If you live in the uk and thining if going rtw buy all basic equip. from Army surplus could save you a small fortune. Not all military equipment is crap. try the ration packs and for the americans MRE meals ready to eat. these dont take up much room and you get puritabs so you can sterilize water..
I take these with me to Russia and police never batter an eye. If you can look at ex russian militry clothing as its very good for winters.

Oneworldbiker I have to say Im impressed. When I see something that is classed as "Military Grade" or "Army Surplus" it usually means words such as comfort, quality and light weight can be ruled right out. Could it be time to re asses this view?

Ive posted this in another thread about the same stuff....but its worth saying again.

Snugpak

UK company that started up by making private purchased military equipment and proffesional grade mountain gear.They got a lot of feedback from their customers and have modified and designed entire ranges of equipment on that feedback to have a very extensive selection of items.

I have used their stuff is some God-awful places and the gear is still soldiering on years after I originally bought it.

Their main attraction is the compactness of the sleeping bags and jackets when they are compressed in their stuffsacks.....I use a Merlin 3 sleeping bag with a Silk sleeping bag liner....with both combined amounts to a package slightly bigger than a coke can.I use that from spring to Autumn in the UK with no problems at all.

A proven method with Snupaks that came back from the soldiers using their equipment was to use two smaller bags instead of one larger bag for colder weather, due to their size it is practical to carry a Merlin 3 bag and Softie 9 Hawk bag for cold weather ( with a silk liner as well )...you then mix and match as the weather dictates.
Sleeping Bags - Code Green - Military - Leading Suppliers of Clothing & Sleepingbags - snugpak.com

Sleeping Bags - Outdoor - Leading Suppliers of Clothing & Sleepingbags - snugpak.com

3 season bag
 

Hi there ,

I too use a snugpac merlin and a silk liner, which i have used down to minus 6 , with no problems at all. great gear at a good price.:mchappy:

I use a Army sleeping stystem (sleeping bag to non mil bods) + the stuff sack issue with it I got mine issued but lost it in Gulf 1 via a american tanki almost driving over me, so it chewed up my bag,
but you civis can buy on line from silvermans or any army good Army Navy surpluss
DO not get the old type bag as folds up the size of 2 foot balls the new bag
gos down to a football in its stuff sack &

I have a spare stuff sack for my dirty washing keeps them really small tll i get to wash them

Snugpac
 

Another vote for Snugpac.
I bought a Softie (don't remember the number, almost the most expensive one I think) more years ago than I can remember. Maybe 20 years ago if they were made then, but at least 15 years ago.
Used lots since then and still going strong on my current trip.
Use a silk liner too.
Including 3 months continuous every-night use in the Canadian and US Rockies about 10 years ago.
Overall, it's been too hot far more often than it's been too cold (hardly at all).

Ed you still struggling to decide on Down/Synth bags? I've been using a "Stormlite Rolling Clouds 300" (field and trek's own brand I think).. can't seem to find them on google at the moment, probably went out of business. It is down filled, and the first I ever bought. I recommend it for size, warmth and weight. Packed down to the size of insignificance, snag was last summer only pitching the inner in France and then raining that night, got me a tad bit wet/uncomfortable. Ah well.

Not sure about the 3 seasons for Africa, I know it gets nippy at night but how nippy is nippy?

Well, in doubt about the nippiness I just had a google and found this: LifeVenture Downlight 900, hardly breaking the bank at £70 (google around for the spec, but it's 900g and comes in a dry-sack compression bag.

LaFuma Extreme 600 45+ bag. I used this on a Trans America Trail trip last year. As long as it's not going to be cold out, you'll be good. We never had less than 46F nights and I stayed warm in it and my tent.

It packs up to 5x10 inches in it's stuff sack.

$29.93 US at REIOutlet Right now

Lafuma Extreme 600 +45 Sleeping Bag - Long - Special Buy at REI-OUTLET.com

$69.93 for a down 40F bag that packs to 5x11 inches
Lafuma Warm 'N Light +40 Down II Sleeping Bag - Regular - '07 Closeout at REI-OUTLET.com

blacks have a sale on @ the mo a 3 seson bag £29.99, was £59
I got 1 & it squeezes up smaller than my Arm issued Green Maaggot

I spent 3 months touring round Europe camping 99% of the time,it was during the early summer months but I did camp in the mountains quite a bit,I used a Thermarest,worked well,never let me down even though it was supposed to be self inflating which was highly inaccurate,some puff needed too!
I also used a Cumulus Quantam 200 down bag,only used my silk liner about 4 times as it was plenty warm enough,packs down to under half the size of my packed Thermarest. That was nearly 3 years ago & both pieces of kit still going strong & seeing a fair bit of use. The down bag cost well over a hundred notes though I feel it was money well spent,have a look at this lot;
Down Sleeping Bag - Home

Happy hunting
Andy

I have been using the Western Mountaineering Ultralight from MEC:
Western Mountaineering Ultralite Sleeping Bag -7C - Mountain Equipment Co-op. Free Shipping Available
Along with a Thermarest pad. The sleeping bag packs even smaller than the pad, and i use two water-proof bags to pack it in to keep it from getting wet. These have worked very well for me for the last 5 years :thumbup1:
BTW i have always blown up my thermarest until it's full, never had a problem or a puncture. I've also washed the bag a number of times with Techwash for down with great results.

Hi I have 2 suggestons Blacks are selling there 3 seson fart sacks for 29.99 instead of 59.99 they come with stuff sack seems to be quite small.
or go to any very good Army forces surpluss shop like silvermans buy the stuff sack & lob your bag in it see how small it goes, the New Army Fart sack
goes down to the size of a football