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 Did you have a look at Charles the Kiwi's phd minimus over the weekend, DW? Good piece of kit. I only sold it to him because - as you saw from the size of the Wasp - I need a bit more loft in my bag!! phd do regular sales if you don't want to pay full price - there'll probably be one in August. Sorry, cancel that - you're after a c.-5 rather than a +5. Minim 400?
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| Edited: 08/06/08 21:46 |
 DW, keep an eye on ptc*'s blog..... http://www.petesy.co.uk/ He's just got hold of a Pipedream 400 to do some comparative testing. No doubt there'll be a lot of comment from the regulars over there too..... I can't comment on Pipedream vs Cumulus, as all my bags are PHD! I do know that the handful of people I know who've gone for Cumulus have all been delighted with them. Edit: Btw, I may have got this wrong, but back on Dartmoor were you talking about wanting some pertex trousers?
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| Edited: 08/06/08 21:52 |
 the phd minim 400 would be tempting if the price came down near to that of the alpkit or cumulus
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I got my Minim 400 in one of their sales, Iirc it came down to £119 - bargain, and a brilliant bag! 
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Will have to keep an eye on there site then.... if any one does spot one come up on there gis a shout 
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I got my Minim 400 in the same sale, only I got a zip added too. Very pleased with it.
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Is the minim 400 for when you go to the australia then kate 
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ho ho. Actually, it's NPC who's off to Australia. I'm just off to the west of Ireland, but cottaging rather than camping.
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ho ho. Actually, it's NPC who's off to Australia. I'm just off to the west of Ireland, but cottaging rather than camping.  Still plenty of public loos in ireland then? 
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 LOL! Check out the Rab Quantum bags as well DW. You can usually pick them up well below MRRP.
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 On the subject of PHD, I accidentally slept in a Minim Ultra 900 on Friday night without a sleep mat at 918m. Well I say without a sleepmat, that depends on whether an OS map unfolded, then folded in half with a Haglofs Oz stuck in it counts as a sleep mat. Anyway, it had remarkable insulative qualities for a bag that weighs 345g. PD400 look alright, Cumulus I haven't seen yet. There's so many nice down bags about just now.
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I have the PD400; nice bag, reasonably roomy - even for me; length for you might be tight unless they do diff sizes? - hood design not fantastic, but OK. The fabric does not have even close to the same drape as PEq and seems 'stiffer' - it ain't hard and stuffs away well but does not have the same 'feel'. Fondle one. With a silk/other liner the latter point matters not. My RAB Q600 on the other hand is a standard above, being very nicely put together (no idea of the PD equivalent - Q250 is the same though)? Snuggly as a bunny. As a v.light summer bag I use a Western Mountaineering Summerlite - a fantastic light (568g with a full-length zip...a must for me) bag, but not for temps approaching freezing. Not sure if you can get these in the UK? For the money the PD400 is a winner IMO.
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 ... Western Mountaineering Summerlite ... Not sure if you can get these in the UK?
Snow & Rock stock them. Not cheap though. Clicky
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 I bought a PD400 after researching and lots of good praises on here. That was back in February and I used it at the end of the month. Although I staying in a bothy, cold stone with no fire I was fine. I kept only my baselayers on to add a little bit more warmth and only found my toes felt a little bit cool.... My feet weren't cold but I noticed it. Now the bag is rated to -5 and our thermometer stated it was -3 so I was pleased. Having said that I have a fleece liner that I will use next time in these conditions just to up it a bit. For the size, I am 6'2" of a medium build and I have no problem with its length and width. It is a snug bag and that the benefit really. Packing up and carrying is good. I've gone from a synthetic to down and this is my first ever down bag and so far I'm impressed. I've done a couple more warmer nights in it and found that I've had to undo the zip and little to cool down.
