I want to start night Fishing. I've been looking at sleeping bags. Please tell me the difference.... On angling direct I've seen ones for £100+. A quick Amazon search brings up plenty of "all season" sleeping bags with very high reviews for around £20. I'm not a high earner and haven't got thousands to spend on fishing gear so can you please explain any reason for scraping by £100 for a sleeping bag that would do something these £20 ones can't?
In reply to Post #1
No reason except
A fishing one will probably fit on the bed chair better but you could adapt a non fishing one to fit with a few straps or Velcro sewn on
But in most other cases any bag will do
Buy the best you can afford. Or save up a little bit to get a better one
No reason except
A fishing one will probably fit on the bed chair better but you could adapt a non fishing one to fit with a few straps or Velcro sewn on
But in most other cases any bag will do
Buy the best you can afford. Or save up a little bit to get a better one
In reply to Post #1
A £20 bag may be ok on a summers night but not for anything any colder. You need to decide what you need it to be capable of and buy accordingly. Use the comfort rating as a guide but many are not as good as described So beware if it's for cold weather use.
A £20 bag may be ok on a summers night but not for anything any colder. You need to decide what you need it to be capable of and buy accordingly. Use the comfort rating as a guide but many are not as good as described So beware if it's for cold weather use.
In reply to Post #1
if your cold on the bank at night it's a absolute terrible experience,even a night like tonight for example,1st of May and its not going to be much above 3 degrees. hot water bottles help but if the bag won't retain heat then they're useless.
do a search on here,theres some good advice. shame your not closer to me near Chester as I have 1 you could have for nothing.
if your cold on the bank at night it's a absolute terrible experience,even a night like tonight for example,1st of May and its not going to be much above 3 degrees. hot water bottles help but if the bag won't retain heat then they're useless.
do a search on here,theres some good advice. shame your not closer to me near Chester as I have 1 you could have for nothing.
Like most things in life, you generally get what you pay for. Give it a few weeks and get yourself a 3 season bag which will cover you for spring, summer and the start of autumn. Good warm layers will do the rest until it gets colder and a 4/5 season bag would become more of a necessity.
I wouldn't go cheap on a sleeping bag.
I have Trakker 3 season and 5 season bags.
Im still using the 5 season as it is still cold at night, and i don't want to be freezing my knackers off.
Best advice i can give is to go and look at a decent sleeping bag in a tackle shop and compare it to a lesser quality bag and the difference will be plain to see.
I have Trakker 3 season and 5 season bags.
Im still using the 5 season as it is still cold at night, and i don't want to be freezing my knackers off.
Best advice i can give is to go and look at a decent sleeping bag in a tackle shop and compare it to a lesser quality bag and the difference will be plain to see.
In reply to Post #7
My friend has one of these. Warm enough for anything other than deep winter where he then adds a cover. Just remember, we all feel the cold differently, we may be warm in a situation that you are cold in and vice versa. I know some lads use these all year no problem though.
My friend has one of these. Warm enough for anything other than deep winter where he then adds a cover. Just remember, we all feel the cold differently, we may be warm in a situation that you are cold in and vice versa. I know some lads use these all year no problem though.
In reply to Post #8
It wouldn't be too hot to use in the summer?
It wouldn't be too hot to use in the summer?
In reply to Post #9
If you use a bag and thermal cover in the depths of winter, then you can use the cover on its own in high summer.
If you use a bag and thermal cover in the depths of winter, then you can use the cover on its own in high summer.
What's a good sleeping bag that's not too expensive guys??
In reply to Post #11
Cyprinus Magmatex or Sonik 4 season + cover
Cyprinus Magmatex or Sonik 4 season + cover
In reply to Post #11
Gardner carp duvet is spot on for the money...
Gardner carp duvet is spot on for the money...
In reply to Post #13
Good for the money? Its £125! I was hoping for a lot cheaper. I've seen the Trakker big snooze plus sleeping is £80 and I was hoping for someone to recommend one that's cheaper then that. It seems a lot of money for a sleeping bag. I really begrudge spending that much. I don't earn very much money you see...
Good for the money? Its £125! I was hoping for a lot cheaper. I've seen the Trakker big snooze plus sleeping is £80 and I was hoping for someone to recommend one that's cheaper then that. It seems a lot of money for a sleeping bag. I really begrudge spending that much. I don't earn very much money you see...
In reply to Post #14
If your starting out this time of year get yourself a 3 season sleeping bag like a jrc defender for @ £50 I have a jrc x-lite bag which I don't think you can get any more for similar money.
With the weather getting warmer. No point spending money on a 4/5 bag yet and tbh not many folk really fish through winter.
If your starting out this time of year get yourself a 3 season sleeping bag like a jrc defender for @ £50 I have a jrc x-lite bag which I don't think you can get any more for similar money.
