Hi Greg,
I’ve worked in outdoor sector for many years and used a variety of sleeping bags in a variety of climates around the world. I’d suggest that there are factors to consider before even thinking about brands or specific products- even the ‘best’ products are useless if they don’t match your needs. There are a couple of things to be clear about before you go shopping:
What will you be mainly using it in? A swag? A tent? In the open? Indoors/ in a caravan? Where will you be using it? Arid-zone? Tasmania? Himalayas? Kakadu? How will you be transporting it? On your back, (ie.trekking)? In the car?
Basically, if your bag is likely to get wet then you should probably steer toward synthetic filling which will retain heat when damp. They also resist compression (which leads to cold spots in a down bag) when used in a swag. The main problem with synthetic bags is that they are significantly heavier than down-filled bags of similar warmth ratings. This is only an issue if you will be trekking carrying the bags. There are some modern synthetic fillings which are lighter but generally they cost a lot. If weight is a big issue and you will be using the bag in a tent (so don’t expect to get wet) then duck or goose down is the best option. If you spend a bit extra you can get a bag with a waterproof shell which will help on the few occasions you get heavy condensation or a leaky flysheet! Incidentally, down bags are hopeless in a traditional swag- the canvas presses on the down leaving you with cold spots everywhere! The design of bags also varies: mummy-shaped bags with baffles etc. save weight but many find them uncomfortably restrictive. Traditional rectangular bags are roomy but need more bulk to achieve the same warmth. One extra thing I’d strongly recommend getting is a silk sleeping bag liner- they save you needing to wash your bag so often, they boost your warmth by a few degrees and they can be used on their own on warm nights when its too hot for a sleeping bag. They are pricey but last a long time- I am onto only my second silk liner in 20 years solid use!
Go to a ‘proper’ outdoor shop (ie.Snowgum, Mountain Designs, Paddy Palin) if you need advice and ask to be served by the person in the shop who knows most about sleeping bags. Be alert though- make sure they are listening to your needs and not just trying to score a big sale by taking you to the priciest product!
Its an unfortunate fact that there is not (in my opinion) one ultimate sleeping bag for all situations- regardless of what some retailers may claim! I personally own 3 sleeping bags: two expensive down bags for trekking, one for summer, one for winter, and a bulky, heavy but cheap winter synthetic bag for my swag.
Hope this is useful.
Mark Carter Alice Springs http:www.desertlife.com.au 0447358045 ===============================
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Peter,
not my experience at least with Thermarest mattresses, can’t speak for other brands, there’s probably a lot of cheap knock offs around these days, no idea how they perform in the cold.
You do need to look after them though, they are best stored inflated/with valve open, I keep mine under the bed and you need to allow them to fully inflate and maybe blow a little extra air in, before sleeping on them, they are very slow to inflate when they are cold. A closed cell foam mat is under $10 so quite cheap to try out and see if helps.
Chris Ross
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I believe Greg was using a self inflating mattress, rather than an inflatable. I’ve no idea what type, but it appears it wasn’t good enough. So perhaps even self inflating mattresses require the extra layer of foam when it’s very cold.
Peter Shute
If you see a chap in the outback with binoculars and carrying a bed strapped on his back, or driving a vehicle with a 4-poster bed on the roof rack, then there’s a good chance you’ll know who it is, hey Tony?
Goodnight everyone.
Stephen Ambrose Ryde NSW
I think I prefer to sleep in a bed !
Tony
Peter,
self inflating mattresses like the Thermrest have foam with a memory inside, the tough outer coat traps the air. Compared to pump up mattresses they are chalk and cheese, the Thermarest will keep you warm on the coldest nights, while the air mattress will leave you shivering.
Chris
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Chris, is heat loss through convection as bad in self inflating mattresses as in the ones you have to pump up? I’ve never used one, but imagined they had some foam built in.
Peter Shute
Ultralight sleeping bags can be cheaper bought from the US. I upgraded my bushwalking gear with these for a Tassie trip: http://www.moontrail.com/mont-bell-ul-spiral-down-hugger-3-reg.php http://www.moontrail.com/poe-peak-elite-ac-reg.php I love them but if you are car camping you wouldn’t buy ultralight gear, and if you feel the cold you’d go for a warmer sleeping bag.
If you are looking locally, checkout Macpac I like the look of their sleeping bags and the other gear they are selling – and they have good sales a couple of time a year if you can wait.
One tip for sleeping warmer is to add to your insulation from the ground by putting a blue foam mat (Clark rubber & K-mart sell them) under what ever you are sleeping on. If its a regular air mattress, if I have the physics right, it would better to put the blue mat on top of the air mattress – if you can.
I’m saving up to get something like this for Tassie bushwalking in winter: http://www.moontrail.com/exped-downmat-9-pump.php Andrew ===============================
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I endorse Mike’s advice re: a silk inner sheet. If expense is a factor, do what I have done over the years, buy 4 to 4.5 metres silk lining material and sew it together yourself.
You can be outrageous and buy bright red or purple!
Also makes it easier turning over within your sleeping bag.
On Wed, Jun 15, 201s – 1 at 12:05 PM, Mark Carter < markthomascarter@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
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