I have entered the Spring event - can someone advise me on a suitable sleeping bag ? I have bought a Colman Bamsusa which is comfortable at 5 degrees but will go down to 0 is this sufficient ?, will the addition of a liner be enough to upgrade it.
As usual it is a compromise over weight/size/cost, but who wants to freeze ?

Lots of us have been kipping in inadequate sleeping bags for years because we've made the compromise in favour of weight. You can improve things slightly if you keep all your kit on (although you might have to wait for it to dry out a bit, especially if you have a down bag - one good reason not to use your full length leggings on day one at least so they stay dry. Because my feet suffer from Rainards (if that's how you spell it)I sometimes allow myself the luxury of a pair of dry socks to put on, and if it is freezing, a couple of heat pads to put in them over night. Putting your foil bivi-bag over the top of the lot helps too.

Anticipating GrahamL's response...

"Eeh bah gum, sleeping bags, bloody luxury. When I were a lad we used to sleep in't lake."

Sorry Keith,

I've probably just hijacked your perfectly reasonable thread. Please carry on everyone, on the subject of sleeping arrangements only.

Jon,
I am impressed with your response (being a webb neaderthal man - is that how you spell it ? ) the truth is out their.
Thanks for the tips - I will endeavour to keep my sleeping bag as light as possible but supplement this with kit I will/may wear at night or the next day.
Being a geordie my blood is thicker anyway.

Keith, I don't know if it's of any use to you but I was up camping in the Langdales on the weekend before New Year and it was !!^%*^ freezin'!
After the first night freezing my nuts off I could here my mother saying "don't forget to wear your hat!" Next night I wore it - it works on the hill and in the sac! Don't forget that most of your heat is lost through the grey matter.The chances are you'll have a hat with you so there won't be any compromise in weight.

Cheers lads,
Sad git that I am I have used excel to filter through the sleeping bag data in the Cotswold Outdoor Leisure mag and narrowed it down to three bags.
Robens down excellent �90.00 1.1 kg comfort -5
Mt Equipment Firewalker 1 ( Nylon) �60.00 1.23kg Comfort -3
Mt Equipment Firewalker 2 (nylon) �70 1.42kg comfort -7
Now I just need to surf the web for a cheaper price ?

Now that it has been established that it can be cold at overnight camp and it is a good idea to wear all of your kit I will stop getting those ill-informed whinges about the need to carry a warm layer.

EEE BY Gum sleeping bags and tents, luxury
We used to use an old carpet and a cardboard box on the early KIMM events.

Right Graham,so why are tents and sleeping bags on the equipment list then?

Easy
Cos we say so

Coz not all of us are tough northeners [No and some of us know where the South Downs are too. Polarises grasp of topographical features south of the Wash has often proved wanting]

Macpac Pinnacle is v light and warm - its just got no bottom in it, so you need a carry mat too - but then I've always taken one so no hardship.

I'll have matching kit to you then Jon (at least for tent and bag). They are a bit pricey, but very snug - I was actually too warm in mine on the Exmoor event. Of course we're all used to having 2 people in a tiny little tent, so it's going to feel a bit colder than usual for us solos this time.

Which gives me an idea.... see other thread

KC - I'd definetely go for down, lighter & compacts much smaller than synthetic.

At that price range Vango do some down bags, think they're called Ultra 150, 250, 300, 400? I managed to got the 300 from a Cotswold Sale a couple of yrs ago for �40.

Other than that, try Field & Trek, they have they're home brand label - Rolling Clouds, should be at a decent price.

Lloyd,
Thanks for that I have narrowed it down to the Vango Venom 300 at �90, but I maybe able to get it for �76 if I can convience a certian retailer to match the pre VAT price !
I will try Field and Trek as well , thanks

The heavier Mountain Equipment bag just got top billing in the new 'Trail'

Sorry to butt in Guys! I used a ME sleepwalker ultralight in the KIMM 2001 and it just about did the job. The air temp was around 3-4 degrees due to no cloud cover. I had to wear day 2 clothing (but if you've got to carry it why not wear it and use a lighter bag!) plus an ME Polarguard Vest. We were in a Sup'Air Tent; if you have a double skin tent you can expect to be up to 5 degrees warmer, either way a decent groundpad is esential.My partner had a PHD minimus bag; an excellent option if you can afford it.

Does anyone have a view on the RAB Elite top Bag which has no down on the underside just mesh. It is rated to 0C and only 550g. It has not been mentioned in the thread but seems reasonable value . Any comments from anyone who has used one ?

The Top Bag is good, I 've added velcro to the inside of the mesh underside and to my karrimat. Having the karrimat inside the bag is better and the velcro stops the mesh from being fully exposed when you turn over during the night. It's not fully mesh on the underside, you've got a bucket for your feet so they stay warm. It's light and packs down very well.

also try the minimus
www.phdesigns.co.uk

495g!

At the last Polaris, they were selling the "Blizzard Packs" which are foil sleeping bags that come vacuum packed to the size of a video cassette and weigh 300g. I dismissed them at the time as being unlikely to be much good and probably terrible for condensation!
Well - I have just returned from a trip to Skye where we did the main ridge traverse including an overnight bivvy in a cave at 3000' and, as a last minute move, sent off for one of these bags. Overnight temperature was around freezing and I had no mat - just the bag laid straight on to the compacted mud and stone floor of the cave which was open to the air.
I have to say that I was totally amazed. Whilst my companions shivered the night away tucked into waterproof bottoms and rucksack liners I had a great night's sleep and woke up toasty warm - and without a trace of condensation!
The only drawback was the deafening racket every time I moved around in the bag - like a thousand crisp packets being scrunched about.
So - would I use one on a Polaris?
As a team member I think they might be just too noisy but as a solo I would definitely consider it as a major advantage in weight and pack size. Note that, once used, you will be lucky to pack it back down to 4 or 5 times it's original size - but it does come with a stuff sac that is large enough to take it in it's unpacked state.

I asked a solo competitor what he thought of them when I was doing the kit check. I think it was safe to say that 'it'll do' but I don't think he was that impressed. Perhaps if he reads this he may make a contribution.

Graham the deafening noise of the foil would not in any way inconvenience your partner as your snoring would have kept them awake anyway!

Jerry - In which case, I can recommend the foil bags as an excellent smokescreen for masking other sounds at a Polaris campsite - such as the cacophany of belching, farting, grunting etc, etc. Come to think of it, I could use one at home!

What about the sounds of procreation? They couldn't have been taking the event seriously.