View Full Version : sleep setup
i was wondering what sort of sleeping setups you use like what shelter what sleeping bag, bivy bag, mat and all stuff like that. Any tips on what to avoid would be helpful too. :chill: - today on my paper round!
ChrisKavanaugh
21-02-2005, 09:25
Anything you do for @ 1/3 of your life should be done right. I consider a sleeping system the #1 survival item even over a knife and firemaking. My gear isn't common in G.B. I use a Wiggy combination unit of a 35 F bag and 0 F bag. Layered together I have a -20 system or zipped together an emergency unit for two. The best of material is useless compressed against the ground, which requires a pad of some sort. I like a full 72" closed cell foam pad. Not all are created equal, and material that will remain flexible in cold temps is a must. Air mattresses are almost luxurious, but the best are vulnurable to puncture and the effort to manually inflate one dangerous to your lungs in again cold weather. Under the pad you should have some manner of ground cloth. Insulation value is 0, but it's like the rain or wind outer shell in your layered clothing system. I personally detest bivys. They feel like coffins and fumbling about with one zipper in an emergency is enough allready. I like tarps. Where you sleep is just as important. Good campgear in a bad location is a bad camp. Pay attention to what Mother Nature will be doing during the night; cold air sinking into the hollow you selected to get out of the wind, rainwater collecting in that hollow, ants or a grouchy Badger taking exception to company. Also, always position your zipper leeward to any shelter opening. I don't care how elaborate the baffle is, this is the Achilles heel of bags. Some people even roll over to bury the zipper. This and my teddyBear cover 90% of the conditions I encounter.
Paganwolf
21-02-2005, 09:25
If your on a budget mate try a 95 pattern MOD sleeping bag(a tad bulky but a good bag), a british army breathable bivvi bag and kip mat and a british army basha/tarp, its all good no frills hard wearing kit and you can probably get the lot from an army surplus shop for about 100 quid or so,if its good enough for the british army then you cant go wrong :wink: how much did you want to spend?
Hi Jack,
I usually go with tarp/basha, bivi and then my sleeping bag inside that. On top of a cheap roll mat.
There's a thread similar to this here
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/community/showthread.php?t=2695&highlight=shelters
Walkabout
21-02-2005, 10:33
Make sure the mat actually works! Ive used 58 sleeping bag, bivvi and a poncho for ever and i still love it!
steven andrews
21-02-2005, 10:45
I go for..
groundsheet - an old canvas sheet
Full length Thermarest
British Army OG Bivi bag
Ajungilak bag for the warmer months or British Army bag for winter
Ajungilak camping pillow (naughty - but nice :wink: )
Tarp (Integral Designs Siltarp2 or Hilleberg XP10, depending on how many people are with me)
Make sure the mat actually works!
It's cheap, but effective. :-)
if its good enough for the british army then you cant go wrong
:rolmao:
i'm not actually buying anything new, i would just like to know what other people use. I use a mountain equipment military tds 2 on a trail 3 regular therm a rest all inside a brittish army bivy bag. that keeps me as snug as a bug! :rolmao:
Jack,
I usually use a Thermarest with army bivi bag and Nanok SF sleeping bag under an army basha (soon to be replaced by an Aussie Hoochi). It seems to give me plenty of options and is nice and comfy.
Brian
arctic hobo
21-02-2005, 17:37
In the UK it's me hammock, tarp, a closed cell foam mat on the hammock and a Vango summer bag.
Elsewhere it's my bearskin, Nanok Endurance -25, the same mat, a snow hole and vegetation.
bambodoggy
21-02-2005, 18:03
I stay under a brit army basha....lay on a brit army foam kitmat and keep warm in a brit army 95 dossbag.....if it's very cold or very wet I supliment with a brit army og bivvi bag....
Can anyone see a pattern forming here.....lol :rolmao:
Oh and at Ashdown seeing as I had SOOOOOO much kit I used a US lightweight woodland poncho to make a sort of awning (can't spell that) to sit and/or work under (see photo in my gallery).
Never had any problems, never been cold and never got wet....
Happy camping :pack:
Chip Dale
21-02-2005, 18:12
In the UK, i use a 95 Brit Army Basha. Just come back from the mountains in Spain were i used the same basha, but i lay on a hammock made out of an old parachute.
I stay under a brit army basha....lay on a brit army foam kitmat and keep warm in a brit army 95 dossbag.....if it's very cold or very wet I supliment with a brit army og bivvi bag....
Can anyone see a pattern forming here.....lol :rolmao:
Oh and at Ashdown seeing as I had SOOOOOO much kit I used a US lightweight woodland poncho to make a sort of awning (can't spell that) to sit and/or work under (see photo in my gallery).
Never had any problems, never been cold and never got wet....