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 I've got an Alpkit PD400, two in fact as the missus has one too. We have used them this year in snow, rain, scorching hot and they are brilliant. They don't have loads of fancy features or unneseccary designs, they are simple and made out of good materials yet well priced. We used ours on Saturday night at 978M high in Snowdonia and they were as good as they were in the middle of winter in the Lakes this year. For weight, quality and price the Alpkits are excellent. Used my Alpkit Wee Airic sleeping mat for the first time this weekend to and was very impressed and will be now selling my heavier thermarest as the Wee Airic was all I needed ( with insert from backpack as foot mat ). Also if you get an Alpkit PD400 you can fit it in an Exped Dry Bag, the Small yellow size thats only five litres, great for guaranteeing it stays dry even if in wet conditions!
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Thats good to hear that some one 6'2" can fit in it as was a bit worried as they say max hight is 6'1"
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 DW, in case you're tempted to wait for PHD August sale - these are the sorts of discounts you can expect. No minim 400 last summer, but it has been on offer other times as Matt and Kate have said. PHD August sale 2007 1. MINIMUS DOWN JACKETS AND VESTS IN GORE-TEX - Our most popular products with the extra protection of a Gore-Tex outer. Jackets on sale for £119; vests for £79.
2. MINIM 300 DOWN SLEEPING BAG - a product only available during the sale. With a Min Temp rating of 0C (32F) and a total weight of 570gm (20oz) this bag fills a useful gap between our Minimus and the Minim 400. For Mountain / Desert Marathons or ultralight backpacking this Minim 300 makes a great choice. On sale for £109 (our 'DYO' price is £189).
3. SNOWBIRD JACKETS & VESTS - your last chance to buy these old favorites, available in Olive or Sea Green. Vests reduced from £95 to £55; jackets from £159 to £85.
4. MINIM 500 DOWN SLEEPING BAGS - also only available during the sale. With a total weight of 800gms (28oz) and a min temp rating of -9C (16F) this bag gives another ultralight option for anyone extending their camping into the milder parts of winter. On sale for £139 (our 'DYO' price is £235).
5. MINIMUS DOWN SLEEPING BAGS - standard product in a special fabric (Green M2 Microfibre). M2 is a fine ultralight fabric in a plain weave. Dimensions, construction and down fill are as the original bag. The Minimus will be on sale at £89 (reduced from £164).
6. ARCTIC DOWN JACKETS IN GORE-TEX - with box-walls throughout and a taped GORE-TEX outer the Arctic is suitable for use in very cold, inhospitable conditions. On sale (in black) for £220 (reduced from £380).
7. MINIMUS DOWN VESTS & JACKETS - our most popular products, in M4 fabric. M4 is a fine ultralight fabric the same weight as M1. Available in Olive. Vests on sale for £59 (reduced from £95); jackets on sale for £89 (reduced from £144).
8. ASPEN DOWN JACKETS - lightweight down jackets, warm but smart. Nylon microfibre in & out. Sale price £89, original price £180.
9. TOASTY DOWN MITTS & BOOTS - being made for the last time ever. Simple winter warmth for the extremities. Both on sale at £29, reduced from £48.
10. CHAMONIX DOWN VEST - a limited-edition lined vest with fleece-lined pockets and collar. On sale for £59, reduced from £99. Remember folks, this was last year's sale!
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 DW, I mentioned this on another thread, if you can wait till autumn then get the PD200 for cheaper than the PD 400 (mmmm.... or the PHD equivalent if they are in the sale). The top half is elasticy and fits me fine. You need to wear your insulating top at the same time, but you save yourself a fair bit of weight as you will be carrying an insulating top anyway. PHD have some ultra light wind proofs and a dry shell sleeping bag cover for single skin or tarp camping, at a special price at the min. BE WARNED!!! Don't have a go at their sleeping bag design facility! It will render you incapable of not buying something! It's like Crack and Hard Porn, once experienced... your hooked for life! JUST SAY NO! . . . . . and a -15 degree down jacket for a measly £130. or -20 for just a mere 35 quid more. or down salopettes for 69 quid!! Eeeeeek! F*ck..... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Rocky looked at the diy design your sleeping bag and its kinda put me off the phd bags now by the time you add a full lengh zip baffles and collar or what ever you call it to it the weight is up to the same as the pipedream400... tho still umming and ahhhing at mo got the alpkit in the basket at the mo...decissions decissions.
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