In reply to Post #135
Great review and follow up
.
I keep toying with this bag as have the ECWCS which is a bit tight to be ideal (although superb quality). I given the Techlite a proper look over on a few occasions and still come to the conclusion it is never a proper 5 season bag, lacked a little quality and was a lot of money.
As for wearing minimum clothing in sleeping bags .... This IS recommended for people who dont need to get out of the sleeping bag in the night. Modern materials are designed to retain and maintain the heat. Minute you open the bag then you are back to square one. So not only do you have to get outside in minimum clothes, the bag will need re-warming again, made even harder because your body will be cold. I think the advice to wear minimum clothing when fishing in sub-zero temps is poor advice myself and only good advice if reeled in for the night.
Ive had loads of sleeping bags over the years (still have many of them in the loft) and even though im not a fleece fan either, having fleece is the compromise if really want the warmest envelope type bag suitable for fishing.
The Techlite is still overpriced imo, but so is a lot of stuff in fishing, and it's size/weight to warmth ratio is very attractive. New version having baffles improves it again. Im sure for most of the year will be perfectly adequate ... For the few months/times where it lacks warmth then i would be prepared to add a layer. Ive still not taken the plunge yet though
Great review and follow up
.I keep toying with this bag as have the ECWCS which is a bit tight to be ideal (although superb quality). I given the Techlite a proper look over on a few occasions and still come to the conclusion it is never a proper 5 season bag, lacked a little quality and was a lot of money.
As for wearing minimum clothing in sleeping bags .... This IS recommended for people who dont need to get out of the sleeping bag in the night. Modern materials are designed to retain and maintain the heat. Minute you open the bag then you are back to square one. So not only do you have to get outside in minimum clothes, the bag will need re-warming again, made even harder because your body will be cold. I think the advice to wear minimum clothing when fishing in sub-zero temps is poor advice myself and only good advice if reeled in for the night.
Ive had loads of sleeping bags over the years (still have many of them in the loft) and even though im not a fleece fan either, having fleece is the compromise if really want the warmest envelope type bag suitable for fishing.
The Techlite is still overpriced imo, but so is a lot of stuff in fishing, and it's size/weight to warmth ratio is very attractive. New version having baffles improves it again. Im sure for most of the year will be perfectly adequate ... For the few months/times where it lacks warmth then i would be prepared to add a layer. Ive still not taken the plunge yet though
In reply to Post #135
The problem with the bag is probably because its a square shape and not mummy, so there are cold spots on the spaces you don't occupy. I use Snugpak special forces and these are more than enough for me., wear minimal clothing and haven't felt cold in a sleeping bag for ages. Although may be changing to DPM fortis or a new special forces as mine after 8 years has seen better days.
The trick i learnt some time ago was to wear minimal clothing you can get away with if you have to get out of bag, adding a coat or fleecy, on way out of bivvy. Before getting into bag speed up your heart rate and heat by some light exercise, i.e. press ups or the likes. The bag reacts to your body temperature and is fuelled by your heat.
The problem with the bag is probably because its a square shape and not mummy, so there are cold spots on the spaces you don't occupy. I use Snugpak special forces and these are more than enough for me., wear minimal clothing and haven't felt cold in a sleeping bag for ages. Although may be changing to DPM fortis or a new special forces as mine after 8 years has seen better days.
The trick i learnt some time ago was to wear minimal clothing you can get away with if you have to get out of bag, adding a coat or fleecy, on way out of bivvy. Before getting into bag speed up your heart rate and heat by some light exercise, i.e. press ups or the likes. The bag reacts to your body temperature and is fuelled by your heat.
In reply to Post #135
I wasn't suggesting one way or the other, just curious. Seen a few poor reviews for these bags but I've never used one or seen one in the flesh.
Clothing is a bit of a fine line. Personally I have no problem with getting up & putting a coat on but I can appreciate that it's not for everyone. I think if you're someone that likes to wear a few layers in the bag then these thicker 5 season bags are probably not the answer. It's about finding the right combination that suits you, there's no one combination that suits everyone.
The fact is though no sleeping bag can generate heat, you have to do that yourself. Clothing layers prevent body heat warming the bag so these thicker filled winter bags are impossible to warm up. Considering their intended application they're probably not well designed. A thinner bag with a bedchair cover will warm up quicker whilst the cover keeps drafts off.
I wasn't suggesting one way or the other, just curious. Seen a few poor reviews for these bags but I've never used one or seen one in the flesh.
