double sleeping bag
 

for my RTW I plan to use a double sleeping bag for 2 , I saw the one from REI REI Siesta +30/40 Sleeping Bag - Double at REI.com
I am not very interested by single sleeping bag and do not plan to sleep in freezing condition if I can avoid.Any of you use it ,looking for the smallest one possible.
What you guys using for your trip???

For 1 or 2 people?
 

You didn't say if it's for 1 or 2 people. I assume it will for be 2??:confused1:

I haven't used that particular one, but can definitely recommend the following Mountain Equipment sleeping bag

Mountain Equipment - dreamcatcher

It's a single bag, but you can zip 2 together, and they have extra long ones for taller people too. You can zip a standard bag with a extra long bag.

It's rated from 0 - 25 degrees. I would think it will be ok down to about 5, depending on what you're wearing while you sleep.

The bag is very nice and cosy and it's got stretchy area around your knees to avoid tight situations...:innocent:

double sleeping
 

I plan to use it for a trip for the two of us .

If you haven't tried sleeping in a double sleeping bag before you might want to try it first.

I did the two bags zipped together thing for a few weeks last year, in our case it was because one bag was a lightweight summer bag and wasn't warm enough for the climate we were in. I really struggled with the restricted movement and rarely slept properly. The worst part is when your partners fast asleep then you can hardly even move trying to get more comfortable without waking them up.

If you normally sleep with matched body positions then it wouldn't be a problem, otherwise I suspect it would take some time to get used to it (I didn't, we got donated a second warm sleeping bag by some other travellers and went back to seperate bags).


Another concern with a double bag is when you get ill. Having to get up quickly during the night to deal with explosive shits or needing to vomit is even less pleasant if you're sharing a sleeping bag. (unfortunately I'm speaking from experience here - my advice is to blame it on her cooking! :nono:)

double sleeping bag
 

Hi Nath,
I appreciate your concern but in my case sleeping in small space is not a problem,now as far as getting sick this is not into my programm so no problem there either, anyway the option to separate the bags in single one still exist.

That really is the best advice you'll get. Believe me, unless you sleep like you're dead you'll be attacking the bag with a pair of scissors the following morning.

double sleeping bag
 

OK guys I guess I will test it starting in April and then you will have a first hand report .

double sleeping bags are barely big enough for one comfortably. i would get two singles that zip together if you must have a double

Permit me to add my voice to the clamor. You really, really don´t want to commit to a double sleeping bag without extensive testing first. That means trying it out for more than one night, in worse than ideal circumstances. Far better to get two bags which zip together so that if you are like 99% of us you can sleep separately when this is called for.

That would be the voice of experience.

Mark

(from El Chalten, about to head back out on Ruta 40)

i hate sleeping bags, they always make me claustrophobic, even my XL vango. and i only ever have them zipped up when it gets cold.

I have that bag and it's very comfortable and well designed for two. Packs somewhat large but that's normal for synthetic. I really like the two temperature feature.

I do this when I travel with my gf, works nice.:innocent:

doule spleeping bag
 

Ok after trying one from a friend I decided to buy two down rectangle one on for winter and one for warmer climate , the double were OK but a bit too big to my taste , the down one a much smaller and in my case I prefer to save as much room on my bike as I can.

Thanks to all for your help.

Birdland Ranger, Ray-Way & Thermarest Ventra
 

I too have been looking for a lightweight 2 person sleeping solution.

I have been using cheap, heavy, rectangular synthetic sleeping bags for car-camping for years. These are 2x 80cm width cotton bags with synthetic filling - when zipped together the zips are around the perimeter and the width is 160cm - same as a king size bed. It's like being at bed at home- lots of comfort, lots of space. Space to stretch tired limbs and a perfect nights sleep. Unfortunately the packed size and weight of these bags are too high for bike use.

I use mummy bags too and have a pair of both summer and winter bags that can be zipped together. Nice & compact/light, but zipping 2 mummies together just doesn't cut it- as mentioned previously it's too small and leads to being disturbed each time your partner moves. Having a cold/bumpy zip in the middle is crap. (Coincidentally my 1st wife decided to leave me between Atar & Chinguetti when we were using mummies!).

The Trailblazer 'Adventure Cycle-Touring Handbook' (Stephen Lord, edited by Chris Scott et al.) has a feature on 'Tips for a happy married life in the tent' by Robin & Heleen Wielders-Boerman. They suggest using 2 semi-rectangular down bags from Zwerfkei Outdoor & Travel Centre, at less than 1kg each and -7C rating. They also mention LL Bean bags.

