 Loving this quiote on that alba west site: One of the laws of Scottish weather is: 'Everything you try to keep dry - naturewill try to get wet.' Nature generally wins. Classic.
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 a couple of weeks ago in the Cairngorms I found MWIS to be too optimistic!
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So I am thinking - go for a bag rated at about 0C, then I can add down vest if it gets colder, and any colder than minus 5 or so and I wont camp out. That sound about right, or I am going to turn myself into a ice cube?? 
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| Edited: 09/07/08 14:25 |
 Anyone do a lot of one and two nighters in Scotland year round, if so whats you sleeping bag choice????
Up untill recently, i used a Mountain Equipment Lightline Ultra for winter, and a Rab Quantum 250 for the rest of the year, adding clothing when needed. I've recently switched to a Nunatak Arc Specialist quilt, which i hope to use all year round.
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Hmmm, sleeping quilt eh?  Interesting, how you finding that? I assume you dont mind sleeping with lots of clothes on then? Do you have a down filled sleeping mat then? Not sure I would like to sleep with a balaclava on as they suggest!
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I count my clothing as part of my sleeping system. That way, i can get by with a lighter bag. It hasn't been cold enough to need a hat with my quilt yet. I sleep warm, so hardly ever used the hoods on bags anyway. I use normal self-inflating or foam mats.
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 Ahoy i use a Rab Summit 300 half zip which i originally bought for biking overnighters as it packs real small. Now use it all year round in Scotland and if its really cold i wear Icebreaker Skin 200 top+bottoms(which i always carry in my pack).It has a pertex outer but i don't plan on getting it wet to test that! p.s i phoned Rab to check the sizing as being a baldy i have to use it mummy stylee cheers Jb
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Hey John B, summit alpine 300 has rating of 0c, do you mostly camp low or on summits?? I am thiking then based on what people are using here something between 0 and minus 5 would be about right. But please express your opnions...
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I am thiking then based on what people are using here something between 0 and minus 5 would be about right. But please express your opnions...
I think that you're in the right ball park there. I sleep very cold and have been using an ME Dreamcatcher 500, rated to -5C year round and not been too hot in the Summer (I don't sleep on Scottish mountains).
Only trouble with the Dreamcatcher was that it weighs 1.3kg. I've now switched to a Cumulus Quantum 350 at half the weight, also rated to -5C. It does seem to be as warm as the Dreamcatcher, although less comfortable in other ways, which is only to be expected for the weight saving. I know that it's not true lightweight philosophy but I prefer to be too warm and either vent the bag/tent or stick my arms out than be too cold and not be able to do anything about it.
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 I think you're in the right ballpark too. It's hard to advise on sleeping temperatures, but you said at the outset you sleep pretty hot, and I reckon I do too. My winter bag is a Minim 400, rated -4 but I've used it comfortably 4 or 5 degrees below that. I can always add a liner or clothes beyond that if I need. Until I got the 400 I'd used my Minimus (+5 rated) down to -3 or -4 with a few clothes on. If I could only have one bag I'd probably look somewhere around 0 and rely on the duvet jacket beyond that!
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what you need is a RAB top bag.......the dogs dooby doos, cos i've got one & love it. slept to -5c a few times with clothes & balaclava..... bag 450 g.
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 I do a lot of this stuff, easier to read it here than list it all. PHD are genius, the Minim Ultra and Minim Ultra Vest combois fantastic. The new hooded Rab top bag (now in the shops I think?) is great, Big Agnes Pitch Pine, ME Xero 250... Ach, now is the time of killer down bags for sure.
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Thanks all, I feel much happier now, advice like this from people with 1st hand experience is invaluable IMHO, looks like its time to start saving the pennies!!
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