Personally, I find the liners add a few degrees of warmth to a bag, but the main reason I use a liner is to keep the sleeping bag clean…. Much easier putting the liner in the laundry when you get into town! This way you can do long through hikes and your bag stays clean..
People don't understand how important it is to have a different outfit to sleep in. I used a old 15° bag for years. When it got really cold I put a wool blanket in it. Cold weather is not a time to go ultra light. Nowadays I use down with a down blanket but I also always have a poncho liner.
"You won't sleep but you won't die" That sounds VERY optimistic 🤣🤣 Tnx for the warning, LOL! Very helpful video for someone who will go camping someday... Merry Christmas!
I use the Rab silk liner and move a lot during sleep. Can't say I have had any problems with it restricting me. In fact it helps me rotate inside my sleeping bag without my bag rotating and exposing the compressed side. I don't particularly use a liner for extra warmth just to prolong the life of the sleeping bag.
Worth knowing that all sleeping bag ratings are all based on using an R5 mat underneath you. So less than this won’t give you the warmth advertised on your sleeping bag regardless of the brand.
Great info there Stephen. Another thing to possibly consider is if you are a warm or cold sleeper. I almost almost sleep cold, whereas my good lady always sleeps warm. It's quite surprising the differences in our camping sleeping kit. I'd probably freeze in hers and she'd cook in mine 🤣 You and your family have a great Christmas and New Year ❤
"Put one one these under your mat for extra warmth [link]" - even better, put it on top of your mat! I find inflatables allow the cold to seep in from the sides. A thin roll mat on top of an inflatable stops this issue. Merry Christmas Stephen! 🥾⛺
@@StephenJReid I use one of those very thin (~3mm) and really light foam mats. They seem to stay put reasonably well. Google: "The Thinny - 3mm (1/8 inch) Foam Sleeping Mat". A marvelous bit of kit for the price and weight!!
@@StephenJReid Google: "The Thinny - 3mm (1/8 inch) Foam Sleeping Mat" - they stay put reasonably well and are a great bit of kit for the price and weight. You can fold into three for a very effective sit mat.
@@StephenJReid your body weight depresses them both and makes a cup within a cup. It's better on a pad with raised side baffles in my experience. But it's definitely better than having it under the air mat, especially if it's a reflective foam pad (or even a sheet of mylar). Closer to the heat source (your body) the better.
I am a particularly cold sleeper. I have a Rab Ascent 900 (-18C limit) and have always been cold in it while winter camping even at just below zero, regardless of whether I use a dry base layer, socks, hot water bottle or hand warmers. I have an air pad with an R-rating of 6.9. The purported temp ratings are wildly wrong for me.
If you are looking at budget options, remember you can combine two sleeping bags. Can give better versatility/temp range than trying to get all in one bag.
The key to staying warm in a sleeping bag is knowing that it doesn’t warm you up, your body warms it up. So while you warm it up it is pulling your body temperature down which can be a-lot if the outside temperature and your bags temperature starts at zero degrees.
Fully agree about the sleeping bag liner. I hated it, it was so claustrophobic. It ended up all caught up round my legs. Great video as usual. Loved the Santa/Ninja.
I love your style of art but !!! As a dude that spends most of my life in a sleeping bag and using down fabrics I feel it’s worth sharing much in depth details! But this isn’t my film. You do a good job as always but I feel there’s much more to share here! Why only focus on exped? Are you now sponsored by them ? There good but their not great enough as the air of my cold 🥶 boat made it so cold outside that the down fabric outside made it colder In-side ( as you say) warm your body 1st then jump inside ) I say this always about gloves etc when leading groups etc as the heat rises the body heat !! maybe just old sleeping bag ( but I’m happy with my main one for now sooooo many years ) even in the boat!!! With all sponsors!! Living off grid with my lifestyle as you know I sleep 100% in a sleeping bag with mats etc . Keep up the good work dude
I've had the most positive experiences with Exped bags, hence the focus on them. I tend to find what works for me and stick with it, so I haven't tested many others since. I did have a Rab bag last year but it was cold. Not currently sponsored by them, but I really like their products so I might be working on that. 😉 Down maybe isn't the best choice if you are using the sleeping bag all the time as I'd guess that moisture might build up and they don't work as well if not washed regularly. So really more for camping trips than regular use.
@ there you go dude - what’s good for camping ⛺️ isn’t always good forever for the ones that live full-time in a sleeping bag! Ps the bag I live in full time all year round without washing and doesn’t smell is flame 🔥??? Ha ha well it doesn’t smell - etc and made from the best quality! Thanks 🙏 for a good reply
@ long as it’s dry enough etc life is amazingly good enough to survive dude! As you know from my experiences. People can have “nightmares - I just don’t as I have wet dreams” from time to time 😂 But now with my old school sleeping bag I have the best memories ever 👍🛥️ and even use it years for ⛺️ etc!
