info needed on sleeping bags please

[chalky4]

Hi can anyone suggest a decent inexpensive 2/3 season sleeping bag.
Chris (my good lady) doesn't like the "mummy" type and the normal "envelope" ones I've seen seem to bulky when packed down. We have top box, only big enough to take 1 helmet, (thinking about putting a rack on top of it though) tank bag and throw over panniers. want to do some weekend touring this year, got the tent, cooker etc etc but the maggot bags are causing me a headache, so any ideas would be really welcome.
Thanks
Chalky

[mighty ninja]

why not try a double bag,packs down to about the size of one and half synthetic bags and with the extra body warmth a 2-3 season bag should be ok.ive seen quite a few in the £30-£50 range,compared to two seperate bags thats reasonable money.maybe buy a double bag liner for extra warmth with the money you save.

[steveR]

IKWYM about Mummy bags, I am not to sure about them myself... But, you can get some that will zip together, so you can go for compact single or friendly doubles!

[scarfacehugo]

Good friends, when it gets cold, you will pray for mummy shaped bags. Some models come with right/left zippers to attach. DONT SAVE MONEY ON SLEEPING BAGS (unless you're using them in southern Europe), you'll only find out you'll need to buy more expensive ones. Voice of experience...

[chalky4]

Ok thank you, guess its a trip to local camping shop with the boss and see which suits her best, point taken about cheap bags, nothing worse than being cold at night, so good job its nearly pay day

[scarfacehugo]

My advise is to buy a bag that indicates lower temperatures that you normally need, beacuse 99% of the manufactures lie in the temperature range. In synthetic fibre ones, the more bulky, the warmer you sleep. I do some mountaneering, and have 2 fibre bags and 1 down filled.
Believe me when i say that if you sleep cold 1, 2, 3 nights all you can think of is to come back home. Vacation ruined.

[chalky4]

My advise is to buy a bag that indicates lower temperatures that you normally need, beacuse 99% of the manufactures lie in the temperature range. In synthetic fibre ones, the more bulky, the warmer you sleep. I do some mountaneering, and have 2 fibre bags and 1 down filled.
Believe me when i say that if you sleep cold 1, 2, 3 nights all you can think of is to come back home. Vacation ruined.

I've done a lot of camping, walking, hiking in the past but very little motor bike touring, the good lady has done non and i don't want to put her off 1st time out. its the space i was worried about. A good synthetic bag that packs up nice and tight with a decent self inflating mattress i presume is the answer?

[scarfacehugo]

Down packs a lot better than synthetic,also keeps the heat a lot better, but also costs a lot more.
Synthetic is the answer for spring/summer, down for for the rest of the year. The self inflating matress is mandatory buy laws of space and temperature.

[Buggles]

I use a light mummy sleeping bag, certified to 15 celsius, with a fleece inner liner that I use when it gets cold. It's cheaper than buying a bag that's certified to lower temperatures, but more bulky. Also, it's a 1-person setup.

Looking back, I would have gone for the more expensive bag that works to lower temps.

One good thing about the setup, if it's warm, I just sleep in the bag, and leave the liner in my luggage.

JB