Bushwalk Australia

Hi there,

I'm hoping for some help with finding a new sleeping bag. It's not for bushwalking per se (as in carrying it to do overnight hikes) but rather for regular camping (from where I do the bushwalking )

I'm having some trouble as all the sleeping bags I have seen around in shops (like Bogong, Paddy Pallin etc. here in Melbourne) are the cocoon shaped ones.

What I'd like is:

• regular, old school rectangle shape
• not too expensive (some of the cocoon ones are $500+, that might be abit much for me!)
• no hood
• 2 can be zipped together to make a double sleeping bag

Also it doesn't have to be super warm, I don't plan on going to really cold climates like snow, and like I said, it doesn't have to be super lightweight or compact as it's not for overnight hiking but lighter/more compact is still good

Thanks so much for any ideas or suggestions if you know of any sleeping bags like what I'm after.

G'day, would that be female platypus?

All except the for the 2 bags that can be joined together - you could get a very much cheaper bag second hand that has been well looked after.

Or have you tried the scout shops / Rays Outdoors etc? You might do better there than at a more 'specialist' outdoor shop.

Thanks for your reply, and yes that would be a female platypus (in Italian, although, technically the word doesn't exist )

I did look some time ago at Aussie Disposals but I think they only had one kind of rectangle one and that had a hood so the guy said you can buy two and join them together but one person would get a hood in their face :S I haven't tried Ray's Outdoors though, thanks for the suggestion.

ornitorinca wrote: in Italian, although, technically the word doesn't exist

I have many such words!

Wayno's liink looks interesting. There'd be lots of places in Vic that I'd be wanting a warmer bag, though. They'd be excellent for flat lands in summer, i reckon.

I built these bags with your purpose in mind, roomy size, versatile and great value because they use a combination of down and good quality synthetic fill. They have a hood but they come in left and right zips so they zip together side by side. Called BlackWolf Hybrid Comfort, two warmth options, link below:

http://www.blackwolf.com.au/product/Hyb ... ategory/23

Have a look at the Roman Gemini - the two bags can zip together to form a double, each one can be opened up like a quilt or blanket, and it's designed that the two can fit inside each other for extra warmth for a single sleeper.
http://www.kellyscamping.com.au/p/11659 ... -twin.html
$119 - remember it's potentially two bags

Pair it with a double self inflating mattress. Approx $120 - shop around
http://www.kellyscamping.com.au/p/97344 ... g-mat.html
Or a queen self inflating (we got this for our OzTent RV5 on a queen camp stretcher (splits to two singles) - warning - it's pretty big! 12 cm thickness) $229
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/OZTRAIL-ROYA ... 2a2a274e1e
DO NOT get an air mattress. You will regret it.


Other suitable ones might be the Coleman Pilbarra range designed for swags - cotton outer, with removable flannel liner. Comes in 3 different temp ranges 5 deg C, 0 and -3.
This one is $80. Kelly's can have it to you in a couple of days
http://www.kellyscamping.com.au/p/97346 ... ra-0c.html
Add a fleece liner for extra snuggliness. $25
http://www.kellyscamping.com.au/p/46793 ... liner.html
Or others on e-bay (they may be cheaper, but post takes for ever from Hong Kong and the stuff sacks are complete crap)

This is what our kids have for their canvas domed swags for scouts. They use conventional mummy lightweight bags (different summer and winter ones) when they backpack in, but most of their camping is vehicle based.

Wild Earth have a good range of this type of bag too. Their service and postage is very good too.

So we're talking car camping? Take a doona...

Strider wrote:So we're talking car camping? Take a doona...

Read the book 'Camping In Style' by Angela Armstrong and Stephen Rado
Sometimes she does bring the doona

(PS he used to be a Nepal trekking, Antarctica slogging type of guy - until he met his wife and realised he'd have to chnage his ways if he wanted her to go away with him)

Thanks so much for all your replies! And yes we have taken a doona in the past but now really trying to cut down on how much space our bedding takes up, which with the very old hand-me-down down sleeping bag we're currently using is most of the back seats of the car!

I like the look of the Gemini Roman Twin, and thanks for the mattress recommendation too, Onestepmore. Will look into both this coming week!