The Ending of this video is the Best! Best Christmas Video Ever! Is it posted as a short anywhere? I'd share it with everybody I know who hikes and climbs and loves Christmas
Another thing is that, apparently, when the bags are tested the standard is that they're tested on a sleeping mat with an r value of 4.8. Therefore don't expect the sleeping bag to reach it's comfort limit if the r value of the mat(s) is lower than that and the temperatures are down near the sleeping bag's comfort limit
I love my reactor bag liner, it adds warmth to my oldish bag that doesn't keep heat as well now, and I don't need to replace it just yet, thanks to the liner.
Good point! That’s useful for comparing bags with similar ratings. Although the bag could still be filled with poor quality down that doesn’t loft as well
Good advice. I'm finding my down kit from around 12 years have stopped lofting. I agree it's worth buying a high fill power down for the coldest weather, I store mine in that loose mesh bag. Always try for a black inside material to let sun dry it during day and down is worse for a long many-day trip, and go for a bright outer to help find your stuff in the tent. All my bags are PHD, first is a gold outer, black inner, it's still going strong but is clumping a bit towards the foot end. PHD recommended washing and tumble dry but it's not working. That 10-12 year upper limit. For mats one suggestion is for winter to not go with a higher R rating inflatable mat but add a closed cell foam z folding mat and an inflatable mat, the R are additive and less chance that an inflatable mat failure means directly on cold ground. I've never had an inflatable may fail on me - I actually use an Xtherm all-year round - and winter add an Alpkit EZ Sleeper which is useful for other purposes. For layering inside the sleeping bag, I find I can over-insulate and sweat so I'd not want to put sweat into a down jacket, the Paramo Grid trousers do an excellent sleeping insulation and layer windproof pants over (which are getting impossible to find, Montane used to do them). I know some swear by boiling water and Nalgene inside, I just don't want the risk.
After nearly sixty years in the outdoors, I find that the comfort ratings are around 6 to 8 degrees optimistic. I.e. if it's for -6 it will probably be okay at zero. 👍
You’re even less trusting than me. So far I’ve found Exped bags to be very accurate with the ratings but I still like a healthy margin of error. What kind of bags do you typicallly use? Down or synthetic? I wonder if one or the other is more or less accurate with the ratings
@StephenJReid Hi Stephen, I predominantly use down bags, and favour the ones from Mountain Equipment even though their ratings are also a fantasy! Synthetic bags are just too bulky and heavy for backpacking. Love the films 👍
@@slowboilingleafs haven’t tried a really premium one. The weight difference always immediately made me rule them out as an option. But I used a cheap synthetic bag this summer in temperatures that were well above its rating and was freezing. Are there new options with similar performance now?
hollow fiber bags are easier to wash as bags always become sweaty after a single use and feather bags are difficult to wash and get back to shape. hollow fiber sleeping bags can be dried quite easily if it gets damp. there is also of course ethical issues using down but then thats up to individual morality.
One underrated aspect with sleeping bag temp ratings is since they aren't set in stone they are pretty universal and able to be easily translated from metric to imperial and vice versa.
I'm not doing too well mentally. And I'm certainly not able to go camping outside rn. But I always find your videos interesting and they bring a welcome distraction from my life.
I’m very sorry to hear that. I hope you’re getting the help you need and I’m glad the videos help. I know a lot of people who have struggled mentally, it’s so tough but things have always improved.
I move around alot aswell, and have no issue with a liner. But do get them so they fit similar to your bag. i really like them for the warmer climate were they can dry / air out seperately from the bag on a longer trip and if wenting the bag, you still have something between you and the cold air. Have not tried a down bag yet, but the temperature comfort ratings on the european bags i have used so far have been spot on (i also use a quality mat, but since its the only item i bring on every single trip its money well spend).
Thanks for the review, Stephen. I actually quite fancied that NatureHike bag. Not so sure now. Maybe as an addition to my synthetic blankets, e.g. the Snugpak Jungle XL blanket, at most.
All those temps are also in a tent, with a proper sealed inner tent. Which is actually a lot warmer than under a tarp or a non heated room on the northern side of the house with a bit of draft in the room.
@StephenJReid I completely agree that's why I made one out of a bed sheet ( someone else used the sewing machine) that slips over the sleeping bag, it's sort of an indoor bivvy bag and works a treat.
