View Full Version : Sleeping bag recommendations??
I'm going to invest in a new sleeping bag and I've whittles the choice down to about 4
The Mountain Equpment military firestorm 3
Mountain equipment TDS2
Snugpak Softee 10
and snugpak Softee12
What are your thoughts, I want the smallest pack size for the best warmth returned ?? :?:
Personally think ME are excellent - well made, reliable, do what they say.
Not too keen on the others. They're good bags but just not so well designed in my opinion...
MagiKelly
29-11-2004, 16:08
These are worth considering. I went for the package deal but have not tested them yet (well in the house but that does not count). Ask me after the 18th December.
http://www.trekdirect.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Endurance_Ran ge_19.html
NickBristol
29-11-2004, 16:21
I've got a ME Firestorm 2 and a Firestorm 3. Love them both but think that the temp rating is slightly over generous, I think the Comfort temp would be more like the max extreme temp, even when still dressed.
Both pack down compact and are pretty light. You could do a lot worse than the Firestorm or the Firewalker....
A while back I mentioned that I wish I had bought a Snugpak sleeping bag as opposed to my ME one and I didn't justify the answer ...
Personally, and for me, I find that the rating on the bags is fine but I have gripes about the bag:
1 - Snag-free zips? Really??!!! No way! This can be really annoying in a hammock or bivi bag.
2 - Sharp velcro. The bag uses velcro fasteners, but not soft velcro but the hard, sharp stuff that is uncomfortable to say the least.
3 - Strings and toggles. I don't know what it is about these bags but the strings always seem to end up around my neck and the toggles in my mouth!!!
Good bags that compress into a small space but a few annoying features ...
arctic hobo
29-11-2004, 21:40
Nice list, but none are as good as the Nanok Endurance range :o): . Seriously they are fantastic bags, and cheap too. I repeat myself I know, but: machine washable (no glue), no cold spots, double zip baffles, ability to zip two together, tough compartment for boots, special pillow - shall I go on? A -10 is just £100 (I swear I don't work for them!) :o):
:?: In my eyes there's no competition.
Also good are the Ajungilak Tyin's and that ME firestorm.
Nice list, but none are as good as the Nanok Endurance range :o): . Seriously they are fantastic bags, and cheap too. I repeat myself I know, but: machine washable (no glue), no cold spots, double zip baffles, ability to zip two together, tough compartment for boots, special pillow - shall I go on? A -10 is just £100 (I swear I don't work for them!) :o):
:?: In my eyes there's no competition.
Also good are the Ajungilak Tyin's and that ME firestorm.
The Nanok bags do look good, how small do they compress?? (I have a 33ltr sack for weekends and the 5 season I have at home fills it up. I can get my old 3 season in fine but it's a bit 'tired and raggeddy' now :cry:
Watching this thread with interest as I've just a new rucksack (Macpac Tekapo 35+) and really need a smaller sleeping bag for it. Finally realised that my old £25 3 season bag from Ozzie Baileys isnt quite as good as it could be... yeah I know I'm a bit slow ;-)
said it before and i will say it again.. i got a Rab atlas 750 (IIRC) (http://www.trekmate.co.uk/products/category/Sleeping%20Bags%20and%20Mats/4%20to%205%20Season/) have yet to see its compression system and pack size rivaled by a bag of the same specks!
bushblade
30-11-2004, 15:15
said it before and i will say it again.. i got a Rab atlas 750 (IIRC) (http://www.trekmate.co.uk/products/category/Sleeping%20Bags%20and%20Mats/4%20to%205%20Season/) have yet to see its compression system and pack size rivaled by a bag of the same specks!
The Rab Quantum series or Mountain Equipments Extreme series will pack up smaller and lighter. They're also very water resitant.
the Rab (http://www.rab.uk.com/) Quantum bags acctually pack to exactly the same size 15x28cm.. the ones which are slightly smaller and lighter are the above Zero bags at 13x24cm..
