How annoying to learn something only shortly after you really needed to know about it?

I decided on my trip to Bradford that my sleeping bag was a) a smidge too small, and b) too big when packed. I used my messenger bag (about 28l) as my main bag, and the sleeping bag basically filled the bag, leaving precious little space for my inflatable mat and requiring my clothes to be compressed. My toiletries had to go into my (hydration) back pack, my pillow was strapped to the front of the bike and so was my water proof jacket. So last night and today I had a look at 'lite' bags.

Looking first on Vango (which is my current brand), I noticed that I already have a 'Travel/Lightweight' bag! Odd, I thought. Looking at the current bags, my equivalent would be a Voyager 100.

Reading reviews of sleeping bags mostly from Americans, I was struck how all the features they were marvelling at on expensive bags (double-sided zips, convertable to a duvet, zip secured with velcro) is all old hat with Vango bags. The new Voyager shaves off 550g in weight, down to 1KG and (I thought) a full 10 cm in pack size, down to 21cm long.

However, the length was the same at 210cm, so I thought I'd look for a bit more. I had a look on Outdoors Magic for other British brands making sleeping bags. I thought of Craghoppers, and somehow came across this. Hmm, never heard of this lot...Snugpak? I looked at the reviews on Outdoors magic and saw this question being asked about looking after a new sleeping bag. Apparently you shouldn't fold up a sleeping bag, since you can crease and damage the synthetic lining, instead you should just stuff it in. I also saw the same advice given on Youtube for packing a tent, you might crease the outer shell. So, I thought I would test this out, but first I picked the bag I will eventually buy.

The 'micro' pack size is remarkable (if not achieved by any of the reviewers), and it has a number of features that sounds good to me: a chisel foot for my big feet, a "Chrysalis Baffle System"...a what, what the what? CBS=Stretchy sides to permit turning in your sleep (ah!); and most importantly 220cm in length. But yes the reviews, they said that all they tried, they couldn't squeeze the pack down to 16cm long. They called on the manufacturers to tell them the secret, well, I'll just email them if I cant figure it out, but they made me think. I always had trouble fitting the Vango into it's little bag and squeezing the compressions straps over it. But the reviews talked about a compressed size and an uncompressed size. Uncompressed, the Softie was 30cm long! Compressed, they got it down below 20cm, but not to 16.

I have two sleeping bags. The first once I felt was too small, and I changed it for the Vango. I but I remembered that the old one was always easy to pack, so I got it out and unfolded it and stuffed it back in the bag. Easy! Next, I decided to see how far I could compress it. Rather than pulling on the compression straps, I put it tail up, and pressed it down with my knee and used the straps to hold the bag in compression. Wow! Instantly 20cm. Some more kneeing and it was 16cm!!

The diameter was also much smaller than the Vango, so overall it was much less than half the size - TINY. I've promised this bag for my sister, Caroline, so it turns out she's getting a super small Micro Thermalite bag. Not bad! The weight of it was exactly 1kg. Next up, and just dried from the washing machine was the Vango. Again, stuffing rather than folding the bag actually worked. There was a little sweating involved, but it all fit in, giving a +30cm long package. Down with the knee again, and:

21cm. There you have it, not pretty, but that's how to pack a sleeping bag.

Tags: Technology, Sleeping Bags