Sleeping Bags

[Borderhugh]

Looking for suggestions on sleeping bags. Ideally 3-4 season, not too heavy and compact. Needs to be able to cope with -5 to -10.

[Iainm]

Have you looked at Alpkit?

I have an Alpkit bag that is rated to -5C (limit) which I have been using year round, I'm really happy with it and it's been warm enough in winter for me, but the urge to collect gear has recently had me considering a new bag specifically for winter.

I have been looking at the alpine dream 700, I haven't compared the specs/price with other options yet.

https://www.alpkit.com/products/alpinedream-700

It's out of stock at the moment, so not much use if you need something urgently.

[whiteburn]

If the budget is reasonable I would look at the Cumulus range, the higher grade down means that they pack smaller than say the Alpkit bags & are lighter, delivery from Poland is around a week (DHL), specifically:

Cumulus LiteLine 400; -4C, 755g; http://sleepingbags-cumulus.eu/uk/categories/sleeping-bags/lite-line-400?gid=61&vid=6

Cumulus Panyam 450; -6C, 835g; http://sleepingbags-cumulus.eu/uk/categories/sleeping-bags/panyam-450?gid=59&vid=6

Cumulus Panyam 600; -13C, 1000g; http://sleepingbags-cumulus.eu/uk/categories/sleeping-bags/panyam-600?gid=59&vid=6

[FromDownSouth]

Hi Hugh,

An alternative to full sleeping bags is the quilt.

The idea behind them is that when you consider that the back of the sleeping bag is compressed due to lying on it and offers no insulation, then why have such a reverse and not just remove it? Saves on weight and cost ultimately.

These guys from US have excellent reviews from US thru hikers giving great warmth for less weight.

Aarrggh! As a "new user" I'm prohibited from posting the URL?!? WT heck

Search for "enlightened equipment" using your favourite search engine!

For example, their "Revelation" quilt filled with 900 fill water repellent down for regular 6ft length and 54" width weighs is rated to -12c and weights just 588 grams.

Yes under 600 grams!

Cost is also quoted at £255.89 (ex. shipping and potential import taxes one assumes) which is comparable/cheaper for similar rated bags.

[rockhopper]

Happy so far with a Mountain Equipment Xero 350 - think it has been updated though. Weighs a little over 700gr with sleepzone down to -5. Find it OK for April - September incl summit camps. Generally also use a "silk" liner (very light and cheap from ebay) which adds a little warmth and keeps it clean inside with very little extra weight - cheers

[berenos]

Difficult one, as much depends on budget, weight limit and how warm you sleep.
I have a Mammut Winter UL Sphere (750 grams of down) and it has kept me really warm summit camping in true winter conditions (-8 Celcius at night, 1100 grams for XL version). I chose this one as I found it for less than half price, otherwise rather than other options such as the rab Neutrino 600 or 800. For non-winter conditions I'd guess that a Rab neutrino 400 (or equivalent) would suffice for summit camping (which is all I do), which means less weight (80 grams for regular length version) and more compactness.

[Caberfeidh]

Hi Hugh, An alternative to full sleeping bags is the quilt. The idea behind them is that when you consider that the back of the sleeping bag is compressed due to lying on it and offers no insulation, then why have such a reverse and not just remove it? Saves on weight and cost ultimately. These guys from US have excellent reviews from US thru hikers giving great warmth for less weight.
Aarrggh! As a "new user" I'm prohibited from posting the URL?!? WT heck Search for "enlightened equipment" using your favourite search engine! For example, their "Revelation" quilt filled with 900 fill water repellent down for regular 6ft length and 54" width weighs is rated to -12c and weights just 588 grams. Yes under 600 grams! Cost is also quoted at £255.89 (ex. shipping and potential import taxes one assumes) which is comparable/cheaper for similar rated bags.

That sounds ridiculous. Are you by any chance a quilt salesman? A Snugpak 3 Season bag with synthetic fill is great for Scotland, if the weather is chilly wear your fleece and put your coat over the top of you. It cost about £70, and has lasted me for years. And a foam rollmat is about a fiver. For camping in winter I put the Snugpak inside a Buffalo 4-season outer.

