WHICH SLEEPING BAGS & WHERE TO BUY?

[biddy2101]

Hi There,

Me & the family (husband, a 4 year old boy & an 18 month old girl) are going camping for the first time ever, over Easter. We have our van - Razzel; we have our awning - kyham motordome sleeper 2008 model; groundsheet for kyham motordome sleeper 2008 model (bought it today at Sandown Park); we have some basic camping equipment - camping stove & grill, lidded bucket, i-pod which plugs into stereo; we have 2 single blowup beds.

What we don't have is sleeping bags, the idea was the kids sleep in the van, safe warm & dry & me & beloved husband sleep in awning.

So what sort of sleeping bags do you guys recommend and where should we get them?

Should we go cheap & cheerful Argos quality or should we invest in something serious & space age/mountainering quality.

BIDDY2101

"Pleny of Razzel spent but not too much Dazzel yet"!

 

[Araon]

Welcome and glad you enjoyed the line up at Sandown...

buy good quality especially for the young uns...

We got my boy when he was 1 a Vango extendable, I cant remember the exact model but this year at 4 we put the added extension , a superb piece of kit and a 3 season bag....

Helen has a 3 Season bag I cant remember the make and I use a green slug (military feather down bag).....

Have a look out for local camping fares/displays and pick up last years bargains....

 

[Nigel]

I use Snugpack Sleeper lite - Was recommended by a mate and haven't been disappointed. Lots of places offer these - e.g. http://www.outdoorgb.com/p/snugpak_sleeper_lite_sleeping_bag/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you get two bags, get one with left sided zip the other with a right sided zip, you can zip them together...

Usually the bag is enough although was camping two weeks ago and used a blanket between our matress and sleeping bag and one over the top of the bags - ok also wore a hat! :lol: - it was cold...

Seriously make sure you've got some extra layers you don't have to use them - it does get cold this time of year, in fact any time in this country! Hope you enjoy it.

Nigel

 

[noddy]

Get at least 3 season bags if you intend to go camping between spring and late Autumn, down bags are better than synthetic ones, but are more expensive. Mummy shaped bags are warmer than the traditional square bags, and you can get them with left and right handed zips so you can put two together to make a double bag.

Try these places:

http://www.fieldandtrek.com/Products/FT/Equipment/Sleeping+Bags/Default.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.alpkit.com/skyehigh/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Some places do kids sleeping bags, this is a good kids sleeping bag http://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/acatalog/Vango_Nitestar_Convertible_Sleeping_Bag_Sale.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Just remember not to leave your bags packed away in the stuff sack when not in use, the bag will not loft fully when its been packed away for months.

 

[Araon]

Vango Nitestar convertable highly recommended and still going strong.....

http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_VANGO_NITESTAR_CONVERTIBLE_SLEEPING_BAG__2007_.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[faux]

I use this company, they are serious about their equipment and try it all out for themselves. Not always the cheapest but they are the best (IMO)

We bought Ajungilak bags 7 years ago and they still work well. We even bought one for our 4 year old (when he was 2) and he has never got cold.

http://www.upandunder.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[biddy2101]

Hello There,

Thanks you guys for all your advice on sleeping bags - i didn't know it was soo technical!! They have improved since i was bought a nylon one for a brownie trip some 20+ years ago.

So after a bit of thought and research & listening to your advice, i went for Vango Kids sleeping bags, a midi for my 4 year old son (courtesy of E-Bay) in black & orange (his favourite colours). My 19 month old daughter has got a Vango that i can make smaller or bigger bought new (E-Bay again) & they are brilliant. My daughter didn't like the concept of sleeping in a bag but with practice she'll get the hang of it however my son loved it & slept 10 hours in a sleeping bag & we went away over the easter weekend which was a COLD weekend.

I opted for a Colemans Hudson double sleeping bag (Amazon) for me & the husband which was brilliant. However...

... we took 2 single air beds & tried to sleep in the bag on top of the beds!! So guess what i'm looking for now on the WWW, yes a double airbed because never f***king again with 2 single airbeds tied together with a bit of rope!!

This was our first camping trip ever so it was a HUGE learning experience for all of us but we came back wanting to go again.

 

[Araon]

Good to hear you enjoyed it, we just go for self inflating matts, lighter and smaller you can get doubles but as they are only an inch deep they lie well together as singles, what I will say though with the matts you get what you pay for get yourself round the camp shops and try them..... you feel stupid loungeing about the shop with everyone else wandering about, you need to try for a good few minutes too.......

they can be bloody expensive but then theres nothing worse than a day with an aching back all because the cold has travelled up through the mat or the uneven ground has hit a sore point.....