My lad is doing his Queen’s Scout Gold expedition in a couple of weeks, so could do with a sleeping bag that packs down quite small as he must carry all of his own kit. 3 Season should be OK.
Any recommendations that don’t cost the earth?
Bump start
Where's he going that he needs 3 seasons in July in the UK ?
And look at Vango for robust reasonably priced kit that is the stalwart of most DOE kit bags.
Where’s he going that he needs 3 seasons in July in the UK ?
The Scout Troop is quite proactive when it comes to this sort of thing. It'll definitely be needed when the weather gets colder.
I've an Alpkit Mountain Ghost - maybe worth looking there? I think the closest bag is now called the Cloud Peak. There are a few models with different amounts of filling.
It packs down fairly small for a synthetic bag and has kept me cosy enough.
Thanks, there's a 3 season Vango at Millets that packs down quite small. Will have a look at that.
I'd look for what has the best rating(heat wise) If its too hot, you can always open it out/use as a duvet, but if its too cold that will draw the fun right out of it and the only memory he'll ever have, is of being cold.
Young,super fit, so weight isnt that big a deal really, and it can be hung on the outside of his pack in a waterproof bag.
The ones we have a pretty ancient, so whilst they are warm they pack down to something the size of a kitchen bin.
Hello,
Would have put forward the alpkit cloud peak 300 as well as an avid collector of alpkit equipment and can't see much else about on the usual discounts sites i use (upandunder, rockandrun). I have the 100 as a summer bag and its great for that, 300 is currently out of stock on their website though so might have to try contacting stores if needed quickly. The have down options as well but starts to add up. Again have a couple of their 3 season down bags from a few years back, perfectly good, maybe even running a bit hot for 3 season classification.
I wouldn't have much issue with anything from mountain equipment, still using some 3 season synthetic bags of theirs that are 20 years old and been round the world twice.
If they aren't to tall there is a robens spur 500 (short version) on sportspursiut currently for £100, down so should compress well, can't see a weight but the full size is just a little over 1kg so should be a little less.
If you've been on millets the Ultralight vango range would be fine as well, and the 300 on their is reasonably light/cheap, got a 30 year old version in that range knocking around somewhere as well as a kids garden camp out backup
I would consider the expenditure, temp rating, comfort factor all in one, by which i mean a 3 season bag on a foam mat is going to give a different quality of sleep to a 2 season bag on a thick airmat (alpkit numo for example, regularly on ebay for much less than RRP) and i have started to work on the overall sleep-system weight/comfort though stating sleep-system makes me feel a bit sick inside and sounds like something a influencer on youtube would say. And then thinking back to my scouting days there would have been times on expedition where a down bag would have been great with at airmat, and times where i would have been wet in a leaking canvas tent on a punctured by careless feet mat.
I've Ben genuinely impressed with my decathlon bag.
Biggest selling point for me is zips on the top so can adjust emperature easily.
and it can be hung on the outside of his pack in a waterproof bag.
Don’t do this. Nothing guarantees being cold as much as not having a bag when you get yto your destination.
There’s no reason even a 3 season bag shouldn’t be inside your bag unless you have packed too much shite or are using the wrong bag
Where’s he going that he needs 3 seasons in July in the UK ?
3 degrees in Cairngorms (Lochan Beinn a' Chaorainn) last week, take 10 off that for the windchill. Was 29 in London. 🙂
Don’t do this. Nothing guarantees being cold as much as not having a bag when you get yto your destination.
Agreed.
3 degrees in Cairngorms (Lochan Beinn a’ Chaorainn) last week,
Who signed off on that camp site for the scouts award ?
If camping at height that's a different story but you won't be doing that at scouts.
I've got a vango ultralite 300. Use that with a silk liner if its a bit chillier than normal. Silk liner is size of apple and weight of postage stamp!
￡85.98 32%OFF | AEGISMAX Outdoor Envelope 95% White Goose Down Sleeping Bag Camping Hiking Equipment FP800 M L
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Mine arrived in under 10 days, i'm 5'7" and got the M 190x76cm one if he's any taller get the L 200x82cm.
It's an envelope not a mummy (which I like) so factor in a sleeping hat. The zip only runs along the side, both ends have an elasticated drawcord. It's also a quilt. Baffle along the zip only.
It was minus 3C in some glens a couple of nights ago. That's not unusual for this time of year..
Have a look for a ME Lamina of whatever weight/rating applies if you don't want to spend on a down bag.
And don't skimp on a good mat. Trying to share body heat with a planet is a bad call.