[Iainm]

If the budget is reasonable I would look at the Cumulus range, the higher grade down means that they pack smaller than say the Alpkit bags & are lighter, delivery from Poland is around a week (DHL), specifically:

Cumulus LiteLine 400; -4C, 755g; http://sleepingbags-cumulus.eu/uk/categories/sleeping-bags/lite-line-400?gid=61&vid=6

Cumulus Panyam 450; -6C, 835g; http://sleepingbags-cumulus.eu/uk/categories/sleeping-bags/panyam-450?gid=59&vid=6

Cumulus Panyam 600; -13C, 1000g; http://sleepingbags-cumulus.eu/uk/categories/sleeping-bags/panyam-600?gid=59&vid=6

I hadn't heard of this company before, so I took a look at their site. They have a nice range, although weight vs temp rating is very similar to Alpkit in all except Alpkits cheapest range and Cumulus seems a bit pricier after rough conversion from euros.

I'm adding the Panyam 600 (-13c, 1000g, £235ish) to my list of possibles along with the alpine dream 700 (-17c, 1200g, £200).

[FromDownSouth]

That sounds ridiculous. Are you by any chance a quilt salesman? A Snugpak 3 Season bag with synthetic fill is great for Scotland, if the weather is chilly wear your fleece and put your coat over the top of you. It cost about £70, and has lasted me for years. And a foam rollmat is about a fiver. For camping in winter I put the Snugpak inside a Buffalo 4-season outer.

Lol! Nope, just sharing information.

The post was asking about -12c and this company is something that I have on my radar and thought that it fit the bill on what was being asked. It is rated to -12c and is lighter to carry than the traditional bags that have also been put forward in the other posts.

Just sharing the info man, just sharing the info

[FromDownSouth]

That sounds ridiculous. Are you by any chance a quilt salesman? A Snugpak 3 Season bag with synthetic fill is great for Scotland, if the weather is chilly wear your fleece and put your coat over the top of you. It cost about £70, and has lasted me for years. And a foam rollmat is about a fiver. For camping in winter I put the Snugpak inside a Buffalo 4-season outer.

Comparing against the other post for Cumulus Panyam 600, the quilt is similar temp rated, a similar price (or less if you reduce the down fill) but is approx. 40% less weight.

When out walking I look at lugging as little around as I can.

My preference is to carry just a mat and this quilt (two items) versus carrying a heavier sleeping bag, a sleeping mat with little R value, then an additional outer plus then still wear clothes to go to sleep.

So why ridiculous?

Surely not because of cost as it similar to other quoted sleeping bags. Surely not weight as it weighs less than other quoted sleeping bags. Surely not because of needing to carry additional items so that I can get a warm sleep?

Just putting forward something that I thought fit the bill of the post's question and may be of interest to others, not challenging the traditional methods

[copacetic]

I recently replaced my old Alpkit Pipedream 600 with an Alpine Dream 700 and find it a significant upgrade.. Was out in below zero temps at the weekend in relative comfort. I'm a very cold sleeper in comparison with my partner, who is happy in the older Pipedream bag. The Alpine Dream seems better made, is a slightly different cut and tips the scales at around 1100g. Good value compared to the more major brands, although from IainM's post it appears their supply problems aren't yet a thing of the past.. I actually visited their factory shop as I was down that way, and found them a friendly enthusiastic bunch.

I find the temp ratings on bags slightly specious as your comfort will depend as much on the mat underneath you and what you wear inside the bag - wearing Icebreaker merino makes a huge difference to me, as does having a mat with a decent R-value. Think of it as a system - which for me also includes eating something hot before getting my head down. A wee dram or two is of course part of the system!

[prog99]

I recently replaced my old Alpkit Pipedream 600 with an Alpine Dream 700

I struggle along with a pipedream 400... fine in summer but in winter even indoors you need all your layers on!

[Iainm]

I recently replaced my old Alpkit Pipedream 600 with an Alpine Dream 700

I struggle along with a pipedream 400... fine in summer but in winter even indoors you need all your layers on!

I must sleep very warm then. I have the old model pipedream 400 and it has been ok for me in winter. I use a warm liner, thermarest xtherm mat and sleep in merino base layers in winter and this has been fine for me down to around -6c. I actually find this bag too warm and have to sleep with it open in spring/summer.