I thought we were getting a whole video of I’ll Stephen Santa 😂 Your pain is appreciated 🫡 Also not a fan of liners, get claustrophobic enough in sleeping bags which is why I’m 5ft and have a 6’3 + bag! Big fan of a shell cover though, traps in so much heat as long as your not too sweaty sleeper If weight isn’t much of an issue, old boiled wool blanket is excellent
@ it’s denser and more compact so makes a very effective shell whilst still being pretty breathable. If you’ve ever been a bit cold at home under the duvet and thrown a dressing gown or wee blanket over the top of your legs you’ll know exactly the kind of effect a bit of shell has. Or putting a thin waterproof over a puffer jacket 🫠
Thank very informative I didn’t know certain things…the back warmer and hand warmer sounds great…I use sometimes hot water bottle…oh and Merry Christmas !
the liner is more to protect your sleeping bag from yourself. your sweat contains oils, and that messes the down up to. so if you have an expensive sleepingbag, you might want to use it
in regards to both the not gettig in your bag with wet clothes and not breathing in your bag is resist the temptation to overdress in your bag. Getting sweaty in your bag can be very dangerous. My first ever camp I kept puttting more layers on during the night as it got colder, not realising I was overheating, soaking everything in sweat which was actually making me colder and colder. Best route is to have layers etc available, and deal with the layers in just the same way as when hiking (i.e. put on when chilly take off when warm)
hi dude,I use a mountain equipment, helium 600.comfort rating is -10c,I've used this bag in temps down too about -10c/-12c and without a couple of down jackets and down trousers with merino baselayer your not going to sleep it will be a misery.i think it's comfort limit is about -2c.i bought a rab 1100 accent with a comfort of -25c so i think ill be comfortable to about -16c/-18c.its unfortunate that this lesson is often learnt in the field leaving you with a pretty miserable night's sleep.
Liners were really a thing of the old style youth hostel. Badically to keep the grubby body OFF the clean and valuable hostel bedding (such as it ever was). This was a great review and I fancy information based on miserable nights of personal experience. A super wee channel!
What I found about the bag ratings is that the official rating is based upon the bag, the user wearing merino base layers and a mat with an R rating of something like 4.5... the comfort, limit and extreme only apply to that setup... So if you don't have the right mat etc the bag isn't going to get you there
Pretty sure Nature hike is not EN/ISO certified ? in general i find that the issue mostly happens if you dont look for if the comfort and limit is EN/ISO measured - some brands, like fx Western mounteneering and Enlightent equipment (and Cumulus) doesnt use EN/ISO numbers because they trust their own judgement more.
Ta, useful information that may save a viewer an extremely uncomfortable night or even worse. Just checked my "Trespass 4 season echotec sleeping bag" and it has a comfort rating of 5 degrees. how can that possibly be "4 seasons", especially if you add a couple of degrees for safetys sake. luckily i havent used it yet and dont think i will until the summer. what about going the other direction? how much above the comfort rating can you go before you get hot and sweaty and uncomfortable in a bag?
I’ve gat an old Ajunilak Komakt Winter, must be 25yrs old now. I’ve looked after it, always hung it up in the wardrobe and never kept in a stuff sack. Its lower limit is -17. This’ll do I thought to use at Sandwood bay in February in snow, with a polar maritime gale 7-8, sometimes 9. Windchill -27. I basically slept in everything merino base layer top and bottom, lined craghopper kiwi’s, montane extreme smock and ME polarloft parka, wool balaclava, ME gloves and thick wool hat. I did manage to sleep fitfully. Most problematic was getting up to go outside for wee with all those layers. That’s when I learned not to trust the manufacturers, and lightweight is no good in winter.
I see bag liners as another tool...they will help prolong the bag life, you wont have to clean it so much. And guess what...you can use it outside the bag itself...very useful when tarp camping specially in dusty eviroments, high winds or moderate humidity or splashing. Do I always use it? No. But can be a fine tool if you choose the right one.
I struggle with condensation more than anything. Just seems everything wants to get wet and not work... one of these nights in gonna get cols and not be happy! Just got done with 2 nights in denali, working on drying bag out now
I prefer to have a more compact sleeping bag, and then just bring extra wool layers for sleeping in, and/or a very thin summer sleeping bag to double up
Extreme is how long a woman can survive for 6 hours before dying. You were correct about the limit but if refers to men not women. Also, the EN ratings are equal. It is tested and not dependant on company. Never trust a rating without an EN rating.
I might look at this in the spring summer. Personally I've yet to try a really cheap bag that's any good for anything other than warm weather. Or there are sometimes issues with animal cruelty when it comes to cheap down products. Something I'm looking into.
