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Hiya, am after a tent & sleeping bag, aiming for as small a pack size as possible. I'll be motorbike touring so weight isn't important, but the smaller the pack size the better (albeit appreciate that smaller stuff tends to be the UL stuff).
I'll be spring/summer/autumn touring Europe with Alpine stints, and I like to be snug at night, so prob a 3 -season bag. Tent is simply for sleeping, probably a 2P to allow me to have my kit in with me, but I'll be solo touring - my last tent (before I lost it!) was a Vango Blade, 2.5kg, pretty impressed with it but need a smaller pack size.
Budget - obviously the less the better, but say £100-ish for bag, and up to £300 for tent.
I did have a Vaude Hogan for many years which got masses of use, lasted incredibly well, and did me and Mrs A touring extremely well. That was 25yrs ago, but wonder if the new SUL gear is as tough? Would like to avoid having to have a separate ground sheet.
Cheers
If you want a 3 season bag for ~£100 then look at the down bags at Decathlon, they are ridiculously impressive for the money
I'd think about rebalancing your budget. For a compact sleeping bag you want down. More than £100 for a 3 season.
For example
https://alpkit.com/products/pipedream-400
Assuming you are not over 5ft11 or 12/13 stone in which case you may need to look at longer bags.
With the space saved with a down bag a bit more can be allocated to a cheaper tent.
Alpkit soloist tent, but get the XL
Pretty happy with my Naturehike cloudup 2.
https://amzn.eu/d/5GJHpn B">Amazon link
It's definitely a nice and small pack size. Fits easily into one of my medium sized Lomo panniers. It's very light.
Goes up easily enough. It's a small pack size and hence on the smaller side of tent size but for me it's perfect for just me and my kit.
The groundsheet is integral to the inner, but I also use a footprint with mine, which you don't have to use but it's tiny so I like it for more protection.
Excellent, thanks - happy to juggle budget and can stretch/dabble a bit.
Alpkit - I know there's a lot of love here. We've only had 3 bits of kit from them (camp mat, jackets) and each has failed with Alpkit only agreeing to look at 1 failure (broken zip, currently with them) despite agreeing the items had a manufacture fault, which has kinda put me off them ... albeit I want to love them for their ethos etc.
And down bags - is there any issue in the longer term with washing them, looking after them?
The Cloudup looks neat, great pic!
The lanshan 2 tents is tiny packed but very spacious (2+a medium dog), plus two decent vestibules so you can use one for storage and one for cooking.
It opens up alot of options aswell. Outer only, inner mesh only vestibules completely tied back. Good for great nights if you can sleep out under the stars etc.
Poles are separate though. However I consider that a bonus... You can increase the number of sections for smaller packed length.
Biggest issue it it's in no way free standing. Like you need to be able to get atleast 6 pegs or other suitable anchor points
Used Alpkit 4 season bags on various treks in the past, no complaints. Got quite a lot of Alpkit stuff, never had a problem returning faulty products (not had many)
Ordered a Pipedream 400 and Mountain Equipment Helium 400 in January. Ended up keeping the ME bag, felt much nicer with some better features. Both were around £150 in the sales.
Go to tent is a Lanshan 1. They do a larger version (Lanshan 2). Small pack size, light and pretty robust. Need to factor in some poles, I use some Bearbones carbon poles which can be made to measure.
And down bags – is there any issue in the longer term with washing them, looking after them?
I used a Mountain Equipment down bag on average a night or two a fortnight for 5 years, plus another 10 years of couple of days a month use around that. I washed it once in that time. Proper airing and storing 'loose' in a big net bag is all that is needed, particularly if you are only using for occasional holidays or trips. My bag was eventually retired last year - it was cheaper to buy a new bag and then one of my sons killed the zip...
I too have given up on Alpkit - I can get better made and 'posher' branded stuff from local shops or online in sales.
Some good suggestions - I do like MOuntain Equipment.
I have had a revelation myself - that a wider bag is much, much more comfy. I have a sierra designs Zissou with all sorts of features like 'foot hole' and 'duvet flap' - it is 100g more than the old bag, but I sleep so much better in a wider bag.
Pretty happy with my Naturehike cloudup 2.
I've got the Cloudup One, by one person tent standards it's very spacious. There's probably a realistic limit to how small your tent can be unless you start doing things like leaving the inner at home or using a tarp (not sure I'd want to sleep under a 200kg motorbike attached to a tarp in a storm though).
As above, a down bag will be half the size at least and a motorbike + 2 person tent should make most of the drawbacks easier to manage (less going to bed sweaty in a small tent full of condensation, more stops to pull it out and air it during the day).
