LONG lightweight synthetic sleeping bag

[gairym]

howdy,

it's question time again.....

i'm thinking that i should get another sleeping bag (although i'll continue to use the Vango 'Venom 300').

the one i've been using is super-warm, comfy and light but.....if i'm honest it's a little too short for me (i'm 2.5cm longer than their longest suggested height).

i'm also thinking that for my 10 day trip i'd rather go synthetic than risk being in trouble if i get the bag wet due to a poorly put up tarp or other mistake i'm likely to make whilst very fatigued.

so.....

any suggestions on a bag which is:

- synthetically filled
- light (ideally 800g maximum)
- small
- suitable for down to about +3-5 degrees
- LONG enough for someone 6'2"
- ideally not costing the earth but open to suggestions.

so far all i've found is the Mountain Equipment 'Lamina 45' or 'Ultralamina 32'.

as per usual - all advice/assistance mucho appreciated!

cheers, gairy.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I have one of these - http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/ ... g_bag.html

They also do a lighter one (rated to +4) which is less than 700g ... saying that I don't find mine too heavy or bulky. There's much more 'bag' to tuck underneath you than you might imagine too.

[didnothingfatal]

The golite quilts are great, I'm 6'4" and length is perfect in long, just ditch the useless straps that they supply.

[gairym]

yeah, i found the GoLite's early on in my search and thought that my search was over!

but.....I can't find the RS 1+ Season Quilt (Long) in stock anywhere???

even the GoLite website doesn't have any!

bugger.

[Bearbonesnorm]

If it were me, I'd buy the 3 anyway ... the RS 1 does say comfort of +4 but Go-lite describe that as the "Headline" figure, in reality it's a +8 comfort rating.

The RS will have a real world comfort of 0 even though it's rated at -4.

[didnothingfatal]

If it were me, I'd buy the 3 anyway ... the RS 1 does say comfort of +4 but Go-lite describe that as the "Headline" figure, in reality it's a +8 comfort rating.

The RS will have a real world comfort of 0 even though it's rated at -4.

Where you getting that from? Because I've got the 1 season and it's way warmer than my 8 degree rated bag.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Where you getting that from? Because I've got the 1 season and it's way warmer than my 8 degree rated bag.

Colour: Coriander/Grease
To Fit: Up to 6'
Weight: 709g / 1lb 9oz;
Fill Weight: 330g of 800+ European Goose Down
Headline Rating: 4ºC
Comfort: 8ºC, EN13537 Tested
Lower Limit: 4ºC, EN13537 Tested
Extreme: -11ºC, EN13537 Tested
Pack size: supplied with a stuffsack 14cm diameter x 26cm long, with a compression sack this could be reduced significantly.

[gairym]

If it were me, I'd buy the 3 anyway ... the RS 1 does say comfort of +4 but Go-lite describe that as the "Headline" figure, in reality it's a +8 comfort rating.

The RS will have a real world comfort of 0 even though it's rated at -4.

i emailed golite to ask when they'd be likely to have more of the RS 1 in stock and they said that they're not making anymore this year and so that's kind of that anyway!

as for the other two options.....

- the GoLite 'RS 3' is a good choice but is a little more than i wanted to carry in terms of weight.

- the Mountain Hardwear 'Ultralamina 32' seems like it might work but has the same issues as the 'RS 1' in terms of actual working comfort temperatures.

it's looking like i might not get my perfect sleeping bag!

honestly, is it too much to ask for absolutely everything i want with zero compromise???

apparently it is!

[didnothingfatal]

to be honest finding a synthetic bag that is available for someone 6'2" and not needed for really cold temps isn't too difficult to find. If you're in france look at Quecha available in Decathalon stores, they do a 'ultralight' synthetic range in long lengths, jump in the car and raid Snell in Chamonix or the Millet shop.

And dunno where the copied bit about the quilt came from, my UL1 Golite quilt is probably the best sleeping bag I own.

[didnothingfatal]

Here

Here

Here

[gairym]

And dunno where the copied bit about the quilt came from, my UL1 Golite quilt is probably the best sleeping bag I own.

cool, that's reassuring!

all,

thanks all for the input so far - i've narrowed things down to two potential choices at this point:

1. the GoLite 'RS 3' (but i've got a few questions which i'll ask below).

or.....and this is a new option that i just found.....

