Sleeping Bag Recommendations
Submitted: Thursday, Jan 27, 2011 at 12:15
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gpm949
I will be travelling from
Perth to
Alice Springs in May. I am looking at the Roman Swag Bag sleeping bag or the Moondyne Swag sleeping bag because I am a full sized bloke.
Anybody used either of these or have recommendations for a larger bag which will be warm enough?
Reply By: Gossy - Thursday, Jan 27, 2011 at 17:32
Thursday, Jan 27, 2011 at 17:32
Sleeping bags is a real science so you need to have a deep understanding of what you need (down ratings, cocoon shape at the feet etc etc etc).
To keep it simple, you do get what you pay for. A $100 bag will be cheap and not warm on cold nights. If you are sleeping in cold weather you need good quality down (and you can dictate how much weight you want with some brands like "one planet") and expect to pay close or over $1000.
Plenty of stuff on the internet but maybe another option is to buy a silk lining or similar from one of the camping stores which add's about 5 degrees to the rating of the bag.
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Follow Up By: Andrew & Jen - Thursday, Jan 27, 2011 at 18:21
Thursday, Jan 27, 2011 at 18:21
Hullo gmp949
IMHO, $1000 is a bit OTT!
I have a Darche Husky rated at -10. It is 240mm x 100mm - unless you are using it in VERY cold
places, it is fine
From memory it was +/- $100
I also have a inner - useful on warmer nights - I don't zip the sides of the bag up, or very cold nights when it adds to warmth. Remember that something like 70% of heat loss is from the head - if needed, wear a beanie as
well as use the hood.
Insulation under you is essential - as
well as the 63mm foam one that came with the swag, I use a self inflating mattress underneath.
Cheers
Andrew
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Follow Up By: Crackles - Thursday, Jan 27, 2011 at 22:21
Thursday, Jan 27, 2011 at 22:21
Times have changed Gossy as there are plenty of cheap sleeping bags on the market with many of the features of the expensive brands. Just bought a minus 10 degree Roman bag with box wall constuction, draught strips, hood, micro fibre fill & anti snag zip for under $140.
IMHO you need to be carrying it on your back to justify the additional cost of down for the weight & space saving & even then you risk it being almost useless when wet. $1000 bags with features like Goretex shells are unnecesary for vehicle based touring. 10 years ago I would have agreed (you do get what you pay for) but there are plenty of warm
well featured bags for under $200 now.
Cheers Craig.........
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Follow Up By: Gossy - Friday, Jan 28, 2011 at 09:03
Friday, Jan 28, 2011 at 09:03
yep good point. I do alot of bush walking and 1-2 week kayaking trips so I do also need to take size into account. I must admit when my 4wd is fully packed for a big trip (not near as often as I'd like!) having a small scrunched up sleeping bag is very handy.
I also have a cheap $100 sleeping bag which I use for summer (my expensive bag is way to hot for any nights over 10 degrees). Got it free thru a 4wd magazine subscription :)
Have a good trip,
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Reply By: Member - Mark (Tamworth NSW) - Thursday, Jan 27, 2011 at 20:02
Thursday, Jan 27, 2011 at 20:02
Spent a week backpacking the Larapinta Trail west of Alice last May, I had a thin self inflating mattress and a -5C Katmandhu duck down bag and slept out. Every manufacturer has their own rating system so comparisons between are futile. The coldest it got was 3C and I never got cold with 2 layers on top and a tracksuit bottom
In July 2009 we spent a week in Central Oz, I had a swag with a heavy Roman flannelette lined sleeping bag. It got down to -3 on a couple of mornings, frost on the swag, but again I wasn't cold, though I slept in a track suit and 3 layers on top.
I'm sure if you are vehicle based you will be plenty warm with a heavy sleeping bag. The secret is in what you sleep on (insulating mattress), not so much what you sleep in.
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Reply By: gpm949 - Friday, Jan 28, 2011 at 08:45
Friday, Jan 28, 2011 at 08:45
Thanks to everybody for your comments. I'm working on the theory that if I'm warm & comfy at night I can put up with anything during the day.
I forgot to mention that I will be sleeping on a Thermarest Dreamtime mat & based on what I am hearing, I'm on the right track. I'll go for one of the bags mentioned & get a silk liner as extra insurance.
A good bottle of red before bed most nights should also help.
Thanks again.
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Follow Up By: Member - Mark (Tamworth NSW) - Friday, Jan 28, 2011 at 13:50
Friday, Jan 28, 2011 at 13:50
Sleeping Bag Liner. Good idea, I use a silk one when bushwalking, But they need not be silk, you pay a lot more for them. Advantage of silk is it's low weight/ size. If you are vehicle based, you can buy cheaper cotton liners or make them yourself out of old flannelette sheets.
If you are in swag, on a swag mattress, thermarest and sleeping bag, you are likely to be if anything too hot in May
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Follow Up By: silkwood - Sunday, Jan 30, 2011 at 22:29
Sunday, Jan 30, 2011 at 22:29
Lots of good and average advice. I'll add just one thing.. don't get a cotton liner. In fact, don't use cotton at all for cold conditions. If you are allergic or uncomfortable with artificial fabrics, get a silk liner.
Cheers,
Mark
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