Bushwalk Australia

Currently shopping for a sleeping bag for my girlfriend who will be coming with me to the prom this november (and other trips in the future). I'm after something in the <$250 range that can handle down to 0 degrees and is packable for multi day trips. I've had a look at the one planet camplite 0 ($250) and the kathmandu columbus ($219). Can anyone recommend another competitive sleeping bag or have any experience with the ones I mentioned?

http://www.oneplanet.com.au/bush-walkin ... limit.html
http://www.kathmandu.com.au/sleeping-ge ... l?___SID=U

Cheers, Billy.

Marmot Hydrogen could be a strong contender too?

http://www.velogear.com.au/outdoors/cam ... g-bag.html

Posting about the same bag twice in one day! The oland down bag from velo gear weighs in at 800 ish grams and has kept me warm down to zero in base and mid layers. Down to 5 in just longs and long sleeve t-shirts. It's not as light, poofy or packable as the katabatic quilt I replaced it with, but for $100 it has done me for nearly two years, and I really only replaced it because I get lost in the hood!

Strider wrote:Marmot Hydrogen could be a strong contender too?

That one seems a little pricey unless I find it on sale.

Julies wrote:http://www.velogear.com.au/outdoors/camping/sleeping-bags/oland-down-sleeping-bag.html

Posting about the same bag twice in one day! The oland down bag from velo gear weighs in at 800 ish grams and has kept me warm down to zero in base and mid layers. Down to 5 in just longs and long sleeve t-shirts. It's not as light, poofy or packable as the katabatic quilt I replaced it with, but for $100 it has done me for nearly two years, and I really only replaced it because I get lost in the hood!

Thanks i'll keep that one in mind

kyubi wrote:

Strider wrote:Marmot Hydrogen could be a strong contender too?

That one seems a little pricey unless I find it on sale.

Sorry I should have mentioned that. 20% off sales are relatively common with Marmot gear.

Strider wrote:

kyubi wrote:

Strider wrote:Marmot Hydrogen could be a strong contender too?

That one seems a little pricey unless I find it on sale.

Sorry I should have mentioned that. 20% off sales are relatively common with Marmot gear.

Yeh I factored that in too. I'm considering that the top contender at the moment actually, it seems pretty high quality for the price.

I haven't found the hydrogen on 20% sale yet but this one looks ok, opinions (is 15 farenheit too warm of a bag)?
http://www.backcountry.com/marmot-xenon ... 1b2166c62d

thats -9C
you could do a lot worse.... its pretty much a cold season bag. be good in winter late autumn and early spring. , you just wont have to have it done up unless you're a cold sleeper.... if you're a hot sleeper it could be overkill....

if its for you make sure its long enough since its a womens bag it will be shorter than a normal mens bag...

wayno wrote:thats -9C
you could do a lot worse.... its pretty much a cold season bag. be good in winter late autumn and early spring. , you just wont have to have it done up unless you're a cold sleeper.... if you're a hot sleeper it could be overkill....

if its for you make sure its long enough since its a womens bag it will be shorter than a normal mens bag...

That's what I figured, its for the mrs.

marmot make good bags... certainly a lot worse brands out there... they make some of the best bags from the mainstream bulk manufacturers..

I can +1 the quality of marmot bags. I'm at over 150 nights in mine and have had no signs of age or problems.

Literally purchased a Katmandu columbus V6 for my girl this week - On one of katmandu's silly specials down to an acceptable price for their product. Our use will be car camping so pack size is no real issue, but it's fairly square, folds out for the hotter nights. It compresses down far smaller than I was expecting, extra small if you got the right compression sack.

Quality is pretty reasonable, size and weight at the price is very good. Hasn't suffered any more than a night laid out as a quilt on our bed as yet

Aldi had down bags for $80 a little while back . cant remember temp rating off the top of my head but are quite light and warm .They also pack as small as any of my good quality bags .
Havnt had a problem yet and the price was right

i wouldnt try and mention aldu's $80 bag with a marmot bag, when push comes to shove the marmot will be far superior in really cold conditions

wayno wrote:i wouldnt try and mention aldu's $80 bag with a marmot bag, when push comes to shove the marmot will be far superior in really cold conditions

Im Well aware of this . I missed the ( and other trips in the future bit) ..
I wasn't comparing it to the other bags but was putting it as a budget option that will easily handle down to 0 degrees . An a cheap option for someone who isnt sure if this person will use it again .

Julies wrote:http://www.velogear.com.au/outdoors/camping/sleeping-bags/oland-down-sleeping-bag.html

Posting about the same bag twice in one day! The oland down bag from velo gear weighs in at 800 ish grams and has kept me warm down to zero in base and mid layers. Down to 5 in just longs and long sleeve t-shirts. It's not as light, poofy or packable as the katabatic quilt I replaced it with, but for $100 it has done me for nearly two years, and I really only replaced it because I get lost in the hood!

Always interested in when people rate the bag they have and state it weights 800g but then have to wear a base layer and mid-layer why their weight is not factored into the weight of the bag as you need to carry them also if it's going to be cold. I have a bag that weighs and cost a lot more than these but only wear a marino layer just so I don't sleep nude lol. I have been at -5 in my bag and still warm and I'm a cold sleeper.

a lighter bag and clothes gives more flexibility, you can use the clothes around the camp anyway, if you're already bringing the clothes regardless for keeping warm outside of the bag then the weight of those clothes doesnt count.

wildernesswanderer wrote:
Always interested in when people rate the bag they have and state it weights 800g but then have to wear a base layer and mid-layer why their weight is not factored into the weight of the bag as you need to carry them also if it's going to be cold. I have a bag that weighs and cost a lot more than these but only wear a marino layer just so I don't sleep nude lol. I have been at -5 in my bag and still warm and I'm a cold sleeper.

