Winter sleeping bag alternatives

[Lefteris]

Hallo all,

I am looking for a sleeping bag to allow me to sleep comfortable down to -10C.
I am interested only in down sleeping bags (not synthetics), as I would like the bag to be less than 1.5kg and quite compact to fit my backpack.
I am a man, 95kilos, 186cm and quite broad shouldered; so I won’t fit comfortable in short (less than 210cm) or narrow (less than 75cm wide) bags.
Ideally, I would like to spend not more than 200 pounds (including posting cost – I live in Finland)

After searching around the net, I found some alternatives, which I list below.
Any comments or suggestion you may have, especially from personal experience with these bags (or any other bag that would fit my specs) are very welcome.

Many thanks!

---------------------------------------------

Alpkit, Skyehigh 100
http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16322&category_id=286

Vango, Viper 1000
http://www.vango.co.uk/mountain/viper-1000.html

Northface, Superlight
http://www.outdoorkit.co.uk/product...opzilla&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=shopzilla

Nanok, Performance Down -10
http://www.expeditionhardware.co.uk/Nanok Sleeping Bags/Nanok Performance Down -10 Sleeping Bag

Marmot, Sawtooth
http://marmot.com/products/sawtooth?p=117,173
http://www.trekkinn.com/outdoor-mountain/marmot-sawtooth--10-/24659/p

Marmot, Pinnacle
http://marmot.com/products/pinnacle?p=117,173,140,167&ft=140-167
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...ki-uk-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738

Robens, Lite 900
http://www.robens.de/en/Products/SleepingBags/Lite/Lite900.aspx
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ROBENS-SLEEPING-SEASON-CAMPING-EQUIPMENT/dp/B007KZLEGC

 

[Tiley]

Welcome to the forum, Lefteris. On the sleeping bag front, I'm afraid I don't have any experience of your listed bags. However, there are a couple of manufacturers that you might like to have a look at: Fairydown, a New Zealand company, and PH Designs, here in the U.K.. The latter offers a very good range and will also custom make you a bag - but this last will cost more than the £200 you've got. Might be worth saving up for it though...

 

[Lefteris]

Thank you Tiley for the welcoming!!
I had a look at these brands. Indeed they seem to be of great quality (down fill goes up to 800+ even 900+). They really meet all my requirements ...apart from cost!
The truth is that my budget and requirements may not be that compatible. I may need either to compromise my specs or put my hand deeper in my pocket.

Thank you for the info, I will have these brands in mind!

 

[Noddy]

We seem to be on the same mission at the same time

I was interested in the MEC -20C Asgaard - which is about 450 dollars. But the down leaks apparently, so my dream is a Western Mountaineering -20C-ish Kodiak, but I'll probably get a Marmot Membrain - just waiting for the sales to come back .

 

[tiger stacker]

Rab have one or three options
http://www.tiso.com/shop/rab/ascent_700/ is my faithful friend.

http://rab.uk.com/products/sleeping-bags.html


Bouncing bomb is being replaced so look out for HMF finest Teenage mutant Ninjar Turtle costume bag.

 

[Teepee]

I'd spend more.

The bags you listed are either duck down or lower quality goose down and they won't last as long or be as warm as a good filling.

I would look at PHD, Westerm Mountaineering, Montbell ( I have a stretch baffle Montbell UL down and I love it), Feathered friends. (Amazon.com often have deals on Montbell and Western)

Have you considered a down top quilt as another option? Much lighter, smaller packing and cheaper too. Some don't get on with them but they are fit for purpose and have been used in Antarctica.

 

[Chrisf]

Hi have both rab and marmot bags helium and hydrogen. All are fantastic I think my rab is something silly like -40 comfort temp. but I'm always cold and suits me great for Scottish winter fun. You need to try the marmot before you buy fantastic quality down but these are normally aimed at climber have have narrow body, this suits me as I'm super skinny.

Chris

 

[Lefteris]

WOW! Fast response and great answers! Thank you all!!

Noddy,
Indeed we are on a similar journey. Only you go a bit tougher. To keep usability high, I won’t go less than -10, as I intend to use the bag for temperature falling into 0 to -10. I may need it for colder nights but this will be extremely seldom (in which case I plan to survive wearing a bit warmer cloths or adding a bivi).

tiget stacker,
good info! I knew Rab but I though they had only high end bags. But some of them look very good and reasonably priced. Yes Rab Ascent 700 seems to tick all my boxes!

