 I've seen the Khyam Variable Sleeping System bags on sale for £75. Seems incredibly cheap as it includes two sleeping bags (2/3 season), bivvi bag and pillow. Has any one any experience of these? I'm looking for something small and lightweight - looks like these fit the bill, especially with the bivvi outer (supposedly breathable and waterproof).
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 To be honest I wouldn't trust anything with the name Khyam on it again - last year ALL of their Ridge-Dome tents came back with leaks. To say it is waterproof is questionable in my opinion.
This retailed at just over £100 when launched so £75 is better value, but I'd rather pay a tad more (and with sales a plenty everywhere, it shouldn't be too much) if I trusted the product to do its job.
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Thanks
I've got myself a Vango Venom 300 for cheap now - should do the job.
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I used the Khyam 800 on the 2008 OMM. Bought it because it packed small, was lightweight and had a -5 rating. Spent the whole night shivering and I normally sleep warm. I wouldn't trust this bag in anything other than a summer camp.
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 Hi Chugg, just a quick welcome to the OM Forum and in case you hadn't noticed the thread is a little over 5 years old 
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 Hi Chugg, just a quick welcome to the OM Forum and in case you hadn't noticed the thread is a little over 5 years old
And as synthetic bags lose most of their loft very quickly, the afore mentioned bags will be about as much use as a wet tea-towel by now.
Welcome to OM Chugg.
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And as synthetic bags lose most of their loft very quickly, the afore mentioned bags will be about as much use as a wet tea-towel by now.
So no change from new then
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 The Khyam 800 is rated to -5 for extreme use, not comfort. No wonder you were shivering Chugg : )
As for synthetic bags losing their loft, I have a Firebird synthetic sleeping bag bought from the ancient Survival Aids store. I've been using it yearly now for 20 years and it's still a lovely warm bag (though a tad heavy at 1950 gms). 20 years is quite a long life for a sleeping bag, will I be expecting it to lose its loft any time soon : )
Does anyone else have any experience of the Khyam bags? I too would prefer a nice light down bag but money seems to elude me......
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 I ordered Khyam bags for summer camping ,when they arrived they were already frayed ,brand new . I dont rate them at all . My wifey wont let me have my old ME firebird back ! Argos has a down bag .
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Thanks for the heads up on the Argos down bag - unfortunately it doesn't have warmth rating / weight details (I couldn't find any further details on it through a web search either - except that Homebase are selling it for some obscure reason).
I'm just after a 2-3 season sleeping bag, that weighs no more than 1.1 kilos, and is cheap.
Not asking for much ; >
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My husband bought a Khyam Ultralight 800 for a round the world yacht race. So far he hasn't compained about it not being warm but on washing (following the instructions) it has puuled apart at the seams in several places exposing the lining. Complete waste of money.
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I own the kyham ultralight 1000 and i think its really brilliant and I bought it for only £30. I've been in it in down to -2 and it was fine.
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As it happens I bought the 800 and the 600 and (coincidentally) used the 600 last night staying in an unheated house. Plenty warm it was too. The construction of both of mine is very good considering the 20 quid including postage (each) that I payed. I've washed both of them without incident.
I might get the 1000 just to complete the collection.... At this price it would be daft not too. Maybe I'll have to repair them but that's no biggey.
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Apparently. The bivvy says its breathable. yes but not when it starts raining. It's fine if you're inside because it does and warmth to you. Outside with some dew its not bad. But when it starts raining its not breathable. But I think the sleeping bags are very good
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| Edited: 30/12/09 17:03 |
No 'breathable' material (eVent, Gore-Tex, etc) is breathable when wet. I have 3 breathable bivi bags (1 with Gore-Tex, the other two with non-proprietory breathable fabrics) and they all suffer the same watery, condensation-type fate in the rain.
For a breathable material to remain breathable :
1. It must be more humid inside than out
2. Warmer inside than out
3. The air over the fabric can't be still
If any of these criteria aren't met, the breathability diminishes rapidly. This is the basis for the argument of soft shell over hard shell - not that I'm trying to change the purpose of this thread : )
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 i think that's possibly a bit too complicated when in rain warhippo. rain is cold. cold rain condenses any moist air inside when that moist air touches the inside of the fabric. the condensation then blocks any breathability that may be there.
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I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at there Parky. Could you explain yourself? My description of the three essentials for breathable fabrics is, I believe, accurate. One source that agrees with me is Ronald Turnbull, author of "The Book of the Bivvy" but maybe I'm missing your point : )
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 "Khyam sleeping bags - any good?" Are wax teapots great for making tea?
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| Edited: 30/12/09 22:17 |
