sleeping bag recommendations

[samid]

IME space is the most precious commodity while cycle touring so I make do with the lightest down mummy bag I could find: Western Mountaineering Megalite, rated to -2C. It is not the warmest bag out there - but I find it adequate, especially with a silk liner - and it packs to less than the size of a rugby ball including the liner and a beanie hat. If I get cold I put on wool socks tights and so on. Whisky also helps to fight the cold

 

[willem]

I agree with Samid that volume is at least as important as weight. Keep the volume down, and you can avoid front panniers plus rack. Use the money you save to buy a high quality sleep system, because that is where most volume reduction is possible. I managed easily without front panniers on a recent trip to Norway, with enough cold (and wet) weather gear to cope with minus 5 or perhaps even minus 10.
The story begins with a light, compact and warm mattress. I think at the moment at 660 grams an Exped Synmat Basic is your best compromise for the weather you describe, and relatively cheap. For a bag I would always choose down, and in the UK PHD are the best (I love mine). Get a minimus 300 Dryshell in their next sale, and you should be fine. The snag is that they are narrow. However, you can ask for a wider one, which they will do for no or only a small surcharge. If you really want something more spaceous, you do indeed want a rectangular bag. In Holland these are still very common (with a zip all around so you can also use them as a quilt or with a second one as a large bag for two). Here is a link to a high class workshop that do them made to measure: http://www.tatteljee...eepingbags.html The alternative is to use a quilt style system, such as are increasingly popular among the US ultralight crowd. A compromise would be a top bag system, where you only have a bag at the top, and use the mattress to keep you warm from below. These are excellent for two (we have one from Tatteljee: http://www.tatteljee...eepersoons.html), but the advantages are less for a solo bag. Finally, you can extend the temperature range of your bag considerably with a down vest. Wear it inside your bag when you need it, but not when you don't.
Willem

 

[TheBoyBilly]

+1 for SnugPak. Loads of motorcyclist mates of mine swear by them for use on events like February's Dragon Rally.
Not cheap but excellent performance and quality.

Bill

 

[Riding in Circles]

I'm looking for a good sleeping bag for touring (april-sept). I'd like something which packs as small as possible leaving plenty of pannier room for beer, yet is pretty toasty in say mid april in the north of england.

I've never got on well with mummy type bags and prefer them parallel rather than tapered, and I'm 6'3"


In my experience one never knows how good a bag is until 6am, so I'm reluctant to splash out on something which may not cut the mustard.

You would probably be fine with a mummy bag if you got one the correct length, sleeping bags are available in different lengths, you only need a one or two season bag and then supplement with a base layer if you get cold.

 

[porteous]

I've kicked about with the army for the last 30 years and am a Joint Service Mountain Leadership cert holder. I seem to have spent half my life in bags supplied by the lowest bidder!

A sleep mat is essential, and mated with a good down filled 3 season bag will see you OK above freezing almost anywhere you can get a bicycle in the UK. Don't touch a bag with a zip, they lose heat. A 3 season bag + some clothing for chilly weather, same bag minus clothes for summer. (get it properly cleaned every season or use a cotton liner).

Buy from a proper mountain equipment supplier, preferably in N Wales or Scotland from people that spend real time out using the kit. Avoid Halfords, Argos,etc. Blacks not too bad if you must buy in a big town.

Previous advice about sizes spot on, mummy bag much the best design. Make them let you get into it to try for size ( I suppose you ought to take your shoes off first). Also ensure it comes with a good compression sack, a you will be surprised just how small a good down filled bag will pack down to.

Down bags will compress better, so more room for beer!

Be prepared to pay a little more to get real quality.
Toodle Pip

 

[jay clock]

Zoof, can you give some examples of where and when you have toured. You sound like you haven't. A 1400g bag you recommend is extremely heavy.Over 3 times heavier than my lighter one and 800g heavier than my winter one ( see above). Also a big factor in warmth is a good ground layer. The Exped mats are massively more comfy.

Do you know many commercial sites that allow fires, or if stealth camping, how you stay stealth with a fire? Finally, if really cold, you will presumably be in the tent,so how to use the fire to keep warm.

Perhaps you have someonline journals so we can learn from your expert skills.

