recommendations: kids sleeping bag

[Kainas]

I was about to pop down to BCF to have a look for a pair of sleeping bags for my two kids (both equivalent to a 4yo in size), but thought I would ask here first.

• I am after reasonably cheap.
• As warm as possible (open to advice here).
• I am not concerned with weight, this will be primarily for car camping, the next camping trip we do will be in a caravan park (last time we just used normal bedding and it wasn't comfortable).
• I am concerned with volume for packing our car, so want a stuffable compact bag.
• The girls still wet the bed frequently so I will be initiating "nighttime camping undies" in the form of a pull-up nappy for them (just to eliminate the issue of wet sleeping bags).

Any suggestions?

[Moondog55]

Cheap and washable so try and avoid those with cotton liners they take an age to dry [ personal experience talking ] I like the Katmandu "Pipsqueak" which can do double duty as footsacks later on if need be. I'd wait tho until older [ 8YO+] for buying anything decent, until then treat whatever you do buy as a disposable. If you really need warm double up

[Kainas]

Thanks for the tips. I will head to the Kathmandu website and have a look. We did have a look at BigW, thinking to go really basic but they were really not adequate at all.

What exactly is a footsack?

[Moondog55]

A footsack is the old climbers elephants foot half bag, comes up to the waist only, and is used in conjunction with an insulated parka.
I use a tall skinny down half bag to boost the lower rating of my sleeping system

[Kainas]

Thank you. I have never heard of that.

My kids pulled our self-inflating mats out of the cupboard the other day and thought they were for them. It took me a while to remember that we bought 3/4 mats for the top half of our body only... It makes good sense.

[ErichFromm]

Not sure if you have a sewing machine or the time but have you considered making them yourself? Tiergear have synthetic insulation (stays warm when wet) and argon or other material for the shell.

I'm planning to do this in a couple months with my kid....

[sherpa]

Hi,
Macpac make a kids down bag, Kids Escapade. Rated to 2deg I think. With thermals and down jacket etc. My daughters had it below zero. We got ours on sale for under $100 a couple of years ago. If not on sale right now, be patient, it will be soon. Or get onto Black sheep here on the forum to see if he'll do you a feel.
S
Obviously in regard to blacksheep the last sentence should read," he'll do you a deal." But I guess you could get lucky!

[Strider]

Blacksheep hasn't been associated with Macpac for probably over a year now, Sherpa.

[Moondog55]

And Macpac no longer do a kids bag if the website is any indicator. GD has $5- OpShop bag and is quite warm enough at home but the cotton liner is of course not suitable for camping

[walkerchris77]

Depending on how tall the kids are u could sow a normal size bag in half and cut the other end. You now have 2 bags.

[Son of a Beach]

We bought Kathmandu Pipsqueaks for both our kids several years ago, and they've been perfect for them. They're synthetic, so not the warmest around, but we dress them up in full polar fleece + thermals before putting them to bed if it's really cold. They've been great bags for the kids.

Our eldest is 8 (but a small 8!) and I reckon she might get one or two more years out of it before getting too long.

I'm not usually a fan of Kathmandu, but when it comes to kids bushwalking gear, they've been the only place that had stuff that really fits. When they were two, we got them tiny Kathmandu backpacks. Nowhere else had backpacks that were anywhere near suitable. Then last year we got them new backpacks about 4 times the size of those old ones and again Kathmandu was the only place that had anything that we would even consider suitable for them. The packs they have now are very very good. They don't have padding on the hip straps, but then at that size, the weight in the pack is not substantial and its not so critical to get the weight off their shoulders.

Earlier this year, at ages 5 and 7, they walked for 7.5 hours in those packs on the first day of a three day walk. They were pretty knackered at the end of it, but had a great day.

[Moondog55]

With the "Pipsqueak" on clearance at $40- I don't think you will find better value anywhere

http://www.kathmandu.com.au/sleeping-ge ... schia.html

[ErichFromm]

Earlier this year, at ages 5 and 7, they walked for 7.5 hours in those packs on the first day of a three day walk. They were pretty knackered at the end of it, but had a great day.

Would love to hear more about your experience. I have a 1.5 yr old and would like to do hike with him when he is 5.....

[Moondog55]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Macpac-Pinna ... 6016.l4276
Would make an excellent kids bag
I used the very similar macpac Marathon for my kids once upon a time

[Kainas]

With the "Pipsqueak" on clearance at $40- I don't think you will find better value anywhere

http://www.kathmandu.com.au/sleeping-ge ... schia.html

I went and had a look at them today. I think I will go in that direction (via the online sale..)

Thanks everyone.

[Moondog55]

Don't discount that ebay link either, it is very easy to shorten to suit almost any sized young'un with some elastic. add a decent CCF mat and it's good to below freezing with decent thermals/down jumper

[Kainas]

Don't discount that ebay link either, it is very easy to shorten to suit almost any sized young'un with some elastic. add a decent CCF mat and it's good to below freezing with decent thermals/down jumper

I will keep it in mind. I ended up buying the pipsqueak online ($40 each), if I feel the need for a more serious bag in the future I am confident that the pipsqueak will still be well used.

I am kind of excited to take them camping in sleeping bags for the first time.

[blacksheep]

Hi,
Macpac make a kids down bag, Kids Escapade. Rated to 2deg I think. With thermals and down jacket etc. My daughters had it below zero. We got ours on sale for under $100 a couple of years ago. If not on sale right now, be patient, it will be soon. Or get onto Black sheep here on the forum to see if he'll do you a feel.
S
Obviously in regard to blacksheep the last sentence should read," he'll do you a deal." But I guess you could get lucky!

it was better before the correction Macpac probably dropped the Kids down bags because they didn't sell enough units, makes no difference if it was a great solution to the few who still want quality, the mass marketed model needs mass!

[Burnsy]

t was a great solution to the few who still want quality, the mass marketed model needs mass!

Not the only thing, there is very little around in kids sizes anymore from the more respected brands. Even MD's which is in the middle from my perspective seems to have dropped their kids range in footwear and clothing this is their entire range
http://www.mountaindesigns.com/store/ki ... ccessories

They are screwing themselves in the long run as if kids don't get a taste for it and enjoy it when young they won't be buying their gear in 20 years time because they will all be sitting at home on their latest tech equip.

[Moondog55]

I'm not sure that's true Burnsy. I took my kids away when Katmandu had an excellent range of cheap and very well designed kids gear. We went camping and bushwalking in all weathers and conditions and in all seasons and now they are adults I seem to have 3 couch potatoes who say that after a weeks work they barely have the strength to lift the TV remote let alone go walking

[Burnsy]

I concur it is not going to follow through for everyone Moondog, but you have to agree that in the main, those who buy this type of gear and get outdoors to use it generally had some history of camping, travelling and exploring as kids.

Of all the outlets Kathmandu seem to be only ones that have maintained any decent range of kids clothing and equipment. I don't think there is even a dedicated scout shop in Perth anymore, there use to be one that sold everything. Edit, there is a scout store http://www.scoutswa.com.au/scoutstore it sell uniforms, how exciting, what you outdoors person is going to want to go there!!