With the weather getting warmer. No point spending money on a 4/5 bag yet and tbh not many folk really fish through winter.
In reply to Post #11
I've got an advanta 4 seasons which is pretty good, only around £50/60
I've got an advanta 4 seasons which is pretty good, only around £50/60
In reply to Post #16
Is that the advanta sleepcell?
Is that the advanta sleepcell?
Is this one any good? https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MFAOO6O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_YHHNS4KHCVR3JBA3630X
In reply to Post #1
Gardner 3 season camo
Gardner 3 season camo
In reply to Post #18
if cash is tight just take a single quilt,no-one is going to look in your bivvy anyway
if cash is tight just take a single quilt,no-one is going to look in your bivvy anyway
In reply to Post #20
Jrc defender 3 season and cover on Angling Direct for £109 you can't go wrong with this 👍
Jrc defender 3 season and cover on Angling Direct for £109 you can't go wrong with this 👍
In reply to Post #18
Keep an eye on the classifieds, and facebook marketplace - if you don't mind second hand you should get a decent bag for sub £50.
Keep an eye on the classifieds, and facebook marketplace - if you don't mind second hand you should get a decent bag for sub £50.
In reply to Post #18
No, they're paper thin, absolute cheap garbage.
One of the answers to the reviews, tells you something about a £15.00 bag
Fishing bags are expensive but so are good camping bags, the cheaper end of the scale will probably do for a few nights during our British Summers but you will get caught out at some point and that can ruin a night or few nights fishing, dew point is generally a cold time of the morning when you feel the chill kicking in, possibly as suggested a duvet even a double one so you can get in between it folded in half for the time being moving towards the summer will probably suffice whilst you save a bit more for a better bag, I had a big snooze admittedly quite a few years ago not the newer version and found it fine for 3 seasons of the year but not an all year round bag for me, a good 5 season bag is worth the extra a dual layer if you can so you have the best of both worlds either one with dual zips layers or one where you can take a liner out.
No, they're paper thin, absolute cheap garbage.
One of the answers to the reviews, tells you something about a £15.00 bag
Fishing bags are expensive but so are good camping bags, the cheaper end of the scale will probably do for a few nights during our British Summers but you will get caught out at some point and that can ruin a night or few nights fishing, dew point is generally a cold time of the morning when you feel the chill kicking in, possibly as suggested a duvet even a double one so you can get in between it folded in half for the time being moving towards the summer will probably suffice whilst you save a bit more for a better bag, I had a big snooze admittedly quite a few years ago not the newer version and found it fine for 3 seasons of the year but not an all year round bag for me, a good 5 season bag is worth the extra a dual layer if you can so you have the best of both worlds either one with dual zips layers or one where you can take a liner out.
Whatever bag you choose,budget in an extra £5 and get yourself a hot water bottle..At some point you'll be glad you did. 
In reply to Post #18
You're not going to get a decent bag for 15 quid mate. If you really need to save then pop down argos and get a 3 season for 20-30 quid. You'll need to spend a lot more for the features that matter in carp angling, especially if you want it to cover winter too.
You're not going to get a decent bag for 15 quid mate. If you really need to save then pop down argos and get a 3 season for 20-30 quid. You'll need to spend a lot more for the features that matter in carp angling, especially if you want it to cover winter too.
In reply to Post #17
Yeah it's a sleep cell, attaches to bed chair and is pretty warm.
Yeah it's a sleep cell, attaches to bed chair and is pretty warm.
In reply to Post #11
You could get an x army bag from army surplus they are filled with duck down have a look price £30 as said you won't get a decent bag for £15
You could get an x army bag from army surplus they are filled with duck down have a look price £30 as said you won't get a decent bag for £15
In reply to Post #27
Good call, I used one of those for a while years back. Very warm and cheap as chips.
Good call, I used one of those for a while years back. Very warm and cheap as chips.
One thing to mention, I am not sure if most camping bags come with a crash zip? Nothing worse than buying a cheap camping one off amazon and having to wriggle out if you get a take in the night.
I use a trakker big snooze+ and was out in it last night with no issues. When it gets colder than about 6/7 degrees at night I take a Gardner thermal cover as well. Fished in -4 degrees this winter and was plenty warm enough with some thermal socks, trousers and top in bed
I use a trakker big snooze+ and was out in it last night with no issues. When it gets colder than about 6/7 degrees at night I take a Gardner thermal cover as well. Fished in -4 degrees this winter and was plenty warm enough with some thermal socks, trousers and top in bed
Avoid the army surplus "Duck Down" sleeping bags, or more commonly known as the G10 sleeping bag or 58 pattern.Technology has moved on, synthetic is far better and even the army stopped using duck down well over 20 years ago.
