namely sleeping bags....
have been looking for a decent bag(s) for the the GF and myself.
price wise they seem hard to beat compared to similar specced bags i've been looking at.
how do they compare on weight, quality, pack down size, etc....?
any info regarding their kit would be appreciated.
cheers
I've had all sorts of Alpkit stuff and never had any problems with any of it.
Never had a sleeping bag, but I would be perfectly happy to buy one of theirs if I needed one, as all there other kit has been great.
had my pipedream 800 (iirc) for 6 years - awesome bit of kit.
its 3 season (down to -5 i think), with a half length zip, 700 odd grams. came with 3 bags (2 stuff sacks and a storage one). well thought out. still performs brilliantly.
as do there headtorch, bouldering mat, carbon walking poles, down jacket etc etc etc...!
I've got the skye high 600 and can't really fault it, packs down nice and small (into a 13l drybag)and is fairly warm for the weight.
I've got the warmest winter skyehigh sleeping bag (1200?).
Packsize is comparable with pricier options but finish isn't - cheap transfer branding, cheap zips etc. Not important but noticeable.
Also, from the bags I've seen I suspect that they use the same amount of filling regardless of bag length. My long version doesn't seem as well stuffed as it should.
Cheap and cheerful rather than good quality imho, but that's not to be sniffed at.
No experience of their sleeping bags but the odds and ends I have bought have exceeded my expectations and customer service is excellent, by phone, email or in person.
+1 for their customer service, it's run like a family business and their service is superlative.
Ive got the warmest sleeping bag they make but can't remember the name now. Kept we warm for 7 weeks in the Khumbu late last year and up to Annapurna base camp.Slept at over 5000m a few times and was toasty. Personally I cant knock it. Cheap compared to other makes and very good. The stuff sack fell apart but it took a lot of abuse. Their bivvy bags and headtorches are also good.
Even bought some titanium tent pegs but that was heading to the alps and getting very anal about weight issues.
I've got a couple of SH800's and have tested them in some pretty ropey conditions. All positive so far.
As mentioned above, buy a 13L airlock dry bag and it fits perfectly.
In terms of warmth rating.....it's so difficult to put a realistic figure on bags. So much can affect how warm you feel when you get in (humidity, tiredness, hunger etc), so even getting in the same bag feels different every time.
But, as for the SH800's I can safely say that you'll survive pretty much any UK temps, provided you and the bag are dry. I recently bailed on a climb and wild camped. It was around -5 and I was very wet/cold/hungry/tired. I managed keep sufficiently warm with a pair of long johns and a fleece.
As for build quality......it's actually very good for £140. Compare it to the likes of PHD and you'll notice the difference, but you'll also pay triple the price.
One tip.....buy a silk/cotton liner. It's nice to be able to jump in your bag with dirty/sweaty kit on and not have to worry. Once a down bag starts to smell....well let's just say it doesn't go away very easily!
+1 for silk liner. Stops smells and add a bit more warmth. I reckon if you go to bed v.cold you stay cold. Star jumps at bed time? Can be an awful experience but your body warmth insulates you and the bag. Sorry if the words egg and suck are springing to mind.
Good to hear as I'm just about to buy a SH800 
I reckon if you go to bed v.cold you stay cold. Star jumps at bed time? Can be an awful experience but your body warmth insulates you and the bag. Sorry if the words egg and suck are springing to mind.
Definitely. I also tend to keep some food next to my head, so if I wake up in the middle of the night, I eat a little and it gives a bit of extra energy to produce a bit more heat.
Also, you WILL wake up quite a bit in winter. A lot of people I take camping seem to think it's going to be like a normal night at home, fall asleep and wake up in the morning. I wake up every hour or two on a cold/windy night. Earplugs are essential for bad weather....rain sounds like someone battering a drum outside my tent and the wind can be stupidly loud at times.
And if you REALLY need the sleep (for example you have a tough day the next day), I tend to stick on a couple of extra layers, put in some earplugs and neck 10mg of valium 
Some people seem to be able to get good sleep in a tent in the middle of winter in a storm. I'm not one of them!
A slighty more fatty meal in the evening seems to help generate more internal heat overnight.
I love wind and rain when I'm camping. I find the shelter of the tent incredibly comforting, like a womb.
have been looking for a decent bag(s) for the the GF and myself.
Just spotted this bit.
Buy two of the same bag....but with zips on different sides (e.g. a left and a right hand zip bag).
The Alpkit bags zip together wonderfully and are incredibly spacious. It's a very nice feature to have on those long, cold nights in a tent with your GF............ 
Woolly hat always seem to keep me warm in winter. Down Jacket over the bag and check that whatever you're resting your head on isn't directly on the groundsheet.
Used down jackets, bivvy bags and rucksacks from Alpkit, all works well and seems to last.
Pleasant people to deal with as well.
I've got a SH600 and a PD400. Can't fault them.
Saying that, I never use the SH anymore so need to sell it...
damitamit - Member
I've got a SH600 and a PD400. Can't fault them.
Saying that, I never use the SH anymore so need to sell it...
Really tell me more, email in profile
In terms of warmth rating.....it's so difficult to put a realistic figure on bags. So much can affect how warm you feel when you get in (humidity, tiredness, hunger etc), so even getting in the same bag feels different every time.
^^this
the GF is generally colder at night than i am. we camped all over Australia and only ever had a problem with the cold in the desert where the daytime temp would be 40C,but at night it would plummet to -2C. i was using the GF's bag rated to )c and she was using my bag rated to -5C.
will be camping in the Bavarian/austrian alps from April/May through until September/October. thinking a bag rated to -10C should be more than enough for me (SkyeHigh 800?) and a better rated bag for the GF - or myself depending on where (SkyeHigh 1000?).
thanks for responses....
J
Like Rusty Spanner, I use a lightweight down sleeping bag and duvet jacket for winter (with clean/dry baselayers). It's a much more versitile combo for winter camping and biving, whilst sitting in the tent/cooking etc. You probably only need a good down Gilet to keep the body core warm.
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