Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => Gear Questions, Information, Reviews and Competitions => Topic started by: Wolf_Larson on August 21, 2009
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Can you get a sleeping bag thats warm but light for an irish winter ?
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have a look at the cotswolds web page there are real bargins to be had.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com
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The softie range is pretty epic packs down to nothing and is light as possible however they are syntehitic. Down is very good but for a years trip may cause problems if it gets wet.
I use a softie merlin 3 rated to 0c never had any problems with it (apart frm one night in the V. North of scotland) and a Down filled Nanok rated to -5c never had any probs with it either, just need to work up the courage to wash it!
One tip, if your going for a years trip get a sleeping bag liner, No.1 they keep it clean and if your bag starts to smell its a heck of a lot easier to wash a liner! No.2 Depending on quality and material they can actually add a few 'c's to the range of your bag for e.g. with a silk liner a -5 bag can effectively become a -7 bag (Hypothecially depends on your bag and liner etc)
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Is there a sleeping bag that could be washed and quickley dryed, and still keep you warm in winter ??
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Roughly in the world of sleeping bags down is the best insulator to weight ratio, so to keep you warm you need less down. Synth on the other hand typically will require more material to do the same job. for the length of trip you have in mind you may just need to accept that its gonna get smelly, the linner will help alot as you can wash and dry it as many times as neccesary and very quickly.
Washing a sleeping bag is a delicate business, you need to be VERY carefull as they become extremely heavy and can rip under their own weight if not handled correctly.
Down is more difficult to wash as not only do you have to worry about the exterior of the bag but the baffles can also rip (These are the compartments that hold the feathers in place preventing them from all clumping up) As well as this drying its a challange because the feathers can clump within the baffles. The only way i've really seen is to wash it in a bath and tumble dry it slowly on a low heat with a few tennis balls chucked in to knock the clumps out
I'm not sure about easy wash bags but i'll have a look for you see if I cant find anything.
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Cheers chris, top man
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http://www.helsport.com/helsport/
These chaps might be up your street. They say they manufacture their bags from nylon which doesnt absord as much moisture and dries quickly.
Also I forgot to mention that men will be able to sleep more comfortably at colder temps than women. Something to remember when your looking at the lower limit temp of you sleeping bag.
As well as this you should maybe think of spending a little less money on your sleeping bag and investing that in the best roll mat you can find. Having the worlds best bag is all well and good but with no roll mat its pretty much usless. Down sleeping bags wont insulate when compresed so when you lie in it effectively your only insulated from 3 sides therefore a mat is essential, not sure if synth is the same but def invest in a decent mat!
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Cheers chris, would them sleeping bags be easy to dryout ?
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www.mountain-equipment.co.uk/ Sleeping bags look good !
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I dont think you would overly need anything that pro for what your looking to do. To be honest with you i reckon you should be looking to spend around £30-50 on your mat and max £40 on your bag and like £10 on a liner and that would suit your needs fine. You should be able to get your whole sleep system sorted for undr 100quid no bother.
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XERO 250
Exceptionally compressible and punching well above what its weight would suggest, this superb minimalist bag was a winner of the 2007 European Outdoor Industry Award for innovation.
TECHNICAL DATA
TOTAL WEIGHT
600g
FILL WEIGHT
250
PACKED SIZE
16cm x 19cm
EXTREME TEMPERATURE
-10°C
COMFORT LIMIT TEMPERATURE
4°C
COMFORT TEMPERATURE
8°C
SLEEPZONE
25 to 0°C
THIS ONE LOOKS GOOD I THINK ?
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It rarely drops much below -5 at sea level (need to adjust about 1 degree per 100m altitude), and the coldest temperature ever recorded anywhere in Northern Ireland was -17.5 in 1979, so with a bivi bag or tent, your clothes on you and a decent carry mat you should be fine in one of these:
(http://www.family-camping-supplies.co.uk/prod_images/tuscany-bag-200.gif)
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;D Cheers Drybag
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WIGGYS SLEEPING BAGS
Ultra Light
Product #: 6.12.1
Temperature Rating:
+20 Degrees F
FTRSS: -20 Degrees F
Style: Mummy
www.wiggys.com/
Colors: Black, Olive Green, Royal Blue
Stuff Sack Size:
11" x 20"
(Uncompressed)
Compression Stuff Sack & Pillow Included
FTRSS (2 Bag System) CORE BAG
WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK LADS, AS AN ALL ROUNDER ??
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lightest, warmest goose down sleeping bags
Does anybody know much about this ?
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http://www.helsport.com/helsport/
These chaps might be up your street. They say they manufacture their bags from nylon which doesnt absord as much moisture and dries quickly.
Also I forgot to mention that men will be able to sleep more comfortably at colder temps than women. Something to remember when your looking at the lower limit temp of you sleeping bag.
As well as this you should maybe think of spending a little less money on your sleeping bag and investing that in the best roll mat you can find. Having the worlds best bag is all well and good but with no roll mat its pretty much usless. Down sleeping bags wont insulate when compresed so when you lie in it effectively your only insulated from 3 sides therefore a mat is essential, not sure if synth is the same but def invest in a decent mat!