I can verify the comfort limit on the rab neutrino 😎. The oex liner helped a bit but didn’t add the 8 degree heat on that it promised lol . Hot water bottle and a load of whiskey and you wouldn’t need a sleep bag 😂
Just study the fill weight when comparing bags and you'll sniff out the BS. Also it seems many companies label their bag based on the limit and not comfort
Congrats on 10000 scribers. Hit the BBC Norn Iron up for a show. Some day bang nice one lol only thing missing from santa and banana stand off, would be some boy chewing grass whisling Ecstay of gold. Like what u did there 😂. Only thing u didn't mention was how the down is sourced and quiets. Bought my first down, a £70 down qulit from china actually pretty good. Then got more into the down quilts and discovered its not all good were they get the feathers from ffs. Now make sure property scoursed down.
I did originally plan to talk about this as another drawback of cheap down. Sometimes it can be live plucked which is incredibly cruel. Totally forgot. And thanks! Not sure TV would be for me though, I would have next to no control over the videos.
@johnhenry4471 It's very tricky getting any information from Chinese brands. Probably often a risk of cruelty when animal products involved. I'd bought a few nature hike products before realising it. I'm trying to find out where there down comes from.
I don't buy anything from china anymore. Bought a titanium pot. Really cheap. Turned out it was over twice the weight it was supposed to be. Live and learn.
You can make it through the night with a 40 degree sleeping bag in below zero ...what matters is if you ate a great meal that day and have plenty of water.
The Exped ones have a semi hood but not a full one. I rarely use them as I can never get my face in the right place and end up with it wrapped around my face
Not what my understanding limit = comfort for male, comfort = comfort for female. Women, thinner people, older people feel the cold more than the opposite. I would still not try to use a sleeping bag at its rating as you have to replicate the dummy it was tested on. So as a rule go for at keast 5 to 10c warmer unless you intend on wearing more clothes inside of a descent liner.
@StephenJReid ok....i had several saying ok for sub zero...they werent. I sleep on my boat but i use a bag ànd some blankets when it gets cold..works fine.
Not going to lie, I always thought that sleeping mats under your sleeping bag were for sissys who couldn't sleep without padding. Super embarrassed to know that I could've saved many a cold nights with one haha.
Personally, I find the liners add a few degrees of warmth to a bag, but the main reason I use a liner is to keep the sleeping bag clean…. Much easier putting the liner in the laundry when you get into town! This way you can do long through hikes and your bag stays clean..
No bullsh*t approach, that’s what I like about your videos.
Dry warm base layer for bed is great but a fresh dry socks also is a huge one for me when cold weather camping.
Definitely! in warmer weather I'll have dry socks, in colder weather dry socks and down over socks
People don't understand how important it is to have a different outfit to sleep in.
I used a old 15° bag for years. When it got really cold I put a wool blanket in it. Cold weather is not a time to go ultra light.
Nowadays I use down with a down blanket but I also always have a poncho liner.
Kilt socks are good for this. If one's legs are still cold, you can fold the top part up over the knees for some extra warmth.
"You won't sleep but you won't die" That sounds VERY optimistic 🤣🤣 Tnx for the warning, LOL! Very helpful video for someone who will go camping someday... Merry Christmas!
I use the Rab silk liner and move a lot during sleep. Can't say I have had any problems with it restricting me. In fact it helps me rotate inside my sleeping bag without my bag rotating and exposing the compressed side. I don't particularly use a liner for extra warmth just to prolong the life of the sleeping bag.
Worth knowing that all sleeping bag ratings are all based on using an R5 mat underneath you. So less than this won’t give you the warmth advertised on your sleeping bag regardless of the brand.
R4
Great info there Stephen.
Another thing to possibly consider is if you are a warm or cold sleeper.
I almost almost sleep cold, whereas my good lady always sleeps warm.
It's quite surprising the differences in our camping sleeping kit. I'd probably freeze in hers and she'd cook in mine 🤣
You and your family have a great Christmas and New Year ❤
"Put one one these under your mat for extra warmth [link]" - even better, put it on top of your mat! I find inflatables allow the cold to seep in from the sides. A thin roll mat on top of an inflatable stops this issue. Merry Christmas Stephen! 🥾⛺
How do you stop it sliding off?
@@StephenJReid I use one of those very thin (~3mm) and really light foam mats.
They seem to stay put reasonably well. Google: "The Thinny - 3mm (1/8 inch) Foam Sleeping Mat". A marvelous bit of kit for the price and weight!!
@@StephenJReid Google: "The Thinny - 3mm (1/8 inch) Foam Sleeping Mat" - they stay put reasonably well and are a great bit of kit for the price and weight. You can fold into three for a very effective sit mat.
@@StephenJReid your body weight depresses them both and makes a cup within a cup. It's better on a pad with raised side baffles in my experience.
But it's definitely better than having it under the air mat, especially if it's a reflective foam pad (or even a sheet of mylar). Closer to the heat source (your body) the better.
