Lightweight Sleeping Bags

[Sirmattyb]

Morning Ladies & Gents,

I am in the market for two lightweight sleeping bags weight wise 500-750 grams each so far I have found the Vango Venom 200 seems like it fits the bill anyone got any experience with sleeping bags? preferably two season and under 100 quid each.......

Cheers,
Matt

[lonewolf]

I prefer ex army stuff, look for "jungle" or desert type ones on Ebay, usually under £50 or less.

[Sirmattyb]

I prefer ex army stuff, look for "jungle" or desert type ones on Ebay, usually under £50 or less.

I already have two Snugpack 4 season bags but they are to heavy and to warm for summer...... They same goes for the army bags far to heavy ideally i want two 0.5kg bags that compress small so when I go camping or am in a get away solution I can afford the luxury of a nice sleeping bag and only have to add 1kg of weight onto the Girlfriends and my carry weight. The Vango Venom ones seem good at 84.99 for a 0.65 kg sleeping bag that goes down to -3 but i wondered if anyone else had any better ideas....

[lonewolf]

I carried an ex army sleeping bag, for 30 years, backpacking all over Dartmoor, weight was never an issue.

[Sirmattyb]

I carried an ex army sleeping bag, for 30 years, backpacking all over Dartmoor, weight was never an issue.

I agree the weight isnt a massive issue but if I am carrying two sleeping bags typical army ones are 2 kilos each id rather carry two which are 1 kilo between them then carry another three kilos of whatever else I want to. Lightweight is the key here...... As I mentioned......

[notrab99]

Like most equipment there are pros and cons. The down filled bags can give amazing comfort for their size and weight but are more expensive and don't perform when damp (condensation). While those lower price bags with man-made fibres tend to be bulky even with a multi-strap compression sack. If you are carrying everything on your back then you must consider the weight/bulk as a priority but if you are sleeping next to your car that may not be as important. Also consider if you are the type of person who always has cold feet at night - you may need to consider a higher rated bag. Lastly, go for a bimble or do some jumping-jacks before you get in your bag to generate extra body heat. Cold night = long night!

[rickoshea]

I have a few vango ultralite bags. Very warm but unbelievably thin and very light. Not usable zipped in the summer months. Having used army bags, I must admit i'm not a fan - probably still old technology, and to the lowest bidder - admittedly this was in 1993. There's more advanced stuff out there now. But I agree with notrab99 - better to be warm and unzip, than cold and suffer.

[Smudge]

A couple of years ago we bought a couple of bags on sale at Tesco's online for the kids to use on our camping trips and was surprised at the quality, looking at OP's requirements and after reading the reviews : http://www.tesco.com/direct/tesco-micro ... d=204-2384

[rik_uk3]

I use the army Arctic bag for cold weather camping and I've several lightweight bags for warmer weather. A Goretex bivy bag will pretty much add a 'season' to your sleeping bags ratings and for what they weigh really are a 'must have' in your kit anytime of the year.

Down bags are great but they do absorb moisture from you and damp air so unless you can dry them out every few days I'd say stick to synthetic filled bags. The army jungle bag is OK but... is really light and only good for warm weather, forget autumn or early spring without the bivy bag or you are a 'hot sleeper.'

[SimonH]

A couple of years ago we bought a couple of bags on sale at Tesco's online for the kids to use on our camping trips and was surprised at the quality, looking at OP's requirements and after reading the reviews : http://www.tesco.com/direct/tesco-micro ... d=204-2384

I have a couple of these and they are very good - I've only ever used it indoors and they are fine, I would have no problems using them camping in late spring, summer and early autumn. I keep one in the car during winter just in case I am ever stranded, but I think I would still be a bit cold. They are nice and small and the compression bag works reasonably well and for the price bloomi' fantastic.