Have a look at Snugpak sleeping bags or Go Outdoors own brand OEX but you won't go wrong with anything from any of the major brands (Vango, Alpkit, Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, Mountain Equipment or Rab) as they all have cheaper synthetic ranges).
It's all a question of compromise and balance of price, warmth, weight and pack size.
Make sure you get a compression spider or stuff sack.
Agree with above about silk liners but they are a bit spendy and maybe better to spend that money on a slightly warmer sleeping bag is more economical.
The sleeping mat is possibly more important than the sleeping bag at keeping you warm - a basic Karrimat will keep you warm enough but airbeds are far more comfortable.
Please don't buy an Ali express down bag or quilt.
If its down get it from a reputable company that might actually go some way to ensure animal welfare quality/use byproducts of the food industry etc.
Also as much as I love my down bag I prefer a bag that doesn't turn to nothing when wet after "an incident" that involved me throwing a bag across a stream only for it to go up vertically and land in the deepest fastest bit and promptly take on water. Shared a sleeping bag for one night and it was dry by morning. If it had been down...
Who signed off on that camp site for the scouts award ?
If camping at height that’s a different story but you won’t be doing that at scouts.
t_r - it gets cold up here. There is no point saving a few grammes and getting cold/caught out. End of.
Our DofE lot all carry 3 season bags, experience says you can wake up in July to light frosts even in the glen. I have 7 setting off next week to head from Pitlochry to Aviemore - and they all carry day and night kit for down to frosty/wind chill and wet.
And surely the point of a Queens Badge Gold super-duper-ultimate-scout is that they are out in some pretty adventurous places...?
back on topic
+1 on a good mat - it boosts warmth. Also the usual warm sleep thermals & dry socks for sleeping.
IME, Vango bags can be great value for money. We have two that are great for warmth - Ultralight(?) 300 iirc.
Any major brand will be fine - find a good deal and hit 'buy'.
t_r – it gets cold up here. There is no point saving a few grammes and getting cold/caught out. End of.
Absolutely this, I see no point in owning a sub 3 season sleeping bag in Scotland, I've never been too hot in a tent tbh!.
Scotland, I’ve never been too hot in a tent tbh!.
Really?! I find them roasting! I'd still default to a 3 season though especially for one tent only and definitely for multi days.
Sometimes I take two tiny 1 season bags because they're so much easier to pack.
Aye, if it's warm i'll just unzip and use it as a blanket.
Vango are always a good make to go for as they've been at it for decades and I think the Scout shop has them in stock, which is a good place to get as its all part of the movement.
One point that hasn't been touched on is a good mat and well insulated bag are one thing, but what is more important is having something to eat before getting in to it, which does more for keeping warm than anything. That old saying alpkit often repeat -" The bag doesnt warm you, you warm the bag." and having something to eat prior will help that enormously, especially if altitude is a factor.
I'm also a fan of Vango, having spent a warmer night in a vango bag, and when you arent cold it is testimony that at least its kept the heat in as its supposed to. Im still using a vango ultralite 1300m which has to be 15 years old by now, and was back then nearly £100. Being old, though still capable, I double bag with an ultra lightweight bag, which is better than a simple liner, and only really camp in Scotland in winter- basically as there are no midges in winter 😀
So I'd recommend a vango based on personal long term experience of them and the fact the Scout association/DOE recommend them also.
Look to spend about 70-80 quid.
Decathlon do some reasonable synthetic sleeping bags.
Personally I wouldn't go super cheap. A good sleeping bag will last ages. When I did my d of e getting on for 30 years ago my dad bought me a decent 3 season field and trek own brand down bag. It was always a bit heavy for proper backpacking however for car camping it's been excellent. I've only just replaced it!
If anyone is looking for the perfect bikepacking bag The ME Dewline was the best backpacking bag in it's day IMO, Andy Kirkpatrick loved it (there's no zip, if that's an issue) it packs to a tiny size and weighs about 700gms, elasticated liner so no cold voids. Not sure if it's now worth £120 tho, that's what I paid 20 yrs ago.
I used one on UK winter wild camps and biviing in the alps in Summer, with tomorrow's baselayers and a lightweight down/synth jacket/gilet (insulated jacket/gilet can also be worn around camp / on lunch stops etc, so versatile).
As others have said, insulated sleeping mat is just as important. Won't matter what sleeping bag he has if all his heat is being leached into the ground.
@LD gave us one of those ME dewlines.
Our lads love it on the mountain marathon etc, but it is not really that warm (age may have dulled it's performance of course...)
