Just wondering if you could help me out...I'm after 2 sleeping bags for me and my partner that we can use individually or zip together and that are nice and versatile in whatever the weather may bring (camping under canvas). So 4 seasons I think would be great as long as that means it's also fine for Summer. We would like square or similar for that extra leg room.
I have been settling on the Vango Nitestar 300 sq or the Coleman Hudson 450. Any thoughts on how these compare? I tried the Nitestar and felt maybe the loose inside layer could get a bit tangly? But I was wearing jeans so that probably didn't help. The Hudson I like due to it being 4 season but not sure if it's as good quality-wise as the Nitestar? It has cotton flannel inside with hollowfibre instead of the siliconised hollowfibre the Vango has.
I would greatly appreciate some advice or suggestion for another suitable sleeping bag as I need to order asap so that they arrive for our holiday and just want to get something versatile, decent quality and something that's not going to get sweaty from the synthetics!
My son has the Nitestar convertible for young children. I compare that to our Coleman Poplar and it (Nitestar) seems a far more technical product. The Vango seems denser and I feel assured he is warm enough. I think it is Comfort level 7 degrees.
Thankyou Debs, I think I am veering towards the Nitestar after looking at all the technical details! I'm sure you can't go wrong with them and they appear to have a lifetime guarantee!
The Vango bag is great but the only problem is its nylon outer. I sleep on a self inflating mat and tend to find myself sliding off it because of it. Other than that I dont think you can fault Vango bags.
------------- Nigel
March 2012 - Dove Meadows
6th July Moving to Hayle
We have the Coleman Pacific Maxi comfort bags - 220cm long 100cm wide so loads of leg and shoulder room. They have a cotton outer (don't slip on the airbed) and flannel lining (very cosy). Ratings are 7-11 degrees and I've never felt cold in mine when camping in UK. Priced around £22.
Hope this helps.
I must be going mad! I ordered the Coleman, then had a panic this morning and have ordered the Vango too! At least then I can compare them! Will just have the return postage cost
Oh god does anyone else get this obsessed and have so much trouble deciding?!!
Oooh Coleman Pacific look nice. Must not buy anything else. We haven't managed a trip away this year yet and the weather doesn't look like getting better any time soon (fair weather camper) so can't justify spending! Just have to put a blanket over my Poplar if we do go!
Just thought I'd give some feedback on the 2 sleeping bags I mentioned. I think the Vango is noticably better in quality, lots of very good details like decent zip baffles, on Coleman they are too small and don't cover the zips properly, letting in cold air. I love the Vango, but it comes up a fair bit shorter and narrower than the measurements stated. I am an average female and I am finding it too short if I am lying in it properly and have the shoulder baffle where it should be. I end up with my feet restricted and in that case would be better off in a mummy bag to have a bit more foot room. My partner had no chance of fitting in it but it states max user height 195cm, which is about his height, but his head is out of the bag!
The Coleman is lovely and comfy and roomy and is great for my partner but for me it leaves a LOT of unused space that I think in reality when it gets cold your body just can't keep warm, you'd really have to wrap it tight around yourself, it's a shame you can't gather up the front over the chest like on the Vango, only the hood, as I think it could get quite draughty around back and shoulders there, and there are draughty gaps where the zips end at the foot end.
So for the price they are good bags overall but I am worried it could be a struggle to stay warm all over, particularly your feet in the Coleman when it gets a bit colder. I might reconsider a mummy bag as I think when it comes down to it warmth is a prority!
My wife is a cold sleeper. And she also wanted a roomy bag, she doesn't like mummmy bags - even in my 4+ seasom mummy bag she got cold. So she got an Outwell Camper Lux
She has never complained of feeling cold in this one, not even her feet, though she generally wear socks if they might get cold. I don't think it's been used below freeezing but certainly she has been warm in it well into single figures. The warmth ratings they give seem accurate from her experience
For a given weight and bulk a mummy bag should be warmer - less dead space and all that but I think a rectangualr bag can be just as warm, you just need to put up with more packed bulk and weight. They would be good bags to zip togther as a double as wider than an avarge bag (not we do that, we'd annoy each other too much)
It seems well constructed. Though the 'non snag zip baffle' is rather too prone to snagging.
Thankyou, that sounds like a good bag, even warmer than the others and has 2 layer construction. I have to say I must be a cold sleeper too, we have a 2 layer wool duvet at home and I love totally wrapping myself up in it. I will look into bags again when we come back, as we are camping tomorrow and I am borrowing a sleeping bag for now.
The Coleman 450 is a bigger bag, it's longer. I think it's too warm for summer but my wife uses it and likes it, but there's a Coleman Hudson 300 which I have that is a bit cooler. You can zip them together.
I had a Vango 300, I think it was an XL square, but it came up small on the sizing. It wasn't as long or wide as the measurements were supposed to be, to the extent that being 6' tall I couldn't straighten my legs and fit in it. It went back and the retailer agreed that it was a fault in batch because all the other in his stock were similarly 10cm shorter than they should have been. So, if you get the Vango, measure it.
I thought that the Vango Nitestar felt better quality than the Hudson, and I liked the shoulder baffle. But the Hudson is a perfectly fine bag, you'll be OK with it.
------------- Definately a fair weather camper. I don't like rain. Rain + Tent = Trouble.
2011:
July: Galpton, Devon
August: Duinrell, Holland
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Nitestar or Hudson Sleeping Bag?
