Sleeping bag for hostel - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

hoohayman · 04-28-2004, 07:20 PM

When I was buying my supplies for my trip to Europe I was talked into buying a reletively small fleece sleeping bag for the hostels. Is this something worth bringing? It takes up a large percentage of the size of my bag.

Are sheets in hostels for rent only? Am I better off just bringing some sheets that are smaller and will still provide cover in hostel beds?? Any help is appreciated!

**pinion** · 04-29-2004, 09:07 AM

This is a weird topic, no one really has the same answer.

I would personally leave something like this behind. Takes up way too much room and I've heard some hostels won't let you use them.

If you want to save some monay get a normal sleeping sheet, fold it in half and sew it down the side. Its the same idea as a sleeping bag when its done, but takes up almost no room!

Here's a link on the topic, hope its of some use!!

Sleep sheet, or a light sleeping bag

**urOZm8** · 05-02-2004, 04:22 PM

Tonight Im using my sleeping bag for the first time (holland) I would have had to hire sheets otherwise. it looks like it maybe the case from the pamplets/net ive been reading looking for places.
In England and Belgium all the sheets have been provided so far. Although one place you payed more for your first night for sheets (compulsory) and every night after that was a lower same rate.
lucky my s.bag attaches to the outside of my pack and doesnt take up compartment space. i guess if you can afford the space and extra weight you can save money with ur own sleep sheet/s.bag

**Canadian Dude** · 05-03-2004, 03:02 AM

Alot of hostels will not let you use a sleeping bag to prevent the introduction of bed bugs that you may have brought from somewhere else.

Personally, i do carry a small sleeping bag in my pack, but when I say small, i mean rolled up 1ft by 6inchs. So it does not take up a ton of space. I have pulled the bedless trav'la too many times to not bring it. But thats me, and I am a bit of a dumpass!

If you have one of those monster sleeping bags, I would not bring it, just excess weight.

**Somnambulation** · 05-03-2004, 02:53 PM

Quote:

I have pulled the bedless trav'la too many times to not bring it.

Thats what I'm thinking. I can see myself really missing having that sleeping bag where it wont be too much more of a hassel just to bring it.

**simply_angelic** · 03-26-2005, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Canadian Dude@May 3 2004, 06:01 AM
Personally, i do carry a small sleeping bag in my pack, but when I say small, i mean rolled up 1ft by 6inchs.

where on earth did you get a sleeping bag that small CD? Do you know where I could get one like it/ what brand name it is? Or if anyone else has a bag like this, please elaborate. Thanks so much!

**kingcrazylegs** · 03-26-2005, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by simply_angelic@Mar 26 2005, 08:01 PM
where on earth did you get a sleeping bag that small CD? Do you know where I could get one like it/ what brand name it is? Or if anyone else has a bag like this, please elaborate. Thanks so much!

There are plenty out there, but they are costly... I have a couple by a European company...Vango They are super light, pack super small, and still quite toasty

**simply_angelic** · 03-27-2005, 10:22 AM

Thanks KCL! Very helpful....might be *slightly* out of my price range though. I think I've found a few that should be ok b/w $40-70 CAD which is a bit more in my range.....first I must get a pack though, then decide if it is worthwhile....

**kingcrazylegs** · 03-27-2005, 01:58 PM

^ my method is to find the piece of gear that most suits my need (through lots of research) and then search for it on sale. I have always been able to find the gear I want much cheaper than the retail price.

**bluepea** · 03-27-2005, 10:02 PM

I just ordered our stuff for backpacking. Got an Ultralight Sleeping Bag that weighs like 21 oz and is "smaller than a loaf of bread" through Sportsmansguide for $30. Can also buy on eBay for a little cheaper (same thing). It only has like 50 f protection but we'll see how it does. I also ordered silk sleep sheets that are supposed to be pretty nice and very light and compact. It has the pillow case built in also for like 18$ (eBay as well). Haven't rec'd any of it yet. We're going to be doing a lot of camping (bought a bivy tent as well) so it'll be well worth it to haul it around. Not like there's much to haul.

Good luck.

**bluepea** · 03-27-2005, 10:09 PM

Sorry, my prices are in USD - so the bag would be roughly $36 CAD (30 on eBay) with a temperature protection of 10 c and the sheet would be 22 CAD.

03-29-2005, 03:33 PM

all these people say bring a sleep sheet, but isnt it a little cold? hostels dont supply you with blankets do they? and all you have over you is a 1mm piece of silk, i would freeze my arse off, even in relativlly warm places.

**MolsonGirl** · 03-29-2005, 05:13 PM

I brought a sleep sheet and I was ok. if worst comes to worst you put your towel over you

03-29-2005, 08:40 PM

true, but im taking one of those little travel towels, and im 6'2", it would barely cover my legs

just wear layers to bed i guess

psypher · 04-01-2005, 04:51 PM

i bought one of those silk sleeping sheets, it was expensive but nice on the skin! i traveled western europe from sept 14th to nov 22 and i had no problem keeping warm. I was surprised, all the hostels gave free blankets if the climate was cold. i used the sheet a lot in the beginning but after a while i found all the hostels were providing fresh linnen. only encountered 1 or 2 hostels that said i couldn't use my own sleep sheet.

as for the small towel ace_.... you're in for some fun! i'm 6'3 and i took a travel towel that was about the size of 2 face cloths! by the end of my 2 months i never wanted a full length towel more!

alkyowl · 04-05-2005, 03:58 PM

hey, when i inter railed in europe a few years back the hostels all provided sheets/blankets for free but my sleeping bag was v useful for night trains and the like. Think im just going for sleep sheet next time thou, space and warmer countries being the main reason.

Elixir · 04-12-2005, 08:12 AM

bring both if im going to be camping and hosteling it up?

so much room

**Somnambulation** · 04-12-2005, 11:05 AM

I brought a sleeping bag and regretted it last summer. I used it a few nights when a hostel ran out of beds, but other than that it just took up space. It was a full size one, so mabye a super small one might be worthwhile.

**The Monsignor** · 06-06-2005, 01:03 AM

I've been caught out too many times not to bring along some sort of snivel gear wherever I go... I've got a portion of what the US military calls the ECWGSS (extended cold weather gore-tex sleep system) it comes with a heavy bag, a 'patrol sack' a gore-tex cover and a stuff sack. The whole set up costs an arm and a leg... I bought just the 'patrol sack' for $20 at a surplus store and in a compression sack, it's about the size of half a loaf of Wonder Bread. I've had my bacon saved several times by it, and won't part with it for nothing!

To me, it's worth the additional weight...

If you live near a military base, that's the place to shop the pawn shops and surplus stores...

This is the complete system, new:
Cold weather sleep system

(seeing the price makes me wonder how much of a steal I got on just the patrol sack)

**The Monsignor** · 06-06-2005, 01:07 AM

Ok, I thought they were insane on their prices...

Here's the same bag, in a reasonable price!

Sleep System

I do more back country stuff than hostel so i'm probably biased, though...