Lidl again

In article <[email hidden]>,
coastwatch said...

Quoted message said:

Just bought a fleece sleeping bag fron Lidl, looks ok, nothing special
just a square bad with all round zip bit perfect for caravan or tent on
a very warm night, or to boost the rating of a thinner bag.
Doesntg give a ewight , size when packed is moderate but you might be
able to squeeze it in a compression sac.
Comes with some attached straps to keep it rolled when packed, plus a
stuff sack. Pretty good for a penny short of a fiver.

They make good 'carpets' for inside tents as well, to make things more
comfy. I've had mine for a couple of years. They were a tenner then
though :-(
--
/
Fran O(<|={
\

In article <[email hidden]>, killermike said...

Quoted message said:

coastwatch said:

Just bought a fleece sleeping bag fron Lidl, looks ok, nothing special
just a square bad with all round zip bit perfect for caravan or tent on
a very warm night, or to boost the rating of a thinner bag.

I'm seriously considering one of these but I couldn't get to Lidl today.
Roughly, what would you estimate as the lowest sort of temperature that you
could reasonably use it in if you were using as your only sleeping bag for
tent camping?

Honestly? I'd use it indoors in winter; outdoors only in summer

--
/
Fran O(<|={
\

coastwatch said:

Just bought a fleece sleeping bag fron Lidl, looks ok, nothing special
just a square bad with all round zip bit perfect for caravan or tent on
a very warm night, or to boost the rating of a thinner bag.

I'm seriously considering one of these but I couldn't get to Lidl today.
Roughly, what would you estimate as the lowest sort of temperature that you
could reasonably use it in if you were using as your only sleeping bag for
tent camping?

--
***My real address is m/ike at u/nmusic d/ot co dot u/k (removing /s)
np:
http://www.unmusic.co.uk
http://www.unmusic.co.uk/amh-s-faq.html - alt.music.home-studio FAQ
http://www.unmusic.co.uk/wrap.php?file=vhs.html - vhs purchase log.

"Fran" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, killermike said...

Quoted message said:

coastwatch said:

Just bought a fleece sleeping bag fron Lidl, looks ok, nothing special
just a square bad with all round zip bit perfect for caravan or tent on
a very warm night, or to boost the rating of a thinner bag.

I'm seriously considering one of these but I couldn't get to Lidl today.
Roughly, what would you estimate as the lowest sort of temperature that
you
could reasonably use it in if you were using as your only sleeping bag
for
tent camping?

Honestly? I'd use it indoors in winter; outdoors only in summer

--
/
Fran O(<|={
\

I don't wish to sound elitist but my impression of Lidl is that they're a
bit cheap and tacky. How long does their stuff last and would it stand up to
the rigours of long/high treks etc in adverse conditions. Surely far better
to spend £75 - £100 on a sleeping bag from Cotswold or somewhere and know
it's going to do what you want it to than £5 and find it falls to bits or is
not up to expectations. "False economies" and all that.

"Michael Hobby" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Fran" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, killermike said...

Quoted message said:

On 23 Jun 2005 04:47:10 -0700, coastwatch wrote:

> Just bought a fleece sleeping bag fron Lidl, looks ok, nothing

special

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> just a square bad with all round zip bit perfect for caravan or tent

on

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> a very warm night, or to boost the rating of a thinner bag.

I'm seriously considering one of these but I couldn't get to Lidl

today.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Roughly, what would you estimate as the lowest sort of temperature that
you
could reasonably use it in if you were using as your only sleeping bag
for
tent camping?

Honestly? I'd use it indoors in winter; outdoors only in summer

--
/
Fran O(<|={
\

I don't wish to sound elitist but my impression of Lidl is that they're a
bit cheap and tacky. How long does their stuff last and would it stand up

to

Quoted message said:

the rigours of long/high treks etc in adverse conditions. Surely far

better

Quoted message said:

to spend £75 - £100 on a sleeping bag from Cotswold or somewhere and know
it's going to do what you want it to than £5 and find it falls to bits or

is

Quoted message said:

not up to expectations. "False economies" and all that.

I would guess that it depends on what you want the item for and what usage
it is going to get.

If your idea of camping is sleeping in a caravan or in a tent at low levels
in summer conditions a few weekends a year then some of the cheaper goods
are ideal from anywhere.

