What sleeping bag?

I’m after a 3 season, down sleeping bag for hiking and biking so need something lightweight and compressible, although I feel the cold and like to be snug.
I’ve been looking at the vango venom 300 or one of the alpkit bags. I’m not looking at spending a fortune and am 6foot, so might need a long bag.
Any advice on size, these bags or other suitable ones would be great.
Thanks!

6ft is fine – most bags go up to about 6’4″ with no problem.

alpkit bags are great. i’ve got the sh600 and it i’ll do most uk stuff.

can always add a silk liner for a couple of extra degrees too.

That was quick! Thanks. I can get the venom for about £80 is the alpkit skyehigh worth the extra?

I’d definitely go for Alpkit over Vango, which tend to be pretty cheapo from experience.

The only other option is shopping around for a Rab bag which you may be able to pick up for a decent price if your timing’s right.

venom is not as well insulated as even alpkits entry bag. but it is lighter. what do you need? tent /bivvy? what does 3 season mean to you?

also i’d be inclined to try the vango if you can; my vango summer bag is tiny – foot box is child sized.

UK use- Stick to synthetic.
Snugpac make very good bags endorsed by armed forces folk[according to their website so please dont hassle me on it 😉 ]

I went for one of the Lifeventure down bags from GoOutdoors. Lovely and light and the bag is very nicely compressible and has a watertight sealing system. There’s a valve that once you’ve sealed the bag, you squeeze it, then pop the cap back on and the pack stays nice and small.

I’m sure the Alpkit stuff is great but it wouldn’t be STW without us trying to confuse you with recommendations. 🙂

Personally, after using both i’d go for down. It packs so much smaller that you can get a warmer one, and in nearly 30 years of camping ive yet to get a bag wet, even on canoe trips.

+1 for Alpkit

the equivalent softie from snugpak appears to weigh slightly less, pack smaller, and is synthetic. just sayin’.
made in the uk too.
softie 6
and a quick google suggest it costs nearly half the price.

If you find any Cumulus down bags for cheap get one. A miracle of physics in terms of packsize and lovely to sleep in. I had a Quantum 200.

I kept worrying about the down when away on wet trips so got a Mountain Equipment Lamina synthetic bag which is also amazing. The lamina bags pack down unusually small for synth due to the baffles and fill.

Good prices on down bags HERE

Alpkit are good but personally is go snugpak there great

whoops! sorry – the softie 9 is actually the equivalent comfort rating, and comes in at 1500g ~ 300g more than the softie 6 and 275g more than the alpkit. still packs smaller, but means you’ll have to leave that can of coke at home if you’re worried about the weight. 😀

What he says snugpak better if you wanna sleep well

I have a Coleman Bambusa and love it! Never been really cold in it. It’s supposed to handle -10 degrees c, only been in about 5c with it though.

+1 for the Snugpak – mine’s a softie in dark green. Bought it brand new off a dodgy quartermaster on ebay.

3 Season – check, down – sadly no. But if you kneel on the top-notch compresion sack you can get it down to the size of a football.

Not actually oficially endorsed by the military – but once the squaddies finish basic training, they all ditch their current issue bags and buy a Snugpak. Which is why I bought mine 🙂

Thanks everyone, some really useful tips.

I’ve got 2 Alpkit bags. Great value (and quality).

Coincidently I should really sell my Sky High 600 if you go the down route and are interested…

Went for an Alpkit one in Long to accomodate my lanky frame and have zero complaints with it. It’s a cracking bag and weighs far far less than the “green bomb” that I was previously obliged to use.

Another vote for Snugpak, I’ve had my Softie 6 for over 16 years now (I was a scout when I got it) and it has been used in all conditions since, excellent piece of kit, not too heavy packs fairly small yet comfy and warm. Must admit though that I haven’t tried any other sleeping bags, but this is because I haven’t felt the need to change my bag.

what sort of temperature have you been down to with that Momo?

If you wanted a cheapy 4 season bag, Lidl are knocking them out for £30 at the moment.

Del – Member

what sort of temperature have you been down to with that Momo?

Couldn’t tell you exactly, but would say 1-2 degrees, have crawled out of the tent to find heavy fog/frost on the ground before.

To be honest, I don’t do much in the way of winter camping now, mainly gets used for summer biking trips, nothing to do with the sleeping bag, just me and my bad back not liking sleeping on the ground so much anymore.

PHD do cracking lightweight down bags that pack down to small sizes.

I’ve used various manufacturers bags on trips and longer distance races(Snugpak, Buffalo, Vango, Khyam) and IMO PHD were the warmest for weight and pack size.

If you can stretch, get the Drishell or HS2 outer and it keep the down dry(er) in damp conditions.

I believe there’s a PHD summer sale on at the moment.

Synthetic V Down
Both are excellent,down is a little warmer.

However 😉

Get both bags wet -* For whatever reason,sudden downpour,fall in a river whatever,accidents DO happen.
Down bag has ZERO heat
Synthetic bag suffers no ill affects.
This is the UK not California,it bloody rains here all the time and in a wet climate moving towards autumn[3 season use you say]then its highly likely the air/conditions will be damp.

These down lovers think theyre off the climb Mt everest or summit[ 😳 ]

Details and price for your bag Amit.

Thanks

dyna-ti makes a good point (regarding wet down not the Mt Everst one…) 🙄

Down is useless when wet, synthetic retains some insulating properties but water will conduct heat away 20 times faster than air regardless. I’ve sat awake all night wet and cold in winter bivvies using both – my fault as I’d made mistakes when packing.

Regardless of the type (synth opr down) its best to invest a couple of quid in a dry-bag to keep your sleeping bag in. If you can stretch, a water resistant outer will add protection when you’re using it.

Folks have also mentioned silk liners, again for a couple of pounds these up the comfort and heat rating quite a bit.

Regarding why down – good quality down is lighter, packs smaller and if you look after it, keeps you warmer making for a better trip all round.

PHD. Great bags weigh very little and they have a sale on at the moment. Quality stuff as used by various himalyan expeditions. They are doing the minimus 300 for about £ 120 ish. Worth the extra for the quality

Buffalo

http://www.buffalosystems.co.uk/Sleep_System_main.htm

bit different from the norm byt super durable and comfy with the fleecy inner

same system as their clothes