The sleeping bag debate

abighellofromme · Nov 16th, 2004, 20:57

should i or sharent i?
im gonna be using 2 class sleeper trains
is it wise to pack a sleeping bag for those journeys

thanks in advance
x

Merchant · Nov 16th, 2004, 21:43

Pick up a lungi at any market in India, for a handful of rupees. You'll be too hot in your sleeping bag.

Baldy · Nov 17th, 2004, 04:29

a light summer sleeping bag you can hang off you pack is useful for overnight travel - can get cold; or for when the beds are dirty in guest houses. It can double as a pillow

freebirdnz · Nov 22nd, 2004, 20:19

Hi there,

Yes I agree on the silk liners as they are suppose to hold in warmth and can be just as warm as I sleeping bag. They are half the size though so perfect for travelling!.

Happy journey!

Freebird

Karma Queen · Nov 22nd, 2004, 22:16

i agree with these guys - just go for the sleeping sheet. the silk ones are pretty expensive, so i made my own out of an old cotton bed sheet - just fold it and sew it so that it's like a sleeping bag. easy peasy. and free.

freebirdnz · Nov 22nd, 2004, 22:19

Hi again,

Yeah the silk ones can be expensive but I think it's a good investment. As mentioned it does get cooler in some parts and I think the extra warmth from the silk liner would be better.

I took a cotton one last time and I got caught out a couple of times being too cold ie; on the train etc so that's why I have now purchased a silk one. I will use it again and again anyway!.

Thanks!

Freebirdnz

vistet · Nov 22nd, 2004, 23:29

Silk liners are a great way of prolonging the life span of your sleeping bag (esp. down bags) or to use in their own right in the train, guesthouse etc.
I wouldn`t say that they replace a sleeping bag but then again you`ll hardly need one anyhow below 2000 meters.

I`ve used one for a couple of years now (this summer in Scotland) and can`t imagine going without one. 160 grams , will fit in a jacket pocket, cost me around 25 € ( but will often cost the double) .

Avoid washing them with regular washing powder ( on the road I use shampoo) and choose a dark color that will dry more quickly in the sun.

If you`re thinking of making your own, make the top and bottom in different colors for those confused moments in the dark. Fastenings at lower end for sleeping bag also would be a good idea.

Krishnika · Nov 23rd, 2004, 00:44

Vistet - would like to make one, but why are the top and bottom sides different?
...would like to have an inflatable pillow with soft fleece covering...

vistet · Nov 23rd, 2004, 00:54

Bottom part is also pillowcase ( longer , folded on top) ,top has side opening . I just use a stuff sack with sweater etc as pillow.

lakittee · Nov 23rd, 2004, 01:35

I recently took a silk sleep sheet with me for 5 weeks in SE Asia and I was happy to have it with me. We are traveling to India next month with my in-laws, and I was able to buy them standard size silk sleepsheets on eBay for US$20 including shipping (to US)... These were ordered from sellers in US but there are sellers in NZ who ship worldwide... I think there starting bid is a little higher ($20) but still less expensive than the $60-90 that you can spend in the fancy travel stores!

Shikari · Nov 23rd, 2004, 01:44

I've always taken a home-made, cotton, sheet sleeping bag and it's been fine for South India 'though I've occasionally had to borrow a blanket further north.

SydneyKate · Nov 23rd, 2004, 03:11

We are going on 2 tier sleeper trains, will they give us a blanket for the bed?

Shikari · Nov 23rd, 2004, 03:59

You'll be sleeping in your clothes on the train anyway so I shouldn't think you'll be cold anywhere between Kanyukamari and Varanasi.
I once found some very sticky transparent eggs wedged into a corner of the bottom of my sheet sleeping bag. I still have no idea what they were.

timmy · Nov 23rd, 2004, 11:45

On 2A and 3A you are provided with two sheets, a blanket and a pillow. However, like KQ I made my own sleeping sheet from a folded-over sheet and it has been invaluable - sometimes hotels only provide a bottom sheet and a scratchy blanket, or sometimes the provided sheets simply look too grubby too sleep on. When it started to get a bit filthy I got it washed at a hotel, and when it came back it was spotless... even cleaner than when I'd left home!

mira4bai4 · Nov 24th, 2004, 16:31

I always carry the smallest sleeping bag that I can find down to -5 C I think and then I always have a polypropoline liner with me, this I find excellent on the trains as it just rolls up and gets stuffed into its little bag. So if its to warm I don't need it any way and as I used to find the blankets tended to slip off at night if I used them then this took care of it and I am independant ready for a quick get away.