On the other hand if you go out every weekend in all weathers and up in the
higher hills and mountains then you probably want something that is light,
small, well made and probably over priced or at least quite expensive.

Much of the gear sold in the supermarkets are aimed at car campers and they
do the job for these people.

On the other hand paying over £200 for a waterproof coat to walk your dog in
the local park is excessive although a lot of people with money to burn do
it probably because it has a "label", just like a lot of town folk who visit
the county at weekends wear wax cotton coats, flat caps and green wellies -
because that is what they THINK the locals wear.

DaveB
UK

Michael Hobby said:

I don't wish to sound elitist but my impression of Lidl is that they're a
bit cheap and tacky. How long does their stuff last and would it stand upto
the rigours of long/high treks etc in adverse conditions. Surely far better
to spend £75 - £100 on a sleeping bag from Cotswold or somewhere and know
it's going to do what you want it to than £5 and find it falls to bits or is
not up to expectations. "False economies" and all that.

To a certain extent you are right. I find that the finishing is often
not perfect. For example, the trim on my insulated cycling gloves
(Aldi) is very tatty and the volume adjuster on the back of my fleece
gloves (Aldi) has come off. One of the zips on my Aldi coat does tend
to burst open - but I use the other zip (as I find it too hot to wear
the fleece inside the waterproof coat anyway.)

However, my Aldi running jacket is fine. My Aldi hydration rucksack is
fine (although the bladder itself tastes plasticky but could be
replaced with a better one). My Laminator (Aldi) is a smashing bit of
kit - a couple of quid more expensive than the Tesco one but with more
features. My Lidl bike toolkit is cheap and cheerful but is in a very
handy saddle bag which seems to be standing up to the rigours of life
quite well.

My Aldi boots are great for general travelling and light trekking but I
do prefer to wear my Brashers for tough stuff - that's probably just
because the Brashers cost 5 times as much so must be "better".

One of my expensive Leki Sport poles has broken but my cheap Aldi ones
haven't (yet?)

So, in summary, have a good look at the Aldi/Lidl bargains and decide
if they are going to meet your needs. Some of it is very good. Most
of it is generally good enough value that you won't mind if you have to
replace it in a couple of years.

Judith

"Michael Hobby" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Fran" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, killermike said...

Quoted message said:

On 23 Jun 2005 04:47:10 -0700, coastwatch wrote:

> Just bought a fleece sleeping bag fron Lidl, looks ok, nothing

special

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> just a square bad with all round zip bit perfect for caravan or tent

on

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> a very warm night, or to boost the rating of a thinner bag.

I'm seriously considering one of these but I couldn't get to Lidl

today.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Roughly, what would you estimate as the lowest sort of temperature that
you
could reasonably use it in if you were using as your only sleeping bag
for
tent camping?

Honestly? I'd use it indoors in winter; outdoors only in summer

--
/
Fran O(<|={
\

I don't wish to sound elitist but my impression of Lidl is that they're a
bit cheap and tacky. How long does their stuff last and would it stand up

to

Quoted message said:

the rigours of long/high treks etc in adverse conditions. Surely far

better

Quoted message said:

to spend £75 - £100 on a sleeping bag from Cotswold or somewhere and know
it's going to do what you want it to than £5 and find it falls to bits or

is

Quoted message said:

not up to expectations. "False economies" and all that.

Expectations is the key word. The stuff is cheap, if you buy it, it would be
wrong to expect it to perform as well as an expensive version (although
occasionaly the cheap item might).

OTOH, I won't buy the expensive item if I expect the cheap one to be good
enough to do the less exacting job I have for it. I wouldn't want to wear
out an expensive sleeping bag having friends use it in the house, for
example.

--
Duncan Gray

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland
www.mountaineering-scotland.org.uk

Judith said:

My Aldi hydration rucksack is
fine (although the bladder itself tastes plasticky but could be
replaced with a better one).

You may have tried this, but if you put a solution of water + baking
soda (maybe 2 - 3 teaspoons?) into the bladder and give it a good shake
around, then let it sit for a while, that should take the plastic taste
away.