I had a look at the zwerfkei website and, although the temp rating/weight is slightly out, think the Birdland Ranger bag could be what they're recommending:


Birdland, lichtgewicht trekkingtenten en slaapzakken

Technical details:

http://www.birdland.nl/bltechdons.pdf

Some retailers:

Birdland Ranger Featherlite - MoCamp shop voor motor- en outdoorliefhebbers
Birdland Ranger Featherlight
Birdland Ranger featherlight | slaapzakken | slaapzakken deken | Zwerfkei Outdoor & Travel Centre

I did decide to buy a couple of these despite the price (circa €500 for a pair), but then ran into payment complications- the Dutch interweb shops don't accept credit/debit card payments, wanting a direct bank transfer instead. A pain to organise in the UK, costly & no buyer protection.

So I abandoned the purchase for the moment & continue to look for a decent solution, maybe something with a slightly colder rating.....

We have written to PHD, but no reply yet. They have a 'thank-you' for a custom double bag they made on their comments page. NB they advertise a custom sleeping bag service and also sell products with down fill power up to 900, the highest warmth per weight/volume I have seen, which means the possibility for extreme temperature or tiny weight/pack size if you can afford the premium for such down. (:: PHD Mountain Software :: Down Sleeping bags, down jackets, mountaineering clothing & accessories :: Customer comments)

We are also thinking about making a quilt, using a 2-person kit from here:
Ray-Way Quilt Kits by Ray and Jenny Jardine

And, finally we have been thinking about the Thermarest Ventra quilt. Maybe not warm enough for our needs, but 2 can be snapped together, as seen here:
Therm-A-Rest Ventra Down Comforter Test Report by Kathryn Doiron - Backpackgeartest.org

My preference is still for a pair of quality down rectangular sleeping bags to zip together (so they can also be used individually when appropriate) like the Birdlands. Can anyone recommend any other suppliers? Maybe we will avoid sleeping until we get to Holland on the next trip and see/buy a pair there.

Ian

the Uk company RAB used to make custom sleeping bags rectangular down bags that zip together. I ordered some for a trip a few years ago. they were brillint. £400 or there abouts , butit was a while ago. the bags are very light, pack up small, and are good to -7.
Matt

Thanks Matt, they don't seem to offer custom bags now, I'll drop in on them and double-check.

Ian

Hi
No worries.
I think that they dont advertise the service, but definitely worth a phone call.
I see you named PHD. They may well make custom stuff as well. Im not sure if Pete still runs the business.

RAB was bought out a few years ago, so it is possible that they dont make custom stuff..

You could try Kathmandu as well. Its a kiwi firm who seem to cater for loads of eventualities. Its possible they may be able to help.

Cheers
Matt

Sorted
 

I found two further suppliers making rectangular/near rectangular bags that zip together:

Kathmandu Sleeping Bags - Kathmandu Australia
And Mountain Euipment Cooperative (MEC) Sleeping Bags - Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC). Free Shipping Available

Kathmandu are an Australian company with a couple of branches in the UK selling a reduced range. I preferred the specs, reviews and availability of the MEC (canadian company) products.

I ordered 2 MEC down 'barrel' bags a few weeks ago. These are near rectangular, available in longer lengths (I'm just under 2m) and diffferent temperature rating bags zip together perfectly. I bought a -10C and +5C bag for flexibilty. We can have the appropriate bag on top of the 3(!) of us depending on the conditions (RTW by bicycle over all the high mountain passes). I have an achy post surgery knee & find these spacious bags really comfortable used singly/solo too.

There are a huge amount of positive reviews for the MEC bags on their site and the bags are, so far, entirely meeting expectations. They make a 0C rated bag too. Here are links to their 3 down barrel bags:

MEC Cygnet Sleeping Bag -10C - Mountain Equipment Co-op. Free Shipping Available
MEC Drake Sleeping Bag 0C - Mountain Equipment Co-op. Free Shipping Available
MEC Gosling Sleeping Bag +5C - Mountain Equipment Co-op. Free Shipping Available

We have camped out in temperatures as low as +4 with the +5 bag uppermost and have been just warm enough. There is enough room for us 2 adults and our 22 month old daughter.

As a note of caution I would recommend checking out sleeping in zipped together bags with your partner with some cheap bags before assuming it will be a sensible arrangement for you.

I nearly forgot to mention- these MEC bags are amazingly inexpensive compared to the other options out there, plus shipping was cheap & fast $10 to the UK & no duty was charged.

Marmot, you can attach them together just need to buy 1 right zipper and 1 left.

+1

2 singles and zip them together. Also it means you can pack them into smaller spaces.

Actually we travel with one light and one med bag, if we're cold we sleep together otherwise seperately.

Done the search-got the bag!
 

Highly recommend the Big Agnes - Cabin Creek, it is a true double bag, does not zip apart, but if your married why would you want too? :) My wife and I have tested it thoroughly >;).

Anyway, it packs much smaller than two sleeping bags to zip together and eliminates all the bottom insulation, replaced with two sleeves for air mattresses. Here is a link to the bag on REI

Big Agnes Cabin Creek +15 Sleeping Bag - Double at REI.com

Read the reviews - they are detailed and on the money.

Sweet dreams:mchappy: