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Quote: Originally posted by dgardner on 02/12/2010

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You could try one of these:

58 pattern sleeping bag
Absolute cracker but quite bulky

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Quote: Originally posted by millybee on 30/11/2010

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I second what Helen (Speedcamp) said re fleece liner.  I have both 350 and 450 Nitestar and I would take a fleeceliner with each of them - though they are great bags, to say the obvious, it is extremely cold. 

Ensure he keeps a pair of good thick socks aside from his walking socks to change into when he goes to bed and how about a small (childs size) hot water bottle?

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Just what I'd advise (cheers millybe saved the typing !) I have an old Jack Wolfskin bag, Mrs Z has a Vango Nitestar - think a 450. Now we're a bit older we're getting soft but in these temperatures I'd take no chances.

Make sure he has lots of clothing to build up layers. Doesn't have to use it all but there if he needs it - chances are he'll be glad of it all. 

 For cold weather use I'd notconsider buying any sleeping bag that didn't give info on what temperatures the bag is reccommended for - ideally both the comfort rating & extreme ratings. These are still very subjective though. And definitely make sure there's as much insulation from the ground as possible. Brrrr makes me cold just thinking about camping in this !

Post last edited on 03/12/2010 14:44:57

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Fools and charlatans know everything and understand nothing . Anton Chekhov

Thanks for all your replies. I am sending him with a SIM rather than just a foam mat which was on his kit list. I have just taught him how to use it, (undo the valve to let the air in, and make sure he does it up before he sleeps on it, lol).

Also going to send him with a thick fleece blanket, either ontop of the sleeping bag, or in it. Bobble hat is a must too.

The "58" Pattern sleeping bag is really a 3 season bag. I tried one early this week in a borrowed "swag" that a Kiwi mate of mine owns and I was B. cold (minus 6 approx)

The trouble is "how much do you want to spend?" If the young chap is going to carry on with camping/backpacking as a hobby then it is money well spent otherwise...

I bought a top end RAB for winter use and have the lightest Mountain Equipment "Dreamcatcher" for summer use. I bought the 58 Pattern off Ebay, brand new(?) for £21 for old times sake.and would still rate it against any of the top of the market gear for warmth.

The usual worry about down is people saying "if it gets wet etc" Fair comment and all I can say is that after many years I still haven't managed to do something lke that

Don't forget about ALPKIT Their kit seems to be more affordable and is of good quality.

Well, he's been camping in the snow and he is back .

When I dropped him off, I told him to try to keep dry.... a few of the other Scouts were in process of rolling a huge snowball, ready to make a snowman. (Who would think to find 'snowman' and 'camping' together in the same sentance!!!) I also gave him a twin pack of heat pads, only 99p... you get them to put on back pain etc. Just expose them to air and they heat up, stick them on your clothes, and they stay warm for up to 8 hours.  He said they were lovely, and used them on his vest, in the evening and they kept him warm all night, he put his hands on them to warm up too. His friend wished he had some.

His sleeping bag was lovely and warm too, he said, just got cold when he had to go outside the tent to pee.

They had a lovely time, did woodcraft, (all were told to bring a pocket knife) cooked Christmas dinner over the camp fire, roasting turkey on some kind of a spit. Toasting marshmallows and then in the morning, cooking a Full English breakfast, complete with black pudding.  He really ate well, so its all body fuel.

As it was only 1 night, it was do-able, but he was pretty wet and muddy when I picked him up the next day, so glad he could come home to a hot bath.

Glad he was ok Chinagirl, I was wondering how he'd got on.

 It's all very well people saying he'll be fine but if the weather is very bad not having the right kit might mean not being fine at all. Sadly there have been plenty cases where young people have been taken on various outdoor adventures that have turned into tradgedies - very often avoidable ones - sometimes due to people running these things who have scant practical experience.

To my mind a scoutmaster taking kids off in these conditions ought to provide parents with a list detailing what equipment was needed. Rant over !

Glad he had a good time though.