Colin

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 11:05:59 +0100, "Michael Hobby"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

\
| I don't wish to sound elitist but my impression of Lidl is that they're a
| bit cheap and tacky. How long does their stuff last and would it stand up to
| the rigours of long/high treks etc in adverse conditions. Surely far better
| to spend £75 - £100 on a sleeping bag from Cotswold or somewhere and know
| it's going to do what you want it to than £5 and find it falls to bits or is
| not up to expectations. "False economies" and all that.

Every Tuesday I go into Lidl to buy utter grocery basics, then to Morrisons
to get the stuff which Lidl do not have, then to Haqs our local Asian shop
for good yoghurt, spices and the like. I have bought many Lidl offers.

The Lidl "offers" quality is IMO middle of the market, for a bottom of the
market price, they are IMO *never* cheap and tacky. So if you are buying
something for general amateur use they are fine. If you want top of the
market professional stuff, go to a specialist shop and pay top prices. If
you want to do the Himalayas and the like Lidl is not for you. IME they
never "falls to bits" but last well. Lidl offers always come round again
after a few months, so at worst one would save money buying two or three
Lidl items for the price of one top of the range item.

As an example my hammer drill which gets used a lot is a semi professional
one. The rest of my power tools which are used rarely, are from Lidl and
have paid for themselves many times over.

--
Dave Fawthrop <dave hyphenologist co uk> http://www.webshots.com
Thousands of wonderful professional photos for your Wallpaper and
Screensaver. also 200,000 amateur pics. Four new pics each day.

"Judith" <[email hidden]> schreef in bericht
news:[email hidden]...
snip

Quoted message said:

One of my expensive Leki Sport poles has broken but my cheap Aldi ones
haven't (yet?)

My friend's Leki Makalu Tour walking pole was bended within an hour, my
cheapo's (4,5BP each) from Xenos are still in perfect shape.

--
Theo
www.theosphotos.fotopic.net

In article <[email hidden]>, Judith
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

So, in summary, have a good look at the Aldi/Lidl bargains and decide
if they are going to meet your needs. Some of it is very good. Most
of it is generally good enough value that you won't mind if you have to
replace it in a couple of years.

I too have got much decent kit from Aldi and some from Lidl over the
last couple of years.

However I recently tried one of the double self-inflating mattresses
from Lidl thinking if it was no good I could just take it back for a
refund.

It was rubbish and heavy/bulky rubbish at that. There was almost no sign
of self inflation (yes it sucked air in but didn't get any thicker - not
what I would call self inflation) so I took it back.

I was told by the deputy manager that they would not refund me because
it was not faulty! He allowed me to swap it for another one and
suggested I write to their head office for a refund if I was still not
impressed. [He also said that any refunds over 10 pounds would have to
be done by cheque - I had paid by cash and expect a card refund would
have been OK]

I was flabbergasted to say the least! I have taken several things back
to Aldi and had no problems at all with refunds so I was amazed at
Lidl's policy.

I tried the replacement and it was the same. Fully self inflated it was
3cm thick despite the 5cm claim on the box. The design of the valves did
not make it easy to top it up by mouth or with a pump - and if I needed
a pump I would just use a normal air bed.

Mr Angry then gave their helpline a call and (after a very long wait on
hold at number 1 in the queue) the kind lady at the other end listened
and then called the store manager while I waited. She cleared it with
the manager and I returned it for a full cash refund.

That episode has made me very wary of Lidl. I certainly won't buy
anything from there unless I am sure that I won't be needing to take it
back...

--

Dominic Sexton

Err, I would not use it for a trip to the Himalayas, but horse for
courses. I see no reason you should not get reasonable wear out of it,
it would be ideal for examle to upgrade your current bag by a season
for occasional use, or to doss in a caravan in the summer.

Colin MacDonald said:

Quoted message said:

My Aldi hydration rucksack is
fine (although the bladder itself tastes plasticky but could be
replaced with a better one).

You may have tried this, but if you put a solution of water + baking
soda (maybe 2 - 3 teaspoons?) into the bladder and give it a good shake
around, then let it sit for a while, that should take the plastic taste
away.

I keep meaning to get round to doing that.

To be honest, I've not really used the pack much. It was just one of
those things I "needed" and at £7.99 it was daft not to get one. I'm
trying to build up my running so that I can keep going for long enough
for it to be worth taking some water with me!

