WHAT SLEEPING BAG
So what is the best choice of sleeping bag you can put in your rucksack?
The bad news is that there are so many sleeping bags to choose from:-
Big ones, small ones, fat ones and thin ones etc etc and thats just to start with.
What about the season rating, and does it really matter that much?
Then natural or synthetic, but thats just the fillings, what about the inner and the outer skins, Nylon or cotton, then do you buy the nice shiny new one or do you find a military surplus store?
These are just a few of the things you need to think about.
Have a think about it, there is more to come on this subject in the near future!!
Well here they are folks, four of my families sleeping bags.
Top to bottom
British Army 58 pattern (Mummy)
Expedition 2 season (Mummy)
Kids size (Mummy)
British Army Jungle/Tropical (Non Mummy)
The good old British Army 58 pattern sleeping bag, the name comes from the year of design (19)58. You can get these from surplus outlets at a reasonable price, available in S,M,Long and Extra Long.
The base of the bag has a built in ground sheet, the inner and upper outer are nylon fabric with a feather/down filling.
The center zip makes this an ideal base camp sleeping bag, also making it easier to get in and out off, these bags were also designed so that the occupier could sleep in it with their clothes on, a necessity if in the combat zone.
Can also be used in conjuction with the 58 pattern poncho cape used as a basha (see shelters).
A bulky sleeping bag that rolls up into its own hood, not ideal these days for light-weight back-packing as this bag is quite heavy and as there is no compression bag it stays bulky.
The Expedition 2 sleeping bag2,was available from Millets Stores a few years back, but wait for the January sales! this one was reduced from £120:00 to £60:00.
Nylon inner shell and the same for the outer shell with a feather and down filling.
This bag needs a ground sheet and if possible a closed cell sleeping mat or self inflating mat.
It has a baffle at the shoulders to help keep body heat in and to stop exhailed air from getting into the bag causing condensation. The hood draws around the face so that the head is kept warm in all climates. side entry zip so if you can get two identical bags with opposite zippers they could be joined together to make a double bag.
Packs away into its own bag which doubles as a compression sack, which helps reduce it bulk and can be easily packed into your ruck-sack, good for all year round use, even Autumn and Winter. A bit expensive by todays standards, but well worth it if you can afford it.
MORE TO FOLLOW, its getting late and its time to shut down for tonight.
bravenet.com