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I'm thinking of a few camping trips to ride further afield in the new year while (if) i am still job hunting. So baring in mind I am on a seriously restricted budget what is the best value sleeping bag I can get for mid winter usage?
Depends what you've already got kit-wise. A summer bag can be improved on by wearing an insulated jacket and some leggings inside it. You'll want these for sitting / faffing anyway. A sleeping bag liner can help, is cheap and light. Important to insulate yourself from the ground though - this makes the biggest difference for me.
So if you've already got a 2 or 3 season bag, more clothes, and an insulated mat. Then pick your spot carefully for more shelter from wind, not in a dip which can collect cold air, not on a hilltop which can be exposed. You may have to forego morning views for comfort. And pick your weather too! Avoid particularly damp days (if at all possible) and really cold nights, winter camping demands more flexibility.
Manage your expectations. Its going to be uncomfortable, but at least you're out. All pretty obvious stuff but may help!
Register with 'outdoor gear exchange UK' on Facebook, and post up, you will get loads of offers.
It's a cracking group for all sorts of outdoor kit, I've had some right bargains.
As above existing sleeping bag plus existing down jacket and/or a bivi bag / liner / baselayers / beanie hat. Also worth buying a winter grade old style closed cell foam mat to put under your inflatable. Probably £9.99 well spent.
Andy Kirkpatrick is an advocate of using two sleeping bags where necessary, which might be an option?.
PS a few of my pals just use a double duvet off a bed from home with a good quality mat, when campsite camping.
Where in UK winter?
Cairngorm or Cambridge?
Cairngorm or Cambridge?
I'm thinking places like Lakes/Peaks and possibly Malvern Hills. Places I can get to for 2 days riding, 1 night camping.
In summer I'll push the limits of weight and occasionally comfort, not in winter.
I use a quilt rated to 5C with a sleeping bag also rated to 5C, combined they are good to -6C or so which is more than enough for most of the UK in winter. When layering either bags or bags and clothes take care not to compress either of them since that compromises its ability to insulate.
A good insulated mat is all but essential - Exped Synmat or Thermarest NeoAir series are the usual gotos. My wife has used an Exped Hyperlite Synmat at -16C in Arctic Finland so plenty good enough for the UK.
@40mpg makes good points about site selection: camping by water is cold, partly because it's always in low ground, partly because of the moisture; camping under trees is warmer. Use the landscape as your first line of defence.
Make sure you go to bed warm but not sweating: eat something fatty before bed, cheese or meat, the body generates heat as it digests it; exercise a bit.
If you're not actually carrying your sleeping stuff you can go to town; a good sleeping mat or two, or a foam mat under everything else or a layer of bubble wrap or a few sheets of cardboard or some old carpet or all the above, then a sleeping bag and an old duvet and a cheapo fleece blanket and an old curtain will make your house into a home!
If you're carrying it all, get a good mat, add a foam mat, get a bloody good sleeping bag; Alpkit will be the best VFM.
If you're anywhere near Hyde then once things get back to normal it's worth keeping an eye out for the OSC (mountain equipment) sales. They usually happen a couple of times a year and ME samples and seconds are dirt cheap. A good down sleeping bag basically lasts forever if it doesn't leak excessively. My main one is from the late 90's so it is worth spending extra if you can stretch to it over a synthetic bag.
A good insulated mat is all but essential – Exped Synmat or Thermarest NeoAir series are the usual gotos. My wife has used an Exped Hyperlite Synmat at -16C in Arctic Finland so plenty good enough for the UK.
I'm as guilty as anyone of doing it, but the OP asked specifically to do it on the cheap and both those mats are well over £100 (£130 & £190) from what I've googled.
This is my starting point for winter campsite camping, then you can use any airbed/inflating mat on top.
https://www.sportsdirect.com/karrimor-expedition-mat-782028#colcode=78202891