Lighwieght sleeping bag for feb/march

[Elflick]

I'm wanting to do some cycle touring (just 2,3,4 days at a time) over march and april, and into the summer, south England. I was thinking what sleeping bag to buy. It has to be fairly cheap - under £40 preferably, and lighweight.

I was looking at the Highlander pac tec 1.2kg £33 3-4 season. It says the temperature range is -10 to 12C. I can't find many reviews on this particular bag, but I've read reviews for similar sleeping bags and it seems like the specs may not always be accurate! People saying they got cold in mild weather etc.

Anyone got experience of this sleeping bag, or any other recommendations?

Also, are sleeping bag liners any good? I did wonder whether it might be better to make the weight and price a priority over warmth and then take a fleece liner with me. Then in the summer I have a nice lightweight sleeping bag to take around. Or wear thermal underwear.

I'm totally new to all this -so any info is appreciated!

 

[Russell Allen]

With sleeping bags as all things you get what you pay for.

If you arent too worried about size and weight then there are plenty of synthetic fill bags that will do the trick perfectly well

For example cheaper bag 2.35 kg but perfectly servicable and warm

If you need it to pack small and be light then its going to cost

For example Rolls royce 465 grams of small pack heaven

Russell

 

[jay clock]

I have two PHD bags. Very light and very warm. Most brands have a temperature range but to be honest, cheap ones saying 10-12 degrees should be taken with a pinch of salt. The weights are also suspect. I have Blacks one that weighs 1200g and says 900g on the bag.

You will be very lucky to get a night of 10-12 degrees in southern England in Feb/March

A key issue for warmth is ground insulation. I have an Exped Downmat which helps massively in this regard

 

[Dave Davenport]

I just bought a Vango ultralite 300 for £40 (reduced from £60) which is 1200g 3 season, not used it in anger yet but it looks pretty good.

 

[willem]

Be realistic. Cheap, light and warm: pick any two. I think the best bet in budget touring sleep systems for the colder season where you are not wasting your money is the combination of the 90 pounds Alpkit Skyehigh 600 down bag and the 60-70 pound Exped Synmat Basic mattress. This combination is warm to just below freezing, fairly light at about 2 kg, and quite compact. Cheap synthetic bags are large to pack, so what you save on the sleeping bag you spend on an extra pannier or racktop bag. Synthetic bags also loose their warmth rather quickly.
Willem

 

[andym]

I was looking at the Highlander pac tec 1.2kg £33 3-4 season. It says the temperature range is -10 to 12C. I can't find many reviews on this particular bag, but I've read reviews for similar sleeping bags and it seems like the specs may not always be accurate! People saying they got cold in mild weather etc.

One problem is that people's perceptions are very different - Americans talk about 'warm sleepers' and 'cold sleepers' so a sleeping bag that is warm for some people won't be warm enough for others (eg the PHD Minimus that someone else linked to - my experience was that I would only use it as a summer bag).

I'd be very wary though of a claim that a bag is comfortable over a temperature range of more than 20 degrees.

I'd generally agree with willem's advice, although I have been pretty happy with the synthetic bags I've bought from Decathlon. I'd also add that at that time of year I'd wear thermals and a wooly hat at night to extend the temperature range of the bag.

Bag liners help but not much - they are useful for helping keep your bag clean, and for sleeping in hostels, but when it comes to keeping arm you'd be better off (IMO) wearing an extra set of thermals. I have used a fleece liner bag on its own but only in high summer - they do offer some flexibility but i'm not convinced that they provide enough to justify the extra weight.

 

[hubbike]

a sleeping bag is less useful than clothes which can be worn both day and night!

consider calibrating your bag (+/- 5 degrees) with a down jacket and fleece trousers.

or

sleep naked -some say its warmer.

 

[Dave Davenport]

or

sleep naked -some say its warmer.

Depends if there's someone else in there with you

 

[Elflick]

Ta for the replies! Finally got into town today to look at some sleeping bags and you are right - you do get what you pay for! The more expensive ones are so much lighter!
Think what I'm going to do is borrow one off a friend and take thermals with me. This is my first trip so I really don't want to be spending loads of money if I may not be using stuff very often - we'll see how this trip goes!
I think I will buy a mattress though as I want to be comfortable! Probably the Gelert Xpedition 3/4 - only 700g.

For now I'll just have to carry heavier stuff and be a bit more uncomfortable - until I get hooked (and can afford it) will buy some decent kit!

 

[willem]

Enjoy your first trips. I am sure you will love it. And if it is too cold the first night, remember summer will come. Early Spring or late Autumn is perhaps more for those with a bit more experience, and pricier gear. But good luck.
Willem

 

[Saundie]

I have a SnugPak Travelpak Lite which cost me about £30. It's 850g and packs up very small - I can fit it inside my Alpkit Hunka bivy bag and stuff the whole thing inside an 8l dry bag. I used the Snugpak bag out in the woods around Bristol a few weeks ago, and as you might expect I was very cold with just the bag. Augmented with a thermal blanket and all of my clothes, it wasn't too bad (this was without anything between me and the ground, to make matters worse). The temperature was around 0C and there was sleet falling at the time, so I was pushing far beyond that 2C extreme limit it's rated to!

The point of this is that you are right to borrow somebody else's kit for your first time, to try it out and see what you works for you. Reviews can only give you a rough guide as to how well a product will suit you, after all