Sleeping bags

Do a search on this forum for "sleeping bags"...... there are 87 different threads about it.

You are right about the blow up mattress. They lose a lot of heat. A thick foam is much warmer.
Get either a synthetic fill bag or a synthetic fill doona. Good down bags cost more and are useless if they get wet. Good down is really only worth it for hikers in snow conditions. Synthetic bags are much easier to wash and generally look after
If you are going to keep the blow up mattress, a bag is better as it puts a layer of insulation between you and the mattress.
If you get a foam matress I'd recommend a doona rather that a bag. You can get good, cheap doonas with hollowfill synthetic filling that I find are more comfortable to sleep under and easier to manage with changing temperatures than a bag. We don't use a very heavy doona but we also have a microfibre blanket (Got another one at Woolworths last week. QS was $30.00). These are very light and very warm and easily washed/dried. The combination of bag and microfibre blanket and I can always get the temperature right in hot, medium or very cold weather.

I got a "Coleman" from Kelly's at Dee Why [Sydney NSW] they have a mail order on the web.
Best discount I could get same bag in BCF was $95 and at Kelly's only $65. and arrived in four days.

Just a Happy customer.

We bought the Coleman "Pilbara" sleeping bags in Alice Springs as our super down jobs just were not warm enough on the -4 nights. These are 2m long x 1m wide are lined with a zip out fleece, super warm and spacious (I'm 6'1). We also use the Black Wolf Mega Deluxe self inflates, they do not let the cold come up from the ground, these are 1.98m x 880w.

David

I bought a Kathmandu 'camper' sleeping bag on special just before Easter. It comes in regular and large sizes, and is very warm.

Don't muck about get good quality down bags, they will last for ever. My wife bought hers in 1977 and mine in 1984. Never had a problem with them getting wet.

They are light, compact and super cosy.

We bought 2 good longer size ones a few years ago from Rays camping for our sons who are 6ft 4 and 6ft 3. They have plenty of room.

Make sure you get the zip together type so you can use them as a donnas.

I've had a Roman -5 degrees bag for over 30 years and it's still as good as the day I got it.

Trev

I would like to thank everyone for there opinions.
There is not a rays out door but there is BCF & some camping shops in Darwin that i will have to get down to , to check out the sleeping bags.
Seems I will get a good one & hope it lasts, I will check them out when i return in two weeks (currently in Katherine heading to Alice then Yulara for work)
Cheers Matthew

I have a down bag and a heavy synthetic bag. I use my down bag when backpacking and contrary to above advice, it is not just for snow, I have been through Central Aust with a couple of -3 July mornings when backpacking and it has kept me warm enough with clothes.
If you are car camping and unlikely to ever backpack, then ditch the down bag due to their limitations when wet, and go for a "heavy & bulky" synthetic bag. I am a bit over 6 foot my down bag is a regular size Kathmandu, so I reckon a large will do you. Their dimensions are available on the web.
I'm not pushing Kathmandu brand unless they are at least 50% off, but at least they use an international temperature rating system (I think) for comparison and you could mail order it for Darwin. My synthetic bag is a Roman brand and it has been great too.
A beanie on your head makes a huge difference in cold nights.