Discussion
Gretchen said:
Glad I bumped this then. I’ve got some hammock frames in the garden and have suggested we camp out to try them first. Or even in the Catio 
It’s been suggested we take my Chihuahua so could be good way to test him out too. I’m not sure he’d be warm enough tbh. Hence want a decent sleeping bag.
Alpkit have a sale on their Pipedream range at the moment. I know the Pipedream 400 is very good. It’s been suggested we take my Chihuahua so could be good way to test him out too. I’m not sure he’d be warm enough tbh. Hence want a decent sleeping bag. SnugPak are good - I have a TravelPak 2 which has taken me down freezing.
Not a hammock dweller myself but I have heard good things about quilts (in particular UK based https://valleyandpeak.co.uk/)
MonkeyBusiness said:
Gretchen said:
Glad I bumped this then. I’ve got some hammock frames in the garden and have suggested we camp out to try them first. Or even in the Catio It’s been suggested we take my Chihuahua so could be good way to test him out too. I’m not sure he’d be warm enough tbh. Hence want a decent sleeping bag.
Alpkit have a sale on their Pipedream range at the moment. I know the Pipedream 400 is very good. It’s been suggested we take my Chihuahua so could be good way to test him out too. I’m not sure he’d be warm enough tbh. Hence want a decent sleeping bag. SnugPak are good - I have a TravelPak 2 which has taken me down freezing.
Not a hammock dweller myself but I have heard good things about quilts (in particular UK based https://valleyandpeak.co.uk/)
Staying away from quilts at the moment...
Edited by Gretchen on Wednesday 27th January 14:22
Gretchen said:
Looked at the Pipedream and weight sounds great as need gear that can be carried on a Paddle Boards and Mountain Bikes too so the lighter the better. The price was a little on the heavy side however.
I probably shouldn't tempt you with a PHD bag then. My Minim 500 is about 10 years old and still going strong, although the price has doubled since then. They do have fairly frequent sales, though...https://www.phdesigns.co.uk/down-sleeping-bags
sleeping bag ! omg another can of worms.
Ive gone for various Mountain equipment helium range - ultra light but very warm for various large minus numbers as was using in Norway and x-country skiing. Us it in the UK for hiking as well Was expensive but is my go to bag for UK and anywhere under 1kg i recall.
Snugpak are great and have a Canada? range from about 10 years ago - again used in -30 in Sweden with bivy bag.
If you are cycling/hiking then my best advice is get the best and lightest you can and think it as an investment. get a silk liner to add a bit more thermal and help keep it clean.
Ive gone for various Mountain equipment helium range - ultra light but very warm for various large minus numbers as was using in Norway and x-country skiing. Us it in the UK for hiking as well Was expensive but is my go to bag for UK and anywhere under 1kg i recall.
Snugpak are great and have a Canada? range from about 10 years ago - again used in -30 in Sweden with bivy bag.
If you are cycling/hiking then my best advice is get the best and lightest you can and think it as an investment. get a silk liner to add a bit more thermal and help keep it clean.
Gretchen said:
The TravelPak 2 (1100g) is more within budget. What’s that like to fold, pack and carry?
https://www.snugpak.com/outdoor/travelpak-2Its my go to bag. It comes in a stuff sack so packs pretty small.
On a different brand, if you want a down sleeping bag, the Ageismax range packs down REALLY tiny. I have the Micro bag but only suitable for summer use.
This guy is good to watch, I like his videos, his storm video was a little worrying to say the least.
https://youtu.be/6uoB-e-o_nE
https://youtu.be/6uoB-e-o_nE
superlightr said:
sleeping bag ! omg another can of worms.
Ive gone for various Mountain equipment helium range - ultra light but very warm for various large minus numbers as was using in Norway and x-country skiing. Us it in the UK for hiking as well Was expensive but is my go to bag for UK and anywhere under 1kg i recall.
Snugpak are great and have a Canada? range from about 10 years ago - again used in -30 in Sweden with bivy bag.
If you are cycling/hiking then my best advice is get the best and lightest you can and think it as an investment. get a silk liner to add a bit more thermal and help keep it clean.
Definitely a can of worms. £800 for a sleeping bag!?! I could have two weeks in Ibiza for that Ive gone for various Mountain equipment helium range - ultra light but very warm for various large minus numbers as was using in Norway and x-country skiing. Us it in the UK for hiking as well Was expensive but is my go to bag for UK and anywhere under 1kg i recall.
Snugpak are great and have a Canada? range from about 10 years ago - again used in -30 in Sweden with bivy bag.
If you are cycling/hiking then my best advice is get the best and lightest you can and think it as an investment. get a silk liner to add a bit more thermal and help keep it clean.
- I don’t even spend that much on a car!! 
One feature I (think I) definitely want is middle zip for hammock camping rather than side. Needs to weigh no more than 1200g, probably three seasons as opposed to four. I’m sure I need to investigate more specs. Who knew there were soooo many choices and such a huge price range.
Gretchen said:
superlightr said:
sleeping bag ! omg another can of worms.
Ive gone for various Mountain equipment helium range - ultra light but very warm for various large minus numbers as was using in Norway and x-country skiing. Us it in the UK for hiking as well Was expensive but is my go to bag for UK and anywhere under 1kg i recall.
Snugpak are great and have a Canada? range from about 10 years ago - again used in -30 in Sweden with bivy bag.
If you are cycling/hiking then my best advice is get the best and lightest you can and think it as an investment. get a silk liner to add a bit more thermal and help keep it clean.
Definitely a can of worms. £800 for a sleeping bag!?! I could have two weeks in Ibiza for that Ive gone for various Mountain equipment helium range - ultra light but very warm for various large minus numbers as was using in Norway and x-country skiing. Us it in the UK for hiking as well Was expensive but is my go to bag for UK and anywhere under 1kg i recall.