The Cloudup is basically a copy of the Big Agnes Fly Creek, I think (which I have). Once that gives up the ghost, I'll be going for an alternative with side entry rather than with a door at the end, as I think end-doors in such a small tent are a pain for a creaky old man like me. After a long day riding, just getting in and out of the thing can set off cramp!
On that basis, a better one might be the NatureHike Star River, which is a copy of the Copper Spur.
I terms of pack size, the Fly Creek is absolutely tiny - but check the pole configuration/length on the clone version is what you're expecting.
I like the alpkit soloist XL. Packs small, good to sleep in.
I like the pipedream sleeping bag as well. I have the light weight summer one, it's fine for summer.
I'm 6"4 the longer versions of both are a delight for legroom 😁
I don't like the Soloist-style tents, you always get wet going in/out due to how the zip/entrance works.
I've a Vango Helium 1, plenty of length and I can sit up (6'2") - packs small too and outer-first pitch (I have footprint, inner, outer all attached together).
Bag-wise while I've an Alpkit Pipedream 200, it's a bit on the cold side for at least 2 seasons, if not 3 for Scotland so also have a Rab Neutrino 400. With bags it's a choice of warmth, weight, packsize and price - pick 3.
I too have given up on Alpkit – I can get better made and ‘posher’ branded stuff from local shops or online in sales.
Not quite there yet myself, but it's a shame.
I've got 3 of their bags in sales over the years. They are fine. But I too have come to the conclusion their fit is not good for me. I'm broad rather that fat but I find it odd that their bigger bags are just longer and not wider too.
Edit and I'd agree the Pipedream 200 barely covers the summer in Scotland and struggles above valley height even then.
Motorbike touring I think I'd want a big oversized porch. There was a thread here on this a week or so ago. The MSR hubba tour 1 I have could suit you apart from 1. It was probably over your budget, 2 they all leaked and 3 probably because of point 2 it's out of production. Shame, as the concept was great.
Thanks all, really helpful.
From a brand point of view, I've had fantastic experience of Vango (tent), ME (clothing/sleeping bag), Vaude (tent) and pretty poor for Decathlon, Alpkit - totally unrepresentative but tends to influence!
Sounds like down bag is the way to go, for sure. And reckon I'm better to be safe than sorry re warmth rating.
Interesting stuff on tents - Cloudup seems like a bargain and checking out the other recos. And decent porch is def a win for motorbike kit, and side entrance - haven't used one but sounds like it might be handy.
A down bag will last many many years if looked after, so are good value. I have a 30 year old rab 3 season bag, it cost 130 quid back then but is still fine. Its been washed 2 or 3 times, sent away to be done professionally. Key though is to always use a liner (silk or pertex) and to store it loose or in a big bag or net, somewhere dry and ideally warm, A full length zip is heavier but means it can be used as an extra throw over the bed etc, so can get a bit more use from it
I’m currently in a ME helium 250. I might regret not bringing a warmer bag. But it did a 4 degrees night 2 weeks ago with a few cloths. If I only owned 1 bag I’d want at least the Helium 400. The soloist XL is in the car and I’m ringing one more night out of a wild country Hoolie. The soloist XL entrance is a touch tight for easy exit and entrance more so if it’s wet. Space once you’re in is fine.
What are you doing for a mat? They are hugely variable on warmth cost and size
And reckon I’m better to be safe than sorry re warmth rating.
I personally find being too warm more of an issue.
I prefer a *just* warm enough bag and take more clothes (full merino top and long Johns FTW as PJ's) such as a fleece, and if really cold a fleece blanket.
I personally find being too warm more of an issue.
I prefer a *just* warm enough bag and take more clothes (full merino top and long Johns FTW as PJ’s) such as a fleece, and if really cold a fleece blanket.
I'm very much on the side of a warmer bag as the small weight and pack size difference using down is worth it to avoid a cold night of interrupted sleep. I use a 25 year old Mountain Equipment Snowline year round and it's easy enough to just open it out and use it as a duvet when it's not really cold. Fully zipped up I can't imagine ever being cold in the UK.
As above it's really worth buying the best you can for down sleeping bags if you are planning to use regularly. I've definitely made the mistake of buying cheap and therefore I've bought twice (or in fact 3 or 4 times).
Wish I had started off by really thinking about what I wanted, and spending a bit of money on good kit.
Overall that would have worked out a lot cheaper and saved me some uncomfortable nights.
Look for high fill power down (800+ ideally, the highe the better). Pay attention to temperature ratings, and also the size of the bag vs. Your height and build.
Also pay attention to comfort features like how long the zip is, or warmth features like box baffle construction, hood, collar, draught tube etc.
There are a huge variety of bags for all kinds of usages - to get the best for your money you need to work out what compromises you want.
The Lanshan 2 looks like an almost identical design to my ZPacks Duplex which has been very good to use. You'll need to get poles to use with it rather than walking sticks.