Its pretty much common sense that insulation that you are lying on will compress, down suffers from it just the same as synth will. The problem might be accentuated by the fact that down will compress more (hence why it packs so small), but anyone that sleeps on the ground without a roll mat is plain stupid in my eyes as the ground will suck away a lot of your warmth. Any sleeping bag is pretty much worthless if any heat you have is being sucked away by the ground, something I know from plenty experience in cadets. From the meet on Bearnagh I got the idea that people seem to think that because down compresses under you its useless if you roll over, but it will re-loft and keep you warm. Although more expensive, if you're going to be in a tent ( therefore dry unless it fails), I would always tell someone to buy down, PHD, Western Mountaineering, Cumulus, or Alpkit would be good places to start. If you are using a bivi bag then again down should not be taken off the list, and if you were clean baselayers in your bag, then it shouldn't need cleaned often at all. Down has a longer working life than synth, and is the first call for anyone on any serious expeditions. Although less useful at keeping you warm than synth when wet, both will be pretty shit if you get proper soaked, nothing thats wet will keep you warm, and it a down bag needs to get pretty wet for it to be useless
An insulating jacket/vest would be high on my list of things to get as well, (snugpak,primaloft or down filled.) If it gets lower than yoyure sleeping bag can handle then a insulating jacket will help keep jack frost away for the mean time.
If you're really going to be using it for a year or more, then I would think seriously about your kit choices. If youre in a tent, then you're going to be dry unless it leaks or breaks, which is a reason why I would maybe look at something better than the action pro, however it is plenty good to start with. This doesn't mean going for Hilleberg or Terra Nova, but something in the middleground. Likewise if youre sleeping out for a year plus I'd be looking at an exped downmat/synthmat to sleep on, they are top dollar but also the best matts you can buy, sure a £10 foam mat would do, but you'll be sleeping on it for a year. Anybody can rough it!
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Cheers ulsterwalker good info learned a wee thing there.
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Western Mountaineering Antelope Super DL
I was looking about and people seem to talk good things about this sleeping bag.
I dont know mush about temp, would this keep you warm in the winter ??
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didnt know you were in the cadets mate, what detachment? I was in dromore det. f coy. Your 23 arnt you? we actually prob meet before!
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get yourselfs a good army 58 pattern sleeping system on ebay abit heavy but bloody warm!
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get yourselfs a good army 58 pattern sleeping system on ebay abit heavy but bloody warm!
I dont realy want army stuff.
What do you think of the Western Mountaineering Antelope Super DL DEE666 will it do a cold winter here as its only a 3 season bag ?
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Ive been looking alot a sleeping bags latley and the Western Mountaineering Antelope Super DL, gets top marks everywhere can anyone find a bad thing about them bar the price. ?
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get yourselfs a good army 58 pattern sleeping system on ebay abit heavy but bloody warm!
I dont realy want army stuff.
What do you think of the Western Mountaineering Antelope Super DL DEE666 will it do a cold winter here as its only a 3 season bag ?
As Drybag said it rarely dips below -5 so it should do wiht a thermarest,gor-tex bivi and fleece or silk bag liner youi dhould be warm enough to sleep sound .
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Cheers Dee666
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given up on your plan to wash it on the trail then!
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Yeh i think warm is better as i cant have the best of both worlds :'(
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i did mention getting a liner, then you can wash that no bother, ergo, the best of both worlds.
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Cheers chris.
ergo, is that the make of the liner ?
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nah ergo just means therefore.
I'm sure you'll find gazillions of liners about the place i think they are usually silk which is warmer, ligher and packs smaller but you pay more for and cotten which isnt a great wicker but is cheap and easy washed.
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Cheers again chirs.
You learn something every day ( ergo ) ;D
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On Saturday I was told to make a list of stuff I need or should that be want, from Santa. Called into Cotswold at Boucher Cresent. It's just like a Santa's Grotto and though Santa wasn't to be seen some of his Elves were there. I browsed for a bit then one of them assisted me. On my list is:-
a new lighter weight/pack size sleeping bag, one or maybe two walking poles, a soft shell and/or a synthetic mid layer jacket and perhaps a pair of soft shell trousers. Not looking much, don't want to be greedy!
The sleeping bag would be first on the list. I'm using a Hi-Gear Snooza 300 with a hollowfibre fill as recommended for Duke of Ed activities, it was my son's. It has been warm enough but a little bulky and heavy at 1.85kg which I'd like to reduce.
One that John at Cotswold recommended was the Mountain Hardware Lamina 35 Reg which weighs in at just over 1kg and would be ideal for my use, warm enough for Mournes 3-season.
At lot has been written here about the various s'bags available however has anyone any experience or comments on the Mountain Hardware Lamina 35 Reg ?
Thank you.
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I have the same bag chum, as far as I am concerned it's fantastic. Last night during the Mourne way walk it probably dropped to -2 ish. I would not say I was cold in it but I would not want to push it much lower without a liner. I was only sleeping in a base layer and boxers.
During the summer, it's not to hot so all in all it's a great bag
Matthew
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Matthew, thank you for responding. I can put a tick beside that bit of kit, which will hopefully encourage and enable me to get out more often.
Thanks,
George.