Gear

Hopefully a reasonably simple question (possibly....)

Basically, how small realistically does a sleeping bag need to pack for fitting in a rucsac of around 70 litres (i.e. in the sleeping bag bit at the bottom)?

I know it depends on the bag (both sleeping and rucsac), but is there a general minimum?

I currently have an ME Starlight III which is a superb sleeping bag and has served me incredibly well when camping, but I have always gotten there by car and so the pack size has never bothered me. However I have several backpacking trips lined up this year which will be lightweight bivi-bagging affairs and am now wondering whether the Starlight will pack down small enough as in its stuff sac its pretty huge (26 x 38cm).

Cheers in advance for any help!

Mark - I reckon it should fit in a 70l rucsac - maybe not in it's original stuffsac though....

In the summer Mike (?)....Mark mentions this year - I could possibly do 35L for a winter overnight; but that would depend on where....and what conditions...with full winter gear - very very unlikely for me..

Never noticed the 'this year' bit, ed. Yeah, more like a 30/35L pack for a winter bivvy night. I don't carry cooking gear when i'm bivvying. All that goes in the pack is a bivvy bag, mini tarp, sleeping mat, sleeping bag and spare insulating clothes. Plus the usual map, compass, torch, etc.

....and a few 'Scotch pies'? They make them in Morrisons you know.

They won't be real ones, ed. Proper ones contain enough grease to cause 47 heart attacks.

My mistake, I actually meant 2010.....had totally forgotten we only have 3 weeks left of 2009!

The first trip I have planned is the South Downs way over a long weekend in February which will be my first attempt bivvying. After that I have various lakes, peaks, various places in wales trips on the cards. I've not completely decided on a new bag size yet, but it will probably be around 60-70 litres going on reccomendations from the friends I will be joining with who have been doing this sort of thing for years!

I think at the end of the day I will just have to try wedging the sleeping bag in a bag when I try them out and see what happens. If it fits, great. If not then I will have to think about possibly changing it for something a bit more packable (a shame as its worked brilliantly....but maybe a nice down bag could be good...hmmm......)