I am a particularly cold sleeper. I have a Rab Ascent 900 (-18C limit) and have always been cold in it while winter camping even at just below zero, regardless of whether I use a dry base layer, socks, hot water bottle or hand warmers. I have an air pad with an R-rating of 6.9. The purported temp ratings are wildly wrong for me.
I was literally looking at colder temp bags and this popped up. Perfect. I didn't know about the various temp ratings they give on the blurb. Thanks.
If you are looking at budget options, remember you can combine two sleeping bags. Can give better versatility/temp range than trying to get all in one bag.
The key to staying warm in a sleeping bag is knowing that it doesn’t warm you up, your body warms it up.
So while you warm it up it is pulling your body temperature down which can be a-lot if the outside temperature and your bags temperature starts at zero degrees.
Merry Christmas and happy new year Stephen. ❤❤🎅🎅
Merry Christmas 🙂
Fully agree about the sleeping bag liner. I hated it, it was so claustrophobic. It ended up all caught up round my legs. Great video as usual. Loved the Santa/Ninja.
I love your style of art but !!! As a dude that spends most of my life in a sleeping bag and using down fabrics I feel it’s worth sharing much in depth details! But this isn’t my film.
You do a good job as always but I feel there’s much more to share here!
Why only focus on exped? Are you now sponsored by them ?
There good but their not great enough as the air of my cold 🥶 boat made it so cold outside that the down fabric outside made it colder In-side ( as you say) warm your body 1st then jump inside ) I say this always about gloves etc when leading groups etc as the heat rises the body heat !!
maybe just old sleeping bag ( but I’m happy with my main one for now sooooo many years ) even in the boat!!!
With all sponsors!!
Living off grid with my lifestyle as you know I sleep 100% in a sleeping bag with mats etc .
Keep up the good work dude
I've had the most positive experiences with Exped bags, hence the focus on them. I tend to find what works for me and stick with it, so I haven't tested many others since. I did have a Rab bag last year but it was cold.
Not currently sponsored by them, but I really like their products so I might be working on that. 😉
Down maybe isn't the best choice if you are using the sleeping bag all the time as I'd guess that moisture might build up and they don't work as well if not washed regularly. So really more for camping trips than regular use.
@ there you go dude - what’s good for camping ⛺️ isn’t always good forever for the ones that live full-time in a sleeping bag!
Ps the bag I live in full time all year round without washing and doesn’t smell is flame 🔥??? Ha ha well it doesn’t smell - etc and made from the best quality!
Thanks 🙏 for a good reply
@ long as it’s dry enough etc life is amazingly good enough to survive dude! As you know from my experiences.
People can have “nightmares - I just don’t as I have wet dreams” from time to time 😂
But now with my old school sleeping bag I have the best memories ever 👍🛥️ and even use it years for ⛺️ etc!
Very informative video Stephen and loved the ending! Merry Christmas
The Ending of this video is the Best! Best Christmas Video Ever! Is it posted as a short anywhere? I'd share it with everybody I know who hikes and climbs and loves Christmas
@@RC_Farm it’s being posted in full on my Instagram on Christmas Day 🙂
5:20. I would be afraid to compress my bag as far that! Personally I think I get a bit obsessed about how much and how long I dare compress it for.
I was worried about this at the start but looked into it and the general consensus was it's totally fine, just don't store them like that.
That ad was SOOO GOOD ❤❤❤
Another thing is that, apparently, when the bags are tested the standard is that they're tested on a sleeping mat with an r value of 4.8.
Therefore don't expect the sleeping bag to reach it's comfort limit if the r value of the mat(s) is lower than that and the temperatures are down near the sleeping bag's comfort limit
Yup that's why I say around R 5 for a winter mat. My general purpose mat is R3 and I've found it was very accurate with my exped bags
@StephenJReid ah ok 👍
I love my reactor bag liner, it adds warmth to my oldish bag that doesn't keep heat as well now, and I don't need to replace it just yet, thanks to the liner.
Great informative video, not long found your channel but now defo a fav,Keep them coming.
Happy Christmas Steven. clips at the end are sic.
Merry Christmas bud,what and where do i find some down pants old boy,they look amazing
Good guide is to took at the full weight and fill power and multiply, that gives a good idea of comparing bags. It's basic but helps.
Good point! That’s useful for comparing bags with similar ratings. Although the bag could still be filled with poor quality down that doesn’t loft as well
Good advice. I'm finding my down kit from around 12 years have stopped lofting. I agree it's worth buying a high fill power down for the coldest weather, I store mine in that loose mesh bag.
Always try for a black inside material to let sun dry it during day and down is worse for a long many-day trip, and go for a bright outer to help find your stuff in the tent.
