View Full Version : SMallest, lightest, cheapest sleeping bag rated to +5 degrees
Down or synthetic.
Open to suggestions really. Looked at the Alpkit one with the armholes, but I might not be carrying a down jacket in the heights of summer.
Does "cheapest" go together with smallest and lightest ?
Native Nathan
22-01-2010, 00:14
Smallest Lightest = Snugpack Softie 3
Far from the cheapest, but worth the price if you want small and light
Down or synthetic.
Open to suggestions really. Looked at the Alpkit one with the armholes, but I might not be carrying a down jacket in the heights of summer.
Think thats the Skyehigh 200? If so it's only half a bag, coming up to the waist. No arm holes at all...
Think thats the Skyehigh 200? If so it's only half a bag, coming up to the waist. No arm holes at all...
That would be the PipeDream 200 (http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16329&category_id=253), and it does have arm holes even though it's only half a bag ;)
Unfortunally Alpkit stopped selling the Skyehigh 200 a while ago, would buy one if they sold them now though...
What about the Highlander Ranger Lite range? They really are Spring/Summer only bags, but nice and small, light and cost around the £20 mark.
I have one and use it during the warm months, when it's absolutely fine.
Small, lightweight, cheap.
Choose two.
Durr. I meant to specify a mythical budget.
Under a ton
(And for the comedians among us, that's the price)
Davey569
22-01-2010, 17:48
Highlander is what you want. I have the ranger 1 and its great for 3 seasons, might need something warmer in winter though, try the ranger 2;
http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/shop/camping-equipment/sleeping-bags/new-military-style-highlander-666942.html
I've been using an Vango Ultralite 700 for Spring and Summer for quite a few years now. It's rated at a two season bag so should be good to around 6*c I reckon.
Packs down ridiculously small
Davey569
22-01-2010, 18:00
Wait +5*? youll be fine with a ranger 1 then same as mine. ;) packs down to 25x15x15cm :)
Does "cheapest" go together with smallest and lightest ?
That's like a quote from the early days of mountainbiking by (I think) the bike designer Ritchey
"Strong, light, cheap - pick two"
Generally small + light = expensive :D
Rat
Morning Fox
22-01-2010, 18:36
Smallest Lightest = Snugpack Softie 3
Far from the cheapest, but worth the price if you want small and light
I just happen to be selling one of these in the classifieds right now. And its actually pretty cheap!
http://bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52096
:)
Try this one:
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.200-7415.aspx
Less than a kilo
Less than £40
Performs below 5 degrees
I've just bought 2 from the previous range and am looking forward to trying them out.
It would appear that you can get small, light and cheap.
Martin
Sainty.
Cheers for that. It says it's a down bag, is this correct?
However, I've found what seems to be the best contender so far in the Vango Venom 150. I'll have to have a look at some reviews first before I pretend to buy it.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VANGO-VENOM-150-DOWN-SLEEPING-BAG-MOUNTAIN-BAG-LHZ_W0QQitemZ360174170568QQcmd ZViewItemQQptZUK_SportingGoods _SleepingBags_SM?hash=item53dc 0db1c8
Sainty.
Cheers for that. It says it's a down bag, is this correct?
However, I've found what seems to be the best contender so far in the Vango Venom 150. I'll have to have a look at some reviews first before I pretend to buy it.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VANGO-VENOM-150-DOWN-SLEEPING-BAG-MOUNTAIN-BAG-LHZ_W0QQitemZ360174170568QQcmd ZViewItemQQptZUK_SportingGoods _SleepingBags_SM?hash=item53dc 0db1c8
Hi Nickliv
Unbelievably, it is a down bag. I haven't had a down bag for over 25 years and I'd forgotten how light they were.
I haven't slept out in mine yet but having tried it out indoors, it certainly lofts up nicely and I can feel the heat building up. It remains to be seen what it will be like at 0400 in a tent on the moor but I'm optimisitic that it will be value for money.
Hey, for that price, it's got to be worth a punt.
Martin
Would you be able to put a pic up Martin, showing it packed would be useful.
A couple of pals are after something similar and I've been harping on about down to them, the price has put them off so far. These look great if they perform as well as they claim.
Would you be able to put a pic up Martin, showing it packed would be useful.
A couple of pals are after something similar and I've been harping on about down to them, the price has put them off so far. These look great if they perform as well as they claim.
No worries Rich. Here it is on the scales with my water bottle for scale.
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x66/golfbuddy_photos/P1010812.jpg
Hope this helps
Martin
Perfick thanks Martin
You say yours are from the previous range, how are they different to the ones on the link ?
Have you had chance to have a play yet ?
Perfick thanks Martin
You say yours are from the previous range, how are they different to the ones on the link ?
Have you had chance to have a play yet ?
Truth be told, I don't know how they differ, except that they were only £24 and the price has now gone up. The temperature rating seems to be the same, the colour is different but the weight seems pretty much similar.
Hopefully, I'll be trying it out during the first weekend in February in my hammock, although I will be using it like a quilt as I will be using my underblanket then. I'll also be using it in a tent on Dartmoor before the end of February, which will be a better test I believe. It really is very light, but then it should be being down filled.
I'll be sure to post a full review when I've done both trips.
Martin
Just to add something else to this. Here are some reviews of the Tesco bag:
http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/forum/forummessages/mps/UTN/17074/URN/5/dt/4/srchdte/0/cp/1/v/3/sp/
It would appear that those who have actually bought one, and used it, seem to be quite pleased with them.
I'll leave you to decide if it's value for money.
Martin
Ive got a tesco bag,
use it as my spring/summer bag as it packs so small
very pleased with it, only used it in a tent tho
Great value for money in my opinion! 'edit' wow, just looked at link, they werent that price when I got mine as sainty also pointed out. Im not sure what else is available at that price. Still think it seems like a good bag and pack very small.
MK
Looked at one today, i reckon it's worth a punt, particularly as i can use luncheon vouchers to buy it.
Chambers
25-01-2010, 09:40
The other half has one of these which I used after ruining my last bag, suprisingly its really good so I am going to get one myself. Its also really light and tiny
Try this one:
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.200-7415.aspx
Less than a kilo
Less than £40
Performs below 5 degrees
I've just bought 2 from the previous range and am looking forward to trying them out.
It would appear that you can get small, light and cheap.
Martin
I don't want to upset anyone, but there is a reviews link on the Tesco website with lots of comments about it being rather under-insulated.
Rat
Well,after all that, I was drawn back to Mountain Equipment.
If it's not up to the job, it'll be taken to work on the 'sleepy' nightshifts to save the other, rather better bags.
http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/acatalog/Mountain_Equipment_Firewalker_ Ultra_Light.html