Teepee,
I am with you. I would also spend more…if I could afford it. But I had setup an upper cost limit, because due to my enthusiasm, I may go too wild for my pocket.
Until now I have been using a no-name synthetics bag bought from the local “Hong-Kong” shop for 35€. And actually it kept me happy for short hiking trips sleeping down to 2-3C. For me it will be a super upgrade even if I get a bag having feathers from the most miserable goose. I understand and respect that your standards are much higher than mine.
As for the top quilt, I am not sure what is this. If this is a kind of down blanket, it may be indeed a great idea as I always sleep in a hammock and my week (cold) part until now was only the top and not the layer I lay on. Thanks for the idea, I will look into it!

Chrisf,
Yeap, when I was investigating the market I was looking at Marmot Helium but for me it falls into the category “wish to have – cannot afford”. Same for the Marmot Hydrogen.
What you say about Rab (the comfort rate does not correspond to the actual performance), I hope it does not apply to all Rab bags. If anyone has such experience with Rab bags, please shout, because Rab may be a good candidate for me (see my comment to tiger stacker above) and I do not want to get a disappointment if I indeed buy it.

All, I appreciate your very good advice and comments!

 

[Teepee]

As for the top quilt, I am not sure what is this. If this is a kind of down blanket, it may be indeed a great idea as I always sleep in a hammock and my week (cold) part until now was only the top and not the layer I lay on. Thanks for the idea, I will look into it!

If your a hammock user too, a top quilt makes massive sense. They are excellent in a hammock. I have an 850 fill down top quilt that weighs 800g and will be good down to -15 or so with its 75-100mm of loft. No sleeping bag will touch this for value or weight or ease of use in the hammock.

Heres one from the UK, there are more in the states.

 

[PeterH]

I bought a Marmot Never Summer in theoutdoorshop sale last New Year which came in under your budget, was a similar price to Rab Ascent and marginally more but different league to Mountain Equipment, for me it scored over both as it is built to fit real people not whippets! Only thing is events conspired to prevent me going out but twice when it was cold enough to use, rated as. 0F ~-19c bag but I sleep cold and badly, not in this!

Bring on next winter

 

[Lefteris]

If your a hammock user too, a top quilt makes massive sense. They are excellent in a hammock. I have an 850 fill down top quilt that weighs 800g and will be good down to -15 or so with its 75-100mm of loft. No sleeping bag will touch this for value or weight or ease of use in the hammock.

Heres one from the UK, there are more in the states.

This is a super good idea!!! Light, warm, affordable to me. Plus easy to handle in a hammock (I was always pushing myself to the very limit before I take the brave decision in the cold night to "unpack" myself from the sleeping bag and get out of the hammock to finally take this precious, long awaited, relieving pee). I will seriously consider.

Only one question. Do you know if these quilts form a kind of foot bag at the bottom end? That would be great to avoid accidentally uncovering the feet during the night.

Thank you Teepee, you are awesome!

 

[Lefteris]

I bought a Marmot Never Summer in theoutdoorshop sale last New Year which came in under your budget, was a similar price to Rab Ascent and marginally more but different league to Mountain Equipment, for me it scored over both as it is built to fit real people not whippets! Only thing is events conspired to prevent me going out but twice when it was cold enough to use, rated as. 0F ~-19c bag but I sleep cold and badly, not in this!

Bring on next winter

Marmot Never Summer in indeed close to my specs and if I search a bit I can get it within (or very close to) my budget.
The small minus may be that it is a bit heavy (1.7kg) for what I want. Also, I have seen it "live" in a store I visited and, if I remember well, it packs not very compact.
But overall, I believe it is a good choice at these money.

Thank you PeterH!

 

[Greek1983]

Hello patriotaki.

Yep, you need to raise your budget a bit in order to find such a bag at these specs. Or compromise the weight.

I would look at Carinthia's down bags, although I don't have practical experience. Finnish Army has Carinthia Defence 4 synthetic bags (Carinthia Army SA is called) but are way out of your specs weight wise.

For instance, how about this bag?

http://myhuntingshop.com/carinthia-airpack-900-sleeping-bag.html

And the specs. The L (large) model AFAIK is ca. 1,400 grams

http://en.carinthia.positionierung.at/products/sleeping-bags/cq-down/20-bis-10/airpack-900

Also, check this store in Turku, Finland.

http://www.scandinavianoutdoorstore.com/makuupussit-ja-makuualustat/kolmen-vuodenajan-makuupussit/

 

[Lefteris]

Hello patriotaki.

