Sleeping Bags?

[giancarlo]

I've been looking for a decent sleeping bag for a while now.
I didn't want to dive in and spend the money and get something that isn't going to do the job.

Looked through here and i haven't found a thread about them so i thought i'd start one and see what we all think.

I'm just looking for one that would suit normal autumn / winter british climate (fair enough, we get a little bit more sunshine than you down here, but it's basically the same).
Although saying that, i'd like to be able to use if I went anywhere colder, so i've been looking for bags down to -15c.

I know bag ratings are all to pot these days and you can't judge one manufacturer against another.
So i've been basically looking at comfort / extreme ratings.

I've also only really been looking at synthetic bags, not down.
I know down packs smaller / lighter, but not good if they get wet and can smell.

There's a few companies that spring to mind, but i've never spent a night in any of them.

I've been looking at some of these:

Snugpak Osprey Softie 12
Ajungilak Kompakt Winter
Woodlore Sleeping Bags


Links
http://www.snugpak.com
http://www.ajungilak.no
http://www.raymears.com


So, anyone got any ideas?
What are you using to keep your chestnuts warm on those cold nights?

Cheers
Carlo

 

[darctus]

Have you thought about the Buffolo range. They are bit heavy and bulky but they are incredibly tough and superb if you get wet>Get soaking ,crawl into a buffalo and in 5 min.you will be warm and dry.Also they have a 2 bag system.One bag good for warm weather.the other for colder.To make 4 season bag put one inside the other.Mine have lasted 9 years altho now showing signs of wear.Hope this helps

 

[ESpy]

My Buffalo is around 16 years old now, and the pile has packed down somewhat. Just the four season outer was a fractionally on the cold side over this weekend, and I had a Sleeka jacket on under it.

 

[george]

Giancarlo

I agree with darctus about the buffalo bags, I used them in the rainforest for a number of years and they are unbeatable in really wet conditions - the biggest problem I have with them is their bulk and weight. If you're going to be using the bag in UK conditions or similar and don't expect to be sleeping out in monsoon rain I wouldn't bother. I use a variety of bags at different times of the year but more and more I find I prefer Mountain Equipment stuff. They are pretty good quality, pretty good prices and their design is usually first class.

I don't rate the Snugback Ospreys at all - I've got 2 of them (both bought for a specific trip) and although the weight and compactness is good they just dont last very long, at least mine didn't! They've recently been donated to my dogs as winter beds!

Ajungilak have a good rep and some of my buddies use them but I've never tried them.

George

 

[bigjackbrass]

George's suggestion to look at Mountain Equipment bags is well worth following. I have three sleeping bags, a very thin old synthetic from Vango, a fantastic down three season (15 degree) bag from L.L. Bean, and a mid-range down bag from Mountain Equipment. Both the Bean and the ME bags are much warmer than their ratings suggest, which is why I ended up getting the ME bag: with a rating 17 degrees below freezing the Bean bag is just too warm for the UK.

I really would suggest you have a second think about down, though. Keeping your bag dry should be a priority, and it's not too difficult if you set up camp well. Try sleeping in a wet synthetic (non-Buffalo) bag and see how comfortable you are. The only real advantage is that synthetics can be dried more easily, but against this you have the longevity, blissfully soft comfort, small pack size and low weight of down. My Bean bag has a microfibre shell and sheds light rain with aplomb.

 

[alick]

I bought a couple of Ajungilak synthetic bags for my kids - good quality, good value. Fairly bulky but they come with a compression stuffsack which helps.

I use an 800g fill down bag by Rab (Carrington) - pertex inside & out - packs small and light - durable - excellent quality. Rab make mainly sleeping bags and Duvets so they are specialists rather than doing a whole range of different kit.

I have friends who have used the top end £300+ Mountain equipment bags for years - can't fault the quality of those either, but it never gets cold enough to justify them in the UK.

I find the compressibility of down means they're cold through the bottom if used with a karrimat, but great with a thermarest since these are much warmer. I expect to be able to sleep in no more than underclothes mind.
Cheers

 

[Gary]

For what its worth I use a Mountain Equipment Firewalker sac in the summer but Autumn and winter I still prefer my old ex army sac.

The thing with sleeping bags is every body is different - I hate snugpak bags and yet I have friends who love them - only why to find the sac for you is to use it unfortunately.

But pound for pound army surplus bags are your best bet - especially as a starter.

 

[bigjackbrass]

One quick thought on Snugpak: I avoided the brand for a few years after buying a sleeping bag liner from them. It was the most badly made item I think I've ever owned, and considering it was nothing more than a big envelope of Pertex making it so poorly must have taken some doing. In the end I had to re-sew every seam.

However, I recently bought one of their rucksacks, the "Rocket," and the quality and finish is very good indeed. I have never owned one of their sleeping bags, but I have heard very mixed comments about them, and once found an American website which seemed to exist largely to tell the world how awful they are! Borrow one to try, if you can, and have a good look at the quality of the finish. That of course goes for any bag, as the best materials in the world can be seriously compromised by poor quality control during manufacture. Hopefully my experience was not typical, and the company may well have addressed the problem.

 

[Jamie]

I just took delivery of my army bag - very snug and looking forward to putting it to good use very very soon!

I got it (and a bivi bag to go with it) from www.woodlandorganics.com

Hope that helps!

Jamie