In reply to Post #197
There is one bag, but you need a barrow for it alone: the Fox Ventec!
There is one bag, but you need a barrow for it alone: the Fox Ventec!
In reply to Post #196
Answered my own question, drove to erics and tried one out for myself. Top covers easily come up over my shoulders so no draught getting down there. Kopped it for a nice price too
Answered my own question, drove to erics and tried one out for myself. Top covers easily come up over my shoulders so no draught getting down there. Kopped it for a nice price too
In reply to Post #199
Can anyone tell me please if the Techlite is waterproof?
Today I had a close look again at the Gardner Carp Duvet Plus, the Fox Ventec and the Trakker AS 365. I didn't like these 3 sleeping bags. The Gardner felt like those cheap sleeping bags from the past for camping with the stuffing as cotton balls. The outer shell was nice and tough but the inner feels cheap too.
Again, with the AS 365 the baffles (why I'm changing my current 365) are too small, catch in the zip and I didn't like the inner material. The model in the store already had loose stitching and small threads coming loose of the inner material due to an abrasion.
The Ventec had fleece on to and caught on my body and also the inner liner material (like the Gardner) felt cheap.
All bags use cheap filling in my opinion and make you feel sweaty, like those cheap duvets for on your bed with the missus.
When seeing all these current bags and their perceived quality, I can't really part with my old 365. I like the inner fabric, the filling (feels like Snugpak filling) and the waterproof outer shell.
I am thinking about the Snugpak Techlite now OR (and this one is going to be it I think); I'm going to buy a Snugpak Jungle Blanket (about 20 pounds) and have a seamstress cut that up and make 2 nice baffles out of it on my old 365.
Can anyone tell me please if the Techlite is waterproof?
Today I had a close look again at the Gardner Carp Duvet Plus, the Fox Ventec and the Trakker AS 365. I didn't like these 3 sleeping bags. The Gardner felt like those cheap sleeping bags from the past for camping with the stuffing as cotton balls. The outer shell was nice and tough but the inner feels cheap too.
Again, with the AS 365 the baffles (why I'm changing my current 365) are too small, catch in the zip and I didn't like the inner material. The model in the store already had loose stitching and small threads coming loose of the inner material due to an abrasion.
The Ventec had fleece on to and caught on my body and also the inner liner material (like the Gardner) felt cheap.
All bags use cheap filling in my opinion and make you feel sweaty, like those cheap duvets for on your bed with the missus.
When seeing all these current bags and their perceived quality, I can't really part with my old 365. I like the inner fabric, the filling (feels like Snugpak filling) and the waterproof outer shell.
I am thinking about the Snugpak Techlite now OR (and this one is going to be it I think); I'm going to buy a Snugpak Jungle Blanket (about 20 pounds) and have a seamstress cut that up and make 2 nice baffles out of it on my old 365.
In reply to Post #200
Whychwood morph 7?
Whychwood morph 7?
In reply to Post #201
Yes, that's the last one I wanted to look at, but no store sells this bag over here.
Yes, that's the last one I wanted to look at, but no store sells this bag over here.
In reply to Post #200
Nah they're not waterproof, they're resistant enough to splashing, but you'd not want to sleep out in the open if it's raining.
I bought one earlier this year. Friday was its first real test. To give you an idea how well it passed the test; I climbed in about 22:00 in minus temps and was toasty in 10 mins. When I got up the next morning (which was difficult as it was so warm and comfortable) I realised I'd actually not been in the bag itself, rather I'd climbed in between the bag and the top layer (Doh! - it was very dark in my defense).
Now I was using it with a thermal cover which I assume went a long way to keeping me warm despite my stupidity at not getting in the actual bag.... but it just goes to show, I reckon the bag, with a cover, is good for at least another 5 degrees below freezing. More than enough for any conditions I've encountered in the UK.
Nah they're not waterproof, they're resistant enough to splashing, but you'd not want to sleep out in the open if it's raining.
I bought one earlier this year. Friday was its first real test. To give you an idea how well it passed the test; I climbed in about 22:00 in minus temps and was toasty in 10 mins. When I got up the next morning (which was difficult as it was so warm and comfortable) I realised I'd actually not been in the bag itself, rather I'd climbed in between the bag and the top layer (Doh! - it was very dark in my defense).