Rab Quantum (http://www.rab.uk.com/pages/sleeping/sleep_products/intro_quantum.html)
Rab Atlas (http://www.rab.uk.com/pages/sleeping/sleep_products/intro_atlas.html)
and of the Mountain Equipment (http://www.mountain-equipment.co.uk/index.html) Extream Range (http://www.mountain-equipment.co.uk/sleepingbags/extreme/index.html) only the Dewline rivas the Atlas 750 in size at 24x13 cm and in weight at 730 g compared to 1402g for the Atlas 750..
of the Extream Range (http://www.mountain-equipment.co.uk/sleepingbags/extreme/index.html) the Dewline and Lightline are ligher at 730 and 1230
while the Rab Quantum (http://www.rab.uk.com/pages/sleeping/sleep_products/intro_quantum.html) and Extream Range (http://www.mountain-equipment.co.uk/sleepingbags/extreme/index.html) do have better fill material and some have better fill power also..
2p :-)
arctic hobo
30-11-2004, 20:33
Yar, but tomtom: £280!!
maddave: they don't pack very small, but you can get a compression sack for them - and thanks to having no glue they don't suffer as much from getting squashed. They don't seem much different from other bags I have seen in size. IMO, their numerous advantages far outweigh average size and average weight.
K for me the Rab is entirely out of my budget, so out of the Snugpak, Nanok and the ME which one to get? I'm in a similar situation with regards to needing decent packability.
arctic hobo
30-11-2004, 22:56
Still has to be the Nanok. :biggthump
Yar, but tomtom: £280!!
£161.50 (http://www.trekmate.co.uk/products/category/Sleeping%20Bags%20and%20Mats/4%20to%205%20Season/) i found mine for £124 though
simonsays
30-11-2004, 23:43
K for me the Rab is entirely out of my budget, so out of the Snugpak, Nanok and the ME which one to get? I'm in a similar situation with regards to needing decent packability.
You can pick up Rab gear for pretty reasonable prices if you shop around. Santa has just got me a Rab Eclipse 240. Its a 3 season synthetic bag that Rab rate to about 0 degress 'comfort' and -5 degrees 'extreme'. I usually take manufacturers claims with a pince of salt but my previous Rab bag was very conservativly rated as two season but served me well almost all year round. The bag is filled with Dupont Thermolite and the construction quality seems excellent. It only cost £45 from Rock and Run in Ambleside. They do sell online, I'll hunt out the URL if you're interested.
simon
Rock and Run, think I remember that one from last year when I was up there. What I'm probably going to do instead, of buying one now is wait till after christmas and then spend a long weekend up in the lakes, hopefully pick something up cheap in the Jan sales.
Personally I go for the Snugpak - can not fault them plus I live close to the factory so I got it cheap.
Mine is a Black on Black 3 - no longer made but more or less the same as the Black luxury 3. It worth the little extra for the Thermal Suede inner - much nice feel than Pertex. Couple with a silk liner it warm, light, packs well and can be throughen in the washing machine.
Well Cotswold have the ME Military TDS3, Nanok Endurance 3 for £100 and the Ajungilak Recharger Winter for £90. Also CMMonline has the ME Dragon 750 for £109 - £60 off, almost wondering whether its worth waiting for Jan Sales.
arctic hobo
02-12-2004, 18:30
Endurance 3? :-? What's one of them?
LOL, sorry about that, thats working nights with jetlag for you, meant the Endurance -10 :-P
arctic hobo
03-12-2004, 17:22
Don't be :-) I'm going to say that N word again you know - they're the best!
Moonraker
03-12-2004, 17:53
Some Rab Atlas down filled series on sale here:
Up and Under - Sleeping Bags and Mats Bargains (http://www.upandunder.co.uk/eshop/catalogue/bargain2.asp?Activity_ID=21&rd=0)
I don't use them but thought to post for those interested.
Trouble is down really is fundamentally unsuited for the British climate so its gotta be a synthetic bag for me.
arctic hobo
04-12-2004, 18:30
Uhuh... Nanok... :You_Rock_
Uhuh... Nanok... :You_Rock_
I take it you like Nanok then Rev Norwegian Spruce ??
Im with arctic hobo on this one, if its synthetic and I have to carry it, my favorite is Nanok. Good quality, good design and reasonable price.
