Sleeping bag for this season in Scottish Highlands?

[Time Waster]

We've been around the country camping before now in the March/April boundary period except for Scottish Highlands and Islands. Usually may/June boundary for that in the past.

I was wondering what comfort rating for sleeping bag would you take?

I know it's personal but I'm looking at views across the board on this if possible. I'm not sure whether to bite the bullet and spend money or not.

 

[mikael4895]

I suggest you to get a sleeping bag basing on your needs. If you like it soft or a little stronger, it depends on many factors and can depend on the weather too. I'd like to share with you something I found online about comfort ratings:

Upper limit – the highest temperature the average male can expect to have a comfortable night’s sleep at without too much sweating.

Comfort – the temperature at which the average adult woman can expect to have a comfortable sleep.

Lower limit – the temperature at which the average adult male can expect to have a good night’s sleep in a curled position.

Extreme – the lowest temperature at which the average adult woman can survive. This rating comes with caution and additional consideration should be given if you plan to sleep in temperatures this low.

You can choose basing on these definitions

 

[Chief Broom]

We've been around the country camping before now in the March/April boundary period except for Scottish Highlands and Islands. Usually may/June boundary for that in the past.

I was wondering what comfort rating for sleeping bag would you take?

I know it's personal but I'm looking at views across the board on this if possible. I'm not sure whether to bite the bullet and spend money or not.

The highest there is! a bit of spring sun shine one minute and freezing the next...factor in a wind chill factor and its hyperthermia I sold my home in somerset in early march in 2014 and headed to the highlands...my dogs water bowl would often be frozen solid in the mornings i found a bothy to stay in for a few weeks. If its sunny alls well and enjoy but be prepared for the worse!

 

[Sea of vapours]

That's not a readily answerable question without knowing a bit more about *where* you will be camping (and I'm assuming 'camping' means 'in a tent' rather than 'in a bivy bag' or 'under a tarp'). I tend to sleep on top of mountains in Scotland, or at least very high, and without a tent, so that requires a warmer bag than in a sheltered valley.

Anywhere low, meaning most camp sites, and which isn't on the coast, then something referring to itself as 'three seasons' should be OK. That also assumes a decent sleeping mat / pad / mattress as heat loss to the ground is a huge factor in comfort.

Personally, at this time of year, low down and in a tent, I'd use a high-rated sleeping mat and a two season bag, but I 'sleep warm' (and don't own a bag which calls itself three season). High up, meaning a thousand metres or more, I tend to use a four season bag up until May, at least, since being too warm isn't overly problematic (especially when not in a tent as cooling down is easy).

 

[oldwheels]

It can be pretty cold in June some years so go for the warmest you can afford. I went touring for a week once in June with winter gear tho’ staying in hostels at that time when they were proper hostels and not the pretendy hotels like nowadays.

 

[matticus]

I'm not sure whether to bite the bullet and spend money or not.

Did you see the recent thread about camping gear rental? I can't find it right now, but would be worth looking at.

 

[Ridgeway]

5 seasons bag for me up high at this time of year (4 season mountain). Too chuffing cold at night otherwise. Ground is still frozen here at 1500m ie don’t forget that the sleeping mat is just as important.

 

[iluvmybike]

March/April could be spring like or full on winter and very cold in some of the glens. A good quality down winter bag will compress quite well - but don't get down bags wet - it makes the down clump together and can go mouldy - makes the bag less effective

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Did you see the recent thread about camping gear rental? I can't find it right now, but would be worth looking at.

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/rent-tents-bivis-sleeping-bags-rucksacks-jackets-etc.284024/

 

[Blue Hills]

Can I ask where you are @Time Waster ?

 

[Andy_R]

March/April in the Highlands - 4 season bag. If it gets too warm you can always unzip. If your bag isn't warm enough then you're in trouble.

 

[Andy_R]

If you don't have a 4 season bag, you can always double bag. A mummy bag inside a square bag works really well. It all depends on what you are willing to carry. At this time of year, camping in the Highlands, I would look for indoor accomodation. Even if it's just a barn. The weather can change in such a short time.

 

[Sallar55]

You could carry some winter merino thermals long sleeve and bottoms to up a 2/3 season bag. , Saved me a few times as the weather can change quite fast, and they can be used as another layer for cycling if really cold.