I'm trying to find a good quality 4 or 4/5 season rectanguler sleeping bag?
I realise a mummy shape would be more efficient but I just can't get on the retrictive straight jacket type fit, I tend to move around a bit. All the rectangular one's I can find tend to be summer or 2 season.
Another option I have thought about is using 2 summer/2 season bags together to have a more flexiable system and also have a bit of room?
To be used in the Himalaya region, not extreme altitude or side of mountains type camping though.
Winter-rated rectangular (or semi-rectangular) bags do exist; but I've mostly seen them for sale in Canada & the US.
At the economic end, Coleman do some with a hybrid shape... the Tasman series go down to -18C... which might work for you.
If you don't mind paying for quality, the Western Mountaineering Ponderosa has to be a good option. WM are one of the best down bag manufacturers in the world and do a semi-rectangular bag for just the kind of usage you seem to want... They are sold by MEC in Canada who'll ship to the UK I believe...
And there are plenty of others in between. I'd think that MECs own Cygnet might be an ideal option... and great value if you don't get too stung on shipping & duty to pay!
Give me some idea of budget & weight constraint and I might be able to find some other options...
And while you mention it, if weight isn't a big issue then having two bags works pretty well, especially if you can size them correctly so that the outer one doesn't squash the inner one. It's most useful if the outer bag is sythetic & the inner is down as you get a hybrid that is very versatile...
My own internet searches has only found bags in the USA so far too. We have Coleman products over here, haven't tried to find that one yet but I'll have a look. The MEC's Cygnet looks very good value and doesn't work out too bad in £'s either, but like you say the shipping, duty and VAT could be a pain.
Interesting reading your link to the other topic, I have a synthetic Vango Ultralite 900 Square and I was considering getting a Down Venom square to go inside it, no problem getting those here. Weight is only really an issue on the flights, I won't be carrying it as it'll be a supported cycle trip. The 'double up' option is looking more attractive though as I don't know how often I would use a 4/5 season bag if I purchased one, but the 2/3 season's would probably get more use, and I have the option of using one bag if the weather is warmer?
Another suggestion was to hire or buy one in Kathmandu - I'm going there first then on to Lhasa and back to Kathmandu again? Apparently there's loads of kit for sale in Kathmandu.
Maybe buy a normal down bag and a good matt and don't zip the sleepingbag up. Stick your feet in the end and use it as a quilt. No restrictions plus you get the weight+bluk saving. Or try:- http://www.phdesigns.co.uk
They'll custom make you one. (but it might not be cheap)
