THE BIG SLEEP

NOW that 2020’s Summer of Hell is over, and we’re (a) allowed to go outside, and (b) it’s safe to do so, you’ll find that’s winter has well and truly come. Fortunately there are a crop of excellent sleeping bags around to help you pass those tent-bound nights in comfort. Our mild climate means that, in most of the country, a bag rated for three-seasons in Europe or North America is sufficient all year round here. Hence, Great Walks presents a selection of the best available sleeping bags on the market. Tester is a male side sleeper whose pet hate is being molested by zips, Velcro or draw cords in his face while trying to doze off.

1 Mont Helium 450

Mont’s envelope-pushing Helium bag is rated down to a frigid – 7°C for men, or – 1°C for women, yet weighs a mere 800g. The secret is in the 450gm of 800+ loft duck down and the 10D downproof nylon fabric, and while I didn’t have the opportunity to get down to those temperatures during testing, I was certainly toasty enough. The Radial Arc baffle system, with box-walled construction and