I spent many years in the army using the G10 sleeping bags, and despite them being very warm, they were only good for 3 seasons, they were no good for winter use when it got cold. We used to get issued warmer bags for winter or the arctic. I still have 6 of them and never use them as I much prefer the synthetic filled ones of which I have 4, but they are to hot for summer use and just lay on top of it with a blanket or overseas over me, unless I use one of my surplus jungle bags which are also synthetic.
Get a small hole or a rip in it, and you get feathers everywhere and even then, feathers occasionally come out of the lining.
Other issues with the G10 bag, the zips are not proper "crash zips" and easily break, and if they do, they are then useless, modern bags have velcro as well as a zip if needed.
Also down has no insulating properties when wet and just clogs up in wet balls, and also at times the bags need a good shaking to evenly distribute the down, otherwise you will get cold spots.
Also G10 Sleeping bags are getting harder to get hold off and a few still crop up on EBay.
And also, down filled bags need careful cleaning and not just a case of throwing it in a washing machine with soap powder like a synthetic bag.
About the only advantage of duck down bags are there lightness.
So basically, get hold of a modern surplus synthetic filled bag and avoid duck down, they themselves are only about £30 upwards.
I spent many years in the army using the G10 sleeping bags, and despite them being very warm, they were only good for 3 seasons, they were no good for winter use when it got cold. We used to get issued warmer bags for winter or the arctic. I still have 6 of them and never use them as I much prefer the synthetic filled ones of which I have 4, but they are to hot for summer use and just lay on top of it with a blanket or overseas over me, unless I use one of my surplus jungle bags which are also synthetic.
Get a small hole or a rip in it, and you get feathers everywhere and even then, feathers occasionally come out of the lining.
Other issues with the G10 bag, the zips are not proper "crash zips" and easily break, and if they do, they are then useless, modern bags have velcro as well as a zip if needed.
Also down has no insulating properties when wet and just clogs up in wet balls, and also at times the bags need a good shaking to evenly distribute the down, otherwise you will get cold spots.
Also G10 Sleeping bags are getting harder to get hold off and a few still crop up on EBay.
And also, down filled bags need careful cleaning and not just a case of throwing it in a washing machine with soap powder like a synthetic bag.
About the only advantage of duck down bags are there lightness.
So basically, get hold of a modern surplus synthetic filled bag and avoid duck down, they themselves are only about £30 upwards.
I would buy this £74.99 Its got straps and fixings to keep it on your bed and crash zips to get out of fast its gonna last you perfect for the summer
and when winter comes buy a Gardner bedchair cover if you want to fish thru sub zero temps
LINKY POO 
and when winter comes buy a Gardner bedchair cover if you want to fish thru sub zero temps
LINKY POO
looking at the ops posts he's wanting to spend more like £20-25 than uo towards 80 +
In reply to Post #27
My mate in 80s had a German sleeping bag suit can't remember to much about it now 40 years ago he would just get up to a run no bag to get out of no zips anyone seen one
My mate in 80s had a German sleeping bag suit can't remember to much about it now 40 years ago he would just get up to a run no bag to get out of no zips anyone seen one
In reply to Post #6
I've got a Nash ss3 I think as my partner's daughter had one given to her by her dad and eventually she sold it to me for £150,they thought it was just a camping bed so I then bought a trakker peach skin cover for it(couldn't get a Nash one at the time)and it's so warm.
All the bed chair needed was a little tlc like stitching on the inside of the sleeping bag and a clean and spray of febreeze and it's fine
I've got a Nash ss3 I think as my partner's daughter had one given to her by her dad and eventually she sold it to me for £150,they thought it was just a camping bed so I then bought a trakker peach skin cover for it(couldn't get a Nash one at the time)and it's so warm.
All the bed chair needed was a little tlc like stitching on the inside of the sleeping bag and a clean and spray of febreeze and it's fine
In reply to Post #33
The German army sleeping bag was common in the 80's, I used to use one till the zip broke. Basically it had a waterproof back to it, had arms and you could use it as a sleeping bag or a parka as it had a zip across the body of the bag which you could poke your legs out and then fold the bottom of the bag up behind by a strap and fasten it. But they were no good in Winter and I used to freeze my tits off in it. To keep warm, I used to have to use my big bright flouroscent green roll up rod holdall as an overwrap and wear my German army grey parka at the same time which also was in fashion. The zip was only half length which made it hard to get out off in a hurry unless you could stand up and step out of it. I may even still have it in the loft.
There is a well known picture of Rod Hutchinson wearing one as a parka. It may be in the "Carp strikes back".
Personally today, I would not buy one as there is better alternatives, and when you wore it as a parka, you looked a right dork so I never did.. But, as a cheap bag for Summer, and warm Springs and Autumn they would suffice.