Now I was using it with a thermal cover which I assume went a long way to keeping me warm despite my stupidity at not getting in the actual bag.... but it just goes to show, I reckon the bag, with a cover, is good for at least another 5 degrees below freezing. More than enough for any conditions I've encountered in the UK.
In reply to Post #203
Hi mate, Thanks for your reply. Good to read that you have good experiences with it. If it's not waterproof, it's a deal breaker for me. I have heard from other members here, that my current 365 is equally as warm as the Techlite so I will have baffles fitted to my 365 next to the zips or I will look at the Wychwood Morpheus Ultra 7. Like the look of that bag too!
Hi mate, Thanks for your reply. Good to read that you have good experiences with it. If it's not waterproof, it's a deal breaker for me. I have heard from other members here, that my current 365 is equally as warm as the Techlite so I will have baffles fitted to my 365 next to the zips or I will look at the Wychwood Morpheus Ultra 7. Like the look of that bag too!
Out of interest this thread highlights the issues with 'user reviews' on here that someone else brought up recently....
Example, compare Yonny's last post with this from #177:
'I had the tech lite and used is through the spring and summer. It maybe the warmest bag for its weight. But it certainly isn't a winterbag, even with a bedchair cover over it.'
You couldn't get two opinions that are further apart, no wonder folks get confused
Example, compare Yonny's last post with this from #177:
'I had the tech lite and used is through the spring and summer. It maybe the warmest bag for its weight. But it certainly isn't a winterbag, even with a bedchair cover over it.'
You couldn't get two opinions that are further apart, no wonder folks get confused
In reply to Post #205
Some people feel the cold alot more than others and also some dont use the bag correctly keeping too many layers on.The techlite is more than upto the coldest weather we get in the uk
Some people feel the cold alot more than others and also some dont use the bag correctly keeping too many layers on.The techlite is more than upto the coldest weather we get in the uk
In reply to Post #206
Yeah agree, the bloke who posted #177 must seriously feel it if a Techlite and a cover didn't do the job.
Yeah agree, the bloke who posted #177 must seriously feel it if a Techlite and a cover didn't do the job.
In reply to Post #205
I have used this bag since it first came out and have commented several times on this forum. It is a very good bag BUT..
ON ITS OWN IT IS NOT A 5 SEASON BAG.
I first used mine with a Thermarest inflatable mattress underneath and a thin Trakker fleece lined bedchair cover. In freezing conditions it did not keep me warm - by the early hours I had to put extra clothing on.
Now I have a much thicker Trakker delux bedchair cover on it and it is warm enough in all conditions. But the mattress is another 750g and the bedchair cover another 2kg. All of which makes it just about as heavy as other bags out there.
It is not waterproof. You will need to add a bedchair cover to make it waterproof and if you fish in sub zero conditions you will need to add a bedchair cover anyway.
The zips are a bit ****. They catch on the material and are not crash zips. Most of the time I don't do the zips up unless it is really cold.
I use mine all the time. It is a good bag and I really like it. For most conditions it is warm and versatile and does not weigh much. For the money it should be better.
I have used this bag since it first came out and have commented several times on this forum. It is a very good bag BUT..
ON ITS OWN IT IS NOT A 5 SEASON BAG.
I first used mine with a Thermarest inflatable mattress underneath and a thin Trakker fleece lined bedchair cover. In freezing conditions it did not keep me warm - by the early hours I had to put extra clothing on.
Now I have a much thicker Trakker delux bedchair cover on it and it is warm enough in all conditions. But the mattress is another 750g and the bedchair cover another 2kg. All of which makes it just about as heavy as other bags out there.
It is not waterproof. You will need to add a bedchair cover to make it waterproof and if you fish in sub zero conditions you will need to add a bedchair cover anyway.
The zips are a bit ****. They catch on the material and are not crash zips. Most of the time I don't do the zips up unless it is really cold.
I use mine all the time. It is a good bag and I really like it. For most conditions it is warm and versatile and does not weigh much. For the money it should be better.