All my bags are PHD, first is a gold outer, black inner, it's still going strong but is clumping a bit towards the foot end. PHD recommended washing and tumble dry but it's not working. That 10-12 year upper limit.
For mats one suggestion is for winter to not go with a higher R rating inflatable mat but add a closed cell foam z folding mat and an inflatable mat, the R are additive and less chance that an inflatable mat failure means directly on cold ground. I've never had an inflatable may fail on me - I actually use an Xtherm all-year round - and winter add an Alpkit EZ Sleeper which is useful for other purposes.
For layering inside the sleeping bag, I find I can over-insulate and sweat so I'd not want to put sweat into a down jacket, the Paramo Grid trousers do an excellent sleeping insulation and layer windproof pants over (which are getting impossible to find, Montane used to do them).
I know some swear by boiling water and Nalgene inside, I just don't want the risk.
I had this so earlier this year I got my 16 yr old Alpkit Pipedream professionally washed and it's back to new!
You could place the nalgene upright and or inside a drybag.
After nearly sixty years in the outdoors, I find that the comfort ratings are around 6 to 8 degrees optimistic. I.e. if it's for -6 it will probably be okay at zero. 👍
You’re even less trusting than me. So far I’ve found Exped bags to be very accurate with the ratings but I still like a healthy margin of error.
What kind of bags do you typicallly use? Down or synthetic? I wonder if one or the other is more or less accurate with the ratings
@StephenJReid Hi Stephen, I predominantly use down bags, and favour the ones from Mountain Equipment even though their ratings are also a fantasy! Synthetic bags are just too bulky and heavy for backpacking. Love the films 👍
Thanks Paul. Yeah synthetic bags especially in winter are so heavy and bulky. First one I had was army surplus and was over 3kg. Still cold in it too!
@@StephenJReid how many years have it been since you tried a syntetich quality bag?
@@slowboilingleafs haven’t tried a really premium one. The weight difference always immediately made me rule them out as an option. But I used a cheap synthetic bag this summer in temperatures that were well above its rating and was freezing.
Are there new options with similar performance now?
hollow fiber bags are easier to wash as bags always become sweaty after a single use and feather bags are difficult to wash and get back to shape. hollow fiber sleeping bags can be dried quite easily if it gets damp. there is also of course ethical issues using down but then thats up to individual morality.
One underrated aspect with sleeping bag temp ratings is since they aren't set in stone they are pretty universal and able to be easily translated from metric to imperial and vice versa.
I found that using 2 summer bags inside each other works for me as a winter sleep system, with of course a insulation layer underneath of course?
I'm not doing too well mentally. And I'm certainly not able to go camping outside rn. But I always find your videos interesting and they bring a welcome distraction from my life.
I’m very sorry to hear that. I hope you’re getting the help you need and I’m glad the videos help. I know a lot of people who have struggled mentally, it’s so tough but things have always improved.
@StephenJReid Thanks man
Hope you have a wonderful Xmas and manage to get outdoors in the new year and feel a bit better 😊
Another extremely informative and helpful video. Love your work. 👍
Can you provide the link for the seller of that kislux bag?Thanks,I have no qualms about buying kislux .
Ahh the ending explains the reason for the bike the other day.
Happy Christmas and a great New Year Stephen 😂❤
Yup hurt my Achilles sprinting dressed as Santa 😂
Happy Christmas!
I move around alot aswell, and have no issue with a liner. But do get them so they fit similar to your bag. i really like them for the warmer climate were they can dry / air out seperately from the bag on a longer trip and if wenting the bag, you still have something between you and the cold air. Have not tried a down bag yet, but the temperature comfort ratings on the european bags i have used so far have been spot on (i also use a quality mat, but since its the only item i bring on every single trip its money well spend).
Thanks for the review, Stephen. I actually quite fancied that NatureHike bag. Not so sure now. Maybe as an addition to my synthetic blankets, e.g. the Snugpak Jungle XL blanket, at most.
All those temps are also in a tent, with a proper sealed inner tent. Which is actually a lot warmer than under a tarp or a non heated room on the northern side of the house with a bit of draft in the room.
I've got a sleeping bag liner that I use in unison with my sleeping system and wearing socks and a hat are a must!
I’ve tried liners and never worked well for me. End up tangled in them. But I do move around a lot.
@StephenJReid I completely agree that's why I made one out of a bed sheet ( someone else used the sewing machine) that slips over the sleeping bag, it's sort of an indoor bivvy bag and works a treat.
