My stepdaughter just bought a sleeping bag for t in the park from Tesco for £18, comfort rating 3.2 to 7.8c sounds ok, extreme rating -11.4c, somehow I think not.

I think you're right Ray Sleeping bag ratings are a bit of a pet hate, I get a fair few folk turn up for trips with cheap bags that they've bought on the strength of the extreme temp rating ... it's a sure fire way to make a night in the hills a miserable experience.

I remember buying a sleeping bag years ago for a motorbike trip and a short conversation with the salesperson in Millets:

"I need a small, lightweight sleeping bag."

"This is the smallest, lightest bag we do - should be up to the job."

What he failed to mention is that it was a piece of tissue paper masquerading as a sleeping bag. Coldest night of my life.

extreme rating -11.4c, somehow I think not

The extreme rating is not intended to general use - it is minimum temperature at which a standard woman can remain for six hours without risk of death from hypothermia (though frostbite is still possible).

That said, I'd rather not be exposed to such temperatures in an £18 sleeping bag for one hour, never mind six

The extreme rating is not intended to general use - it is minimum temperature at which a standard woman can remain for six hours without risk of death from hypothermia (though frostbite is still possible).

I think that's the trouble, the above often isn't explained to people or even understood by those selling the bags. People just see the figure and believe they've bought a bag good down to whatever it states.

s8tannorm wrote:

The extreme rating is not intended to general use - it is minimum temperature at which a standard woman can remain for six hours without risk of death from hypothermia (though frostbite is still possible).

I think that's the trouble, the above often isn't explained to people or even understood by those selling the bags. People just see the figure and believe they've bought a bag good down to whatever it states.

In this era of instant access to information at your finger tips, it isn't any excuse!

I might have to rescue my stepdaughter and her pals from T In The Park tonight, seems their Tesco's £22 tent isn't waterproof and most of their gear is wet. Not looking forward to that but it might be easier than picking them up on monday when it finishes. Maybe I should be looking forward to winter after all!

It's really no wonder that much of the population dislike camping. I imagine for many, their camping experience starts and ends along the lines of your stepdaughters Ray

I could have lent her a decent 3 man tent but she previously borrowed two sleeping bags and a bag liner for an overnight camp with her mates by one of the reservoirs in the Pentlands. Never been seen since, value about £150 thank you very much! Never again. Does this make me a meanie? PS. No SOS as yet, would be too late now anyway as I have had a drink.

Does this make me a meanie?

No ... the fact they're all still alive, must indicate that you are a very reasonable man

Does this make me a meanie?

I would have told her that seeing as she so obviously liked them (having not returned them) she could have them as an early Christmas present :)

Apparently someone camping near them had had enough by Saturday so left telling them they could have their tent as they couldn't be bothered to take it down. A nice waterproof one, things always work out. Now I've just got to go and pick them up.

sallyh wrote:

Does this make me a meanie?

I would have told her that seeing as she so obviously liked them (having not returned them) she could have them as an early Christmas present :)

I like this idea .