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So smallest_oab turns 18 in a few weeks and then gets on a flight to Japan and then NZ.
He needs a new sleeping bag and mat.
90% of use will be hostels etc.
But, he's planning some Japanese mountains and high huts, plus some tramping in NZ where my brother will lend him a tent.
He is 6'3" and broad.
I'm thinking down, 2-season, long and wide bag like my Zissou, or even a quilt.
Plus a thermal liner for colder days.
Any recommendations and any good deals on a mat, bag and liner?
Budget: Upto £300/350 for all with family chipping in.
Dunno how helpful this is, but don't underestimate how cold it could be. We went from 40 C forest fires in Aus to snow in Osaka in February when we went. I struggled for clothes to fit me at 6ft, so couldn't pick up much. I'd go warm quilt so you can sleep out of it, maybe cheap Snugpack for hostels
If he's broad, the Thermarest Questar range have a good shape. They are cut a bit wider than the norm. I have the long 20F/-6 version and am very happy with it at 6'2".
Thermal liner - I will probably go with a Reactor Extreme (and one for myself...).
Bag - I had looked at the Thermarest range. hmm.
I have been a fan of Alpkit for many years.
They have a good techncial range with synthetic and down options.
Below is their entry page for all 2 season bags they sell.
Down being the best option but it needs to be kept dry, so maybe the Ultra 20.
https://alpkit.com/collections/sleeping-bags/season-rating_2-season
^ yeah, Alpkit bags are just too tight on him....
Might be a bit over budget but Sea to Summit have a few bags on clearance at the moment. Don’t know how portable the bag needs to be but this looks like a decent bag for the money.
https://www.seatosummit.co.uk/products/sleep/amplitude-amii-4c/
PlanetX (see the Ti Pot thread) seem to be flogging their down bags uber-cheap at the moment, but exactly how long/broad they are I do not know. My go-to suggestion would have been Alpkit (I love my Pipedream Long), but if they are too narrow for him, maybe a quilt and a home-made cotton liner would work better.
Apologies, I am a serial browser of the website, and generally type half a response before deciding that I don't want to inflict it on others. However, one thing that always impressed me is the mutual support and generosity, so I'd like to learn from that.
I have a Marmot Never Winter sleeping bag, in Long, that I have had for a few years but do not get on with...I might, in STW style, have a few others from which to choose. It has always been stored lofted, in a smoke-free home but with two spaniels who don't go anywhere near where it is kept (I hope), slept in for max 5 nights. If you think that it might work for your son, then you can have it for the cost of postage (or collection from Braemar area) plus a contribution, to be determined by you when you get the bag, to Scottish Mountain Rescue.
I don't know if it'll fit, maybe not, but the ME Helium 250 is a brilliant bag and can be had for £200 or so. It's affordable because it's duck rather than goose down, but works just fine and the general build quality and design are excellent. Throw in an Alpkit mat to suit likely conditions and a budget liner. Generally, US brands' bags are often roomier because North Americans are assumed to be larger.
Alpkit has different fit on different bags from what I can remember. The Pipe Dreams are closer fitting, but the Skye High and others are roomier.
^I'm smaller than OP's son and will not fit in Helium 600. There is a extension bit available for ME bags though.
Thank you julesf7. 🤗
If you’ve not purchased yet there’s some good deals on Exped mats on sportpursuit at the moment. £25 for this is good value.
https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/2698010
Presumably your brother knows better than me but most NZ trails have huts. Some it’s impossible to pitch a tent
I’d be tempted by a 3 season bag unless weight is a crazy high priority. Our 90s round the world trip we took 3 season bags and they seemed correct although we never used hostels. We did end up high in USA and Nepal that trip. The bags are still in use
OP, just remember it will be moving into late Autumn/Winter in NZ soon so a 2 season bag (even with a liner) might not cut it, especially if your son is going anywhere near mountains.
My twopenneth would be something like a Vango Cobra 400 or 600: length would be ok but its a tapered mummy-style bag so might be a bit constraining
Rab Ascent 500 comes in a long wide version. £310 from Rab. Don't know if there are sales elsewhere. At 6ft3 and 16 stone I can use very few standard bags. I have long wide PHD bags but they are over budget.
Since fit is hard to find if you are 6ft3 and broad (or fat in my case) worth a look?
https://rab.equipment/uk/ascent-500
Thanks all - we are sorted
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