Good 3 season sleeping bag suggestion?
 

Hi all,

I'm looking to get myself a good sleeping bag, but have no real way of discriminating between the multitude of options out there.

I'm going to be camping through Belgium, Germany, France, Switzerland and Italy in August, so a range of temperatures to cope with. At the moment I don't have any strong feelings re. down or synthetic, but want to spend less than £100 if possible.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. :)

Thanks,

Alex.

Rab sleeping bags are top notch but will cost you more than £100, my Atlas 750 is three season and they claim it is warm down to minus 10c, I have had it at minus 5c and was toasty warm. If you can get the one you want on offer I recommend you go for it.

coleman hudson 450

will keep you warm, comfy and allow you some room to turn.
only downside, a bit bulky.

warmth
 

consider an exped synmat 7 or 9 under you. My husband slept on his with an old pathetic walmart summer bag in 5 c on a rainy spring night and was warm. His Marmot plasma bag is on back order. I have the marmot Pinacle ladies good to minus 15 and really comfortable. sara

Alpkit 600 is a great bag, and whilst not likely to be found for less than £100, shouldn't be too much over.

Tesco
 

Tesco do a sleeping bag which is duck down filled, rated at minus 10 degrees and packs down really small for about £30. I wouldn't go on a polar expedition with it but it's been fine for european trips in summer, including the odd frosty night, the only concern has been over-heating some nights. I sleep on an exped down-mat, so no cold gets to me from the ground.

I have a down bag from these guys in the UK:
SLEEPING BAGS - Cumulus down sleeping bags - Product Range

They use Pertex fabric, which is water resistant and breathable.
Down bags is a relative term, as apparently it's always a ratio of down to feathers; in the cumulus range, it's between 92% to 96% Polish down. Apparently Polish down is the highest quality down available--it keeps you warmer.
My bag is well-made, with strong zips. It's the best bag i've bought. The bags are very lightweight too.

Again a bit bulky, but I got one of these:

Synthetic Bags - Nanok Clearance (2009) - Nordic Outdoor

Synthetic - Nanok - Nordic Outdoor

Mine is the discontinued Comfort -10, which I can tell you from a night on my balcony last December is warm to about -14C! I really like that bag.

Down packs smaller, but does not take well to getting wet. Also, if you are buying a cheaper down bag there is a good chance that it hasn't been ethically filled. By that I mean molted or shed feathers have not been used.

Instead, many down suppliers opt for live-plucking of birds. Pluck them, chuck'em back in the pen to re-grow, pluck 'em again.

A bit like someone ripping your hair out by the handful and waiting till you next need a haircut to do it again...
:funmeterno:

I do know, from my own enquiries that Rab, and Mountain Equipment fill ethically from either shed down, or from birds killed for the meat industry. North Face I am not so sure about. A well known camping shop seemd to think not.

It is up to you if you factor this into your sleeping bag choice, but at least you now know what a cheaper bag may be costing elsewhere.:(

Excellent suggestions everyone, so thanks for that. I'll be using it with an Exped down 7LW probably, so that'll help substantially. :)

I looked at these bags, but couldn't find the prices?
to give me an idea, as i am looking for a 3 or 4, I have a 2 season but my GF is always cold? unlike me, or may just be i am used to sleeping rough from my childhood camping & scouting then Army?