Ultralight summer sleeping bag

"Paul Saunders" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I'm not keen on the idea of no zip, but the Skyline's half
zip should suffice.

One of my bags hasn't got a zip. Never been any kind of
problem. A definite asset in my opinion. Less weight, easier
to stuff, no potential cold spots, no snagging damage.

"Paul Saunders" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Looking for a really light summer bag. The best I've found
so far seem to be the ME Classic Skyline...

90%, 600+ fill power down Comfort temp: +5C Weight: 560g
Half-length zip

According to my scales when I bought a ME sleeping bag
recently they don't seem to include the supplied compression
stuffsack in the weights they quote for their bags. The
stuffsack weighed another 100g or thereabouts. But maybe
that's the same for all manufacturers.

Quoted message said:

Any comments on the above bags? Any others worth
considering?

How about the Rab Quantum 200. Temp rating is down to +2
with a weight of 450g.

A bit more expensive but worth a look.

Info at www.rab.uk.com

Cheers

Andy

In article <[email hidden]>, Andy Laycock

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Any comments on the above bags? Any others worth
considering?

How about the Rab Quantum 200. Temp rating is down to +2
with a weight of 450g.

A bit more expensive but worth a look.

Info at www.rab.uk.com

Cheers

Andy

Or the Western Mountaineering HighLite 455g

snowandrock.comindex.aspOpen ↗
WEAB&category_ id=506

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

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

"Fran" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Are you very supple? What's it like getting in and out
of a zipless bag? I'm not sure I could manage.

Not particularly supple but quite skinny.

Ah. Now there, you've got me. I don't think I've *ever*
been discribable as skinny :-\

I'm sure you could still manage. Try it with a zipped bag
without undoing the zip - it is just a bit of a
horizontal shuffle.

--

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Quoted message said:

Any comments on the above bags? Any others worth
considering?

I'm not keen on the idea of no zip,

That rules out the phd minimus at 490 grammes for +5
deg C then ?

Quoted message said:

but the Skyline's half zip should suffice.

Big questions are

1. Would the above be warm enough in the worst summer
conditions (i.e. mountain tops, rain, wind, cold
nights etc.)?

Depends how cold it gets and how well sheltered you are. I
put my bivi

April this year - altitude 2 hundred and something
metres. Problem was there was a stiff breeze blowing all
night and the wind chill was ferocious. I was bl**dy cold
all night ! On the other hand I've been at 2000 odd
metres in the Pyrenees and measured temperatures down to
the +5 mark and only been a bit colder than comfortable
so it all just depends.

Quoted message said:

2. How many months would they be usable before needing to
switch to my winter bag (Snowline)? I could extend the
range by using liners and/or my Nupste vest.

My experience is that a vest isn't really enough to get much
of a temperature extension and I'll be buying a minimus
jacket for this purpose later this year. Always assuming
finances allow.

--
Boo

In message <[email hidden]>, Andy Laycock

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

£160? Probably good but I'm trying to keep the price down
too. At that price I might be more inclined to go for an
ME Dewline.

Surprising how much you have to pay to save a few hundred
grams, and then you realise that a set of batteries weigh
that much.

My next suggestion was going to be an ME Dewline! I didn't
say it as I wouldn't consider it an ultra light summer
bag, but not far off!! I have one myself along with an ME
Lightline. It's an excellent bag with an amazing pack size
considering it's -5C rating. The fact it has no zip
doesn't bother
me.

If you want one cheap try www.theoutdoorshop.com You can
get one for £129. I have an individual contract account as
I work with young people so it is even cheaper! They are
even doing free delivery during June.

Argos have sleeping bags for £7.99 at present.

--
Martin Richardson
239/284 Munros - 15% to go 34/34 'Furths' & 439/439 Nuttalls
- 0% to go
240/89 Donalds - 53% to go 0/? Himalayans - 100% to go
241/1552 Marilyns - 72% to go

Paul Saunders said:

Any comments on the above bags? Any others worth
considering?

Dewline form ME is a bit more but goes a bit cooler for not
much weight penalty. Rab do one of their Quantum range in
very light (Q200 IIRC) which would do the job.

Quoted message said:

I'm not keen on the idea of no zip, but the Skyline's half
zip should suffice.

I use a Dewline, which has no zip. It's okay, if it's too
warm just roll it down. Not as handy as a zip, but OTOH it
weighs and bulks less that way.

Quoted message said:

1. Would the above be warm enough in the worst summer
conditions (i.e. mountain tops, rain, wind, cold
nights etc.)?

No. Bear in mind that a fair bit of snow fell yesterday
in places and you could come out Bloody Cold if you
were relying on a 5 degree rated bag and sleep cold to
start with...

Quoted message said:

2. How many months would they be usable before needing to
switch to my winter bag (Snowline)? I could extend the
range by using liners and/or my Nupste vest.

It'll depend on the weather. I've been valley camping at
Easter at -7C, and wandering around in midwinter in T
shirts. You can't take UK weather by "seasons", it just
doesn't work!

Pete.
--
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I bought a Vango ultralight one a few weeks ago? It's
strictly summer only I'm sure but packs down very small
(much smaller than an Argos tent) and only cost 27 squid?

Lewis

In message <[email hidden]>, Paul Saunders
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Looking for a really light summer bag. The best I've found
so far seem to be the ME Classic Skyline...

