Been looking for a new (not too expensive) sleeping bag to do some winter camping in UK this winter and then a trip to South America next summer (so winter there - but not as far south as Patagonia!) I'm pretty set on the mountain equipment sleepwalker based on two things - the price is about right and I love the TDS system coz I normally wriggle about so much I can never get comfy in a sleeping bag. My qustion is really, does anyone know if there is such a thing as a women's sleepwalker III? I know there is a women's sleepwalker I and II but I think I could do with it being just a wee bit warmer than what the sleepwalker II is offering. I know that there is obviously a guy's sleepwalker III but the width added to the stretch means its not really snug enough, and being a girl I'd appreciate not lugging the extra 20cms of weight uneccesarily - I know these come in fairly bulky as it is!!! Are there any girls out there who use a sleepwalker II and could tell me how warm they find it?
Alternatively, would anyone strongly recommend an alternative in the £60 - £100 price bracket? I'm not looking for anything super expensive just now and would prefer synthetic to down as I plan to bivvy and sleep outside so the chances of getting damp are fairly high!
I actually want to get rid of my mountain equipment sleepwalker 2, because of the pack size...i have a 120 liter army backpack and it takes up alot of room ..no matter how hard i try to get it smaller.
I have a used sleepwalker 2 that i hardly even used it much that i bought it back when it was 2005..and for most of it's life was not stored in a compression sack.
This bag is fine for -5 and of course you got to use a sleeping bag liner which will boost the temperature rating and keep the bag clean.
I tried the Sleepwalker 3 on a cold March night in Wales a few years ago (elevation 1800 feet). It was quite cold as the water bottle froze almost solid, although I've no idea how cold.
I have to admit that by the early hours I was uncomfortably cold, and that's with using a heavyish belay jacket inside the bag as extra insulation (I was in a tent). I'm by no means susceptible to the cold. I work and play outdoors so am well acclimatised. My missus, by comparison, seems to be happier a good 10 degrees celsius warmer than me.
In short, as a female, I don't think that you'll find the bag anywhere near warm enough for what you want. I think you're better off considering down and forgetting the idea of bivvying in winter. I could however be wrong and you might be prepared to put up with a few shivery nights. Also be aware that you'll need a large pack to carry a synthetic bag of this bulk.
Thanks guys - I've seen the pack size of these things so I'm aware of how bulky they are. Unfortunately at least one night bivvying is required between now and next summer - and I thought perhaps I'd be better off with synthetic as anyone I've spoken to has said that it is very wet at the time of year I plan to visit South America - Chile in particular. If a down bag really is the better option though are there any down bags worth the trying for under a hundred quid? As this really was my top price for the moment! (I would consider stretching slightly if anyone knew of a ME dreamcatcher going second hand! )
The Alpkit down bags seem to be well regarded and reasonably priced. I'm a recent convert to down so perhaps someone with more experience might pop up and offer advice. Maybe you have a genuine need for synthetic, but be prepared to sleep with lots of layers on, hat, gloves, baffles/hood done right up etc.
I concur with what has already been said. I had a Sleepwalker II which was allegedly for -5 comfort rating and I always froze in it outside of summer.
I got meself a down bag - Marmot helium which is out of your price range - and it's so warm and snuggly. The Alpkit down bags are good value but somewhat heavier and bulkier than the top-end bags - your pays your money etc. After trying both types, I'd get down every time. If one DOES get hot in a synth bag, it all gets unpleasantly sweaty. Not nice.
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..no matter how hard i try to get it smaller.
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