(I am normally nice as pie to newbiesbut something about Zoof's postings makes me have an odd feeling. The slightly over-knowledgeable tone coupled with what most people would take as poor advice. Like this https://www.cyclechat.net/ )

 

[MontyVeda]

I too was somewhat baffled by "WEIGHT WEIGHT WEIGHT the way you're going you're going to need two mules to carry it..." comment.

So far in this thread I'm taking a sleeping bag (yet to purchase) a down mat (on it's way, thanks Aramok ), a fleece, some LJ's and some tinnies (space permitting)! So where I'm going wrong weight wise I've no idea

However I do appreciate everybodies advice... keep it coming

 

[MontyVeda]

IME space is the most precious commodity while cycle touring so I make do with the lightest down mummy bag I could find: Western Mountaineering Megalite, rated to -2C. It is not the warmest bag out there - but I find it adequate, especially with a silk liner - and it packs to less than the size of a rugby ball including the liner and a beanie hat. If I get cold I put on wool socks tights and so on. Whisky also helps to fight the cold

I love the idea that it packs to the size of a rugby ball... but the price is making me think "how many nights is that in a Travelodge?"

 

[andym]

Finally, you can extend the temperature range of your bag considerably with a down vest. Wear it inside your bag when you need it, but not when you don't.

Call me Mr Wimpy but I've gone the whole hog and invested in a PHD Ultradown Jacket and Minimus trousers to give me a really flexible sleeping bag and an alternative to crawling into the sleeping bag to keep warm.

 

[willem]

You mean as in: "instead of"?
Willem

 

[stephenjubb]

Call me Mr Wimpy but I've gone the whole hog and invested in a PHD Ultradown Jacket and Minimus trousers to give me a really flexible sleeping bag and an alternative to crawling into the sleeping bag to keep warm.

Great idea, I've done the same, I'm currently camping down south and am using a 2 season mountain hardware lamina 45, and sleeping in temperatures down to zero. I have same clothing above (plus down socks) and combined with the sleeping bag aboce are a modular sleeping system at under 1.4 kilos.

The advantage is I can wear them around campsite (not easy wearing a sleeping bag) or whereever I am in cold weather and they are a very flexibile solution to the sleeping bag only method.

Having said that don't rely on them on their own, I find the sleeping bag above brings it all together nicely, using them combined always seems warmer than just wearing the socks, jacket and trousers to sleep in.

 

[pshore]

April in the north of England :-) OK, so that's anything from 10 to -10 isn't it ? Are you really wanting to cover all temperatures or will you abort the holiday if it is too cold ?


You can increase the warmth of your bag.

• More clothes (if they are not wet)
• Wear a hat.
• Tighten the shoulder baffle.
• Add a Silk liner - mine is so damn hot it has always stayed as backup.

Personally, I find that after a day of cycling and a beer I'll sleep in anything and on anything provided its warm enough.

Phil.

 

[samid]

I love the idea that it packs to the size of a rugby ball... but the price is making me think "how many nights is that in a Travelodge?"

I never stayed at Travelodge but since you asked I looked up their prices on www.travelodge.co.uk, clicking into a random point in Scotland to get the rates. A table popped up with nightly rates ranging anywhere from 19 to 65 pounds per night, most being about 25-30 pounds. My bag is CAD$415 - that is currently about 250 pounds. So, to answer your question - you can stay about 10 nights at Travelodge for the price of the bag. Considering that a good down bag will serve for many years - IMO this is a bargain

 

[jay clock]

The PHD equilvalent to that Canadian bag is cheaper (I paid £168 in the sale and that included about £25 extra to upgrade to drishell). It is also lighter by a few grams. And packs tiny

As for the Travelodge comparison, on the basis that mostly when cycle touring I book the same day, so I had a quick look for tonight. Average of 4 closest is £58. So about 2.5 nights in a Travelodge for my PHD bag

 

[willem]

In the UK, a similar quality PHD bag is even cheaper. Anyway, top quality camping gear is indeed not that expensive compared to hostels, B&B's, hotels etc. I am surprised every time when people suggest going B&B the first few times before spending bigger money on serious gear. A complete good quality camping outfit (tent, mattress, sleeping bag, stove and rear panniers) will cost something like 600 pounds. The same in top quality about 1000 pounds. Spread it over 20 nights, and you have 30-50 pounds per night, which is about the range of what you spend per day on decent/nice accommodation and meals. You can fiddle a bit with the numbers, but the point is simply that you earn back your expenditure on good kit within one year, or two at the most.
Willem