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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if the DofE recommended sleeping bags are overpriced?

48 replies

habloingles · 29/05/2019 17:43

I need to buy a good quality 3 season, compact sleeping bag for DS's upcoming DofE trips. The DofE recommend a particular brand, but they're almost twice the price of others with a very similar sounding specification on Amazon. Are their prices inflated because they're recommended or are the cheaper ones all inferior?

OP posts:
UrsulaPandress · 29/05/2019 17:45

I got DDs from Decathlon. She had used an old one of DHs for bronze and silver but I bought her a new one for Gold and she said it made a huge difference.

opheliasknickers · 29/05/2019 17:55

OP what exactly is it (make etc?).

with sleeping bags you do tend to get what you pay for (I speak as an experienced hiker/ wildcamper). My "cheap" sleeping bag was £50 aprox. My winter posh one was £185 ....in a sale!!

Wolfiefan · 29/05/2019 17:59

I would ignore the recommended brand thing. We bought a Vango rucksack on the basis they were recommended. It was shit and we had to buy a replacement. All it means is the brand sponsors DofE.
Focus on the quality. What is the temperature range that the bag is comfortable in? What’s the material etc.

Original poster
habloingles · 29/05/2019 18:00

They recommend various Vango bags: www.dofe.org/shopping/expedition-kit/sleeping-bags-mats/

Surely they can't be the only brand that makes suitable products? I'm assuming they must have some sort of sponsorship arrangement with the DofE to be the only recommended type.

OP posts:
AskMeHow · 29/05/2019 18:05

You don't have to buy Vango at all.

I wouldn't necessarily buy one from Amazon, I find a lot of their sports/outdoor gear is no name Chinese stuff or low quality bargain brands.

I look on outdoor gear lab for reviews for a lot of outdoor stuff - they're a US site but 90% of the brands will be available here. Have a look and see what they recommend for a 3 season bag and scout the internet for a sale.

HiJuice · 29/05/2019 18:09

I would go to decathlon or go outdoors. Vango is a middle of the road brand - nothing special. Also don't get a huge heavy one. D of E is normally in summer so you wouldn't need a 3 season bag unless you really feel the cold. It's better to wear a fleece in bed and not carry so much weight.

HillRunner · 29/05/2019 18:11

Alpkit so good quality kit at reasonable prices, so worth checking them out. But I wouldn't go wild camping in really cheap gear (i.e much cheaper than alpkit) if I wanted to be warm, as you do get what you pay for.

AskMeHow · 29/05/2019 18:13

Yes that's a good point. Does he definitely need a 3 season bag? Cos those are pricey.

I have a summer bag and just wear a jumper/leggings/socks if I need to.

BertieBotts · 29/05/2019 18:14

Go to a real shop. Decathlon is good for the price to quality ratio. I'd avoid 90% of what's on amazon these days as they are all cheap, made-in-China crap which lie on their listings about the specifications of their products, because they are outside the EU so outside the remit of trading standards laws. And it's not always easy to tell which companies/brands are doing this.

UrsulaPandress · 29/05/2019 18:15

The practice walk was in late Autumn for dd and bloody freezing.

AskMeHow · 29/05/2019 18:18

I would second Alpkit. It's good stuff in my experience. Their bags are often sold out as they're super popular but it should say when stock is due in.

BeanBag7 · 29/05/2019 18:19

Which level of DofE is he doing? What time of year is the expedition?
I don't think he would need a 3 season sleeping bag for a bronze expedition in the summer. If it's really that cold take a spare pair of warn socks and wear a fleece in bed, or even a hat.

Morebiscuitsplease · 29/05/2019 18:21

If your child feels the cold they are well worth it. My Dd’s Friend had a light sleeping bag and was so cold she was in tears.

GreekOddess · 29/05/2019 18:21

Ds is using our old Vango rucksack and sleeping bag that we used on a 12 month backpacking trip more than 20 years ago. We've used them on at least 30 camping trips around the world and they're still going strong!

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 29/05/2019 18:24

DS used the one I got him from Cadet Kit Shop. I think it was about £50 and had seen him through 5 years of cadets and DoE.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 29/05/2019 18:24

I like snugpak. Army and navy type shops sometimes have cheapish ones that aren't bad.

Trillis · 29/05/2019 18:30

We got my sons DofE kit in decathlon and go outdoors. The decathlon stuff is good value. He only used a 2 season sleeping bag, and his expedition was a couple of weeks ago when we had that cold and rainy spell. He had a Hi Gear 2 season sleeping bag from go outdoors, and said he was fine. He chose not to take our better, 3 season one because it was much bulkier and heavier to carry. He also took an inflatable camping air bed from decathlon, which he said was comfier than the bedroll most of his friends had, but more of a pain to deflate and get back in it's (very small) bag.

opheliasknickers · 29/05/2019 18:39

alpkit has excellent customer service! my posh sleeping bag came from there, used in frost etc and me just in a set of thermals as jammies= toasty!

alpkit and posh branded stuff has a very good resale value on fb pages. OP have you checked out outdoor gear exchange fb page? post on there what you need for the time of year etc and Ill bet youll be inundated with stuff at reasonable prices.

F1zzB1zz · 29/05/2019 18:41

£35 and you get further discount if DofE. Cotswolds give discount too.

Got ours from GO 3 season did 2 night expeditions in all weathers.

Think I'd complain more about the cost of boots to be honest.

opheliasknickers · 29/05/2019 18:42

FIXXBIZZ dh has that sleeping bag! very warm. I have the vango lattitude 300 (same warmth but lighter/ pack size) as my cheapie. excellent bags. so good ds has a lattitude too! they really do last for years!!

opheliasknickers · 29/05/2019 18:43

yes I`d reccomend a hikers blow up mat (alpkit do a good one, numo i think its called?). also thermarests.

JamOnTheCarpet · 29/05/2019 18:47

To stay warm it's important to keep off the ground while sleeping.

I tend to get cold, so personally I like to have two mats rather than one (Either two cheapy foam roll mats, or an inflatable mat and a roll mat.). You can always put on an extra pair of socks and a fleece, but getting off the ground is trickier.
Either two cheapy foam roll mats, or an inflatable mat and a roll mat.

Not really helpful on the sleeping bag issue... but for those whose DC get cold on expedition, giving them an extra £5 roll mat might make more of a difference than you would think!

Gottalovesummer · 29/05/2019 18:53

I've just bought my teenager a cheapish sleeping bag , as it's a third the size and weight of his expensive branded one.

After the practice expedition, he just said he wanted to carry as little as poss for the next weekend.

And it'll be June, so hopefully warmer. I've advised him to wear his fleece in bed if not!

sotired2 · 29/05/2019 18:53

Well i must be a bad mom as sent my ds off on silver with a £20tesco one he survived.