Snugpak are great and have a Canada? range from about 10 years ago - again used in -30 in Sweden with bivy bag.
If you are cycling/hiking then my best advice is get the best and lightest you can and think it as an investment. get a silk liner to add a bit more thermal and help keep it clean.
- I don’t even spend that much on a car!! One feature I (think I) definitely want is middle zip for hammock camping rather than side. Needs to weigh no more than 1200g, probably three seasons as opposed to four. I’m sure I need to investigate more specs. Who knew there were soooo many choices and such a huge price range.
I had an arm & leg bag, one of https://www.selkbaguk.com. Brilliant for hammocking, & bought during a Blacks sale...bit a bit bulky for carrying wild camping really. Fun for sleepovers
Nowadays I have a fairly decent down bag, again a Blacks sale special for around £75....can’t imagine parting with hundreds on one. Alpkit are decent. Worth investing in one, I would suggest: nothing worse than being cold when camping, pack up super tiny (& light), and if too hot, you can always open it.
+1 for a silk liner: weighs nothing & keeps the main bag clean....although I do somehow often end up twisted like a badly opened Quality Street!
mikeiow said:
Only hammocked once, when we took our Explorers on a “survival weekend” camp, but it was good fun....aside from the fact mine kept sliding down the tree...woke up several times with my back on the cold ground
I had an arm & leg bag, one of https://www.selkbaguk.com. Brilliant for hammocking, & bought during a Blacks sale...bit a bit bulky for carrying wild camping really. Fun for sleepovers
Nowadays I have a fairly decent down bag, again a Blacks sale special for around £75....can’t imagine parting with hundreds on one. Alpkit are decent. Worth investing in one, I would suggest: nothing worse than being cold when camping, pack up super tiny (& light), and if too hot, you can always open it.
+1 for a silk liner: weighs nothing & keeps the main bag clean....although I do somehow often end up twisted like a badly opened Quality Street!
Am learning lots about hammock camping, straps, knots, distances, levels and all round general tree safety I had an arm & leg bag, one of https://www.selkbaguk.com. Brilliant for hammocking, & bought during a Blacks sale...bit a bit bulky for carrying wild camping really. Fun for sleepovers
Nowadays I have a fairly decent down bag, again a Blacks sale special for around £75....can’t imagine parting with hundreds on one. Alpkit are decent. Worth investing in one, I would suggest: nothing worse than being cold when camping, pack up super tiny (& light), and if too hot, you can always open it.
+1 for a silk liner: weighs nothing & keeps the main bag clean....although I do somehow often end up twisted like a badly opened Quality Street!
Being an older lady I don’t think the full jumpsuit body bag is for me!! Also can’t find many mid zip bags so have scrapped that idea. Snugpak seems a good starter and am looking at a few other similar inc ladies Mummy bags. Then it’ll be backpack quandaries...
Great thread.
Here's a couple from a trip that I did here in the Engadin, Switzerland last summer. It was a (decent) walk from the house and I went with my 9 year old daughter. It's at 2615m hence the snow in August. We got caught in an enormous thunder storm in the evening and were really glad to be able to get the tent (Hilleberg) up so quickly. Next morning the light was beautiful
Actually, just an excuse to post some images.
Blue hour photo
Sunrise featuring tent and swimming pool.
Wild camping here is OK above the tree line (so no hammocks) and not near mountain huts etc.
Here's a couple from a trip that I did here in the Engadin, Switzerland last summer. It was a (decent) walk from the house and I went with my 9 year old daughter. It's at 2615m hence the snow in August. We got caught in an enormous thunder storm in the evening and were really glad to be able to get the tent (Hilleberg) up so quickly. Next morning the light was beautiful
Actually, just an excuse to post some images.
Blue hour photo
Sunrise featuring tent and swimming pool.
Wild camping here is OK above the tree line (so no hammocks) and not near mountain huts etc.
shedweller said:
SpeckledJim said:
Ooooft. Waaay too cold for that.
Too right! - I have had a photographer staying in my treehouse all week to photograph beavers this week.... It's not like other treehouses on PH!...... Rustic, Fair play to him.
Love the treehouse!! And Beavers too. That’s fabulous
Do you rent it out?Gretchen said:
We only did a few hours this afternoon. Packed up an hour ago. Was nice to be out though.
Love the treehouse!! And Beavers too. That’s fabulous Do you rent it out?
Not for money no...a few people have stayed in it in return for favours..... It is basically an old shed made of old crap on a platform.Love the treehouse!! And Beavers too. That’s fabulous
Do you rent it out?I built it last march as our holiday home during lockdown on a bit of riverbank I own, It is a bit of a mission to get to but a nice spot for camping and we were very thankful for it last year.....
Gretchen said:
It’s brilliant, great work. Well done. Bet that was good fun with the family. Riverside makes it sound even more perfect. Is it suitable water for Paddle Boarding?
When you say favours...is that like photos of Beavers?
Favours.... WellWhen you say favours...is that like photos of Beavers?
The photographer - Because I like beaver pics, and I need pictures sometimes for work + he's trying to make a living so why not?
Me & the Mrs have joked of opening a little cafe up river and calling it the greasy beaver.
Others...... It was built at the very beginning of lockdown 1 when everything was shut, builders merchants etc etc.
So the couple who run the local scaff firm who opened up their yard and sold me planks for not enough have had a night away last summer.
The manager of my local merchants also opened up for the 6x2.....
A mate who is a climber did some tree work for me and is doing more in exchange for a couple of nights again this year etc etc
Life's about relationships......
Paddle boarding the river..... Perhaps. I have tubed it years ago with mates down to Budleigh but we covered the bottoms with duck tape..... Better just to drive to the beach
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