Brian
neo_wales2000
06-12-2004, 02:33
"MEN WANTED FOR HAZARDOUS JOURNEY. SMALL WAGES, BITTER COLD, LONG MONTHS OF COMPLETE DARKNESS, CONSTANT DANGER, SAFE RETURN DOUBTFUL. HONOR AND RECOGNITION IN CASE OF SUCCESS."
The advert Shakleton was supposed to have posted to attract candidates for his 1914 Antarctic trip
Ok guys I'm convinced.
I've ordered the Nanok Endurance SF-10
:super:
Snuggly warm Dave this winter :biggthump
whats the pack size?
whats the best price anyone has found on these?
arctic hobo
06-12-2004, 17:05
I don't know the size of the -10, but from Trek Direct they're £100.
"MEN WANTED FOR HAZARDOUS JOURNEY. SMALL WAGES, BITTER COLD, LONG MONTHS OF COMPLETE DARKNESS, CONSTANT DANGER, SAFE RETURN DOUBTFUL. HONOR AND RECOGNITION IN CASE OF SUCCESS." The advert Shakleton was supposed to have posted to attract candidates for his 1914 Antarctic trip
Yep: it's also the essence of what I say to my friends when I try and drag them off on more arctic expeditions (They aren't really of an outdoorsy bent :cry: )
I take it you like Nanok then Rev Norwegian Spruce ??
You might even call me the Rev Norwegian Spruce "Nanok" Hobo :o): They are the best :super:
Ok guys I'm convinced. I've ordered the Nanok Endurance SF-10 Snuggly warm Dave this winter
Good man! You'll love it :biggthump
Sweet now I can let another mug.. ahem person try the Nanok before I buy ;-)
Sweet now I can let another mug.. ahem person try the Nanok before I buy ;-)
:nana:
I'll give ya an honest review though :biggthump
arctic hobo
07-12-2004, 16:47
Don't forget the less obvious bits like machine washing, cold spots, boot liner... :o):
arctic hobo
07-12-2004, 16:57
Goodness yes, the Endurance -25 It's my favourite bit of kit in the world, excepting my bearskin and possibly my Scarpa SL's. Very very very good... I can go on all day :roll: :super:
Thinking of buying a -10 for this summer :o):
could you measure up this pack size? i cant find it!
giancarlo
08-12-2004, 01:16
I'm with Dave, just bought a -25 from Trekdirect tonight, made me a special "For Carlo Only" product, which was the -25, minus the VAT and correct shipping, £125...nice!
Hope it's good... otherwise i'm going to get you Hobo ;)
( i'm sure it's excellent )
Just hope it's here before Chrimbo now!
Cheers ;)
when is the ETA GC? i have found TrekDirect to be very quick!!
(Tony perhaps you could negotiate a BCUK special on this befor i buy one :o): )
anyone know how big it is yet?
now is it the -25 or the -10?
giancarlo
08-12-2004, 01:44
didn't give me an eta, but it's around christmas so i'm not expecting miracles... last time i got my laplander / GB SFA from them it was only a week i think.
I am off the mainland though, so that's usually and extra day.
not sure what the pack size is, (i'll measure when it's down)
weight is nearly 3kg though
:yikes: 3kg.. whats the weight on the Minus 10 i thought that SF was lighter than down?
"For Carlo Only
Endurance -25bag, not VAT, EU postage.
Price: £125.00 "
Flippin Ekk thats costomer service??
Well just got back from Cotswolds -£90 but carrying the ME Mil TDS3. Looked at both the Nanok and the ME for about 30 mins, then went and spent another 30 mins with a salesman. Looking at both of them the Nanok looks like it could survive pretty much any abuse thrown at it, looks to be a better build quality than the ME but this came at a price of about .5kg. Packability there isn't much in it (the guy in the shops eyes bulged a bit at the flexing on the plastic buckles in the compression straps though but it had to be tested.
The ME bag looks to be more comfortable, the TDS system really is good, I can sit up cross legged in the sleeping bag without any problems.
The only other point that nearly sold me the Nanok was the dual zips, quite like that idea.