In reply to Post #208
Thanks for that honest write up. This all makes me more sure I don't want to spend 250 euro on the Snugpak bag and just have my 365 baffles fitted made out a Snugpak Jungle Blanket. I guess I would have the perfect sleeping bag for about 50 euro (seamstress and Jungle Blanket).
Thanks for that honest write up. This all makes me more sure I don't want to spend 250 euro on the Snugpak bag and just have my 365 baffles fitted made out a Snugpak Jungle Blanket. I guess I would have the perfect sleeping bag for about 50 euro (seamstress and Jungle Blanket).
In reply to Post #205
This is going to sound strange, but bare with me......
I put the differences down to user error....let me explain.
Sleeping bags work by heating up the air around the body. The more clothing you wear in a bag, the colder you are. You can get two folk with identical bags, one fully clothed, the other in just t-shirt and trousers..and the one in the t-shirt will be warmer as their body heat will heat the air in the bag.
As for the techlite...it has a massive design flaw and that's the fact its open topped. That will allow large amounts of heat to escape. The bigger you are, the more the gap will be and thus the more heats escapes, especially as its held down and you cannot gather it around your shoulders and neck.
The "cover" is a waste of time as the cold penetrates from below, not from the top. I am surprised Snugpak produced these bags, although I guess Fortis waved a cheque book at them to do it. Its a design that goes against everything Snugpak says about bags. If you note, Snugpak themselves do not sell a single open topped bag. Even there "Jungle bag" is a mummy style and also there cheap every day range, and they do that for a reason. Also, there Arctic bags have extra insulation "beneath" not on top.
A lot of us in the military have been using snugpak products for donkey years, and I personally use a 3 season Snugpak for a majority of the year (based in Scotland). If it starts to get a little cooler, I swap to an inflatable "multimat" sleeping mat as this gives more insulation from the ground.
When fishing, adding a mat to the bedchair makes a HUGE difference. if you start to cool down, a quick 10-20 situps will be enough to generate heat and keep you warm
http://www.snugpak.com/military/sleeping-mat-range-military
This is going to sound strange, but bare with me......
I put the differences down to user error....let me explain.
Sleeping bags work by heating up the air around the body. The more clothing you wear in a bag, the colder you are. You can get two folk with identical bags, one fully clothed, the other in just t-shirt and trousers..and the one in the t-shirt will be warmer as their body heat will heat the air in the bag.
As for the techlite...it has a massive design flaw and that's the fact its open topped. That will allow large amounts of heat to escape. The bigger you are, the more the gap will be and thus the more heats escapes, especially as its held down and you cannot gather it around your shoulders and neck.
The "cover" is a waste of time as the cold penetrates from below, not from the top. I am surprised Snugpak produced these bags, although I guess Fortis waved a cheque book at them to do it. Its a design that goes against everything Snugpak says about bags. If you note, Snugpak themselves do not sell a single open topped bag. Even there "Jungle bag" is a mummy style and also there cheap every day range, and they do that for a reason. Also, there Arctic bags have extra insulation "beneath" not on top.
A lot of us in the military have been using snugpak products for donkey years, and I personally use a 3 season Snugpak for a majority of the year (based in Scotland). If it starts to get a little cooler, I swap to an inflatable "multimat" sleeping mat as this gives more insulation from the ground.
When fishing, adding a mat to the bedchair makes a HUGE difference. if you start to cool down, a quick 10-20 situps will be enough to generate heat and keep you warm
http://www.snugpak.com/military/sleeping-mat-range-military
In reply to Post #211
I use and have always used a cheapo foil lined camping mat on the bedchair, and I agree it makes the world of difference. Weighs about 100 grams.
I use and have always used a cheapo foil lined camping mat on the bedchair, and I agree it makes the world of difference. Weighs about 100 grams.
In reply to Post #212
I cant understand how people get cold in these unless they are wearing too much as mentioned above. I wouldnt be without mine and recon its the best bit of kit i've bought and wish they were about years ago. I never got cold in mine last winter and on a couple of occasions had to zip off the top layer as got a bit warm.
I cant understand how people get cold in these unless they are wearing too much as mentioned above. I wouldnt be without mine and recon its the best bit of kit i've bought and wish they were about years ago. I never got cold in mine last winter and on a couple of occasions had to zip off the top layer as got a bit warm.