Would you consider buying/using a s/h sleeping bag? I have been poking about on Ebay and Gumtree but am not quite sure whether there is any demand or not.
I have a perfectly good Vango Astral 450 here which I no longer use as I decided it was too big for me and bought another warm bag to replace it which is a better shape for me. I've advertised it once but got no interest, so maybe there's no market.
What do you think?
------------- Tackling life the Western District way
If you just want to part company with it and to be sure that it goes to a good home, you could do a lot worse than to offer it to a local scout/guide troop. I am sure that they will have a need for it and would be most grateful for it.
------------- Steve
Look into my eyes, not around my eyes but into my eyes
Maybe worth a try on ebay or even free-ads a lot of people are going campling atm, if not donate to a local scout group as mentioned above, i'm sure they would be very pleased to receive.
Quote: Originally posted by eva1980 on 26/6/2010
if not donate to a local scout group as mentioned above,
Or to your local Air, Army, Sea Cadets place. When they go away, even if it's not under canvas, they have to use sleeping bags. And many of the youngsters turn up with woefully inadequate rejected-by-poundshop bags.
Quote: Originally posted by mr+mrsC on 26/6/2010Ew. Sorry but I wouldnt fancy sleeping in a bag that someone else had sweated into. Maybe others are not as fussy as me lol
If washed I don't see a problem. After all when you stay in a hotel even 5* ones, everything has been used before and washed. Some organisations would be glad for these if in good condition, some of the less well off can't afford to buy good sleeping bags for their kids for a camping trip, maybe never to be repeated.
Post last edited on 26/06/2010 22:31:20
------------- Christine
2014
April -
BunRoy Fort William 3 sleeps
April / May
Invercaimbe Arisaig 4 sleeps
Bleatarn Brampton tbc July
Ew. Sorry but I wouldnt fancy sleeping in a bag that someone else had sweated into. Maybe others are not as fussy as me lol
Put it in the wash? I buy quite a few clothes etc for the kids in charity shops or jumble sales, and now and again I find something special like a hand made quilt or linen sheets. These I grab with both hands. I wash them then use them. I don't see why a sleeping bag would be any different when it came to giving it a wash. as has been said, sheets in places like hospitals or hotels have had dozens of people sleeping on them. Even brand new clothes in shops might have been tried on half a dozen times and I bet few people wash their new clothes before first wear.
As to sleeping bags there seems to be a healthy second hand market in things like Vango Baby bags and childrens bags if you look at Ebay. I bought my Vango Baby bag at an NCT sale if I recall correctly. But adult ones perhaps not so much, though goodness knows why when people seem happy to pay £15 for a piece of almost useless fabric from the supermarket. A Vango Astral 450 is definately a good bag though so either stick it on Ebay with a good description, or the local Scout/Guide troupe as has been suggested? I Freecycled off my Vango Baby and my junior bags when the kids grew out of them btw, and the recipients all seemed extremely happy to get good quality kit for their kids.
And the bag has only had one careful owner, always used with a liner and is newly washed. So probably a lot fresher than the duvets at the Ritz. Lol.
Might try it on Ebay but if not I like the rough sleepers idea. Although I am a big supporter of the Scouts I think small ones might get lost inside an Astral 450 (test of map reading skills to find their way out?) and older ones might prefer a bag with more street cred they could use for backpacking.
Cheers again
PS I washed the Astral 450 and a similar sized and thickness old caravan-spec/cotton-outer envelope bag last Sunday. The Astral 450 dried noticeably more quickly, which I think might say something about repelling/retaining dampness when in use in a tent.
------------- Tackling life the Western District way
I am using one at the moment, as we are garden camping. We sold a folding camper for somebody, and this was in the bag of extras that didn't go with it.
I'm looking for a vango just like that but when I look on ebay they are all selling for not much short off the new price. So short of selling it to me, ebay would be great.