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Does anyone own one of the new 'ladies' sleeping bags? And which rating did you go for? I must get a new sleeping bag as last week I was cold on nights of 12 C even with fleece liner, hat, pjs and fleece top on!  However our bags are left over from our caravanning days, so are not that warm. 

Still confused by the ratings on sleeping bags.  I only camp from May to end of September, so do I need a 2-3 season, 3 or 3-4 season? I would say I feel the cold a little more than my OH but not a total wimp. Had a look at the Coleman Hudson 450 but thought it was too warm.  Totally confused, can anyone help?

Hi, I understand why mummy shaped sleeping bags are more efficient heatwise than big square bags with a lot of dead air inside - but when I tried one before I found it too narrow, uncomfortable and restricting so have always stuck with square bags since.

But following Piglet's advice I went to Attwoolls and tried out some other bags. There was eg a very impressive Vango Nitestar mummy bag aimed at females but I tried it on and again it felt way too narrow to be comfy. Probably aimed at lean, wirey, mountaineering types and not , er, people shaped like me . OK so I'm only 5 foot 2 tall, but these days I seem to be 5 foot two in most other directions too

But the Coleman Elle seems to be a good compromise between the skinny technical mummy bags and all the wasted cold space inside a large square bag designed to fit some big six foot tall rugby playing chap. The Elle is shaped, but gently and generously in the right places. Its a woman bag! Mine is a smart shiney steel grey on the outside and a soft quilted  flannel on the inside. I've just slept in it for a week and it was great, none of that feeling of twisting or constriction you get from a narrow mummy bag.

Can't comment too much on the temperature side of things as it was very hot while we were away and a couple of early mornings I ended up sleeping on top of the bag rather than in it once the sun had got up.

But so far I am very impressed with the Coleman Elle sleeping bag indeed

Quote: Originally posted by No Faff on 02/6/2009

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Thanks for the advice.  I think I need to go see some bags at a store now I'm more informed and make up my mind which shape to go for.

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If there is any chance you might need 2 bags - Milletts are doing 2 for 1 on their sleeping bags at the moment. We got 2 brilliant Adventurer 300 mummy bags from them with comfort range -2 to +25 and extreme of -15. They have a shoulder cowl, zip draft cowl, hood, hidden pocket, double zip and light-weight but warm filling. Tried them last weekend and much warmer than our Vango Wilderness 350s of several years old. You could sell one on ebay if you only want one. Milletts also have a new loyalty card with an introductory discount. In total paid just over £20 each (£49.90 each normally).

We bought a 3rd for our son off eBay from someone who had done the same deal and only wanted one.

BTW I believe there is a side extension optional extra for these bags too, but we are fine with them as they come.

Helen