Happy camping :pack:
can someone tell me waht lol means, everyone seams to use it and i don't understand!
laugh out loud. Even I know that!! :rolmao: :wink:
no, i'm being serious what does it mean?
simonsays
21-02-2005, 19:28
can someone tell me waht lol means, everyone seams to use it and i don't understand!
Hi, it stands for 'Laughs Out Loud', a sign that you found the contents of a previous post funny
Now try and work out what ROTFLMAO means :o):
simon
are you being serious???-lol!
simonsays
21-02-2005, 19:32
Hi, it stands for 'Laughs Out Loud', a sign that you found the contents of a previous post funny
Now try and work out what ROTFLMAO means :o):
simon
I Dont usually reply to my own posts but you may find this site useful for deciphering abbreviations
http://www.swcp.com/~diamond/net_abbr.html
Cheers,
Simon
cheers, now shall we get back to the subject :o):
bambodoggy
22-02-2005, 10:56
Don't suppose there's much difference but LOL means Lots of Laughs to me rather than laughs out loud :o):
Oh and I'd guess ROTFLMAO means rolling on the floor laughing my ass off.... :rolmao:
For me it is ... (how original :wink: ):
- Bivvy bag (cheap dutch army version, needs replacement)
- Ajungilak Kompakt 3 season sleeping bag
- 3/4 Thermarest (in a lovely orange color)
- Poncho (US type; Need to replace it for a larger basha thingy :naughty: )
and / or:
- Hennessey hammock :biggthump
Off topic:
Simon, SWMBO isn't in the list :roll: - I know it means, when you lads type it, your lovely wife ... but the exact meaning ... :?:
Abbe Osram
22-02-2005, 19:07
For me its a reindeer fur as a cover under the sleeping back
sometimes I put some layers of pine twigs and needles under the reindeer fur first.
Sleeping back Nanok -25 Endurance, snowhole and the rest of it but rather would like to get a tipi with a nice stove, thats my dream when I have some more money.
cheers
Abbe
simonsays
22-02-2005, 21:00
For me it is ... (how original :wink: ):
- Bivvy bag (cheap dutch army version, needs replacement)
- Ajungilak Kompakt 3 season sleeping bag
- 3/4 Thermarest (in a lovely orange color)
- Poncho (US type; Need to replace it for a larger basha thingy :naughty: )
and / or:
- Hennessey hammock :biggthump
Off topic:
Simon, SWMBO isn't in the list :roll: - I know it means, when you lads type it, your lovely wife ... but the exact meaning ... :?:
Pushing even further off topic..... She Who Must Be Obeyed :rolmao:
Bob Hurley
23-02-2005, 02:26
A tarp and a wool blanket, two blankets if it's expected to be below freezing. I get wet sometimes, I just build the fire up a big bigger and the wool dries before long. It's fairly warm even when wet. There's usually a pretty thick lower canopy here in Tennessee, so it isn't hard to stay out of the direct downpours.
One trip it did rain very hard all night and I spent most the night standing by the fire with my blanket over my head. The blanket stayed warm and dry on the inside, but I sure didn't get much rest.
Pushing even further off topic..... She Who Must Be Obeyed :rolmao:
:shock: :roll:
Thanks Simon :biggthump
Bob - Why not investing in a bivvy bag? Keeps you dry and thus a good nights sleep. No need for standing near your fire ...
As said below: you'll sleep for about 1/3 of your life ... so do it well :wink:
dchinell
23-02-2005, 16:24
I'm in a hammock when I sleep.
In the summer, I use nothing more than the hammmock and a mosquito net.
In the winter, I add closed cell foam pads (cut down to two 2 x 3 foot [~ 60 x 90 cm] pieces) and a thinsulate poncho liner or Exped Wallcreeper as a quilt.
If it's really cold, I use a Speer PeaPod, which is a rectangular quilt with drawstrings at the ends and velcro tape along the edges. This goes around the outside of the hammock, thus avoiding compression of the insulation below me. Toasty.
http://www.speerhammocks.com/Product%20Pictures/product%20Pictures.htm
Bear
Has anyone here used Ray Mears' Eco Hammock? I already have a Hootchie and was cosidering buying the hammock using my well earnt overtime cash! I've bought a few items from Woodlore and am always impressed with their quality, price and service but this seems a tad expensive??
wentworth
24-02-2005, 23:26
Has anyone here used Ray Mears' Eco Hammock? I already have a Hootchie and was cosidering buying the hammock using my well earnt overtime cash! I've bought a few items from Woodlore and am always impressed with their quality, price and service but this seems a tad expensive??
Wow! that is expensive! considering its just a hootchie, net and simple hammock. You could buy an entire hennessy system with insulation for less than that. Or look at the speer hammock that were mentioned a couple of posts ago. Speer sells kits as well as pre made hammock, for quite an ok cost.
The eco hammock looks really nice... I just think that there are better things out there, lighter, easier to keep warm and far more compact.
But I havent seen it in the flesh... feel free to fill me in on something I'm missing :-)