Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#97996 - 06/13/08 09:48 AM New to Making Own Gear
HumanBN Offline
member

Registered: 05/15/08
Posts: 58
Loc: West Virginia
Hello,

Just wandering if there would be a book or a PDF file or something that could provide some patterns for a sleeping bag. I haven't made anything on my own yet and I certainly don't want to go at it in the dark. Anyone have a suggestion?

Top
#97997 - 06/13/08 12:54 PM Re: New to Making Own Gear [Re: HumanBN]
Pika Offline
member

Registered: 12/08/05
Posts: 1814
Loc: Rural Southeast Arizona
You can purchase kits for making quilts from either Thru Hiker or Ray-Way. The Thru Hiker kit is 800 fill down and comes with access to instructions; the Ray-Way kit is synthetic and comes with detailed instructions. I have made both as well as a home designed sleeping bag. I made a number of modifications to the Thru Hiker design including a head hole so the quilt can be worn as an insulated poncho.

Unless you already know how to sew, I would recommend you start with a simpler project than the Thru Hiker kit. On the other hand, I would recommend the Ray-Way kit to a rank novice. The reason that I am mentioning quilts is that there is not that big a step from making quilts to making sleeping bags. Moreover, you may find that a quilt suits your purposes just fine and forget about making a bag.

Also, if you log on to the Practical Backpacker forum, there are descriptions of one quilt project or another in the MYOG section. Here you can find out, in excruciating detail, the trials and tribulations of inexperienced sewers as they successfully make their own sleeping gear.
_________________________
May I walk in beauty.

Top
#97998 - 06/13/08 05:30 PM Re: New to Making Own Gear [Re: HumanBN]
lori Offline
member

Registered: 01/22/08
Posts: 2801
Sleeping bags and quilts are easy if you know how to sew....

I made a Ray Way and it's more than I bargained for so far as warmth and comfort. Making a down *anything* was more than I wanted to attempt, so I ordered a down quilt from Jacks R Better for about fifty dollars more than the materials would have cost had I tried to make it.

I have seen pictures on the web of DIY sleeping bags. Just google 'sleeping bag pattern' and there's tons of links like this .
_________________________
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities. In the expert's mind there are few." Shunryu Suzuki

http://hikeandbackpack.com

Top
#97999 - 06/14/08 12:35 PM Re: New to Making Own Gear [Re: lori]
TurkeyBacon Offline
member

Registered: 10/04/02
Posts: 524
Loc: Boston
"Just google 'sleeping bag pattern' and there's tons of links like this "

You just googled a link from this very website. Look at the left of the page for a link to the "make your own" home page.
Make a liner bag first. Its a very simple project but you will learn a lot. Have a great deal of patience with the bag. Sleeping bags are probably one of the more advanced projects. I would even say complicated backpacks are easier to make (smaller). Start with stuff sacks and such until you get comfortable.
Scott
_________________________
I had superhuman powers, but my therapist took them away.

Top
#98000 - 06/16/08 08:58 AM Re: New to Making Own Gear [Re: HumanBN]
HumanBN Offline
member

Registered: 05/15/08
Posts: 58
Loc: West Virginia
Thanks for the help, Folks.


Aaron

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 209 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum