Sleeping bag for ABC

[gnik]

Hi all,

I've been gathering my gear together for a portered ABC trek leaving 6th Oct & I'm wondering if this is a viable option to avoid the expense of a new sleeping bag -

I have a 10 year old Paddy Pallin Quallofil 7 bag, rated 3 season I think (possible model Tianjara). Its kinda bulky & I guess wouldn't be warm enough on its own. I have a silk liner too.

I was thinking of adding an additional Sea & Summit Thermolite Reactor liner which could be used on its own when warm & inside the main bag when cold. Its supposed to add 'up to' 8 degrees warmth. Do you reckon this will be enough??

http://www.seatosummit.com.au/showdetail.php?Code=AREACTOR

[Escher]

Hmm difficult question to answer. It is not clear at all how warm your bag is. I assume it is synthetic fill? If so it does not wear well (not as well as down) and so loses a great deal of its insulating properties over the years with use, so it also depends how much you have used it. 10 years is quite old for a synthetic bag.

I use a 3 season bag for all the trekking I do. It is rated to -5c and has been fine up to 5000m in late Feb/March as well as Oct, I have never been cold in it. Though many will insist that you will need a much warmer bag.

The maximum altitude you will sleep at in the Sanctuary is 4000m so it won't be that cold and especially not in October. Something rated to -5 will be plenty but the question is how warm is your sleeping bag now?

I find a silk liner boosts the warmth by 2 or 3 degrees. The trouble with using multiple liners is that you get tangled up in them during the night and they aren't too comfortable.

If it was me I would just take what I have and supplement the warmth when needed (perhaps only 1 naybe 2 nights) by laying my jacket over the top of the bag and wearing long underwear to bed. Don't wear all your clothing to bed it doesn't make your warmer.

[gnik]

Hmm difficult question to answer. It is not clear at all how warm your bag is. I assume it is synthetic fill? If so it does not wear well (not as well as down) and so loses a great deal of its insulating properties over the years with use, so it also depends how much you have used it. 10 years is quite old for a synthetic bag.

I use a 3 season bag for all the trekking I do. It is rated to -5c and has been fine up to 5000m in late Feb/March as well as Oct, I have never been cold in it. Though many will insist that you will need a much warmer bag.

The maximum altitude you will sleep at in the Sanctuary is 4000m so it won't be that cold and especially not in October. Something rated to -5 will be plenty but the question is how warm is your sleeping bag now?

I find a silk liner boosts the warmth by 2 or 3 degrees. The trouble with using multiple liners is that you get tangled up in them during the night and they aren't too comfortable.

If it was me I would just take what I have and supplement the warmth when needed (perhaps only 1 naybe 2 nights) by laying my jacket over the top of the bag and wearing long underwear to bed. Don't wear all your clothing to bed it doesn't make your warmer.

Thanks for the reply Escher. My bag is synthetic & was bought 10 years ago for a RTW trip but has had limited use since. A 'three seasons' rating seems massively subjective depending on where the seasons occur. I wish I could work out its current comfort rating. I suppose I could crawl out of the comfort my matrimonial bed & see how it performs in the Melbourne winter (rarely under 5 degrees tho).

[Escher]

I would just go for it. Worst case scenario is you might be cold one night. You can always ask for extra blankets at the lodge.

Alternatively you could hire one in Kathmandu or Pokhara. Seeing as you aren't carrying it then you could pick the heaviest, warmest bag you like. You can hire for around a dollar (US) a day, same for a down jacket. Be discerning as their down bags are often poor quality feathers and last March we met quite a few people who had been savaged by bed bugs after hiring bags!

One more alternative is to get a quality down bag from Shona's in Thamel. You can get western quality down jackets and bags for very good, knock-down prices. Well worth the investment.

[yakshaver]

I am a bit obsessive but I like to know I have a good sleeping bag. It's the next best thing, in Nepal, to "your matrimonial bed"...
If you don't fancy splashing out on a new down bag in Melbourne, I suggest following Escher's suggestion and buying a cheaper version in Thamel. Just pay attention to the quality of the stitching and feel the filling to make sure there's not too much feather in it.

Indeed lodges will give you extra blankets upon request. Some of them can be a bit grotty, but when there are minus 7 C in inside your room, who cares...

I usually ask for extra blankets and place them under me on the bed to make for a cushier sleep.

[gnik]

This Mountain Hardwear bag is 30% off in Melbourne at the moment....

http://www.paddypallin.com.au/default.aspx?page=78&product=311&Group=0

Its synthetic, but smaller, lighter & warmer than my current bag.

I'm warming to it...

[Oli]

I have a similar Mountain Hardware synthetic bag, its done some good trekking but sometimes I did need to borrow a blanket. I've since invested in a warmer down bag, but sometimes that is a bit too hot. Can't have one bag for every season. :rolleyes:

The Nepali for "I'm feeling cold, please give me a blanket" is "Jado lagyo, kambal dinus" ;)

[Lars]

... buying a cheaper version in Thamel. Just pay attention to the quality of the stitching and feel the filling ...
And sniff it too! A friend of mine bought a good looking down bag in Kathmandu.
It was warm enough, but after some time he noticed it had an annoying
feathery smell. Like sleeping in a chicken house.

He is since on a non chicken diet. Probably eggs too, and is trying to convince
his wife to trade her parakeets for a dog :)

[MulesMarinair]

Shona's sell silk liners for 1500r and have decent down bags for around 6700r

I brought some home for some mates and for a liner and bag it came in at GBP £ 67 when the exchange rate was 124.

Nae bad.

MM