By: Blonde Two
A mini-Cotswold brochure landed on my doorstep yesterday.
I should probably clarify; I am not talking here about model villages crafted in yellow stone, but about outdoor retailers who like to sell people tents.
Over my dinner, I perused the brochure and noted a tendency towards ‘glamping’ in the sales pitch (nothing wrong with this, even Blondes like a touch of luxury). There were strings of lights, fluffy checked rugs and desk-top barbecues (well maybe not desktop).
One thing that caught my eye though, was the number of double sleeping bags that were on sale. I have some very important questions on this topic:
1. Has anyone actually ever tried sleeping in one with someone else?
2. Has anyone actually ever tried sleeping in one with their spouse?
3. Has anyone actually ever tried sleeping in one with someone else’s spouse?
4. Has anyone ever cited ‘the double sleeping bag’ in their divorce?
5. How do you decide who has control of the zip?
6. Do you both have to turn over at the same time?
7. Farting – does it warm the bag or just make it stinky?
8. Do you have to have a ‘let’s go together’ toilet pact?
9. When sitting up, do you have to count to three first?
10. Does a double sleeping bag make a bit of holiday nookie more or less likely?
Anyone with experience and answers, do please let me know.
Anyone who would like me to try one out and write a review (not with Blonde One – there is a limit!) please feel free to send me a double sleeping bag of my own.
I have slept in a double, in the olden days when we would zip our Snugpaks together. Unfortunately it was me and a then boyfriend, who had not bought our Snugpaks at the same time or ina coordinated fashion, and so both had a left hand zip. This meant that one hood was on top, inducing lack of oxygen panic in the middle of the night for the person on that side. On a goos note, the toe bits stayed separate due to the mummy shape, which meant no sharing of gross man foot issues into my side. The biggest issue in a double is the Gap. The gap that form across the two sets of shoulders, as the bag is pulled tight round both outer edges, so the top lays across you rather than falling in to the gap . Too draughty for me now…
That was me btw. Early morning induced typos due to trying to administrate small people getting on shoes and cots whilst reading and typing this!
I don’t like the gap idea at all, which is probably why I often suffer from ‘lack of oxygen panic’ when Big Orange and I are together.
We consummated our marriage in one at the Ice Hotel in Sweden. It had two zips, one either side. You cannot turn over separately, very tricky to sleep as the gap between bodies means cold air gets in, but farts can get out, any movement at all sucks in the cold air. In -5 temps there was no getting up for the loo at all. That said after consuming a lot of blue cocktails in the Ice Bar I slept quite well!
The answer is obviously to pack blue cocktails in the rucksack (one big enough for a double sleeping bag!) Nice honeymoon!
I’ve only shared one with a small child – definitely a bad move. Wriggling around and star fish like tendencies (of the child, not me) meant that I slept very little. She, of course, absolutely loved it and wants to share the double bag every time we use it 🙁
Oh dear, maybe a double sleeping bag each next time?
I possess a double – try it when you visit if you like. I got it when I could no longer fit into a single. Gives you rolling/turning over room and space for irritable legs to fidget in. Now i can’t do camping, but others have borrowed the double for underneath their singles. It is rather bulky to transport. B2GM
Years ago we tried joining two bags together to form a double, and quickly went back to individual bags due to the gap issue (which negated any shared-heat benefits). However, last year I made a double backpacking quilt which as been a big success. The only downside is your point no. 9: when I sit up to make tea and breakfast in the morning, I have to de-duvet first (so as not to leave Husband shivering), whereas in the days of sleeping bags I could sit up in my bag and just stick an arm out. I’ve come up with a work-around, though, so the double quilt isn’t just staying, but I’m about to make another (summer weight) one.
A duvet at camp is a lovely thought. Of course, you could always ask husband to make the tea, then you wouldn’t have to de-duvet at all!