Clothing is a bit of a fine line. Personally I have no problem with getting up & putting a coat on but I can appreciate that it's not for everyone. I think if you're someone that likes to wear a few layers in the bag then these thicker 5 season bags are probably not the answer. It's about finding the right combination that suits you, there's no one combination that suits everyone.
The fact is though no sleeping bag can generate heat, you have to do that yourself. Clothing layers prevent body heat warming the bag so these thicker filled winter bags are impossible to warm up. Considering their intended application they're probably not well designed. A thinner bag with a bedchair cover will warm up quicker whilst the cover keeps drafts off.
In reply to Post #139
yep I agree I am one of the people that CHOOSE to wear minimal clothing in the bag and found exactly what your saying and I have a coat or fleece next to the door that I can grab if I need to but normally find the adrenalin keeps me warm and all this old TOSH about once your cold when you get in a bag you cant warm up probably applies to people that jump in with clothes that are insulating themselves from the bag ? I have found one of the quickest ways to get warm is to totally relax not sure why ? but if I think oh its cold and tense myself it takes longer ???
there will be the same old people on this thread saying they could not jump out in freezing condition with just shorts and a teeshirt well not knocking them at all ? thats their CHOICE
but I know it certainly works for me
and I notice from Kev`s videos he is a convert too even if his gonads pop out now and again 
yep I agree I am one of the people that CHOOSE to wear minimal clothing in the bag and found exactly what your saying and I have a coat or fleece next to the door that I can grab if I need to but normally find the adrenalin keeps me warm and all this old TOSH about once your cold when you get in a bag you cant warm up probably applies to people that jump in with clothes that are insulating themselves from the bag ? I have found one of the quickest ways to get warm is to totally relax not sure why ? but if I think oh its cold and tense myself it takes longer ???
there will be the same old people on this thread saying they could not jump out in freezing condition with just shorts and a teeshirt well not knocking them at all ? thats their CHOICE
but I know it certainly works for me
and I notice from Kev`s videos he is a convert too even if his gonads pop out now and again
In reply to Post #140
I'm old find it helps wake me up, once the fish is safely in the net I tend to put on a fleece as its only at this point do I actually notice the cold.
also I like having cold spots, its like the turn the pillow over syndrome I fall asleep easier with a cold pillow rather than a hot one.
I'm old find it helps wake me up, once the fish is safely in the net I tend to put on a fleece as its only at this point do I actually notice the cold.
also I like having cold spots, its like the turn the pillow over syndrome I fall asleep easier with a cold pillow rather than a hot one.
In reply to Post #141
UPDATE
I just retuned from a 3 night trip from up Norff I had Northerly and Easterly cold winds and Tuesday night woke to find the bivvy and banks had a hard white frost My snugpak bag was unzipped as usual I just cant sleep in a bag that's zipped up a trakker cover flaps over to cover the gap
I was not just warm but HOT !
UPDATE
I just retuned from a 3 night trip from up Norff I had Northerly and Easterly cold winds and Tuesday night woke to find the bivvy and banks had a hard white frost My snugpak bag was unzipped as usual I just cant sleep in a bag that's zipped up a trakker cover flaps over to cover the gap
I was not just warm but HOT !
Sorry for the old thread revival but is this bag in any way water resistant, for those moments when you get back in the bivvy soaking wet or the wet dog jumps on the bed?
In reply to Post #143
On some websites says water resistant(angling direct)
On some websites says water resistant(angling direct)
Think how tight a bag is on a bed is a major factor, regarding heat retention. Super wide beds may be losing some of the "gathering warmth". All things I work on and study in my carp lab.
I just got one of these. Obviously I wont need the top layer at the moment but can any experienced users give me an idea of what kind of temps will require the addition of the top layer?
Cheers.
Cheers.
In reply to Post #147
When you start feeling cold without it
When you start feeling cold without it
In reply to Post #148
That's what I'm trying to avoid lol.....
That's what I'm trying to avoid lol.....
I put my top layer on when it starts dropping to about 5 degrees overnight...
In reply to Post #150
Cheers bud
Cheers bud
In reply to Post #149
Its a hard one because everyone is different in when they start to feel the cold but for the size and weight of it i would just carry it with you when it starts getting a bit cooler to zip on
Its a hard one because everyone is different in when they start to feel the cold but for the size and weight of it i would just carry it with you when it starts getting a bit cooler to zip on