Hi guy,

Heading out for my first trip early October for a week. Only thing I can't make my Mind up on is the sleeping bag. I will be sleeping in a tent on a matt. Any help would be great?

Thanks in advance

Marc

What's your budget? Where are you heading?

October can be chilly and I'm a cold sleeper, I'd be in a zero rated sleeping bag or quilt

Heading to wales. Like most people trying to keep the cost down but I do want quality. The other thing is...I'm 5,6" and stocky so would be looking for some room.

Cheers

Can you be more specific about your budget?

'Quality' means three figures really, how far into that can you stretch?

Have a look in the classifieds, richpips is selling some sleeping bags that'll fit your budget and your size?

Short is helpful for sleeping bags, how stocky is stocky? Unless you waist is over 40 inches and your chest over 50 inches I doubt there'd be a problem is a normal sleeping bag

Wales in Oct can be very cold or actually quite pleasant but chances are it won't be far off freezing in the early hours, so as Ben says, I'd aim for something with a 0 comfort rating.

The SkyeHigh 500 from Alpkit wouldn't be a bad buy @ £150. It's not the lightest bag out there but should serve you well for years. However, a little searching has turned up the Mountain Equipment Dragon 500 - similar to the SkyeHigh but the spec is a little higher ... even betterer is the fact that you can buy one for £140 discounted from £240. 'Tis much big bargain.

https://www.tauntonleisure.com/mountain ... ngria.html

cheers for the tips. I tried a Rab assent 500 today which fitted fine.

Bearbonesnorm wrote:...a 0 comfort rating...

That sounds like a particularly miserable experience. But not necessarily inaccurate... .

That sounds like a particularly miserable experience. But not necessarily inaccurate... .

Aye, I've had a few nights like that

I wonder if I might be permitted to chip in that I'm currently perched on a hill somewhere near Mam Tor in Edale and I can't feel my fingers and it's not even October yet! Even the midges hsve run away now. Just about to insert myself into a Minim K (390g, +8c) so if I don't post a BaM this week please can someone send out a search party? Don't feel too sorry for me though because I have two bottles of Bakewell Bitter and several, er, quizzical-looking sheep keeping me company.

'Reg'

Eight replies and no mention of a quilt.

You guys are slipping.

It's at home on the bed where it belongs . I like to slip into summat cosy of an evening. I can feel my fingers again now i'm wrapped up hence able to type this .

Eight replies and no mention of a quilt.

First reply ... pay attention Colin

RIP wrote:Just about to insert myself into a ..., er, quizzical-looking sheep...

RIP wrote:...I like to slip into summat cosy of an evening. I can feel my fingers again now i'm wrapped up...

Does that mean you're "woolpacking", Reg?

Quilt: It's at home on the bed where it belongs . I like to slip into something cosy of an evening. All wrapped up now hence able type this. 'Nite John-Boy...g'night Mary-Ellen... 'Nite Jim-Bob... (*)

(*) Google will help our younger brethren...

Sorry - double-post thete due to frozen fingers and crap signal up here! Yes Pete that's uncannily accurate

Purchased the Dragon 500. First night out next Monday.

Thanks for your advice. Will let you know

Has anyone tried the British Army Arctic Sleeping bag? It's been mentioned a few times on various Faceache threads as a decent bit of kit for cold sleepers but I'm still in two minds about whether to get one. A Cairngorms weekender in late October isn't the place for sub standard kit.
Thoughts and advice welcomed.

Have you seen how heavy and bulky the mod bags are?

Nearly everything for the forces has to balance price with robustness/quality

So it's usually excellent value but at the more robust end of the scale. So as Stu says not the best idea for a bikepacker. As an example, the MVP bivi bags are excellent, but heavy and do not pack down well

The mod bags are very warm and robust but make my Buffalo super bag look compact

I'd be looking at a cumulus 350...Oh that's right I am

Mike wrote:I'd be looking at a cumulus 350...Oh that's right I am

If the 350's anything like the 150 then it will be very good. After the Cairngorms Loop we were camping at Blair Atholl and I began to feel a bit cold early in the morning. Got up to find the tent and car covered in ice My wife was in a Marmot bag rated to -6C and felt cold, the Cumulus 150 is comfort rated to 9c and limit rated to 4C so no wonder I was chilly.

benp1 wrote:Nearly everything for the forces has to balance price with robustness/quality

So it's usually excellent value but at the more robust end of the scale. So as Stu says not the best idea for a bikepacker. As an example, the MVP bivi bags are excellent, but heavy and do not pack down well

Don't buy anything MoD; you might get it cheap, second hand, and they are built to last (although it will have spent most of its life stored compressed, just to kill the filling), but horrendously over-engineered; probably 5 times heavier and 10 times bulkier than a top end modern down bag with the same insulation.

I've started mulling over doing the Winter Event. Have just checked out my bags rating and it has Comfort Temp of 3, Comfort Limit of -2 and a Good Nights Sleep (whatever that is) temp of -5°C. Any idea how this would translate into suitability for the winter event? A bit on the cold side I would guess?

Edit: and when you talk about the comfort rating, is that the comfort temp or the comfort limit?

Depends how warm you sleep, and where you sleep

You'll be plenty warm in a bothy and probably fine somewhere sheltered like the woods. Will be chilly in the open

I'd take that, a bivy bag and if worried a fleece liner. Worst case scenario you're cold, you won't die and it'll be a good test of kit