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Having now selected the tent thoughts have turned to a sleeping bag.

Need one that is lightweight (if possible) and packs away small (this is the important part), it will need to be carried or at best transported about on a motorbike (sometime in future this should be the case but not initially).

Want a mummy type for a female who is a good size 16.

Almost certainly will only be used in the summer (that's a laugh) but may start a bit earlier (April/May?) and stretch into September.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Depends when you need it for and where you are. SNUGPAK have a sale every December at the factory in Silsden West Yorkshire, They sell sleeping bags really cheap. I dont think I have seen one that folds away as small as theirs. It also depends how warm a bag you want too.

Magic Mountain in Glossop also sells Down bags but they are more expensive but loads warmer.

Good luck.

snugpak do 1 that packs to 12x14cm for summer that seems to be the smallest pak size called the traveller lite however the the softie hawk 9 or softie 3 season autumn bag are more likely to keep you warm

You can pay a lot of money and get very lightweight bags based on new, high-tech materials that will keep you warm in very low temperatures, but from what you've said you're not planning any winter camping.

That said, April can be pretty cold and our British summer certainly isn't reliable so as rowan46 suggests going for something a bit warmer is probably the wise choice.

Hi Debzno2

                I use a SnugPack Merlin Softee, great bag and has seen me through all weathers over the last 5 years and is still in perfect condition, although I do carry the Silk liner for it, but have only ever used the liner on its own in hot climes, the bag is plenty big enough for me, I am a 6ft mid-life bloke, so I have a little onboard insulation of my own, also if you do need extra space in the SnugPack bags you can get a panel that zips in to give the extra room, also the Merlin has a kind of built in hood arrangement which can come in handy, it packs down to about the size of a bag of sugar, and wieghs under a kilo, it comes with it own compression pack which is very robust, I do cycle touring so it is ideal for my uses. 

Thank you all (I've asked so many questions on here I seem to be saying that a lot ).

I shall have a look around on the net and see what I can find, based on your advice. Will go for a 2 season as the most likely time of year for camping will be the summer holidays.

You deffo need a three seasons bag with a Thermorest mat for the UK unless it's exceptionally hot.  Also a three seasons bag doesn't really have any serious weight or cost penalties compared to a two season bag so you'd be "future proofing" yourself.

I'm male but around the equivalent of a size 16 and am wide across the shoulders but I fit ok into a RAB down bag.  Down bags have the advantage that they are lightweight, pack up small and are comfortable but the disadvantage that they are useless if they get wet, buggers to get dry and need to be cleaned professionally.  For this reason I use a cotton liner.

I've been happy with my RAB down bag but if you want a synthetic, Vango are a good make.

Take care

R

Snugpak all the way! 

 (unless you can afford serious expedition kit) 

Thanks all.

Was ordering a tent and ordered a reasonably priced Vango bag at the same time (saved on the postage). It's a 2/3 season one (apparantly). Time will tell if it's suitable.

As with all equipment at the moment it's about minimum outlay for young' un to give camping a try, if a success more expensive stuff can be bought and we'll have a much better idea of what's required.