UKC

As we start to move into the summer period, I'm giving thoughts to replacing my summer sleeping bag. It's mostly used for bivouacs. My old one (some cheapo Gelert jobby) was very lightweight but had sod all insulation, meaning that I ended up freezing my behind off on several occasions!

So can anyone recommend me a good sleeping bag based on the following criteria:

1. Very lightweight, preferably under 800g (under 600g like my old one would be nice...)
2. Packs down small
3. Warm to about freezing, give or take a few degrees
4. Down or synthetic--undecided, as I don't know if any synthetic bags fulfil these requirements, but I'm hesitant about getting a down bag for summer use due to condensation issues.

Cheers all

In reply to Only a hill:

I use one of these - very small pack size if you get a decent compression sack

http://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/acatalog/Vango_Venom_300_Down_Sleeping_Ba...

HTH

PeterM

In reply to PeterM:
Cheers for the link, seems worth a look.

The Mountain Equipment Helium 250 has caught my eye, but it is awfully expensive!

In reply to Only a hill:

You didn't mention a price point, but here's what I would get on your criteria.

http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=101&products_id=292

In reply to Only a hill:

Have a look at the PHD bags - used by a lot of Mountain Marathon runners. They're down BTW.

ALC

In reply to Only a hill:

The old Rab Summit 300 (without zip) has worked well for me summer bivying in the Alps up and in the Cairngorm plateau summer or winter with a gortex bivy bag. Very compact light and warm. Not sure about the latest ones though as Rab has changed hands.

In reply to PeterM:

Actually I get away with a Vango Venom 150, But make sure you have a bit of insulation under your backside, a piece of thin closed cell foam cut to fit the back inside of your rucsac is ideal and no weight at all.

In reply to Only a hill:

Make your own... No, seriously... My mountain marathon/bothying/summer expedition bag is a customised 3 season lightweight synthetic bag.

Think about it - how much do you really need a full length zip, that extra foot or so of empty space at the bottom of your bag, or enough width in the bag to swing a cat? With some careful sowing machine action (taking care to make sure that any new seams are baffled to avoid cold spots) you too can have a bag that meets your specifications... I started with an older bag with a knackered zip, but if you were really keen you could try butchering a brand new one instead...

In reply to johnSD: Exactly. I would if I needed another bag. Sleep in a ball shape, then you can cut two feet off the length of the bag.


Ultralight bags - I have a one season bag, rated to 5C. It's terrible. Packs down to about the size of two fists. I have been cold in it sleeping in my, admittedly quite cold, house. But, I managed ok out in january in it, temps down to about -3C, I was wearing everything, gloves, scarf, jacket, socks, trousers, in it, and slept ok. Put my feet inside the rucsac to keep them warmer and had a decent foam mat. And this was under a tarpaulin, in a tent you would be warmer as no wind blowing across you.

In reply to Only a hill:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/s10-light-34692906/
Last years colour so really cheap, but a bit heavy for your spec.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/s10-light-3251054/
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/s5-light-17406044/
Are also a bit heavy, but I had a S15 light from years ago which I found ok as a summer bag down to 6-8 degrees and wore it out as a liner bag for winter use - you might want to check out whether they'll be restocking with it for summer.

In reply to Only a hill:

Another vote for PHD bags.

I'ved used by minimus in desert conditions down to zero and it was excellent. Packs down to an incredibly small size and under 500g

If you feel the cold then the next one up in their range is rated to -5 degrees and still within your weight requirements.

In reply to Only a hill:
what about these ?

http://www.khyam.co.uk/product_other.asp?category=Sleeping%20Bags&prod_...

Khyam gear isn't that bad and these seem cheap as chips and light. Buy 2 ( 1000 + 800 ) then you've got the whole year covered for less than £70.

Thinking of getting one myself - the 800 - for summer wild camping.

My only thought is that if they are that cheap and are that good why isn't everyone using them ?

In reply to Only a hill: I think freezing is too low for a summer bag. I'd look at a bag for summer use only. we use super light fairydown bags, which weight ~ 400g, warm to 10 Deg C, Ok to 5 Deg C.

I think it's this one.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=94874328

I'd go down.

800g is heavy, sub 500 should be the aim.

In reply to Only a hill:

Hmmm, do you think I should bring my winter sleeping bag with me or buy a new summer one when I get up there?

In reply to Only a hill:
blimey- and to think i was about to go out today and buy a snugpak kilo for bivying to reduce my packsize... currently using an ME firewalker III for winter bivying with a flo2 goretex TN discovery... it's sooooo warm and comfy but pack size is huge and it weighs in at about 1600g! way too warm for spring/summer though, even on summits. i do love it though.
i want to be comfy down to 2C without having to wear many clothes and i was prepared to carry 1000g given that i'll be ditching the crampons and ice axe pretty soon...
hmmm, maybe should reconsider although i'm not quite as serious about going ultralight as yourself and the above posters...

let us know how you get on.

In reply to Only a hill:

For your weight requirements looks like down is the best option. Synthetic wise the MHW laminas are probably too heavy. Marmot do a "pounder" bag which is light but no ideal what it performs like. Seem to remember TNF doing a light Summit series bag too so might be worth having a search.

PHD have a sale on just now so seriously consider them. The bags with drishell might be a better option for bivvying. Their stuff is excellent and I highly recommend it.

http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/index.php?cPath=101&osCsid=37fa3849761b46708...

In reply to SFM:
Looks like exactly what I need. It's a bit more expensive than what I was looking for, but I plan to be using whatever sleeping bag I buy a great deal, so it should be worth it!

In reply to Only a hill:

http://www.thenorthface.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId...

A good lightweigh down bag with a good tempreture rating.

In reply to Only a hill:

I have a minumus 300 in drishell. I got it specifically for the LAMM but have found that I'm pretty much using it all the time now. It really is a great wee bag. When it's colder I double up with a one/two season synthetic bag and finding the combo almost as warm as an 800g fill bag I have too.

In reply to Only a hill: look at this! http://www.yetiworld.com/en/produkte/schlafsaecke/vib0/passion-seven.html

In reply to Only a hill:

If you want a bit of a bargain, the Rab Summit 300 is not bad value (well at least my old bag made in Sheffield is ok, not sure what the quality is like now they're made 'offshore')

http://www.tauntonleisure.com/products/summit-300---special-offer-save--70-...

In reply to Wrongfoot:

Those are the worst sleeping bags I have ever come across.