I thought we were getting a whole video of I’ll Stephen Santa 😂
Your pain is appreciated 🫡
Also not a fan of liners, get claustrophobic enough in sleeping bags which is why I’m 5ft and have a 6’3 + bag! Big fan of a shell cover though, traps in so much heat as long as your not too sweaty sleeper
If weight isn’t much of an issue, old boiled wool blanket is excellent
Is it easier to eat when boiled?
@ it’s denser and more compact so makes a very effective shell whilst still being pretty breathable.
If you’ve ever been a bit cold at home under the duvet and thrown a dressing gown or wee blanket over the top of your legs you’ll know exactly the kind of effect a bit of shell has. Or putting a thin waterproof over a puffer jacket 🫠
@@StephenJReid😂
So Stephen you move about a lot (manicly?) in your sleeping bag? Why am I not surprised! True fan. 😄
Thank very informative I didn’t know certain things…the back warmer and hand warmer sounds great…I use sometimes hot water bottle…oh and Merry Christmas !
the liner is more to protect your sleeping bag from yourself.
your sweat contains oils, and that messes the down up to.
so if you have an expensive sleepingbag, you might want to use it
I'm wearing baselayers so the sweat is being caught anyway.
I actually didn’t know what the different temperature ratings meant so this was quite interesting. Thanks for sharing!
in regards to both the not gettig in your bag with wet clothes and not breathing in your bag is resist the temptation to overdress in your bag. Getting sweaty in your bag can be very dangerous. My first ever camp I kept puttting more layers on during the night as it got colder, not realising I was overheating, soaking everything in sweat which was actually making me colder and colder. Best route is to have layers etc available, and deal with the layers in just the same way as when hiking (i.e. put on when chilly take off when warm)
hi dude,I use a mountain equipment, helium 600.comfort rating is -10c,I've used this bag in temps down too about -10c/-12c and without a couple of down jackets and down trousers with merino baselayer your not going to sleep it will be a misery.i think it's comfort limit is about -2c.i bought a rab 1100 accent with a comfort of -25c so i think ill be comfortable to about -16c/-18c.its unfortunate that this lesson is often learnt in the field leaving you with a pretty miserable night's sleep.
Some really good points made here
A full bladder doesn’t keep you warm either. Helps to take a leak asap
I found that just made the sleeping bag wet
Watching this in the tent after a night at 2c in a 2c comfort bag. Not comfortable 🤣 definitely add 2-3c on top.
Been there, been cold. 🥶
Liners were really a thing of the old style youth hostel. Badically to keep the grubby body OFF the clean and valuable hostel bedding (such as it ever was).
This was a great review and I fancy information based on miserable nights of personal experience.
A super wee channel!
I find all the information useful 😊
New to the game, and a little frightened 😮😅
What I found about the bag ratings is that the official rating is based upon the bag, the user wearing merino base layers and a mat with an R rating of something like 4.5... the comfort, limit and extreme only apply to that setup... So if you don't have the right mat etc the bag isn't going to get you there
This video was worth a watch just for the Harrier advert at the end. Which feels odd giving praise.
Haha thanks, bit of a sneak peek as it's not being officially published until Christmas Day
Pretty sure Nature hike is not EN/ISO certified ? in general i find that the issue mostly happens if you dont look for if the comfort and limit is EN/ISO measured - some brands, like fx Western mounteneering and Enlightent equipment (and Cumulus) doesnt use EN/ISO numbers because they trust their own judgement more.
Ta, useful information that may save a viewer an extremely uncomfortable night or even worse. Just checked my "Trespass 4 season echotec sleeping bag" and it has a comfort rating of 5 degrees. how can that possibly be "4 seasons", especially if you add a couple of degrees for safetys sake. luckily i havent used it yet and dont think i will until the summer. what about going the other direction? how much above the comfort rating can you go before you get hot and sweaty and uncomfortable in a bag?
I’ve gat an old Ajunilak Komakt Winter, must be 25yrs old now. I’ve looked after it, always hung it up in the wardrobe and never kept in a stuff sack. Its lower limit is -17. This’ll do I thought to use at Sandwood bay in February in snow, with a polar maritime gale 7-8, sometimes 9. Windchill -27. I basically slept in everything merino base layer top and bottom, lined craghopper kiwi’s, montane extreme smock and ME polarloft parka, wool balaclava, ME gloves and thick wool hat. I did manage to sleep fitfully. Most problematic was getting up to go outside for wee with all those layers. That’s when I learned not to trust the manufacturers, and lightweight is no good in winter.
I like my liner, easier to wash and I prefere the material to that of the bag.
I see bag liners as another tool...they will help prolong the bag life, you wont have to clean it so much. And guess what...you can use it outside the bag itself...very useful when tarp camping specially in dusty eviroments, high winds or moderate humidity or splashing. Do I always use it? No. But can be a fine tool if you choose the right one.