Nov 16th, 2004, 20:57	#1
abighellofromme Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: UK Posts: 38	The sleeping bag debate should i or sharent i? im gonna be using 2 class sleeper trains is it wise to pack a sleeping bag for those journeys thanks in advance x

Nov 22nd, 2004, 20:19	#4
freebirdnz Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: London Posts: 59	sleeping bag... Hi there, Yes I agree on the silk liners as they are suppose to hold in warmth and can be just as warm as I sleeping bag. They are half the size though so perfect for travelling!. Happy journey! Freebird

Nov 23rd, 2004, 01:35	#10
lakittee Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: California Posts: 51	I recently took a silk sleep sheet with me for 5 weeks in SE Asia and I was happy to have it with me. We are traveling to India next month with my in-laws, and I was able to buy them standard size silk sleepsheets on eBay for US$20 including shipping (to US)... These were ordered from sellers in US but there are sellers in NZ who ship worldwide... I think there starting bid is a little higher ($20) but still less expensive than the $60-90 that you can spend in the fancy travel stores! Last edited by lakittee : Nov 23rd, 2004 at 01:45. Reason: for clarity

Nov 23rd, 2004, 11:45	#14
timmy Back in Australia Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 375	On 2A and 3A you are provided with two sheets, a blanket and a pillow. However, like KQ I made my own sleeping sheet from a folded-over sheet and it has been invaluable - sometimes hotels only provide a bottom sheet and a scratchy blanket, or sometimes the provided sheets simply look too grubby too sleep on. When it started to get a bit filthy I got it washed at a hotel, and when it came back it was spotless... even cleaner than when I'd left home! __________________ Read my India Travel Blog from late 2004, or look at my Photo Gallery from my last two trips.

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Nov 16th, 2004, 21:43	#2
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,096	Pick up a lungi at any market in India, for a handful of rupees. You'll be too hot in your sleeping bag.

Nov 17th, 2004, 04:29	#3
Baldy gotta pee ... Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Brisbane Posts: 187	a light summer sleeping bag you can hang off you pack is useful for overnight travel - can get cold; or for when the beds are dirty in guest houses. It can double as a pillow

Nov 22nd, 2004, 22:16	#5
Karma Queen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: England Posts: 365	i agree with these guys - just go for the sleeping sheet. the silk ones are pretty expensive, so i made my own out of an old cotton bed sheet - just fold it and sew it so that it's like a sleeping bag. easy peasy. and free.

Nov 22nd, 2004, 22:19	#6
freebirdnz Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: London Posts: 59	Hi again, Yeah the silk ones can be expensive but I think it's a good investment. As mentioned it does get cooler in some parts and I think the extra warmth from the silk liner would be better. I took a cotton one last time and I got caught out a couple of times being too cold ie; on the train etc so that's why I have now purchased a silk one. I will use it again and again anyway!. Thanks! Freebirdnz

Nov 22nd, 2004, 23:29	#7
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,736	Silk liners are a great way of prolonging the life span of your sleeping bag (esp. down bags) or to use in their own right in the train, guesthouse etc. I wouldn`t say that they replace a sleeping bag but then again you`ll hardly need one anyhow below 2000 meters. I`ve used one for a couple of years now (this summer in Scotland) and can`t imagine going without one. 160 grams , will fit in a jacket pocket, cost me around 25 € ( but will often cost the double) . Avoid washing them with regular washing powder ( on the road I use shampoo) and choose a dark color that will dry more quickly in the sun. If you`re thinking of making your own, make the top and bottom in different colors for those confused moments in the dark. Fastenings at lower end for sleeping bag also would be a good idea.

Nov 23rd, 2004, 00:44	#8
Krishnika taking a break Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 233	Vistet - would like to make one, but why are the top and bottom sides different? ...would like to have an inflatable pillow with soft fleece covering...

Nov 23rd, 2004, 00:54	#9
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,736	Bottom part is also pillowcase ( longer , folded on top) ,top has side opening . I just use a stuff sack with sweater etc as pillow.

Nov 23rd, 2004, 01:44	#11
Shikari Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: A small country on the edge of europe Posts: 81	I've always taken a home-made, cotton, sheet sleeping bag and it's been fine for South India 'though I've occasionally had to borrow a blanket further north.

Nov 23rd, 2004, 03:11	#12
SydneyKate Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney Posts: 77	We are going on 2 tier sleeper trains, will they give us a blanket for the bed?

Nov 23rd, 2004, 03:59	#13
Shikari Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: A small country on the edge of europe Posts: 81	You'll be sleeping in your clothes on the train anyway so I shouldn't think you'll be cold anywhere between Kanyukamari and Varanasi. I once found some very sticky transparent eggs wedged into a corner of the bottom of my sheet sleeping bag. I still have no idea what they were.

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mira4bai4 Lost in Space Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: ND PaharGanj Permanently/Temporarily Posts: 1,190	I always carry the smallest sleeping bag that I can find down to -5 C I think and then I always have a polypropoline liner with me, this I find excellent on the trains as it just rolls up and gets stuffed into its little bag. So if its to warm I don't need it any way and as I used to find the blankets tended to slip off at night if I used them then this took care of it and I am independant ready for a quick get away.