In the end they're both really great bags and I'm still not sure if I've got the right one but I think the slightly more comfortable look, stretch knees and lighter weight won out over durability and the double zips.
As for packing they're both big bags but the buy in the shop did point out something which I've never thought of before... why use a stuff sac? Ok I know some reasons to that, they can keep the bag dry (ortleib or similar) and clean but they don't actually help the bag get much smaller and when you back into the rucksac they're actually more of a hinderance due to the shape. I've just tried packing the ME into my Macpac without a stuff sac and the space created was amazing due to the bag taking up all the crooks and grannies.
Rightie long winded post but hopefully it'll help someone, I'll right a review once I've had chance to try it out.
Matt
arctic hobo
08-12-2004, 16:37
Tomtom: I've found that down tends to be lighter :?: SF stands for Special Forces (it is made for them primarily, hence the boot protection etc.).
www.shocktroop.com do them for £130 with vAT... or your local outdoor shop can usually get them in at the same price. There's a Manchester number I can give you to get UK stockists if you like - I imagine they have some sort of UK base in Manchester.
and Carlo: you get me all you like, we Hobos are used to being beaten up :roll: :rolmao: Really, you'll love that bag. That's an order! :tw: :lol:
ah righty i though it was Synthetic Fiber..!!
anyone got a packsize yet?
tenbears10
08-12-2004, 17:03
raymears.com has pack size for their woodlore bags but I don't know if they equate exactly to the other nanok models. Nanok are bigger than most bags IIRC.
Bill
With sleeping bags you usually get what you pay for and we know Rab and ME make very good bags with very small pack sizes a couple of others I have noticed are:
Cumulus Prime 400 (870gms -7 comfort) http://www.cheaptents.com/acatalog/Product_Catalogue_Products_44. html
Also a very good Finnish brand Joutsen 900 QTM (850gms -8 comfort)
http://cat.teho.net/software/joutsen2_en/e-cat/?id=00000044&group=00000011
They are not cheap but cheaper than RAB Quantum 600 which is heavier but goes to -12
I will probably pick up the Joutsen while I am trekking in Finland in the spring as they have a factory outlet shop I plan to visit to get a bargain.
You have to pay a financial premium if you want really small pack sizes.
I have several large bags which are very warm synthetic bags but they are approaching the 3kg mark and with one of them in even a 120 ltr burgen it seriously makes a dent in your carrying capacity.
Not only that do you need a bag which goes to -25 or -50?
Not very often in the UK and if you are cold put on your jacket or your bivy trousers inside your bag its always good to have some extra room in your bag to do this.
Extra unneccesary weight can be a real bind when you got to carry it for miles. Unless you're in a landy of course.
I like the ajungilaks. Mostly I take the Kompakt, the Tyin when it´s cold but my favourite is a Tyin Elite. It was cheap, christmas sale and nobody wanted it - too warm!about 2,4 kg, 17 l, rated -35;
Heavy and bulky, but lovely: no zip, original Pertex inner and outer, completely green and the old ajungilak logo.
Probably old, does anybody know, when they made them?
But Ajungilak-age is over now. Mammut wants money. Friends of mine tested the new ones, the inner material is no more resistant to scratches and somehow the quality shall be not convincing. So, Nanok now?
A good cheap choice is a synthetic 2 seasons bag, and a fleece liner (bulky) or even better US-Army Poncho Liner, or buy some meters of Polartec Thermal Pro, Make a zip around it and put it outside(!) of your sleeping bag when cold. Wear it as thermal Layer under your smock during activity
When going ultralight in summer I take a us lightweight poncho and liner, cut a slit for my head in the liner so I can wear it as a coat or use it as a makeshift bag with the poncho as a bivy. Not too warm when it gets below 12 c but If I have to I make sure I keep the fire alight all night . With a good fire hell you dont need a sleeping bag even in winter, not as comfortable but you survive.
Just took delivery of my Nanok endurance SF -10. Had it out and been scrutinising it and up to now I like what I see. Course the proof of the pudding is in getting out when it's bitter cold and seeing what she's capable of.