Not a single word about quilt ? :o I moove alot and they have been a game changer.
Never tried them personally, but I do sometimes open my bag up and use it as a quilt if I'm too warm. That's kinda best of both.
Hi Stephen, I like to camp up in the plantation forests but the falling trees are always a worry, any tips how to stay safe or is it just luck 😂
I live under a pile of blankets outside in the winter.
One of them is my military cold weather coffin bag.
That should be enough by itself.
I struggle with condensation more than anything. Just seems everything wants to get wet and not work... one of these nights in gonna get cols and not be happy! Just got done with 2 nights in denali, working on drying bag out now
What an ending! 🎅
Wow, that's some great info, Thank you
I prefer to have a more compact sleeping bag, and then just bring extra wool layers for sleeping in, and/or a very thin summer sleeping bag to double up
Extreme is how long a woman can survive for 6 hours before dying.
You were correct about the limit but if refers to men not women.
Also, the EN ratings are equal. It is tested and not dependant on company. Never trust a rating without an EN rating.
can you make a video about cheap but good sleeping bags?
I might look at this in the spring summer. Personally I've yet to try a really cheap bag that's any good for anything other than warm weather. Or there are sometimes issues with animal cruelty when it comes to cheap down products. Something I'm looking into.
The PHD inner bags rather than a liner, wow, you have to pay the money though. That's where real bespoke quality shines through.
Go Stephen!
I can verify the comfort limit on the rab neutrino 😎. The oex liner helped a bit but didn’t add the 8 degree heat on that it promised lol . Hot water bottle and a load of whiskey and you wouldn’t need a sleep bag 😂
Brilliant advice
I just bought exped comfort minus 5 and Rab liner lovely job but expensive 😂😂
Just study the fill weight when comparing bags and you'll sniff out the BS. Also it seems many companies label their bag based on the limit and not comfort
Congrats on 10000 scribers. Hit the BBC Norn Iron up for a show. Some day bang nice one lol only thing missing from santa and banana stand off, would be some boy chewing grass whisling Ecstay of gold. Like what u did there 😂. Only thing u didn't mention was how the down is sourced and quiets. Bought my first down, a £70 down qulit from china actually pretty good. Then got more into the down quilts and discovered its not all good were they get the feathers from ffs. Now make sure property scoursed down.
I did originally plan to talk about this as another drawback of cheap down. Sometimes it can be live plucked which is incredibly cruel. Totally forgot.
And thanks! Not sure TV would be for me though, I would have next to no control over the videos.
That's what I heard live plucked totally horrific. Maybe drop it into another vid. I had no clue when I started out buying down.
@johnhenry4471 It's very tricky getting any information from Chinese brands. Probably often a risk of cruelty when animal products involved. I'd bought a few nature hike products before realising it. I'm trying to find out where there down comes from.
I don't buy anything from china anymore. Bought a titanium pot. Really cheap. Turned out it was over twice the weight it was supposed to be. Live and learn.
You can make it through the night with a 40 degree sleeping bag in below zero ...what matters is if you ate a great meal that day and have plenty of water.
And having a full bladder will make you colder... weird but true
Sleeping bags with hood or no hood? I’ve had both and pros and cons….
The Exped ones have a semi hood but not a full one. I rarely use them as I can never get my face in the right place and end up with it wrapped around my face
I’m thinking of getting a separate down hood that will give me the best of all worlds
@@StephenJReid yep me too but a beany doesn’t quite cut the mustard either
Are you planning on showing off your Yt button in the new year too? ;-)
LOL @ the Harrier outro/advert
It’s coming on every camp now 😂
Not what my understanding limit = comfort for male, comfort = comfort for female. Women, thinner people, older people feel the cold more than the opposite. I would still not try to use a sleeping bag at its rating as you have to replicate the dummy it was tested on. So as a rule go for at keast 5 to 10c warmer unless you intend on wearing more clothes inside of a descent liner.
hello
Olleh
Am still using my Army sleeping bag from the 1980s 😂
The gear is all so expensive 😮
truthest truth I heard
They allways lie? About the temps you can take in a bag....
It varies. Some I’ve found accurate others less so much and there’s no consistency across brands
@StephenJReid ok....i had several saying ok for sub zero...they werent. I sleep on my boat but i use a bag ànd some blankets when it gets cold..works fine.
The mat you’re lying on plays a big role too. But yeah I’ve been caught out with sleeping bags being cold too
@@StephenJReid one learns over time or one "suffers"...🙂
Not going to lie, I always thought that sleeping mats under your sleeping bag were for sissys who couldn't sleep without padding. Super embarrassed to know that I could've saved many a cold nights with one haha.
I started shivering just watching you in that stream