What Sleeping Bag?

[jimbouy]

Couldn't find a magazine of that title so I wondered if any one has recommendations.

To suit occasional use Spring to Autumn both on my unheated little boat and when on Weekend Dayskipper courses.

Must be able to accommodate the larger beamed person. And if it comes with a nasal silencer all the better.

I think I'd prefer traditional oblong to done up like a mummy.

Jim


<hr width=100% size=1> "It is a pleasure to give advice, humiliating to need it, normal to ignore it"

 

[boatless]

Can only tell you that I froze in Millett's top of the range last August Bank Holiday outside the Folly. Took it back, looking forward to your replies.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[Woodpile]

Army surplus. They're rugged, warm, you can get waterproof outers and although they are mummy style they come in different sizes - so just find a big one.

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[jimbouy]

I must say that looking in Milletts, Argos and Halfords I am not confident that their top of the range jobs are that good.

Watch this space.

<hr width=100% size=1> "It is a pleasure to give advice, humiliating to need it, normal to ignore it"

 

[ships_parrot]

Try Field & Trek (they are on the web, but I don't know the URL - google it..) if you want something really warm. A lot of the better ones tend to be mummies though..

Robin.

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[alteredoutlook]

forget argos,millets and halfords. Go to a proper outdoor walking/camping shop
eg Blacks, Field & Trek etc.

Forget the 'pack in a bag no bigger than a teabag' - they are about as warm. Forget natural fibres including Down (as once wet they are useless).

Go for a man made filling such as hollowfill. Be prepared to spend a lot of dosh.
Go for at least a 4 season bag with a full length zip so you can easily get in/easily ventilate/zip it to your partners (provided they have the opposite Lefthand/righthand zip).

If getting a mummy bag make sure you can get in it properly - some dont accomodate 6ft height. Some manuafactures do bags an extra 4 inches long

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[rex_seadog]

Can't understand why one would need a really expensive 4 season bag for Spring to Autumn use on a boat. For me that would be too hot and I'm no tough ex-Marine type. I find that a £20 Milletts mummy bag is adequate during the normal sailing season and when I sleep on the boat when it's out of the water in the depths of winter (with ice on the deck) I stick it inside another cheap rectangular bag and find that arrangement to be perfectly cosy.

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[tritonofnor]

If you're a proper fat chap like me then you'll appreciate the qualities of the Coleman Chestnut Classic XL - extra long, extra wide (120cm) with man made fill and a flannelette liner which is beautifully cosy! About £41.00 at most decent caravan/camping shops, bought mine after wrecking loads of cheapo mummy bags and I think it's great. If you're anywhere near Devon it's available in CDS/The Range, and that great emporium Trago Mills!

<hr width=100% size=1>Marina skips - the greatest free resource centre!

 

[Rabbie]

I have spent most weekends this past winter in an £18 oblong bag bought from Millets. My boat was unheated but the bag gave excellent service. A hot water bottle (or2) does help with initial warmup.

<hr width=100% size=1>A day not spent on my boat is a day in my life wasted.

 

[seaesta]

Lots of North Sea cruising has taught me to use two of the large oblong types. The ones that taper down to the feet do not suit me - lack of ability to spread the legs and let some air round the crown jewels is a problem.
On really cold nights I put one bag inside the other and at other times (99% of the time) I use the older one as an under-blanket. This softens the berth cushioning and makes me much warmer as lots of heat loss is downwards.
Watch out for some of the cheapest new bags - they are much smaller than standard size and usless for anyone with a bigger circumference than Twiggy's underpants. Ready the descriptions carefully!
Martin


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[Mirelle]

Totally over the top - don\'t do as I do...

Er.. we use North Face down filled climbing bags, which fell off the back of a truck when we lived in Beijing. At either end of the season they are fabulous.

In summer we use some thin American quilts from an adjacent source in Beijing - one two or three, folded over to suit.

However, you really should not use down sleeping bags in a boat, certainly not a wooden one. We get away with it because the decks dont leak and she is well ventilated.

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?

 

[ruff_n_tumble]

I've been perfectly warm this winter in an Argos Pro Action 400gsm Sleeping Bag, £15, and it's left on the boat all winter. I do air it out with a hot water bottle though.

<hr width=100% size=1>Steve Marsh
Hunter 27 OOD "Ruff-n-Tumble"
Gosport

 

[poter]

Well everyone got that wrong!

I suspect that you are of the same proportions as me....well builtish..
Forget the sleeping bags they are either to small; to short; to warm, or to cold. I know I've tried them all.
The ONLY comfortable way is to get two decent duvet's & a couple of good pillows and sleep on one, covered by the other... a good nights sleep!
& probably 1/2 the cost of a sleeping bag that you can go up everest in.


poter.


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[jimbouy]

It's interesting the range of opinions. Whilst I don't like to be cold i usually feel hot at home under the duvet (add rude remark here) and have to hang a leg out as cooling.

<hr width=100% size=1> "It is a pleasure to give advice, humiliating to need it, normal to ignore it"

 

[jimbouy]

Did a google search, must say it looks good.

<hr width=100% size=1> "It is a pleasure to give advice, humiliating to need it, normal to ignore it"

 

[extravert]

Re: Totally over the top - don\'t do as I do...

> should not use down sleeping bags in a boat, certainly not a wooden one...

A wooden sleeping bag? That sounds a bit uncomfortable. Is that what people sleep in on old boats? I think we should be told.

<hr width=100% size=1>One day, I want to be a real sailor. In the mean time I'll just keep tri-ing.

 

[ROSSCO]

forget all the fancy stuff - we have dumped all those compact tapered numbers and gone for bottom of the range oblong bags from either woolworths or millets I cant remember which. They retail at about £25 are warm, roomy and comfortable.In summer we open them out and use them as a double duvet The only downside is they are bulky to carry around.

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[gjeffery]

We have 4 North Face, season mountain bags, Thinsulate insulated - but do not use them on the boat.

For the boat, Argos oblong bags, wash easily, and Buffalo fleece bags which dry easily and work when wet. Suppliment these with fleece throws from ASDA at about £4.60 each - these are very good value, protect the boat cushions and wash easily!

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[ruthhobson]

http://www.ukcamping.co.uk/ishop/962/shopscr616.html

We got two of these last year and thought they were great, neither of us fancied a mummy type bag. HWMBO also requires a bit more room than most. We actually used them as someone else suggested, unzipped like duvets. I liked them because they felt more like cotton than some of the synthetic type fabrics.

BTW We didn't get them from the site above so I can't comment on this supplier.

HTH

Ruth

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[l'escargot]

Try a fleece blanket instead with an undersheet or cheap sleeping bag opened out to lay on. Fleece doesn't retain moisture and isn't stifling if the weather turns warm. Less confining as well.

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