I recently got the Snugpak Travelpak 500 ( zipless ) and
found it cold sleeping out in the Highlands a couple of
weeks ago. Fortunatley I had my back up Nitestar 3. I
didn't know the Snugpak didn't have a zip when I bought it
but you soon work out the best way to get into it whilst
still lying down.
--
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will not be read.

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

"Paul Saunders" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I'm not keen on the idea of no zip, but the Skyline's
half zip should suffice.

One of my bags hasn't got a zip. Never been any kind
of problem. A definite asset in my opinion. Less
weight, easier to stuff, no potential cold spots, no
snagging damage.

Are you very supple? What's it like getting in and out of a
zipless bag? I'm not sure I could manage.
--
Fran If you need my email address please ask.

AndyP said:

One of my bags hasn't got a zip. Never been any kind
of problem. A definite asset in my opinion. Less
weight, easier to stuff, no potential cold spots, no
snagging damage.

Maybe. Seems a great idea for a winter bag, but in summer
I'd expect some heat in the morning so the ability to unzip
would be handy rather than having to get out of the bag.

Paul
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AndyP said:

According to my scales when I bought a ME sleeping bag
recently they don't seem to include the supplied
compression stuffsack in the weights they quote for their
bags. The stuffsack weighed another 100g or thereabouts.
But maybe that's the same for all manufacturers.

Maybe. Always a problem. It's surprising how much extra
weight can be added by things like batteries, straps,
cases, bags etc.

Paul
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Andy Laycock said:

How about the Rab Quantum 200. Temp rating is down to +2
with a weight of 450g.

A bit more expensive but worth a look.

£160? Probably good but I'm trying to keep the price down
too. At that price I might be more inclined to go for an
ME Dewline.

Surprising how much you have to pay to save a few hundred
grams, and then you realise that a set of batteries weigh
that much.

Paul
--
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Boo said:

Quoted message said:

I'm not keen on the idea of no zip,

That rules out the phd minimus at 490 grammes for +5 deg
C then ?

Sounds similar to the Macpac Snowflake but costing more. I
wouldn't say that no zip rules it out, but I'd prefer a zip.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

1. Would the above be warm enough in the worst summer
conditions
(i.e. mountain tops, rain, wind, cold nights etc.)?

Depends how cold it gets and how well sheltered you are.
I put my

Quoted message said:

Downs in April this year - altitude 2 hundred and
something metres. Problem was there was a stiff breeze
blowing all night and the wind chill was ferocious. I was
bl**dy cold all night ! On the other hand I've been at
2000 odd metres in the Pyrenees and measured temperatures
down to the +5 mark and only been a bit colder than
comfortable so it all just depends.

Well April's not really summer, but having said that, I
would like a bag that I can use for a bit more than two or
three months a year.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

2. How many months would they be usable before needing
to switch to my winter bag (Snowline)? I could extend
the range by using liners and/or my Nupste vest.

My experience is that a vest isn't really enough to get
much of a temperature extension and I'll be buying a
minimus jacket for this purpose later this year. Always
assuming finances allow.

The vest that I refer to is a down jacket without the
sleeves.

Paul
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Lewis said:

I bought a Vango ultralight one a few weeks ago? It's
strictly summer only I'm sure but packs down very small
(much smaller than an Argos tent) and only cost 27 squid?

Thanks for the suggestion but I specifically want a down
bag.

Paul
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Peter Clinch said:

Dewline form ME is a bit more but goes a bit cooler for
not much weight penalty. Rab do one of their Quantum range
in very light (Q200 IIRC) which would do the job.

Nice.

Quoted message said:

I use a Dewline, which has no zip. It's okay, if it's too
warm just roll it down. Not as handy as a zip, but OTOH it
weighs and bulks less that way.

Maybe, but I've decided that I do want a zip, a half zip
would be ideal.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

1. Would the above be warm enough in the worst summer
conditions
(i.e. mountain tops, rain, wind, cold nights etc.)?

No. Bear in mind that a fair bit of snow fell yesterday
in places and you could come out Bloody Cold if you
were relying on a 5 degree rated bag and sleep cold to
start with...

Maybe, but I'm in Wales remember and I doubt there was any
snow down here.

Quoted message said:

It'll depend on the weather. I've been valley camping at
Easter at -7C, and wandering around in midwinter in T
shirts. You can't take UK weather by "seasons", it just
doesn't work!

No, but they are a useful guide.

Paul
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In article <[email hidden]>, Paul
Saunders <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I use a Dewline, which has no zip. It's okay, if it's too
warm just roll it down. Not as handy as a zip, but OTOH
it weighs and bulks less that way.

Maybe, but I've decided that I do want a zip, a half zip
would be ideal.

It seems that the current Dewline has a zip. I have seen
quotes of 650g and no zip and current offerings of 730g and
mentions of a zip baffle...

--

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The message <[email hidden]>
from Fran <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

Are you very supple? What's it like getting in and out of
a zipless bag? I'm not sure I could manage.

I have never had any problems even in the confined space of
a 1 man tent. You do however need to be able to support
yourself (for a limited period) on heels and shoulders with
your backside off the ground.

In a hut situation or a large tent it is usually much
easier. Just get into the sleeping bag while standing
upright. (But make sure you don't have a top bunk. Once
enveloped climbing is very difficult.)

--
Roger Chapman so far this year 34 summits New - 18 (Marilyns
6, Sweats 1, Outlying Fells 11) Repeats - 16( Marilyns 5,
Sweats 11, Wainwrights 11) Knackered knee - 4 times