Any girls out there reccomend min 3 season bag for virgin camper who feels the cold. Im a Buffallo freek and she doesnt like the old fibre pile

Sleeping bags tend to be (what's the politically correct term?) "Non-gender-specific.

Also what time of year will you be going camping? Will it be car camping or do you intend to have to carry the bag in a rucksack?

Finally, how much cash do you have to spend?

Well Steve, I feel the cold very much and I like to be very snug in my bag. In the old bag, I used to have to wear my base layer or a t-shirt even in summer. (and 2 layers of fleece when there was frost outside)

I found the ME Sleepwalker 2 did it for me. The elasticated bits keep the leg part close to me to avoid draughts, yet they allow me to sit up cross-legged to brew my man up a morning cuppa. The neck baffle keeps out all the nasty cold at 3 a.m. too.

I haven't actually tried it in winter yet, but so far, 3-season, no other clothing needed for warmth. It weighs 1400g so suitable for backpacking.

If £90 is too expensive and she won't be backpacking, I got my daughter (who also is a wimp as regards keeping warm at night) a Vango Nitestar 300, a 3-season bag which is heavier. From discount outlets like Lakeland Great Outdoors they are about £24. Suitable for car camping as they are quite a bit heavier, but it comes with a compression stuff sac and packs up quite small. Alex borrowed it last month and he was rather snug, I believe.

Hope this helps.

Alex - what I think Steve means is that girls often feel the cold more than blokes and so a female opinion on what was 'cosy' would be more valuable.

:0)

oh right...girls hey? I dunno, they'll be voting next...

However, I'd agree with Jeannie's comments about the Vango bag. It was nicely toasty and was warm to the feel inside (due to the cotton/polyester lining). As a first car camping bag it's a great buy.

In fact my kids have the "next one down" (the Nitestar 250) for spring/summer camping. They have said that they are warm and toasty. I got those for about £15 each.

Basically, in my humble opinion, if you feel the cold, and aren't going to use the bag often AND aren't going to carry the bag any distance then the Vango 300's are fine and dandy.

I do believe that some of the Snugpak ones are also very good but haven't actually tried one myself.

Anyone?

I've had a snugpak bag for years now, and it's still going strong. Not sure what the model is, which isn't very useful, but I can vouch for the quality. Don't think it was wildy expensive either.

We have a Snugpak Softie 10 on test right now. It was supposed to be a 9, the package said it was a 9, but its a ten. Early days, but it's nice and warm and seems pretty well made and designed.

Well, if I could afford it I would get a ME Sleepwalker 111. Those elastcated knees look like a real bonus.

I'm sorry Alex but bags are gender specific, well they are if they come from a decent company like mine ;-) Fairydown (the sleeping bags used by Sir Edmund Hillary on Everest) make sleeping bags specificaly for women called 'Nazomi'.
Fairydown make female specific bags because women sleep 2 degrees C colder than men. So a Nazomi bag will be smaller due to the specific fitting requirements of women but will contain the same amount of down as the larger male specific bags. This difference in cut but with the same amount of down compensates for women sleeping colder than men. If you send me an e-mail Steve I can point you in the direction of your nearest dealer. I hope this has been of some help.

Guy S, we considered the Sleepwalker 3 but discounted it because:
(a) for most of the year it would simply be FAR TOO HOT
(b) there is a significant weight penalty over the S 2.

Yeah, but is it the right colour?

Snugpack, Vango, Buffalo, dah-de-dah de-dah-dah, ... there are lots n lots n lots of choice. One thing to look out for (IMHO) is that the thinner but well insulated ones don't give as much padding as equally well insulated & plumper ones. Can make a bit of a diffetrence when it comes to Kip time.

Equally, I don't know if this is appropriate in this case but may be valid as a general point - there are some (Vango amongst them) that allow two sleeping bags to be zipped together.

<|:-)

I cannot possibly wonder why such a feature is important though?

Especially for a virgin camper....

I've got a Snugpak softie 3 which is as warm as my supposedly '3 season' Aztec bag. Construction quality is good and it's very light and compact.

The wife uses a sleepwalker 3 in most conditions (spring and autumn) and is fine. She does sleep COLD though.

Sleepwalker 2 or Firewalker 2 would be fine for most three season use. You can adjust the warmth with a fleece liner.

Steve - have a look at www.cccoutdoors.co.uk they have some good deals on sleeping bags.

I hope it helps you and the lassie a wee bit

big nice baga

<|:-)

Just to pitch in that I bought a ME Sleepwalker III after a bit of deliberation, and it was one of the best moves I ever made. I must be a 'wriggler' or my sleeping position just suits the elasticated knee section, but its been the best bag I've owned. Well warm too. If I made an improvement I would make it slightly longer as I'm 5'11" and I'm about bang-on on the length/neck section - an extra couple or inches would make it even more comfortable. Add a thermarest and I now actually sleep out there! I remember getting a few quid off in a sale too.

Cheers all,

Paul

I would also recommend ME Sleepwalker 2.I was fortunate enough to purchase one from ME factory shop in Glossop for ridiculous price of £35.00.(The press stud around neck baffle had come off & the bag had been returned by a Cotswold store as faulty- nothing that another stud or piece of velcro sewn on would not rectify)I understand that Magic Mountain shop in Glossop may be having further sale just prior to Xmas & there may be further bargains to be had.Best to ring them up beforehand to save a wasted journey.

Thanks everybody. Eventually went for sleepwalker 3 bag... now to get her out there.
By the way Bicester discount retail park...excellent bargains on Helly Hanson base layers at the moment...must be half price