2. a North Face 'Lynx'

both around the £100 mark (in Long) and both should suit my needs.

but.....i hadn't realised earlier about the whole quilt/backless malarky.

what's the deal with this?

from what i've read quilts reduce the amount of filling/fabric used for pointless (non)insulation underneath you (which is compressed and therefore loses it's loft/insulation) - is this the case with the GoLite?

is it still a fully enclosed 'bag' as opposed to an actual quilt that just lays on top of you?

would this work with my POE Peak Elite AC 2/3's legth sleeping mat?

does backlessness make sense?

does it work?

i'm skeptical but open to the idea if it works.

ok, sorry to drag this out but i ideally want to buy a second sleeping bag once (as two attempts should be enough to find the bag i need for my trip - no?).

cheers, gairy.

[Bearbonesnorm]

gairy ... the RS is a 'top bag' but it's also pretty big / wide. It does have a foot box with insulation all the way round and is only open at the back from around the knees up.

There's a couple of adjustable straps that run underneath to hold the bag to your mat and to stop it sliding off. Once you're in you wouldn't know you weren't in a regular sleeping bag. Imagine taking a normal bag and unzipping it 3/4 of the way down. Put the zip down to the ground and get in ... that's what it's like.

Your poe mat will work fine, mine does. Just remember they don't have a hood, so pack a hat

[gairym]

gairy ... the RS is a 'top bag' but it's also pretty big / wide. It does have a foot box with insulation all the way round and is only open at the back from around the knees up.

interesting - that's quite the departure from a 'normal' sleeping bag set-up!

also, i move around A LOT at night and from what i've been reading about 'quilts vs bags' (pretty much everything i could find online - which is a lot for something i never knew existed) a quilt might be a way to solve my years of restless nights camping - no?

i'm definitely interested - more research me thinks!

[Bearbonesnorm]

I'll get mine out in the morning and take you some pictures, it'll give you a pretty good idea.

Once you're in the thing, the only real difference is the fact you'll be sleeping directly on top of your mat.

[gairym]

I'll get mine out in the morning and take you some pictures, it'll give you a pretty good idea.

thanks, nice one fella.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Here you go gairy. This is it looking from underneath, like I said, you've a full foot box and plenty of girth so keeping draughts out shouldn't be a problem. You can just make out the black fastening straps that go under your mat. The bag at the top is your stuff sack, which is pretty small given it's a synthetic bag. The 'feel' of the bag is as near to down as you're likely to achieve with a synthetic fill ... it really does loft very well.

[didnothingfatal]

What about the PHD quilt? Super light, optional foot box. The double looks a good option for two sharing a Laser Comp (yes it can be done)

[gairym]

stuart,

thanks for that! now i know exactly what i'm looking at.

What about the PHD quilt? Super light, optional foot box. The double looks a good option for two sharing a Laser Comp (yes it can be done)

looks very nice indeed (if only i was loaded!).

all,

i'm now utterly confused!

i really like the idea of going off-piste and getting the more unconventional GoLite 'RS 3' quilt but i really need this item to work properly as i think the wife may well kick my ass if i were to decide that i didn't like the whole quilt idea after trying it and then tell her that i intended to spend another 100 quid on getting a sleeping bag after all.

hmmmm.....

do i play it safe and go for a bag or live life on the edge and opt for the unknown (potentially far better for all i know)???

conundrum!

[didnothingfatal]

Why not get Andrew Skurka's new book, you'll get some great ideas on lightweight gear. Personally, I like quilts, I have 9 sleeping bags in the attic, and I like using the quilt most, I also have a true top bag, and like that. But, I now have a klymit sleeping mat, quilts and top bags are getting complicated. Personally, I'd get a quilt and high quality mat, not a neo air, the surface isn't the nicest against the skin I feel, Exped Syn or Down Mat, POE Elite AC. Buy your sleeping bag as part of the whole sleep system, match to mat, etc.

[Bearbonesnorm]

You could always make your own quilt

http://www.rayjardine.com/ray-way/php/order-form.php

[Bearbonesnorm]

I now have a klymit sleeping mat

DNF which one have you got, is it true there's plenty of tossing room?

[Ian]

First sleeping mats with plenty of "tossing room", and now quilts that allow for "plenty of girth"

[didnothingfatal]

I now have a klymit sleeping mat

DNF which one have you got, is it true there's plenty of tossing room?

The Inertia X Lite, it's too small for tossing sadly!

[Bearbonesnorm]

So aside from tossing room, how is the mat? I looked at them yesterday but I really can't decide about them, does cold not come up through the 'holes' and do you not fall through those 'holes'. As a side sleeper I imagine I may be at a disadvantage to someone who sleeps on their back?

[didnothingfatal]

Well in the living room it's comfortable enough, the POE Elite is comfier. Haven't had a chance to try it out, but having a big gear test overnighter in a few weeks on the Chilterns as I've been buying some silly light gear. Will update my blog when tested. My main concern is the loft pockets and a quilt, but plan on sleeping in a down gilet.