Hmmm... Weighs and costs more! I don't count the weight of the clothes because I wear them anyway. The Oland is not a bag I would rate as "awesome", but it was a great option on the cost / weight / warmth scale. My Katabatic quilt I would rate as awesome, but in no way does it come in as a budget for beginners option.

Sure it's easy not to count the weight if your sleeping in the same gear you walk in..... but really I prefer to change into something to sleep in, clean base layer so it keeps the bag clean as well. All the dirt, dust on clothes you wear to hike or around camp can't be good for the bag either.

noodle07 wrote:

wayno wrote:i wouldnt try and mention aldu's $80 bag with a marmot bag, when push comes to shove the marmot will be far superior in really cold conditions

Im Well aware of this . I missed the ( and other trips in the future bit) ..
I wasn't comparing it to the other bags but was putting it as a budget option that will easily handle down to 0 degrees . An a cheap option for someone who isnt sure if this person will use it again .

Agree, for a BUDGET bag it is very good.
Filled with 600g Grey Duck Down (80% Down, 20% Feather)
Outer Shell: 100% Ripstop Polyamide with water repellent coating and YKK zippers
Lining: 100% Polyester
Weight: 1.2kg
Size: 225 x 80/50cm
Temp rating -2.5 /-18

Not bad for $100.00 on a BUDGET..............

Merits of the aldi bag are limited but within those limitations our local aldi now has them for $50!
I have a good old bag and have noticed I'm getting colder over the years. Last year for snowshoeing took an aldi bag as a doona with the older bag and warm as toast. Weight not an issue as had a pulk.
I just bought another aldi for $50- going to try and get the down out and stuff my old (PP) one full! Just seemed easier and same cost as buying he down.

Robatman wrote:Merits of the aldi bag are limited but within those limitations our local aldi now has them for $50!
I have a good old bag and have noticed I'm getting colder over the years. Last year for snowshoeing took an aldi bag as a doona with the older bag and warm as toast. Weight not an issue as had a pulk.
I just bought another aldi for $50- going to try and get the down out and stuff my old (PP) one full! Just seemed easier and same cost as buying he down.

$50.00

Great idea mate. Let us know how it goes.

I've ended up going for a mountain equipment phantasia 32 for $265US. Info I read tells me It's warmer, lighter and packs smaller than my marmot plasma 30.. can't go wrong I guess. The color is nice too so my girlfriend should be pleased

http://www.backcountry.com/mountain-har ... WdzOjA6MjY Looks like I got the last regular size too!

kyubi wrote:Currently shopping for a sleeping bag for my girlfriend who will be coming with me to the prom this november (and other trips in the future). I'm after something in the <$250 range that can handle down to 0 degrees and is packable for multi day trips. I've had a look at the one planet camplite 0 ($250) and the kathmandu columbus ($219). Can anyone recommend another competitive sleeping bag or have any experience with the ones I mentioned?

http://www.oneplanet.com.au/bush-walkin ... limit.html
http://www.kathmandu.com.au/sleeping-ge ... l?___SID=U

Cheers, Billy.

Hi Billy
If you're GF doesn't mind cocoon style bags (no zip together - no snuggling), have a look at Vango bags on ebay. I highly recommend them for value/quality. They are definitely cheaper than the prices you quoted.
Do be skeptical of the rated temperatures though as they tend to use minimum comfort temps which make them rate rather higher than is truthful.
I find my Vango Viper 750 (approx 1200g carry weight) is too hot at temps above about 8C min (naked) but I'm a hot sleeper. I've slept in it comfortably to about -3C semi-clothed and suspect it would do -5 to -10 with clothes or liner.
They are definitely good value and I recently bought another thinner Vango (800g) for shoulder season hikes above about 8C because the value and quality was impressive.

In case you're thinking of adding one of the new super-thermal liners to a thin sleeping bag - don't bother. Divide the promised temp rating change by half an order of magnitude. Nothing beats a good bag so far!

Let us know what you choose and how it goes.
cheers
Steve

kyubi wrote:I've ended up going for a mountain equipment phantasia 32 for $265US. Info I read tells me It's warmer, lighter and packs smaller than my marmot plasma 30.. can't go wrong I guess. The color is nice too so my girlfriend should be pleased

http://www.backcountry.com/mountain-har ... WdzOjA6MjY Looks like I got the last regular size too!

that bag is rated for 0C it shouldnt be warmer, but it's the rating you were after originally and as you say lighter and more packable, mountain equipment make good gear...

wayno wrote:

kyubi wrote:I've ended up going for a mountain equipment phantasia 32 for $265US. Info I read tells me It's warmer, lighter and packs smaller than my marmot plasma 30.. can't go wrong I guess. The color is nice too so my girlfriend should be pleased

http://www.backcountry.com/mountain-har ... WdzOjA6MjY Looks like I got the last regular size too!

that bag is rated for 0C it shouldnt be warmer, but it's the rating you were after originally and as you say lighter and more packable, mountain equipment make good gear...

I got the idea it was warmer from the 'European norm comfort rating' listed on backcountry.com and comparing it to the plasma on the same site. Either way though I'm sure it will do just fine, I slept in my plasma down to 0 and it was great.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

sounds good then, you did your homework and got a good bag.... should keep you out of the divorce courts for a while at least....

wayno wrote:sounds good then, you did your homework and got a good bag.... should keep you out of the divorce courts for a while at least....