60 get you much nowadays??

Not a huge amount for what you want - basically you pay money to get a smaller lighter bag, but just as warm. And something that going to fit in a 33L sack but warm enough for Spring is probably going to be down, which is going to be double the price. Frankly, don't think of trying to have 'one bag to rule them all' - its like having one duvet all year round. Instead, but a bag that fits your needs in winter, and then a lightish cheap bag for summer.

However, this is the time of year for sales, etc, so you might do well. Cotswolds havn't anything on deal in that price range on their flash sale, but for about £100 or less, you could get something from ME (Starlight III or even IV), http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/mountain-equipment-starlight-iii-regular-sleeping-bag-d2232282? id_colour=133
plus some bags from Vaude (which I know nothing about), and Haglofs. They are all going to be synthetic. Remember that if get the Cotswold Explorer card (free - but yeah, its a data capture thing), you get some benefits, including 10% off your first purchase, which could make something like a ME bag a bit more doable. They also have their semi own brand Ayachuco Sirius 300 for £85 - for a bag rated to minus 6, thats not bad http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/ayacucho-sirius-300-sleeping-bag-d2232257?id_colour=4524

Blacks are also having a sale, and the MH lamina 20 is £110 from them http://www.blacks.co.uk/equipment/125014-mountain-hardwear-lamina-20-sleeping-bag-left-hand-zip.html
That seems to compact the smallest of the synthetic bag and is well thought of. I thought the foot was a bit tight for me, but try it out. And Rock + Run is doing the O version (so 4 season) for £116 - thats a very good price http://www.rockrun.com/camping/sleeping-bags-synthetic/mountain-hardwear-lamina-0

Webtogs have a Snugpak (Ok, so not as warm as it says, but still) Expedition in a horrible 'Amber' colour for just £54 https://www.webtogs.com/en-UK/Snugpak-Sleeper-Expedition-Sleeping-Bag/34031wmp.htm?colour=Amber
and they have a TNF bag (rare this side of the pond) which is 3 season (down to minus 7) for £76 - https://www.webtogs.com/en-UK/North...ur=Minus+7+Reg+Length++Striker+Blue+Zinc+Grey
. The US info is here - https://www.thenorthface.com/shop/aleutian-20-7 and a decent review - http://www.backpacker.com/gear/sleeping-bags/gear-review-the-north-face-aleutian-20/
Frankly, for the money, I'd vote for the TNF bag, and it should cover most of what you need, with the Cotswolds own brand coming a close second. But its not going to pack down that small - if you want small, then its got to be down, and thats going to cost. Alpkit would be your goto brand, but their Skyehigh's have sold out at the moment - the 700 or 900 would have done very well for you at £150.

If you want the best for your money (or close), then try second hand. There may be bags coming up in the classifeds on this site, but Outdoor Magic's classifieds might even more choice, especially for down. http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/forum/classifieds-section/10.html
And don't forget OM's bargain alert - http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/forum/gear/bargain-alert/7436.html - stuff comes up all the time, be it flash sales, codes, factory shop sales, shops closing down, etc. And yes, I am the smug git who got a ME Classic 500 down bag for half price in a Blacks closing down sale..

And don't forget Ebay.

You never know what might turn up, but I suspect that to fill a 33L pack with something other than just the sleeping bag, your going have to up that budget a lot - the Rab 500 might do, but the cheapest I've seen it is £190. But if I was buying a bag, then the TNF one would give the most for least cash, but its bulky. Good luck, and let us know how you get on.
 

Buster80

Forager
Apr 12, 2015
235
0
Scotland
Woa loads to go through there! I have to say the Scottish in me saw the Softie one and got excited,the colour is naff but I'm sure I can find it elsewhere in better colours.

Does softie bags have a good rap??

Buster.
 

Buster80

Forager
Apr 12, 2015
235
0
Scotland
Woa loads to go through there! I have to say the Scottish in me saw the Snugpak one and got excited,the colour is naff but I'm sure I can find it elsewhere in better colours.

Does snugpak bags have a good rap??

Buster.
 

Buster80

Forager
Apr 12, 2015
235
0
Scotland
Woa loads to go through there! I have to say the Scottish in me saw the Snugpakone and got excited,the colour is naff but I'm sure I can find it elsewhere in better colours.

Does snugpak bags have a good rap??

Buster.
 

Old Bones

Settler
Oct 14, 2009
745
72
East Anglia
That's probably a good reason why the Snugpak is cheap - much the same way that most items reduced to clear are generally horrible lime green, orange or (at best) black. I've got a old Snugpak, and while its not a bad bag, they are well known for not actually being as warm as they say. If your going down that road, then Mountain Hardware, the ME Starlight or the TNF bag are better buys, at least for synthetic.

I think someone further down the thread had a good idea - buy a bigger bag. Its cheaper than buying a high end bag that would fit into a 33L amongst all the other stuff - perhaps a 50-55L? Its your call, but getting a small warm bag on that budget isn't doable, so its which way to go - bigger budget or bigger bag. But buy the best that you can afford - buy once, buy right.
 

BCUK Shop

We have a a number of knives, T-Shirts and other items for sale.

SHOP HERE