Sleeping Bag & Liner

[Foxy]

Now that I have my tent & stove, next on my lightweight and West Highland Way shopping list is a sleeping bag and shell/liner.

Am considering this from Alpkit along with their bivvy bag but am open to suggestions before I place my order.

Thanks in advance.

https://www.alpkit.com/products/pipedream-300

[chickenblencathera]

Cannot comment on the bag, but the bivi is a good option. Used it for the first time a week ago and whilst there was frost on the outside the inside remained perfectly dry and without any build up of condensation. My other half is 6' and 14 stone and he went for the XL bivi bag and that suited him, he had tried the std bivi but it was a bit on the small side.

[Foxy]

Thanks for the reply. I will be using a tent but just want the bivvy as an extra layer and to make sure my bag stays dry.

[mrssanta]

Always found alpkit stuff to be good and their customer service is excellent.

[Alteknacker]

I recently got a RAB Ascent 700, and tried it out last weekend. Notwithstanding the fact that there was a frost, I was absolutely cooking, and had to unzip the bag, remove the hood from my head, etc, to keep cool. True, I was on a good mattress, but it is incredibly warm.

No idea how it will hold up long term.

[Michael Thomson]

The PipeDream is a great bag for the price.

I think taking a bivvy bag and a tent is overkill.

[Foxy]

Ordered the sleeping bag. Hunka Bivvy out of stock so perhaps may leave it out.

[ptc*]

The Alpkit bags are very good for the money indeed, tested a few different Pipedreams over the years, you'll be happy I'd think.
The added bivi is unnecessary I think, more kit to carry, more faff and more stuff to air out in the mornings. A wee bit of sensible camp admin and your bag will stay dry. You'll be comfier too.

It's important to get the best mat you can, the ground will suck the heat out of you fast as the insulation in your sleeping bag is compressed flat under you and doing nothing, the best sleeping bag can be rendered useless without a good sleepmat on a cold night.

[tenohfive]

Completely agree with Pete about the mat. Hence why I ended up wincing at the open wallet surgery required to replace my old Alpkit mat with something thicker, warmer, lighter and more comfortable (TAR NeoAir XLite.)

[Foxy]

Thanks for the replies. Mat is next on the list. NeoAir is a definite.