camping in winter?

[Krtek]

don't wanta pull this thread off its purpose of winter camping and onto africa

Woops. Sorry.

[Jenna]

lol not your fault... as usual me thinking out loud (or not thinking) before posting!!!, plus its law in here that any thread must be hijacked at least 20 times before it gets left alone by the med'lin mods!!!

[RainMan]

OK, now that the thread had been hijacked for African camping, I will be camping in the Sahara in January, can any of you guys that seem to have experience with this, offer some advice on what kind of kit I should bring ?.

[Krtek]

I will be camping in the Sahara in January, can any of you guys that seem to have experience with this, offer some advice on what kind of kit I should bring ?.

Nope, I only know about camping in the Sahara during summer :-X

[Rubberchicken]

also be interested in anyones views on the colman 'exponent' range who is hands on with camping gear ( lol i'm not into cold and wet!!!).....

Not to claim any real hard experience here, but I've got a Coleman Quartz 3 tent and I like it.

Pretty solid thing, easy to set up, stands up to "a bit" of rain hammering down, and it fits in a small zega case together with my sleeping bag, mat, tarp, and petrol stove.

[Jenna]

ok back on track....

could someone who knows (Xander etc...!) explain all this temp range on sleeping bags.

how realistic are the comfort ( comfortable for who???? remembering people like me think the winter needs banning and replacing with a second summer! ), plus why the hell isnt there a stock scale to compare by.. errr or is there? ( and i dont mean 'c or 'f as thats subjective!)

I ask this bearing in mind that this gear is for use on a bike so i guess the issues of weight and size are also very much important.

[Xander]

ok back on track....

could someone who knows (Xander etc...!) explain all this temp range on sleeping bags.

how realistic are the comfort ( comfortable for who???? remembering people like me think the winter needs banning and replacing with a second summer! ), plus why the hell isnt there a stock scale to compare by.. errr or is there? ( and i dont mean 'c or 'f as thats subjective!)

I ask this bearing in mind that this gear is for use on a bike so i guess the issues of weight and size are also very much important.

A sleeping bag's temperature or "comfort" rating identifies the most extreme temperature the bag is designed to accommodate. When you hear a bag described as a "+20 bag," it suggests most users should remain comfortable if the air temperature drops no lower than 20 degrees Fahrenheit. (more and more though it is turning to degrees C (but it should specify) yank brands are always Fahrenheit, rest of the world 50/50 in f/C..



You have asked the exact right question... "comfortable for who????" all humans have different metabolic rate = thermal set points. (37deg is only average) and some people sleep hot some cold...ect...


every brand has their own standard of comfort (but this should really only vary a little bit.. human physiology demands that a -30 will keep most people warm at around -20 .. if you get my drift.. and any difference should not mean freezing to death just be chili.


and it also changes with the environment.. a dry environment 0deg bag will be colder (less comfortable) in a moist 0deg environment.


lastly thing the effects warmth is fit .. a small person in a large bag will be colder then in a bag that fits..

this is why I do the two bag system. it allows for much greater variation in temperature with out sacrificing much

AS for bike specific .. Now this is an interesting concept..
this is what brings up synt vrs down... but this will be left for an other time..

AS said above any time you crush your fill it is useless. so a concepts of 1/2bags were invented.. and i love em.. it simply means that you have to use a mat.. and there is no stuffing on the bottom on the bag.. this takes away a significant amount of mass and volume to the packed size..

my 1/2 -15 bag in a compression sack is (cylinder of ~15h by 16 cm D) and weight 500gm.. my 0 is even smaller but have never measured it but roughly 1/2 that D ..

My "constant use" mat is a thermarest ultra light and compacts to a cylinder of (I am guessing here) 25h x 17cm D). and weighs in at 450 gms.. MRS.X new one (also thermarest but cant remember what model) is a little smaller but is thicker when open, and weights a little less..

[Rubberchicken]

The way I understand it, the "comfort" temp on a sleeping bag means when in the bag fully clothed, you won't die at that temp.

[Xander]

The way I understand it, the "comfort" temp on a sleeping bag means when in the bag fully clothed, you won't die at that temp.

That would be the extreme rating... not the Comfort temp.. see below...

riped shamlessly from the Wikipiedia site...


EN 13537 (or EN13537) is a European standard designed to standardize the temperature ratings on sleeping bags manufactured and/or sold in Europe. It went into effect on January 1, 2005.
The standard measures four temperature ratings:

• Upper Limit - the temperature at which a standard man can sleep without excessive perspiration. It is established with the hood and zippers open and with the arms outside of the bag.
• Comfort - the temperature at which a standard women can expect to sleep comfortably in a relaxed position.
• Lower Limit - the temperature at which a standard man can sleep for eight hours in a curled position without waking.
• Extreme - the minimum temperature at which a standard woman can remain for six hours without risk of death from hypothermia (though frostbite is still possible).

There are a number of disputes about the efficacy of EN 13537. See the external links section for more information.

[Sharribee]

Cheers love.. My navigation is pretty good.. (we like doing it to geocashing included).
Thanks again..
..

your welcome honey, if I think of anywhere else I will post it.

Just one thing though, that area is the area covered by the mountain rescue team myself and Mr M belong to. Call us out and we WILL take the P**s

Parking for Llyn yr Fan Fawr is best at Tafyrn yr Garreg just down the road as things tend to get nicked an burnt on the road directly opposite.

It may also be worth looking at areas around Sarn Helen roman road, you can take the bike and there are loads of forestrys to take shelter in. In fact that is where we went with Mini Mabel not so long ago and did it the Ray mears way with no tents a ditch for a fire in front of a lean to shelter that Mr M and Caitlin built. Brilliant night.

That whole area is stunning and less well walked than the rest of the brecon beacons.