Sleeping bag for teenager in Peru

[settle]

Hello, first post and looking for some help.....

My 14yr son is spending his school summer holiday in Peru this year, in mixture of locations and quite a bit of trekking. Highest is about 3500m and about 0c at night in July, we have done camping in the UK but he's never done anything like this. He has to carry his clothes, sleeping bag and personal equipment etc, but they have guides who will the carry tents and cooking equipment and supplies.

We went to Go Outdoors today to look at sleeping bags and get an idea of size and style, he is 5ft10 at the moment so likely to end up a bit taller than this. He laid on the floor in most that they had to offer and liked the space and shape of a Oex Fathom EV 300 the best and it also seemed an okay size when compressed.

Oex Fathom EV 300 Sleeping Bag | GO Outdoors

Perfect for three-season camping, the latest edition of the OEX Fathom EV 300 is filled with premium synthetic insulation and features a freshly updated design.

www.gooutdoors.co.uk

I'm happy to spend a bit more on a sleeping bag but probably only about £200, as you can imagine its all already been an expensive year. I'm also wondering about the 1c comfort rating of the bag is enough or true, however he doesn't really feel the cold and wears shorts all year round, to the extent that he doesn't actually own any trousers! He was some thermals to wear at night and will be in a shared tent with other kids his age.

I have spent the last 6 or so hours reading reviews and comments but would really appreciate any suggestions for a bag? I'm out of my comfort zone with this and don't want to get it wrong!

 

[JRT]

The OEX bag above will likely be fine for a warm-sleeping teenage boy wearing thermals at outside temperatures down to 0°C. It'll be warmer in a tent with his pals. Equally important is an insulated sleeping pad underneath. A 12mm closed cell foam mat may suffice at his age, when comfort doesn't seem to be a big issue and durability is important. If you can trust him to look after stuff, then an inflatable foam filled mat (Robens do some that are a reasonable balance of price, weight and warmth) will offer more comfort - but if he damages it then he may struggle on the cold ground.

I presume he'll have a fleece jacket he can wear in bed if he does start to feel a bit chilly.

Has the school or trip organiser provided a recommended kit list?

 

[cathyjc]

Having trekked in Bolivia at height in July I'd say he could easily encounter temperatures at night a lot lower than 0c.
We camped at over 4000m and the temp dropped to -15c. OK that is higher than your son is going but even so 0c seems a bit optimistic to me.

Also the sleeping mat is important. The ones supplied by the trekking Co.were poor.
I took my own and was very glad I had - used on top of the one supplied.

 

[settle]

Thanks both. We have a basic list from the school that states a 3/4 season sleeping bag but not much more than that, we have a meeting with them in a couple of weeks so will hopefully get a bit more infomation and can question it. The orginal plan had been to go to Ecuador but it has been changed so waiting for some updated documents.

I'll have a look for a sleeping mat too, the Robens air ones look good, I think he will get more use out of any equipment that just this one trip, has DofE next year, so think it's a good investment, he's quite a sensible chap.

I'm wondering if a -10c comfort bag would be a safer bet just concerned how large and heavy they become if synthetic, can you get down bags that are also fairly water resistance?

Alpkit seems to get good reviews and have shops so can go and try some out some of their sleeping bags for size.

 

[Franky]

Thanks both. We have a basic list from the school that states a 3/4 season sleeping bag but not much more than that, we have a meeting with them in a couple of weeks so will hopefully get a bit more infomation and can question it. The orginal plan had been to go to Ecuador but it has been changed so waiting for some updated documents.

I'll have a look for a sleeping mat too, the Robens air ones look good, I think he will get more use out of any equipment that just this one trip, has DofE next year, so think it's a good investment, he's quite a sensible chap.

I'm wondering if a -10c comfort bag would be a safer bet just concerned how large and heavy they become if synthetic, can you get down bags that are also fairly water resistance?

Alpkit seems to get good reviews and have shops so can go and try some out some of their sleeping bags for size.

Go to Alpkit
They have a sale atm
Make sure you get a good insulated camping mat.. not one that’s only air!!!
It will get very cold at night if it’s at 3,500mts. Even tho July is THE trekking/climbing high season it’s Winter there ( South of equator and opposite to our seasons)
The nights will be long and dark
A good torch needed and wrap up batteries and phones to prevent going flat
Drink lots of fluids
Don’t go to bed on an empty stonach
Don’t hold onto a full bladder cos you will feel colder and colder….!!

 

[Jaco]

-I'm wondering if a -10c comfort bag would be a safer bet just concerned how large and heavy they become if synthetic, can you get down bags that are also fairly water resistance?

June is right in the middle of the dry season. It's very unlikely to rain and the humidity is low on the desert coast and at high altitude. I'd take a down bag (again) without thinking at all about its water resistance.

I'm not familiar with synthetic bags but the claimed -5°C limit would be marginal for me. As Cathy says, it gets cold at altitude. I remember plenty of frosty nights camping high (3-5k), but check the typical temperatures for the areas he'll be in.

It's an amazing opportunity for a youngster - South America gets into the bloodstream and he'll have a blast.