The pack size BTW is 34cms long x 20cms diameter.
Can't wait to try it out :biggthump
Big thanks to Arctic Hobo for pointing me in this direction :You_Rock_
Squidders
11-12-2004, 15:17
Ok... i'm not going to mention the N word but where did you order it from? can you get a good deal online?
arctic hobo
11-12-2004, 18:30
Trek Direct seem to have good prices - I imagine it's thanks to import (Norway is not part of the EU) but most prices are pretty much the same from various dealers. Trek Direct seem to be used a fair bit by people here, and you'll get a -10 for £100 and -25 for £130 which seems standard :biggthump
Maddave: knew you'd love it :o):
Ogden, the Tyin is my old bag, and very nice it was too. You are right, it has not been the same since Mammut took the helm. Ajungilak and Nanok were linked somehow, something like Nanok is a spin off I think. Maybe Nanok are the quality guys getting fed up with nasty ajungilak bags :rolmao:
Squidders
12-12-2004, 20:18
Cheers mate :biggthump
With regards the Nanok bags, can anybody give me some technical details?
What is the insulation they are using?
What fabric is used for the inner and outer shell?
Any idea of the actual construction of the bag?
I did have a look around their website, but the detail there seemed a bit vague..
Regards,
Pete
Edit: didn't read the above properly.. :roll:
Tomtom,
I have sent them a couple of emails, but I have not had a reply as yet.
I did look at that info, but it doesn't really say much IMHO. The industry standard for shells these days seems to be some sort of Pertex while there are a number of different fillings used.After reading Nanoks webpage I am still not sure what they use and why...
I have originally looked at ordering a Wiggy from the States, and by contrast there is a huge amount of info about how their sleeping bags are made and why they are so much better than everybody elses.
For instance he really slates snugpack ,I mean really trashes them... Now he might very well make a good product, but I don't like him trashing others to make a point; basically he does not come across as the sort of guy I would like to do business with, hence I started looking else where and at the Nanoks.
Regards,
Pete
Tomtom,
I have sent them a couple of emails, but I have not had a reply as yet.
I did look at that info, but it doesn't really say much IMHO. The industry standard for shells these days seems to be some sort of Pertex while there are a number of different fillings used.After reading Nanoks webpage I am still not sure what they use and why...
I have originally looked at ordering a Wiggy from the States, and by contrast there is a huge amount of info about how their sleeping bags are made and why they are so much better than everybody elses.
For instance he really slates snugpack ,I mean really trashes them... Now he might very well make a good product, but I don't like him trashing others to make a point; basically he does not come across as the sort of guy I would like to do business with, hence I started looking else where and at the Nanoks.
Regards,
Pete
I'll have a look at mine Pete. I think the outer may be pertex.
Interesting point about Wiggy's I always think if a manufacturer makes a good product, their quality will speak for themselves. For example, there's nothing on the Gransfors Bruks website saying "Buy our axes cuz the other blokes are bobbins". :biggthump
arctic hobo
14-12-2004, 17:27
"Buy our axes cuz the other blokes are bobbins". :biggthump
:rolmao: :You_Rock_
The construction uses no glue, and has fibres set at right angles to each other. This means it can be machine washed at 60 degrees as there is no glue to melt, and there are no cold spots. There is a double baffle to stop the zips letting in the cold.
Pete: get the Nanok :o):
giancarlo
15-12-2004, 16:28
Just got my -25 down in the post today...
It's a lot fatter than i thought!
Rode down to collection point to get it... took my Sabre 45 down to stuff it in and ride home with it.. the package nearly fulled up the whole collection box.
Took it out the box and tried to stuff it into my Sabre 45... wasn't going in too easy!
I don't think it was fully compressed (although the straps looked quite taught) and i didn't have a chance to try compressing it further.
My sister drove past and saw me, Imanaged to get the whole thing in and then just chucked the whole lot in her car and will pick it up tomorrow...
There wasn't much room left over to get anything else in there though! :(
Getting a bit worried now, might have bought the wrong one for that pack...
Sure it will be ok though, perhaps if i thy the "no compression sack" way i might have a bit more room.
we'll see..