To all true campers???.................................?

Question

what are the best sleeping bags to get (camping in uk..cornwall/devon) went this weekend and although we had a gr8 time and the weather was gorgeous we were sooooooo cold at night!! we took our quilts! not a good idea i know! we want some good sleeping bags that will keep us warm at night at this time of year!! thanks :)

Answer 1

It would depend on seveal things, hopefully this info will help...

If you're camping on the ground it's important to have good insulation underneath you. There's two types of sleeping mats - the inflatable ones and the non inflatable ones. Inflatable ones are called terma-a-rests and they're more comfortable but they're heavier and more expensive. They come in full and three quarter length - go for a full length one, three quarter length is OK for young kids or where weight is a prioroty (mountain climbing etc), typical costs around £50 to £60. The non inflatable ones are more durable and don't get punctured by sharp stones, they're lighter but bulkier and cost about £15 to £20. For additional warmth you can place clothing onto the mat before you lay your sleeping bag out.

As for the bag to go for - it's usually a case of the more you spend the better the bag.

There's two types of filling - synthetic and natural. Natural fillings such as duck down are warmer and lighter but aren't good when they get wet (the filling forms wet clumps). If you're indoors or in a tent then I'd suggest a down filled bag.

There's lots of different synthetic fillings and the better quality ones in the more expensive bags are pretty good. They're much more effective then down when they get wet but have the drawback of being heavier and bulkier. One other advantage synthetic has over natural fillings is that they're machine or hand washable. Down filled bags need specialist cleaning.

Most sleeping bags have rating - some use a 'season' rating, others use a temperature rating...

1 Season - UK summer (approx min 10 degrees C)
2 Season - UK spring, summer and autumn (approx min 5 degrees C)
3 Season - Year round in the UK (approx min -5 degrees C)
4 Season - Year round in the UK plus Scottish winters (approx min - 15 degrees C)
5 Season - Extreme conditions (approx min -25 degrees C)

Comfort and Extreme rating - Comfort being the minimum temp in which you'll be comfortable and Extreme being the lowest temp in which it's possible to use the bag.

There's also Arctic and Expedition rating - these are the very top end, suitable for temperatures down to about -50 degrees C, not something you'll ever need in the UK.

Ratings are applied by manufacturers and some are more liberal than others so at best they're only a guide. I've got bags that are rated as 2 season which are just as effective as others rated 4 season. Also, ratings usually assume you'll be wearing thermal nightwear.

Go for a higher rating than you need, you can cool a hot bag down by partially unzipping or not pulling the drawcords but there's nothing you can do to warm a cold bag up. If the night is particularly warm you can unzip the bag and use it as a blanket.

Some things to consider. The warmest bags don't have zips or have insulated flaps that cover the zips to prevent cold spots, best avoid bags that have a conventional zip as cold air gets in this way.

All good bags have a hood which should have at least two drawcords - one to pull the hood tight over your head and another to pull it close around your neck.

Avoid sleeping bags that are 'stitched through'- the stitching compresses the filling and it looses insulation. For similar reasons you want a bag that's light and fluffy - the more air is trapped the warmer it will be.

You can get right hand and left hand zips, if you buy one of each you can zip the two together to form a quilt or bag for two people.

Some names that are worth looking at include Rab, Macpac, Mountain Equipment, Vango, Berghaus, Snugpac and Softie.

My personal favourite is Rab, the ratings tend to be on the cautious side so a 2 season bag is probably more like a 3 season one. They're well made and are specifically designed for outdoor use - the others are as well but Rab seem to have the edge.

Cost wise - very roughly allow up to about £50 plus a further £50 for each season rating for a down filled bag, about half as much for synthetic. Example - 3 season bag: £50 + 3 x £50 = £200 for down, £100 synthetic.

A sleeping bag liner is another consideration, they're small and lightweight, you could stuff one into an average sized cup. They make the bag a bit more efficient and can easily be washed. Silk ones are much nicer and more comfortable than nylon ones.

Couple of final points - if you might go camping in Scotland in summer or overseas you may want a bag with a sewn in face mesh - it's to prevent midges, mosquitos etc from biting when you're asleep. Finally, if it's cold wear a hat, it makes a big difference.

Answer 2

Buy 3 season mummy type sleeping bags from Good Outdoor Stores. We go to a lot of bike rallies where we camp out at all times of the year. We have 3 season ones and are never cold.

Answer 3

Besides getting a decent quality sleeping bag, don't forget that the cold comes from below you so you also need a decent insulator underneath your sleeping bag...

Answer 4

try Millet's, the staff know their stuff. make sure you have plenty of baby wipes they are a life saver. me and the missus took the tent to donegal last year, me being mr survival expert thought it a good idea to pitch the tent 20 yards from the rocks on the atlantic coast, not a very good idea in september!. anyway i ended up with a sliced arm but copious amounts of baby wipes and electrical tape saved the day.

Answer 5

you need a '3 season' sleeping bag at least
a '4 season' one is usually too warm and is for (almost) artic conditions

Answer 6

Naw, the Audi TT is a girlie hairdressers car.

Answer 7

go to a good outdoor gear shop, Cotswold, if there's one near you, they'll sort you out. You definitely need ground insulation too. ^^