Judith

Colin MacDonald said:

Quoted message said:

My Aldi hydration rucksack is
fine (although the bladder itself tastes plasticky but could be
replaced with a better one).

You may have tried this, but if you put a solution of water + baking
soda (maybe 2 - 3 teaspoons?) into the bladder and give it a good shake
around, then let it sit for a while, that should take the plastic taste
away.

I keep meaning to get round to doing that.

To be honest, I've not really used the pack much. It was just one of
those things I "needed" and at £7.99 it was daft not to get one. I'm
trying to build up my running so that I can keep going for long enough
for it to be worth taking some water with me!

Judith

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 12:38:01 +0100, Dominic Sexton
<[email hidden]> wrote:

<Snip refund horror story>

Quoted message said:

I was flabbergasted to say the least! I have taken several things back
to Aldi and had no problems at all with refunds so I was amazed at
Lidl's policy.

I've found Aldi to be very good at replacing or refunding stuff.

And I've always looked down my nose at Lidl. It's not half as nice as
Aldi (!) - but I did buy some micro-fibre towels there today. I
decided the fleece sleeping bag was too bulky. I would only use it if
car camping, so I might as well just take an extra blanket.

Judith

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 12:38:01 +0100, Dominic Sexton
<[email hidden]> wrote:

<Snip refund horror story>

Quoted message said:

I was flabbergasted to say the least! I have taken several things back
to Aldi and had no problems at all with refunds so I was amazed at
Lidl's policy.

I've found Aldi to be very good at replacing or refunding stuff.

And I've always looked down my nose at Lidl. It's not half as nice as
Aldi (!) - but I did buy some micro-fibre towels there today. I
decided the fleece sleeping bag was too bulky. I would only use it if
car camping, so I might as well just take an extra blanket.

Judith

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 19:06:52 +0100, Judith
<[email hidden]> wrote:

| On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 12:38:01 +0100, Dominic Sexton
| <[email hidden]> wrote:
|
|
| <Snip refund horror story>
|
|
| >I was flabbergasted to say the least! I have taken several things back
| >to Aldi and had no problems at all with refunds so I was amazed at
| >Lidl's policy.
|
|
| I've found Aldi to be very good at replacing or refunding stuff.

I have always found Lidl very good at replacing or refunding.

--
Dave Fawthrop <dave hyphenologist co uk> http://www.webshots.com
Thousands of wonderful professional photos for your Wallpaper and
Screensaver. also 200,000 amateur pics. Four new pics each day.

In article <[email hidden]>, Judith
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Colin MacDonald said:

Quoted message said:

My Aldi hydration rucksack is
fine (although the bladder itself tastes plasticky but could be
replaced with a better one).

You may have tried this, but if you put a solution of water + baking
soda (maybe 2 - 3 teaspoons?) into the bladder and give it a good shake
around, then let it sit for a while, that should take the plastic taste
away.

I keep meaning to get round to doing that.

To be honest, I've not really used the pack much. It was just one of
those things I "needed" and at £7.99 it was daft not to get one.

It is a very good wee sack. I'm waiting for them to come round again so
I can get another one and butcher a lot of the excess parts from it.

Quoted message said:

I'm
trying to build up my running so that I can keep going for long enough
for it to be worth taking some water with me!

Unless you are going out on a real hot day for an hour or more you will
do fine with a medium sized (250ml?) running bottle in the hand - a lot
less hassle!

--

Dominic Sexton

Dominic Sexton said:

Quoted message said:

I'm
trying to build up my running so that I can keep going for long enough
for it to be worth taking some water with me!

Unless you are going out on a real hot day for an hour or more you will
do fine with a medium sized (250ml?) running bottle in the hand - a lot
less hassle!

An *HOUR* ?

Erm, is 20 minutes any good? Cos that's all I can manage at the
moment! I'm doing a 5k fun run in a couple of weeks. Many years ago,
I used to be able to do 5k (relatively comfortably) in 30 minutes. My
aim, over the next couple of weeks, is to build up to being able to
run for 30 minutes. I am hoping that the cameraderie and the
excitement of the event will help me increase my speed so that the 30
minutes and the 5k coincide!

By the way - I am not a runner ...... but you can probably tell that.

Judith