Have a look at Nato (ex army) Arctic bag they are superb,
I dropped on a brand new one on Ebay I gave £50 delivered.
They have a centre zip which is much easier to use also a large hood and internal pockets.
You can also get purpose made liners which add a bit of extra warmth.
They are extremely well made and should last for years.
All sleeping bags in the UK should be directly comparable as in the EU they have to conform to EN 13537 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EN_13537) - but my experience is the same that say 5c to 10c on the manufacturers thermometer does not match mine!
Wife is always a bit cold and we picked up some eurohike duck feather and down bags in the sale at millets last year for £40. Can't get them wet like a synthetic of course, but pretty warm for the price (don't pay the full price though!).
The other thing we did once when we were very cold was to get some fleece liners to add to a normal bag, makes big warmth difference (and easy to add during the night if your cold) but I found they twisted up a bit personally if you wiggle too much.
We have down bags with a cotton shell. We've had them for 25 years and they're toasty. They zip together (not for us a life in two separate mummy bags) and have a cotton shell. They go in the wash & dry on the line on a sunny day.
Meanwhile, son has gone through countless nylon-feeling mummy bags, the zips have gone, the synthetic wadding's gone lumpy. Can't say I want one like that.
Did I say we've had ours 25 years? We're too scared to buy new ones! We're tent campers & it seems to be mummy bags for tents & square bags with less 'tog' for caravans.
I love the sound of those Eurohike bags. Will look out for them.
Hi Folks, I use a Wenzel Tundra Square Sleeping bag for my winter camping. No EHU's, no hot water bottles, no thermals etc. The bag is rated to minus 26 degree's F. It's toastie to say the least. In fact too toastie for the English winters. I use it in a Vaude 3 man back packing tent. At 65++++ years old, I go solo camping throughout the calendar.
I have now had my snugpak osprey for 25 years!!! Its been through the wash several times, the zip is still fine and it still keeps me warm. When I bought it it was used in the middle of winter, now it isn't used in quite such extreme conditions...... best money I ever spent as a student all those years ago.
Ribble
We bought Gelert supposed to be comfortable to -5. We are not in a tent but in a caravan so really disappointed not warm on cold nights. Will now have to buy something else but worried about making another expensive mistake.
I have a vango dormir grande because I like the wiggle room.
I'm a generally warm person, and to be honest I find it too hot, so I have to open it out and use it like a duvet. I'm still too hot like that, so I just cover the middle bit of me with it, and that's just about right for me.
My main complaint about that one would be that you can't open it completely flat. It has one zip down the side, and a second zip along the bottom, so in the corner where they meet, you can't open it. But that might be useful if you just wanted to open the bottom to cool your feet or something.
My daughter as gelert pod. I originally bought it for me, but it's not really long enough. And I'm only 4'11", so I don't think I'd recommend that for normal people.
Quote: Originally posted by RachlN76 on 20/1/2015
...My main complaint about that one would be that you can't open it completely flat. It has one zip down the side, and a second zip along the bottom, so in the corner where they meet, you can't open it. But that might be useful if you just wanted to open the bottom to cool your feet or something.
Take another look at that, Rach... a really, really close look.
It's just that we have a couple of Vango's (Wilderness?) and we thought exactly the same. We'd had them a year before we found, almost "by accident", that they do indeed actually unzip to open out flat. A bit fiddly, but it does undo.
From memory, the opening end of one zip is sort of hidden below the start of the other zip. Don't just take the outer zip to the end, actually pull the zip apart, when you get it there! That will expose the end of the other zip. Hard to explain, but like I say, take a closer look.
Who know's, your Vango may work the same as our Vango's?
Muckerette is backing me up, so I don't think my memory is playing tricks.
Quote: Originally posted by Mucker1884 on 20/1/2015
Quote: Originally posted by RachlN76 on 20/1/2015...My main complaint about that one would be that you can't open it completely flat. It has one zip down the side, and a second zip along the bottom, so in the corner where they meet, you can't open it. But that might be useful if you just wanted to open the bottom to cool your feet or something.
Take another look at that, Rach... a really, really close look.
It's just that we have a couple of Vango's (Wilderness?) and we thought exactly the same. We'd had them a year before we found, almost "by accident", that they do indeed actually unzip to open out flat. A bit fiddly, but it does undo.
From memory, the opening end of one zip is sort of hidden below the start of the other zip. Don't just take the outer zip to the end, actually pull the zip apart, when you get it there! That will expose the end of the other zip. Hard to explain, but like I say, take a closer look.
Who know's, your Vango may work the same as our Vango's?
Muckerette is backing me up, so I don't think my memory is playing tricks.
Tis True I have the Dormir Grande, you can have the bottom flat or closed or have the bottom of the bag open to air your feet if you choose or your wellies if your like sleeping in them.
------------- It's better to ask a silly question than make a silly mistake.
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Topic: sleeping bags
