We bought a couple of cheap Vango bags from Go Outdoors but looking for something a little warmer without breaking the bank.
We have folding campbeds and SIM combo, comfortable enough but just a little concerned about the kids (6 and 4) getting cold.
Have been looking at the Gelert Hibernate 400S bags which claim to be season 3/4 bags, look to have pretty good reviews online and are resonably priced.
Has anybody used these bags or could recommend something season 3/4 for round abouts the same price range?
I have taken a fleecy blanket with me and when it has been really cold had it in the sleeping bag with me. Put it on top of the bag when just a bit extra is needed. On really warm nights just used the blanket.
Have also wrapped it around me when sitting out in the evening and it has been a bit chilly.
The wife uses a carp fishing bag. Very warm. I have an ex army arctic bag and youngest daughter a Dutch army arctic bag.We have fleece liners for the winter.If it is too warm, we unzip.
Those bags are all massive so for backpacking the wife and I have 3 season down bags.
------------- Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag
We use 300 bags as they are good all year round as long as you add a good fleece blanket out of season. I think 400 bags would be far too hot in the summer. I had to throw my 300 bag off 3 nights last week as I was too hot
I use a sleeping bag liner inside my sleeping bag if it's a bit chilly. It's also handy because you can stick it in the washing machine and means your sleeping bag doesn't get dirty as quickly. Doesn't take up much room when rolled up and is a cheap alternative to buying another sleeping bag. You will find that the cheapest are polyester, then cotton, then silk. If you go for the silk, you will be warmer and less sweaty than if you have a polyester one, but cotton is a good middle ground/compromise.
Here are a few liners that I found (cotton, silk and polycotton):
Micro fleece liners are nice and upgrade the bag by quite a bit.
------------- Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag
It might be useful to get a couple of closed cell foam mats to put under the sim. They'll give a fair bit of insulation between the air and the sleeper. It give you a bit of time to decide what combination is best for your kids. A couple of fleeces as others have suggested, will give you a decent layering system to cope with different weather conditions.