 As the title says! I am after a 3 season bag for use when bikepacking and bivvying. It must pack small (preferably less than 20cmx20cm) and must be around a kilo, up to about 1300g. £100 is a must, but I am not bothered if it is down or synthetic (though I doubt we will find many down bags) I'm looking at the softie 6 by Snugpak - but is there anything better? thanks!
|
 |
This bag is supposed to be a good one http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16320&category_id=286 bit over your budget though at £125 this is a good synthetic bag as well at £80 http://www.webtogs.co.uk/Mountain_Hardwear_Lamina_20_Synthetic_Sleeping_Bag_100791-17822.html?utm_source=GoogleBase&utm_campaign=GoogleBase&utm_medium=pricecomp&utm_term=Lamina20SyntheticSleepingBag
|
| Edited: 12/09/11 11:46 |
The second one is too big - I want max 20cm x 20cm. The other one is 23 x 25cm, which is a little big. However they show it with a helmet and it doesn't look too bad, but for £40 more expensive, it seems not that great. thanks anyway though
|
| Edited: 12/09/11 18:15 |
 Now sure how it would fit into your size requirement BUT the Mountain Hardwear Lamina range are pretty decent.
BTW its all well and good saying I WANT but like anything in life you have to be reasonable.
|
| Edited: 12/09/11 19:36 |
 I would suggest the Vango Venom range. Search on eBay. Their '400' models are selling new for around £105 (plus £4 postage but you might find a second hand one cheaper?). These are rated as 3 seasons (down to -3'C) , weigh 1000g and pack to 22x16cm. I think that just about fits all your needs. I have one of their 150 bags. Great for summer use, really really great. For cooler times I go for my PHD bag but that is also a big hike in budget... James
|
|
 2nd for the Vango Venom range. I was happy with the Venom 225 did me from late-April through early October. It was too cold for March. I sold it on to a fellow OM, and I got a PHD Minim 300 so I could get more into the cooler conditions.
|
|
Ok I will have a look at the Vango Venoms @Bedouin - fine if it's totally unreasonable - but the snugpak is 18x18, -5 rated and £80... so it's not really. thanks!
|
|
 Synthetic ratings are usually very optimistic, Will. If you can push the boat out a little, i would go for a decent down bag. It pays in the long run, as i have some down bags still being used by my' kids' 20 years on. You'll be lucky if you get 5 years out of a synthetic bag before all the loft is gone. A quality sleeping bag is something you wont regret.
|
|
Will, I'm not making any assumption on what is or isn't reasonable I just note that many people that use words like "MUST" and "BELOW" have unreasonable performance expectation... normally due to an equally rigid financial restriction.
Anyway, just an observation.
|
|
I'd agree on pushing budget on your bag choice, its the most important for being warm in the cooler ends of the 3 seasons and is lighter than bringing additional clothing purely for sleeping in. I had a Venom 225 and that perfect in the narrower ends of 3 seasons but I upgraded to PHD Minim 300 which is in sale at £165 which is above the target budget of the OP. Still, its 590g which is quite a bit less than the target. I also bikepack, more than I backpack, and I understand weight is less of an issue when bike takes the weight
|
| Edited: 14/09/11 21:08 |
 I have the alpkit pipedream 400 and its absolutely superb. In the colder weather I have just added a fleece liner to uprate it but for usual use its lovely and warm. Packs small for backpacking. Alas bought mine when they came out for £100. But would happily buy another. Had it about 5 years now and still going strong. Don't forget you get a number of stuff sack options and a cotton storage bag in with the money and free postage.
|
|
Ive got a nice 1000 weight caravan bag which is probably 30 years old and is absolutely fine. But it just wont pack down small enough. I'd love to go for the alpkit, as if I can, I'll always buy from them because I know i'll get great service and an equally great product. However it's not in stock until Jan 2012 (which is fairly common) and I don't really want to wait that long only to find they sell out again instantly. Ok so lets bring the budget up to £130 (on par with the alpkit), requirements now I would say would be sub 1000g, small pack size probably 20x20 again would be ideal but could stretch to 22 or 23 again. I appreciate all the suggestions
|
| Edited: 16/09/11 19:43 |
 Be wary on the Snugpak dimensions - they were a bit optimistic on my Softie Autumn to say the least.
|
|
