Carinthia sleeping bags - other options?

[deejayen]

I'm thinking about buying a new sleeping bag for general winter use - sleeping in an unheated room in northern Scotland.

I've got a few sleeping bags already, including an expedition PHD, Western Mountaineering Summerlite, an old MacPac Neve, and lightweight Buffalo bag. I think I'm a cold sleeper. 6ft tall and quite slim - side sleeper.

I'm probably less concerned about weight and packed bulk for this bag, and I can't justify a warmer Western Mountaineering or equivalent. Prices seem to have increased significantly since I last looked at sleeping bags.

I'm considering the Carinthia Defence 4. I just wondered if anyone had experience of these, and if it's going to be false economy, in which case I might look at a down bag.

It's always a tricky business buying a sleeping bag - it's hard to get one which is just right for a range of conditions. I've been layering-up some bags, but that's less convenient\comfortable.

 

[Mole]

Do you have to carry it?
Backpacking I mean. Is it just vehicle based travel.?

If the latter, I'd just consider a big old synthetic.
Even something like a British army surplus Arctic bag. I certainly wouldn't spend lots of money on it.

Obviously if you have to carry it it's different and you want something lighter and more. Packable.

 

[deejayen]

No, although at some point I may use it for cycle touring (strap it to the rear rack of a bicycle).

 

[Jww]

Sierra Designs Nitro 800 0 Degree Down Sleeping Bag (Regular/Long) | eBay

A draft collar seals in the heat when moving around, and sidewall baffles prevent the down from shifting and causing cold spots, but our patented self-sealing foot vent provides relief to hot sleepers without the need to kick off the covers.

www.ebay.co.uk

that any good for you?

 

[BogTrotter]

Buying a Corinthian might be a ‘one trick pony’. I have some similar bags but usually only loan them out to family if bivvying. They’re really quite bulky and weighty so those aspects rule them out for more general use.

If you have occasions to be car camping then one could be a useful addition.

 

[Run_Hike_Meat_Repeat]

Have you tried altering your pre bed routine? food? drink? Excercise... star jumps, press ups? wearing less clothes? no clothes? more clothes? emptying bladder?Warmer mat/pad?
There's a few avenues can be taken before spending money on another bag.
Hope you find your baby bears cot

 

[Alfie]

If sleeping in my unheated van I use British Army Artic bag, very toasty and plenty of room.

For winter backpacking/snow holeing I have a Mountain Equipment Glacier 500 bag.

 

[deejayen]

So, it might be worth paying a bit more for something which could be used more generally...

I've also seen some other sleeping bags such as a Nemo, Nordisk or Big Agnes which are supposed to be designed for side sleepers. Has anyone tried this style of bag? My Buffalo bag is extremely tight around the feet - I think it's designed for back sleepers with toes pointing upwards - there's not enough room to have feet pointing sideways. The WM bag is slightly roomier, but if I bring my knees up then the down gets compressed - the inner is pressed against the outer.

 

[Jww]

have a look at the sierra design bag i linked or, the thermarest questar 650fill are very generous in size

 

[deejayen]

Have you tried altering your pre bed routine? food? drink? Excercise... star jumps, press ups? wearing less clothes? no clothes? more clothes? emptying bladder?Warmer mat/pad?
There's a few avenues can be taken before spending money on another bag.
Hope you find your baby bears cot

Yes, some of that would help. Getting feet warm helped a lot. I've found a 'system' which is cosy enough, but it's a bit of a faff - base layer, Buffalo Teclite top, woolly hat, Buffalo sleeping bag, Macpac down bag on top (it's a bit like a quilt with a foot box as there's no down on the bottom and the zip has broken) and a Rumpl synthetic quilt inserted between the two sleeping bags. I was thinking a single sleeping bag would just make life easier!

 

[deejayen]

have a look at the sierra design bag i linked or, the thermarest questar 650fill are very generous in size

Thanks, Jake. Will do. Sierra Design also make an unusual bag with some sort of curved flap around the shoulders - have you tried\seen that one? It might be called a "Cloud".

 

[Jww]

not tried that one, ive stuck to the normal bags, they get good reports however, but not sure for colder months,

im 5'9 14st wear xl and i can wriggle round in the sierra, if your close to bacup you can come have a try in one, i have 3 haha

the newset for winter is the 0 degree bag 820 g of 800 fill down

 

[deejayen]

Thanks, Jake! I'm not near Bacup though.

Another one I noticed was the Gruezi BioPod DownWool Ice, but again it's a bit of an unknown.

 

[BogTrotter]

You’re knocking out a decent budget with the Gruezi. How much are you wanting to spend ?

 

[deejayen]

You’re knocking out a decent budget with the Gruezi. How much are you wanting to spend ?

Yes, it's a lot more than I was originally thinking, which was about £150 - £200.

I'm still thinking the Carinthia might be worth a punt. There's even the Defence 1, but they only show the Comfort Limit temperature rating for that one, and I think it might not be quite warm enough on its own.

The Defence 4 is:-

Com. F Limit: -8.8 C (female?)
Com. Limit: -15C (male?)
Extreme: -35C

The Defence 1 Top is:-
Com. Limit: +4C (male?)
Extreme: -10C

 

[JRT]

Thanks, Jake. Will do. Sierra Design also make an unusual bag with some sort of curved flap around the shoulders - have you tried\seen that one? It might be called a "Cloud".

I've got a Cloud 35 and IMO it's almost perfect. I like everything about it - especially the vent to stick your feet out when it gets too hot. They're not for everyone, but if you sleep on your left side it's worth considering.

 

[Teepee]

For long term use, Wiggy's are worth a look. Very well made and comfy. Accurately rated as well.

They aren't light as they;re Climashield Combat but they are a cut above to sleep in. The quick release zip is a great touch.

 

[deejayen]

Thanks! I sleep on both left and right sides, so perhaps the Cloud wouldn't work for me.

Wiggys seem to be an American brand - are they available in the UK?

 

[One L]

Probably not on your radar and pretty expensive but Ray Mears Woodlore shop have a couple of synthetic winter bags.

 

[Jww]

Saros 0 Synthetic Sleeping Bag

Thermarest Saros 0 Synthetic Sleeping Bag available from Ultralight Outdoor Gear with FREE UK+EU Delivery, in-depth reviews, full specs & helpful advice.

ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk

i may have one of those at home, mrs sleeping bag, cant remember which i bought

 

[Jww]

its the 20

Saros 20 Synthetic Sleeping Bag

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