In fact, I have just checked on EBay and there is still plenty up for sale, and some at silly prices, and the ones at a reasonable price, you could buy a better alternative. But, I have also seen on other websites that they must have been upgraded as they are now in two parts with a removable inner, possibly they are still in use. And I also see that they advertise them as "sniper" but they were not and issued to anyone in the Bundeswehr, probably a selling tactic.
The German army sleeping bag was common in the 80's, I used to use one till the zip broke. Basically it had a waterproof back to it, had arms and you could use it as a sleeping bag or a parka as it had a zip across the body of the bag which you could poke your legs out and then fold the bottom of the bag up behind by a strap and fasten it. But they were no good in Winter and I used to freeze my tits off in it. To keep warm, I used to have to use my big bright flouroscent green roll up rod holdall as an overwrap and wear my German army grey parka at the same time which also was in fashion. The zip was only half length which made it hard to get out off in a hurry unless you could stand up and step out of it. I may even still have it in the loft.
There is a well known picture of Rod Hutchinson wearing one as a parka. It may be in the "Carp strikes back".
Personally today, I would not buy one as there is better alternatives, and when you wore it as a parka, you looked a right dork so I never did.. But, as a cheap bag for Summer, and warm Springs and Autumn they would suffice.
In fact, I have just checked on EBay and there is still plenty up for sale, and some at silly prices, and the ones at a reasonable price, you could buy a better alternative. But, I have also seen on other websites that they must have been upgraded as they are now in two parts with a removable inner, possibly they are still in use. And I also see that they advertise them as "sniper" but they were not and issued to anyone in the Bundeswehr, probably a selling tactic.
I have just been told the Advanta sleep cell 4 season has been discontinued by angling direct sadly. Can anyone tell me a good enough sleeping bag for my budget £55 max please? It's a shame because the sleepcell was £50 and had great reviews....
In reply to Post #36
If you can get a Wychwood Morpheus 4 that is a very good bag for the money. Think I paid £50 for mine but I have had it a few years now so may also have been discontinued or gone up in price
If you can get a Wychwood Morpheus 4 that is a very good bag for the money. Think I paid £50 for mine but I have had it a few years now so may also have been discontinued or gone up in price
In reply to Post #37
Morpheus good and warm, gardner duvet for versatility and size.
Morpheus good and warm, gardner duvet for versatility and size.
In reply to Post #37
A very good bag the Morpheus Extreme 4, but I do believe it is now discontinued, I did have a quick Google and everywhere seems to be out of stock.
I have used mine down to Minus 4 (4 seasons, hence its name), and it was ok. If I needed a bag for colder weather though I would get something suitable to -12 or a 5 seasons bag.
A very good bag the Morpheus Extreme 4, but I do believe it is now discontinued, I did have a quick Google and everywhere seems to be out of stock.
I have used mine down to Minus 4 (4 seasons, hence its name), and it was ok. If I needed a bag for colder weather though I would get something suitable to -12 or a 5 seasons bag.
In reply to Post #39
Both the 4&7 are superb bags sadly not available then again I have one of each. Highly recommended if only Wychwood did another run of them, not for me as such.
I tend to use my 4 down to zero it's rated to -5 and it is not why it's called Morpheus 4 and my 7 for anything below and it's superb to -10, it's rated down to -15
Its called a 4 because of the 4 bands whilst the 7 has well 7 bands (hollow fibre filled bands) that cross it from top to tail.
Credit to Wychwood as they are the only company that had a specialist sleeping bag company to design them both. The 7 has a layer at the foot section that you can either put you feet on top of or underneath for added warmth.
I am also a sucker for comfort and do admit that a hot water bottle is highly recommended imo.
Both the 4&7 are superb bags sadly not available then again I have one of each. Highly recommended if only Wychwood did another run of them, not for me as such.
I tend to use my 4 down to zero it's rated to -5 and it is not why it's called Morpheus 4 and my 7 for anything below and it's superb to -10, it's rated down to -15
Its called a 4 because of the 4 bands whilst the 7 has well 7 bands (hollow fibre filled bands) that cross it from top to tail.
Credit to Wychwood as they are the only company that had a specialist sleeping bag company to design them both. The 7 has a layer at the foot section that you can either put you feet on top of or underneath for added warmth.
I am also a sucker for comfort and do admit that a hot water bottle is highly recommended imo.
Any others for around £50 that are not discontinued?
In reply to Post #41
If money's tight, the last thing you want to do is buy cheap and buy twice. Save up the money for a good bag and a waterproof thermal cover. If you have to take the duvet or blankets off your bed at home in the meantime. Do that. Hot water bottle if you really go in the winter as well.
If money's tight, the last thing you want to do is buy cheap and buy twice. Save up the money for a good bag and a waterproof thermal cover. If you have to take the duvet or blankets off your bed at home in the meantime. Do that. Hot water bottle if you really go in the winter as well.
Reading ALL pages