Sleeping systems - bags, pads, matts, liners

I have a 22 degree freedom units 'flex' quilt which is great down to about 0, I wouldn't want it much lower though but I'm a relatively cool sleeper. I don't think they have proper retail channels and distribution though, too small for that.

In the end I stuck with a sleeping bag. I can unzip it and use it somewhat like a quilt when warm, or if cold, zip it up and keep warm. For me I decided this was the best option.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/comments/zg4tlb/quilt_in_uk/

Thanks both.
Tried already and didn't work.

Fyi I sleep like that, figure 4 with a alewpi go bag unzipped.

Timmermade makes something wider at the knees for this. But you'd need import from usa and trying to actually buy something from him/them is now impossible.

.

One of the notes I took during our recent Maestrazgo Loop was "2P sleep pad" because we had different sized/shaped pads it made sleeping together a bit shit (eg, cold gap in the middle of the tent)

Are there any good 2P sleep pads? Are they worth considering? What can they be packed down to? Pack size is probably the biggest concern, but now I have a rack for the Stanton I can carry more.

Another option I thought about was two same pads with something over the top to hold them together.

Are you sharing a bag/quilt or something? Why do they need to be joined together? Why can’t you sleep separately?

One double pad punctures irreparably and you both have a shit nights/multiple nights sleep. One pad punctured and only one of you does. I’d always go for two over one.

With that said, Exped make double width pads in both their Ultra and Dura lines. My Ultra 3R is my favorite pad of all time. It’s not ultra ultralight, ultra warm or ultra comfy, but it’s the best blend I’ve found of all three of those requirements.

We were sharing a sleeping bag kind of. I had down jacket and trousers but cold feed so the sleeping bag was turned more into a quilt because my missus sleeps hot and I sleep cold.

Punctured pad either way is crap but can be fixed. We had that issue in Scotland.

One of the other things on our todo list is to get the missus a better sleeping bag so I can have mine back so maybe the issue goes away. It is nice to cuddle when it's cold though and two pads move apart too much.

1219g but sounds a bit crappy in terms of durability...
https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/sleeping-pad/exped-ultra-3r-duo

https://www.expeduk.com/products/ultra-1r-duo
M: 20 x 12.5 cm, LW: 22 x 13.5 cm
M: 720 g, LW: 970 g
R:1.3

https://www.expeduk.com/products/ultra-3r-duo
M: 20 x 14.5 cm, LW: 22 x 16.5 cm
M: 845 g, LW: 1155 g
R:2.9

https://www.expeduk.com/products/dura-5-r-duo
M: 27 x 19 cm, LW: 30 x 20 cm
M: 1470 g, LW: 2010 g
R: 4.8

https://sectionhiker.com/exped-ultra-5r-air-pad-review/

https://www.theadventurejunkies.com/best-double-sleeping-pad/

1587g
Big Agnes Hinman Double

2kg, car camper option
https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/sleeping-pad/therm-a-rest-neoair-camper-duo

https://hikinghammonds.com/2018/04/18/gear-review-exped-synmat-hyperlite-duo-2-person-sleeping-pad/

One double pad punctures irreparably and you both have a shit nights/multiple nights sleep.

Exped Ultra 3R Duo looks to inflate each side separately.

Wow yeah that’s heavier than anticipated. Yet another bonus of 2x pads…

I've now got an OMM rack so I have capacity for adding more beer sleep kit.

This dry bag had our tent, insulated full length pad and 3/4 NeoAir pad. Could just get a bigger drybag if we found a suitable 2P sleep pad.

1 Attachment

One of the losers in bikepacking dot com was raving about his double sized sleeping pad

https://bikepacking.com/gear/emily-miles-2023-gear-picks/

I don't have a girlfriend so can't comment.

Me and my partner (both 6ft) sleep very comfortably on my Exped Ultra 3R Duo M. It was expensive (£200) but no other downsides. It’s considerably smaller packed size than two individual mats, and considerably more comfy for us.

Ah, that was the Miles Arbor Editor's Picks article I sent myself to read and haven't got to yet.

Cheers

I had a Sea to Summit Insulated UL Regular
https://seatosummit.co.uk/products/ultralight-insulated-mat?variant=44784996319506

480g, 12.5 x 24 cm, R:3.1

Exped Ultra 3R Duo:
https://www.expeduk.com/products/ultra-3­r-duo
M: 20 x 14.5 cm, M: 845 g, R:2.9

I don't know in real world terms what a 0.2 difference in R-value would make but the comfort and additional warmth from not being air-gapped from my partner would probably make up for it. The standard version seems to be basically a doubled version of the pad I was using and the pack size seems reasonable.

I wonder if we do more winter stuff if it's worth looking at the 5R or if that's overkill? I don't think we'll be in the mountains and shit but who knows? I'd prefer not to lug around another half a kilo of sleep pad but if our winter stuff happens more often, maybe. It's also cheaper than the 3R! They're both almost £300 which is a bit rich.

I just don't like hearing about stuff with rapid failures: https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/sleeping-pad/exped-ultra-3r-duo#durability

I don't know in real world terms what a 0.2 difference in R-value would make

Not noticeable

if it's worth looking at the 5R

If you regularly camp around our below 0ºC maybe

rapid failures

No problems here

Not regularly but the whole point of this trip was to give colder camping a go. It went pretty well, save for a few tweaks I want to make, so I reckon we'd do more of it. But maybe I'll just start with the 3R (if I can find it cheaper somewhere) and worry about 'more pad' if I need it later.

Anyone have any experience with / thoughts on Sea to Summit Ember quilts? Currently 40% off on ultralight outdoor gear, including a double quilt

https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/sleeping-bags-sale/?sort=featured

I was looking at a double sleep pad. I wonder if the double quilt would be warm enough for our winter stuff? It's lighter than my 850FP sleeping bag so probably has less down (obvs missing the bottom bit) but presumably two people under the same quilt need less insulation.

Fill weight: 350g (my sleeping bag has 400g, but I actually slept in my PHD jacket and Cumulus pants so harder to compare)

I guess this would be Cumulus 2P alternative
https://cumulus.equipment/uk_en/quilts-and-comforters-comforter-xl700.html

I think I want a bivvy bag. Never having had one I'd like one with a loop rather than a bag.

Was thinking Alpkit Elan as I have a Soloist and I likes it.

I was hoping to save weight and space for one trip in particular. Is there one you'd recommend?

Ta.

Took the family to a camp site in NL last summer but stayed in one of their cabins.

Going back this year but want to stay in a tent instead this year as it saves a fair chunk.

We have a decent family sized tent for the 4 of us (two adults, two kids) and the sleeping kit we have is great, but it's just too big. The self inflating Vango mattresses (two doubles) take up an insane portion of our estate car's boot. We need something that packs smaller without sacrificing too much comfort. I'm 1.98m tall and about 95kg and I sleep on my side too.

Happy to spend a bit of cash as we're likely to do holidays like this quite often now that the first one went so well. Any recommendations?

Unlikely to be taking these anywhere too cold so not too worried about temp ratings.

What do you want it for? I have one, but never use it. Light ones don't work well. Just sleep without it. And if it's raining find shelter.

I had some decathlon air beds that went too big (car camping).

OR Helium seems to me to be the most popular choice though I've never used a hooped bivvy myself.

https://www.outdoorresearch.com/products/helium-bivy-287809

https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/helium-bivy/

I was looking at them recently after watching Lachlan Morton's TD kit recap video.

Normally I use a RAB Alpine (winter) or Borah (summer) and the RAB can be a bit "sticky"