Lightweight sleeping bag recommendations

I really like my Mountain Hardwear Lamina, I was a big fan of down bags but the lamina is synthetic, packs small and is still warm without the worries of keeping it dry.

Various versions come in different lengths so you should be able to get one to fit.

Do you sleep warm or hot at home? And is the camping likely to be 1 to a tent or multiples? Both these things make a difference - if you sleep quite cold naturally and are the one in the relationship that wants the thicker duvet AND its sleeping solo (not a cuddling thing, just one person's body heat rather than 2 or more makes a difference to the temp in the tent) will make a marked difference as to what bag will be warm enough.

Your size will be an issue. I'm nothing like your size and I struggle with alpkit bags for example. Their large versions (in the models they make them in) are longer but no wider.

Also - a sleeping mat will make all the difference.

If it's one of these tours where they go ahead and sort your kit, put your tent up and cook for you, there might be no need. Or rather you'll be supplementing what they do for you already.

Posted by: convert

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Do you sleep warm or hot at home? And is the camping likely to be 1 to a tent or multiples? Both these things make a difference - if you sleep quite cold naturally and I the one that wants the thicker duvet in the relationship AND its sleeping solo (not a cuddling thing, just one person's body heat rather than 2 or more makes a difference to the temp in the tent) will make a marked difference as to what bag will be warm enough.

Your size will be an issue. I'm nothing like your size and I struggle with alpkit bogs for example. Their large versions (in the models they make them in) longer but no wider.

Also - a sleeping mat will make all the difference.

If it's one of these tours where they go ahead and sort your kit, put your tent up and cook for you, there might be no need. Or rather you'll be supplementing what they do for you already.

However, best not to assume - and I will ask them 

thanks

I have s mountain equipment helium 250. I think i had one might just above freezing and had to add clothing. They also did a 400.

 The theory is that they save money by using duck down. Goose is the best but at this price point do m duck is better

https://www.ukclimbing.com/gear/camping/sleeping_bags/mountain_equipment_helium_250_sleeping_bag-9487#:~:text=The%20construction%20oozes%20quality%2C%20the,top%20of%20the%20range%20model!

 RAB do some options in their down bags, for both wide and long (and both!).  I got a Neutrino 400, for bike packing, and went with both wide and long.  I defo need the wide (i tried a mate's - he's about 5'6" and carrying no timber) - a 'normal' and found it too narrow across my shoulders. I got in it but couldn't turn over, it was close to a straight jacket.   I may not have needed the 'long' aspect though. I'm 6ft (183cm) tall and fairly big overall (14 stone would be my fittest-ever-racing-weight... lats just say I'm nowhere near race weight at present!!! - chest size about 47", maybe would be 45" if I was 14 stone). So the long should work well for you.

The bag was toasty for me in a small tent, when maybe 3 or 4 C outside - too hot really.  I would have been fine with the 300, maybe even 200, but I took the view I'd rather be too warm and open the bag up than too cold and... cold !

^ Rab bags would be out of the picture, purely on price !

Given your criteria, I would just hire a sleeping bag in Kathmandu, or buy one then resell back to the shop at the end of the trip, depending on logistics and how squeamish you are.

If you're near a branch of Decathlon, have a look at their range, they do sizes up to XL and are reasonably priced.

I've had a couple of Vango down  lightweight bags over the years. Both have been excellent: warm, packable, light and durable. I still have one that I use when going lightweight. I think they were Venoms so the cobra is probably the new version. 

I've an Alpkit Pipedream 2 season and RAB Neutrino 400 3 season, both long as 6'2" and both are Down.

The Alpkit is fine down to 5c and TBH if I'm cold I just put on some clothes.

But, the RAB is twice the bulk of the Alpkit compressed - it was also about 4x the price.

EDIT - I've just looked and the Alpkit is now £200, I paid less than half that... and a RAB Neutrino 200 is barely more, I'd NOW buy the RAB.

Posted by: ampthill

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The theory is that they save money by using duck down. Goose is the best but at this price point do m duck is better

Duck down used to have a distinct, erm, aroma, but modern down processing has pretty much sorted that out. I have a Helium and it doesn't smell of anything much at all. For ultra-high loft down, kind of 850+ and beyond, goose is still better, but for medium-loft down, like the stuff in the Helium, duck is just as good and, as you say, cheaper.

My take is that both Rab and ME make very good bags. PHD don't have quite the same polished finish, but use immensely good quality down and high spec fabrics, Alpkit is good on a budget, but again slightly less slickly put together. MHW Lamina bags are about as good as it gets with synthetics. 

If you like exotica, Western Mountaineering bags from the States are the bomb and the Therm-a-Rest bags are pretty decent.

If you're only ever going to use the bag for this trip, I'd see I could borrow something from a mate tbh. If you're not carrying the thing, just something cheap and cheerful, but not too light.

As your on a motorbike then measuring by the gram is not such an issue. I would recomend an Alpkit Cloud Peak 300 along with one of their silk liners.

Your stated criteria are: a) luggage space on the flight over is limited because of the other gear you're taking; b) occasional camping with unspecified bedding provided, and the suggestion you might be more comfortable with a sleeping bag; c) you're unlikely to use the bag after this trip.

There's a gear rental industry been operating for decades in both KTM and Pokhara (and other similar Himalayan centres like Leh and Gilgit), catering for backpackers and trekkers. This used to be centred on ex-expedition gear but is now more about the cheap but good gear coming out of China and Vietnam. Walk into any gear shop there with hard currency, put down a deposit and walk out with a sleeping bag for a trivial sum per day. Ten minute job. I've done it myself on a couple of occasions (I'm 192 cm tall).

Google sleeping bag rental Kathmandu and take it from there.

If you like exotica, Western Mountaineering bags from the States are the bomb

I know it's probably not what you want, but my Western Mountaineering Megalite is absolutely great. Bought after a succession of mid priced bags that didn't cut it in terms of weight and warmth. The Megalite is just SO much better.

Yes, it was pricey, but because I use it regularly, fore it was well worth the outlay.

Really roomy inside, too. I say that as a 6'3" 90kg biffer in an L sized bag.