Sleeping bag and food prep

[Kathyw]

Hi. Need to get sleeping bag - have found an army surplus store in next town or looking around Argos book - well, it was convenient to look at while having Cuppa!

Would a 4 season one from argos be a waste, or should I look elsewhere?

Also, re cooking when power cuts, suggestions please. Nb I've never been camping so have no idea re the little stoves. Please be patient with me

Regards

Kathy

[Yorkshire Andy]

I'd sway towards the modern army surplus artic bag assuming it's for very cold / stranded in the car by snow etc

https://www.cadetdirect.com/british-arm ... 7DEALw_wcB


Avoid the old down filled ones with a rubberised back they don't like getting damp



As for stoves how much do you want to spend and is it just for "home " use

As well err.

http://m.gooutdoors.co.uk/gosystem-dyna ... ve-p409554


http://m.gooutdoors.co.uk/jetboil-minim ... em-p366814


http://m.gooutdoors.co.uk/coleman-fyrel ... ve-p403527

http://m.gooutdoors.co.uk/campingaz-eli ... ve-p321885

The last one runs off a bigger calor gas type bottle

[Deeps]

Kathy, look at the temperature ranges of sleeping bags and what you're likely to be using them for. I've got an all singing all dancing goes down to a minus gazillion. Great when its really cold, I've also got sleeping bags that have less of a rating, I was sleeping out the other weekend and took a 3 season bag as I knew I'd be warm enough. You can always wear clothes in a sleeping bag or put a coat over the top if you're cold, on the flipside, you can unzip a bag if you're too warm.

As for stoves, it will depend on how 'adaptable' you need it to be, will it just be for using in the kitchen or garden or do you anticipate having to lug it somewhere ?

If its the former, a couple that Andy has suggested are perfectly adequate, I've got a few of the briefcase ones, the missus keeps one up the allotment for brews and they're very quick to boil. These ones (of Andy's) fall into this category.

http://m.gooutdoors.co.uk/gosystem-dyna ... ve-p409554

http://m.gooutdoors.co.uk/campingaz-eli ... ve-p321885

Shop around,some of the cheapy shops sell the first one for less than a tenner.

If its something you want to be able to pack then weight and size are issues and there are loads of options, both in the fuel and the stove itself, its a bit of a personal choice thing with advantages and disadvantages.

Have a read of reviews of stuff, even on sites that you don't intend to buy from and if you can get out to some outdoor shops to get a (literal) feel for the equipment and see what works for you, that's the same for any gear, you can't bet hands on.

[Wood cutter]

What's your budget? With sleeping bags you are paying for lack of weight. You can get one that's warm and cheap, but it will be heavy. On a budget Snugpak do some pretty good stuff.

The stove I have in the car is a whisperlite universal. I rate it as an emergency stove as you can use gas canisters, or liquid fuel, or even unleaded if it's all you have.

[FlashPan]

I have the British Army Arctic sleeping bag and can see why it's call the "bomb".

You could also think about layering?

So as already said you can wear clothes in a bag and/or you could get a couple of bags one inside the other. A bivvy would also be a great idea as well.

[sniper 55]

Keep in mind if your cooking in an enclosed area you will need ventilation of some sort, pretty much all camping stoves give off fumes.
You can get very small "micro" camping stoves that are light and take up very little space, handy for hiking, but if your indoors I'd probably go with http://m.gooutdoors.co.uk/gosystem-dyna ... ve-p409554 which Deeps posted, they are more stable for home cooking IMHO.

[pseudonym]

Drag Hubby along to the surplus store, try all the bags, clothes, boots, rucksacks in store, Get the Military sizes out of the labels and price them up.

See if cheaper/available on ebay then buy.

[Kathyw]

Forgotten about the layering. will get to army surplus and have a good nose round. Husband still not interested! at this rate it'll be me and the cats all ok though.

not sure about the stoves as have never had any experience of using anything like these and dont want to blow myself up. see me using those one use bbq things at this rate. must get sensible though. thinking it would only be for in the garden really.

thanks folks

regards
kathy

[FlashPan]

If you have cats you can think of this for cooking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAFRq-pUUVg&t=881s

[Yorkshire Andy]

The square stoves are almost idiot proof ,

Open case

Remove stove sit on firm table and flip over pan stand ...


Flip open side cover

Remove cap off gas cartridge

Place in the recess knotch on the cartridge neck aligned vwith the metal spring loaded tab

Press down lever and turn knob till it clicks and liggtd