Lightweight tent recommendations?

I didn't consider the duvets - I don't quite see the point compared to a normal bag?

I'm pretty sure I had polypro thermals on when I thought I was going to die camping in Germany. Thinking about it now, I was pretty fresh off the boat and started the trip in UK summer so I probably just wasn't very acclimatised and possibly hadn't eaten or something. I was camping near water too which tends to be colder. I dunno, maybe I'm just pissweak?

I'm used to bugs and crap from camping in Oz but I am thinking that the open-face Hunka might be less fun than a fully closeable bivvy option when it comes to mozzies and stuff that wants to nibble on your face at night. Buzzing bugs are a surefire way to keep peeps awake, though after 16hrs of riding maybe not?
I doubt I'll use a tent though for speed reasons but a full bivvy might yet happen.

Still need to plan the euro cycle trip I've been thinking about since the autumn. Zero budget, could end badly.

Reading this thread, and glancing over at my Jack Wolfskin Gossamer (original), I'm wondering if I'll ever use it after seeing the lighter options (that are way out of my price range). Didn't like the lack of headroom the one time I tested it on a cold night in the garden. Not sure how much difference in weight an army surpluss bivvy bag would be - why did I give away my old one, why?

Must find out the old info about replacing the stock poles for lighter ones, I remember someone mentioning it years ago when I bought the tent.

All that aside, the snugpak jungle bag gets loads of use when sleeping on a mate's floor, and couch surfing for a week last month in Berlin. Totally worth every saved cm in packing. Probably still ten times bigger than your specs @hippy. Wondering if I could be happy in that with only a bivvy, or limited extra insulation.

I didn't consider the duvets - I don't quite see the point compared to a normal bag?

The theory goes that insulation beneath you gets compressed, so it doesn't actually do any insulating anyway - that's what your sleeping pad does. So the duvet is just as warm for half the weight/size.

For example I find I am (almost) as warm in my 450g Alpkit duvet as I am in my 1000g StS summer bag. Also because it doesn't have any zips/toggles/hood, it has proportionally more insulation for its weight (if that makes sense). Plus I find I sleep better because I'm not constricted, that's a personal thing though.

The only downside is when one leg creeps out in the night and you wake up with one freezing leg. But personally I find that better than being woken from getting tangled up, which I do in a regular bag.

Polyprops are warmer than merino for the same size/weight, plus they dry much faster. On the downside they're stinky, so I only wear them at night. I've heard good things about capilene thermals but they're pretty uncommon here in NZ.

Relying on tiredness for a good night's sleep is a surefire path to utter exhaustion...

Don't fuck about. Buy the best.
http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/

PM me with questions if you want.

Consider that the money you'll spend on a sleeping system will be enough to get a hotel for a few hours every night. And I know which I'd do.

+1

they've got a great sale on at the moment too http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/sales-and-special-offers

Packs small but might not be warm enough. I probably should get off my butt and sleep outside with what I had to judge what I need.

the duvet is just as warm for half the weight/size

But you've got to add the sleeping pad to that.

I might get some foam and cut it to size but not sure about sleeping pad at all really. Depends if I'm cold and trying to sneak into buildings with cold/hard floors or warm and trying to find flat/soft grassy spots?

My current bag unzips all around so you can use it as a duvet but because it's a bag it's quite large in that form.

Utter exhaustion is the plan :)

The best what though? Sleeping bag or jacket or both? Duvet and sleeping pad or neither?

Are you suggesting I use hotels instead of sleeping rough?

Should I PM you these questions? :)

I've been too much of a wimp to try it in the garden (and now there's a puppy at the parents' I don't want dogshit on the tent) while it's cold, but I think 2• would be tough. Indoors (cold, cold London flat with windows open and broken boiler) it was actually so warm I unzipped it halfway and had the foot end unzipped too.

Argh, what to buy what to buy?!

Take my money!

Our flat, when we had no heating for the two coldest years in the history of the universe* was still a good 10 degrees warmer than outside temps and that's not including any windchill. So, I really want to test it outside - not sure if I can get away with a local park or maybe set up after dark in a far corner of the shared yard?

*according to Daily Mail or Daily Star or some other fear-mongering shitfest paper

minim 200 bag
wafer down jacket

done!

I've got a minim 200 too, been using it for about a year now, excellent bag and warmer than rated. Used several times without a mat when it's dropped below zero and been fine. Ate before sleeping, wore a hat.

Picked up a Racer Elite bag (200g!) at the beginning of the year, it packs tiny! Not taken it out yet, should double nicely as a liner bag for the minim when it's really cold.

I can haz £300?

You wouldn't use the Racer Elite by itself? Only a liner or summer bag?

For what you're getting I think it's a bargain, and if you hate it you can send it back / flog it on eBay a few months later

for that money i'd get this http://www.rockrun.com/western-mountaineering-highlite?gclid=CJGD7cLKwssCFYIW0wodZh0Hdw (similar weight to minim but much lower rating) plus a uniqlo down jacket

Just get the Snugpak. You won't freeze. If you feel the nip you can just layer up. Get a cheap down jacket and some merino. Possum socks! Versatile and cheap.

Agreed it's not the same, but it sure feels like a January night in a London flat is colder than a Spring/Summer night naked in a field with a tissue for a blanket.

I'll use it by itself when it warms up, assume it'll be ok down to about 5c, probably a bit lower with some sort of mat or jacket added.

As a liner with the minim I'm hoping it'll work down to -10 or so...

That's twice the price of the Phd though and 20g heavier. Comfort down to 2deg though rather than 6deg.

Anywhere in London with these bags to try for size?

950g though. What about their race system bags?

http://www.snugpak.com/outdoor/sleeping-bags/adventure-racing-sleeping-system

nowhere to try PHD in person. If you're 6'1 or more get a long bag, can put stuff inside to keep it warm too.

Earring before sleeping! Boom. Big fatty foods.

Andy Kirkpatrick wrote on the recently.

studs or hoops? it's all so confusing