Hi peeps - long time, no post I know but I've been busy latley.

Ok, so I'm looking for a new 3 season Down sleeping bag for around the £100 mark max.  I have done lots of reading of reviews and spec's, have narrowed my choice down to two options and would like feedback and/or advice on my choices - or perhaps some alternative suggestions.

My choices in no particular order are the Vango Viper 500 and the Alpkit Alpine Dream 500.

They are both rated with similar comfort ratings of -2 deg C  and  -5 deg  C  respectively(but I do sleep warm so would be comfortable at lower temps), and both pack down small (the Vango slightly smaller).

Thanks,

Grant.

take a look at the PHD sale

down bags

they dont come any better than this - british made too

I agree with Morph, the PHD sale is awesome for picking up quality bags at bargain prices. I am sorely tempted by the Minim 500 even though I already have the Alpkit Alpine Dream 500

The weight and temp rating for the qulaity of the Minim at the sale price is astonishing 

However, I am more than pleased with my AD500 in terms of performance. its just that I would like a slightly lighter bag with a slightly better temp rating......hmmmmmm!

Thanks guys.

There's certainly some good buys there at PHD, but they are over my budget of £100 max.....some well over like the Xero 1300 at £540 

while budgets are a very wise idea, I'd go the extra £20 for a Mimim 400 without a doubt. I don't own one, and can't justify 'another sleeping bag' right now, but PHD bags are just fantastic from all I can tell. You could probably get away with the Minim 300 for £109 as I believe PHD temp ratings to be conservative.

Failing that, Alpkit offer excellent value - they are deliberately targetting maximum return for minimum price on their standard RRPs - but when a PHD bag comes down by 40% then there's no competition IMHO.

You could also consider the Alpkit Pipedream 400, particularly if you want it to pack down small.

However, I think they are currently out of stock.

its only £9 over your budget.. sell some old or unused gear on flea bay! go on you know it makes sense...

i think i should be on commision.. 

The PHD Minim 400 is only on sale in the short length though

Herb 

I know that another £10 or £20 is not much over the budget I set myself, however I do like my bags to have a zip whether it be full length, 3/4 or 1/2 length.

For me this is where both the Alpkit and Vango have the edge against the Minimus 300 for example..............but I can't ignore the fact the the PHD bags are good kit.  Dilema or what  

I know it's down to personal preferences at the end of the day, and I appreciate your input.  I'm gonna have to think about this a bit longer.

the AD500 is really great

I use mine all the time although I had to unzip the other night on account of being far too warm! 

I also permanently have it in my car along with all my other bits of essential hiking kit ("just in case" and is lovingly refered to as my gigantic grey earplug on account of it being stored in the stuff bag supplied with it

Well here's the update.

I opted for the Vango Viper 500 and ordered it from OutdoorWorld.org.uk, whose service I have to praise as being abolutley first class.

They did a stock check for me over the phone on Saturday, then took my order in the same call.  It arrived Tuesday morning (standard post) but I had to wait until I got home this morning (Friday) to check it out.

First impressions are excellent.  Pack size is very small - 18x21 cm even before using the compression straps.  Build quality is solid with no defects or any discrepancies anywhere either inside or out.  Out of the stuff sack it fluffed up very quickly and I was amazed at how much it lofted.  The feel of the bag inside is a lovelly silky soft finish, and it has an independant collar as part of the hood system with its own draw chord to ensure no warm air escapes on those chilly nights.

I'm looking forward to testing this out, although that will have to wait a bit as I'm heading out to Menorca this weekend for a family break.  The comfort rating is +18 deg C to -2 deg C, with an extreme rating of down to -15 deg C.  I do treat the extreme ratings with a bit of caution, however as I do sleep warm I reckon I will be comfy in this bag down to somewhere between -5 and -10 deg C when wearing my base layer.

A well constructed down sack that compresses very small and delivers top quality for £85 to £90. 

Grant.

nice one Grant, hope you get on with it

I have also been "forced" to buy another sleeping bag as I just couldnt ignore the phd sales anylonger...arg...but hey I will feel better in the winter  

Blimey! that is a bit extreme - I like to think I'll come back from my backpacking trips with all my limbs still attached, at the very least.

Who in their right mind would be prepared for an overnight stay out, without a suitable bag for likely conditions? I know accidents happen, but if you even think it's going to approach, say, -15, get the right gear, surely?!

And as regards hypothermia, you've got more problems than just being cold once that sets in - confusion, irrational actions and decisions, etc. On your own, there's a good chance it's a mistake due to one of these that will kill you, not the actual cold itself. Or have I misunderstood how it works?

As for losing a limb - well, at least a pair of socks or mitts will last twice as long.