Yep, you need to raise your budget a bit in order to find such a bag at these specs. Or compromise the weight.

I would look at Carinthia's down bags, although I don't have practical experience. Finnish Army has Carinthia Defence 4 synthetic bags (Carinthia Army SA is called) but are way out of your specs weight wise.

For instance, how about this bag?

http://myhuntingshop.com/carinthia-airpack-900-sleeping-bag.html

And the specs. The L (large) model AFAIK is ca. 1,400 grams

http://en.carinthia.positionierung.at/products/sleeping-bags/cq-down/20-bis-10/airpack-900

Oh yeah! this is also a very good one compared to what I search for; and if I look around the net I think I can get it also close to my budget (a bit highter though indeed).
And its width, height, weight are all very good for me, even the Medium size, if indeed the values are as indicated here
http://www.walkonthewildside.eu/Sch...nthia-Airpack-900-Daunenschlafsack::2787.html
Very good shot patrida!!!

 

[Greek1983]

Happy to help.

Check also this outdoor store in Turku, Finland.

http://www.scandinavianoutdoorstore.com/makuupussit-ja-makuualustat/kolmen-vuodenajan-makuupussit/

 

[Lefteris]

Happy to help.

Check also this outdoor store in Turku, Finland.

http://www.scandinavianoutdoorstore.com/makuupussit-ja-makuualustat/kolmen-vuodenajan-makuupussit/

Yeap, I know this store. I leave in Espoo, very close to Helsinki. I would need to drive ~2 hours to reach Turku. So although I cannot easily visit the shop physically, I definitely visit the online shop. Overall, it is not cheap, but this is because it has very good stuff corresponding to the high standards of the Nordic countries.
I think every now and then this shop has some good offers. I will keep an eye on it.
Kiitos (= "thanks" in Finnish)

 

[Teepee]

Only one question. Do you know if these quilts form a kind of foot bag at the bottom end? That would be great to avoid accidentally uncovering the feet during the night.

Yes Lefteris, they all have a footbox. Some are sewn, some are openable for airing. Its essentially a mummy bag with no zips and no hood where you don't need them.
Winter quilts also have an adjustable shock cord collar or similar, that goes round the back of your neck to keep them in place in the night.

I haven't got inside my sleeping bags in my hammock for a couple of years now, I just use a bag as a top quilt. Pee visits in the night are a easy

 

[Greek1983]

Yeap, I know this store. I leave in Espoo, very close to Helsinki. I would need to drive ~2 hours to reach Turku. So although I cannot easily visit the shop physically, I definitely visit the online shop. Overall, it is not cheap, but this is because it has very good stuff corresponding to the high standards of the Nordic countries.
I think every now and then this shop has some good offers. I will keep an eye on it.
Kiitos (= "thanks" in Finnish)

Unfortunately you have to pay a lot in order to get a good quality down bag. Wish you could have a much higher budget 'cos since you're going to use the bag in a hammock a centre-zip model would be ideal. I'm saving money (till forever with the current situation as it looks...) in order to get one of these military-style down bags.

http://www.carinthiashop.com/en/scripts/podrobnosti.php?IDZ=341
http://www.carinthiashop.com/en/scripts/podrobnosti.php?IDZ=184

 

[Lefteris]

Unfortunately you have to pay a lot in order to get a good quality down bag. Wish you could have a much higher budget 'cos since you're going to use the bag in a hammock a centre-zip model would be ideal. I'm saving money (till forever with the current situation as it looks...) in order to get one of these military-style down bags.

http://www.carinthiashop.com/en/scripts/podrobnosti.php?IDZ=341
http://www.carinthiashop.com/en/scripts/podrobnosti.php?IDZ=184

I like you all here. You have great ideas! Yes a center-zip bag seems a good alternative for the hammock. The one you suggest is indeed out of my budget and actually too warm for what I look for; but I do keep the tip for the center-zip bag

 

[Lefteris]

Yes Lefteris, they all have a footbox. Some are sewn, some are openable for airing. Its essentially a mummy bag with no zips and no hood where you don't need them.
Winter quilts also have an adjustable shock cord collar or similar, that goes round the back of your neck to keep them in place in the night.

I haven't got inside my sleeping bags in my hammock for a couple of years now, I just use a bag as a top quilt. Pee visits in the night are a easy

Teepee, thanks for the response! You got me to want a top quilt so bad!!!