Bags and sliding off the mat.

[Jamess]

I've been using quilts for years but recently picked up a hoodless bag to try, largely to use unzipped because, as wriggly side sleeper, I can end up with draughts which the extra width of a hoodless bag should mitigate.

In the interests of experimentation, I tried using it as a bag and found myself repeatedly sliding off my mummy shaped mat. So much so that that night I went back to using it as a quilt.

Can I ask bag users what you do to stop that happening?

I know you shouldn't admit to such things on treklite but hoodless bags seem to offer more flexibility for a little extra weight, so it's an experiment I will persist with for a bit.

 

[Taz38]

Silicon dots on your mat.

 

[cuprajake]

Why I've stuck with thermarest and sierra design bags, you can have pad straps with them, they stop you slipping.

Only real choice is to silicone your pad.

 

[Jamess]

Silicon dots on your mat.

I was hoping to avoid this. I have silicon dots on the base of the mat to stop it slipping on the inner floor but I really don't want silicon on the top - unpleasant when I use it with a quilt - most of the time.

 

[WilliamC]

It might be more weight than you want to add, and I can't guarantee that it will work, but I'll put it up here anyway: Thermarest Synergy sheet?

 

[Jamess]

Thanks @WilliamC

I can see an MYOG project coming on with a bit of coarse, non-absorbent fabric and a bit of elastic. Similar idea but a whole lot cheaper.

 

[JRT]

The Sierra Designs Cloud sleeping bag has a sleeve that goes over the pad to hold the bag in place. It's a hybrid quilt / bag that solves both the draught and slipping problems you described.

The Cloud gets mixed reviews online, but for my part I've found it to be the most comfortable and livable bag I've ever owned.

 

[Robert P]

The Sierra Designs Cloud sleeping bag has a sleeve that goes over the pad to hold the bag in place. It's a hybrid quilt / bag that solves both the draught and slipping problems you described.

The Cloud gets mixed reviews online, but for my part I've found it to be the most comfortable and livable bag I've ever owned.

This seems a good idea, but I've now realised a potential issue for me. I often get into my sleeping bag after setting up the tent, particularly winter, and use the stove for my evening meal and breakfast while in the sleeping bag. With the pad attached to the bag like this, would that mean that if you sit up the pad would need to fold up too, or that it would be difficult to push the bag down to waist level, for example?

 

[cuprajake]

For me the thermarest bags have a nicer feeling to them, the SD leak more feathers, they have loops on the back and I use elastic straps to tie to the pad.

Sitting up I'd think you may struggle. Esp with the cloud version

 

[JRT]

Yeah you would struggle to sit up in the Cloud bag while it was attached to a sleeping mat. You'd have to disengage it from the mat for a bit.

Conversely, the flap where you stick your feet out is quite useful if you use the bag outside the tent, while star gazing for example.