Columbia Zone Mummy
Price £34.79
Tel 0870 600 3030
Web www.argos.co.uk
Size 82cm x 213cm
Packed size 30cm x 30cm x 40cm
Inner lining Polyester, and polyester fleece at foot
Outer surface Polyester
In so many ways, this sleeping bag has it all, including a clever storage bag, zipped pockets and a flap to protect the zip. What's more it is all solidly constructed. Beyond the features and overall high quality, this is a sleeping bag you could use in a tent in the worst of British winters. We are not sure about the manufacturer's claim that it can be used safely in temperatures as low as -18°C. But this bag has the spec to keep you warm; there's fleece at the foot and a padded pull cord at the neck and shoulder to exclude cold air. Thanks to yet more cords, the head area can be pulled tight so that the tip of your nose is the only bit of you that has to brave the elements.
Verdict Perfect for cold awnings in the middle of winter.
Rating: * * * * *

Millets Voyager
Price £9.99
Tel 0800 389 5861
Web www.millets.co.uk
Size 80cm x 190cm
Packed size 20cm x 20cm x 36cm
Inner lining 65% polyester, 35% cotton
Outer surface Polyester
This is much like Pro Action's budget bag, but it's worth paying the extra few pounds. While the bag doesn't compare in quality to most here, it feels a little more substantial than Pro Action's. The suggested temperature range of 10°-30°C is perhaps optimistic – the polyester hollow-fibre filling ensures decent cold-weather performance, but we'd prefer more cotton to let the bag breathe when it's warmer. For occasional use, this product is worth looking at. It's machine washable, relatively small and lightweight, and dead easy to pack away.
Verdict Cheap and cheerful. Best for occasional use though.
Rating: * * * *

Litchfield Trail XL Square
Price £24.99
Tel 0870 600 3030
Web www.argos.co.uk
Size 100cm x 230cm
Packed size 22cm x 22cm x 48cm
Inner lining Cotton
Outer surface Nylon
This rectangular bag comes with a mummy-style top that can be pulled snugly over your head with a pull cord. With its low tog rating of 5.3, this feature may be useful in temperatures below 7°C. It's also roomy, and the three-year warranty reflects its high quality. The lower zip lets you pull the bag over your head so you can take your shoes off last. What's more, it's machine washable.
Verdict Impressive quality, with several practical features.

Rating: * * *

Pro Action
Price £6.99 Tel 0870 600 3030
Web www.argos.co.uk
Size 70cm x 165cm
Packed size 20cm x 20cm x 40cm
Inner lining Cotton
Outer surface Polyester
The cheapest bag in the group; if you're on a tight budget, and anticipate needing a sleeping bag on only rare occasions, this is worth considering. Nothing ripped or frayed during our tests, but the inner lining seems weak, so we are not confident about its durability. Inside, the bag felt tight, which will inevitably put extra strain on the lining. Other than being slightly cramped, we couldn't really fault the Pro Action's comfort level. The tog rating of six makes this perfect for spring and summer use in unheated caravans, and the pull cord top allows you to tighten the bag around your neck to keep as much body heat in as possible. The main drawback is that it can be laundered by hand only.
Verdict Cheap, rather tight and of questionable quality.
Rating: * *

Blue Stripe
Price £13.99
Tel 0870 600 3030
Web www.argos.co.uk
Size 83cm x 193cm
Packed size 20cm x 20cm x 40cm
Inner lining 70% polyester, 30% cotton
Outer surface 70% polyester, 30% cotton
Despite its thick padding, this bag's tog rating is just 4, which rules it out for really cold conditions. The polyester/cotton mix allows the bag to breathe in summer weather, and that thick polyester filling is delightful to sink into. However, getting the thick bag into its holder is a test of stamina. If you succeed, the holder is relatively compact but, with the bag inside, it's heavier than many here.
Verdict Comfortable, but not as warm as it looks.
Rating: * *

Columbia Thunder Scout
Price £29.79 Tel 0870 600 3030
Web www.argos.co.uk
Size 84cm x 190cm
Packed size 26cm x 26cm x 40cm
Inner lining Cotton
Outer surface Polyester
This is not up to the standard set by the Zone Mummy, but it's still impressive. The tog rating of 11 makes it ideal for winter use, but it may prove to be too warm for late spring and summer. Both the inner and outer surfaces appear to be tough and durable. There are some clever little touches, too, such as the small zip pockets to stash your watch, keys and wallet, and the large Velcro flap that prevents any draughts from the zip becoming a nuisance. Finally, there's the whole business of storage. Integral elasticated rings slip over the bag to keep it wound up tight while you open the storage bag. Packing away is an easy one-person job.
Verdict Top quality, and well thought out, but too warm for year-round use.
Rating: * * *

Blacks Quest Classic
Price £24.99 Tel 0800 665 410
Web www.blacks.co.uk
Size 85cm x 200cm
Packed size 36cm x 16cm x 42cm
Inner lining flannel cotton
Outer surface Cotton
Well-suited to use by caravanners, this bag's suggested heat range of 5°-25°C covers around 90% of the weather conditions most of us will face in Britain. The cotton inner and outer surfaces will prove beneficial in warmer weather. But the generously thick filling ensures plenty of comfort and decent cold-weather performance. The built-in pillow may seem something of a gimmick, but it's surprisingly firm and comfortable. And it fits in well with the innovative curved neckline. A drawstring feature allows the neckline to gather around you, which makes the pillow even more useful. It packs away quickly and easily, which is another good feature.
Verdict Good all-rounder. We like the rounded neckline and pillow.
Rating: * * *

Millets Classic
Price £16.99
Tel 0800 389 5861
Web www.millets.co.uk
Size 85cm x 190cm
Packed size 36cm x 16cm x 42cm
Inner lining Cotton
Outer surface 80% polyester, 20% cotton
It's no secret that Blacks own Millets, which makes us wonder whether this bag comes from the same manufacturer as Blacks' Quest Classic. The 8°-25°C temperature range is similar to the Quest's, but not quite as good, and the feel and look bear more than a passing resemblance. This is, however, a pared-down version. The useful integral pillow has disappeared, along with the innovative curved neckline. The outer surface is mostly polyester, so it ought to keep water out, but it soaks up liquid as quickly as the 100% cotton Quest. Like Blacks' bag, getting the Classic into its storage sack is easy, but that's partly due to the storage bag's generous size.
Verdict A basic, less successful version of the Quest.
Rating: * *

Lifeventure Sleeplight 750
Price £34.99 Tel 0870 850 4367
Web www.readytoleave.com
Size 83cm x 183cm
Packed size 15cm x 15cm x 30cm
Inner lining Polyester
Outer surface Nylon
You really have to see this in the flesh to appreciate just how small it packs down. The storage bag looks more like a pencil case, when compared to most others in the group. Part of the reason for this is the bag's advanced Thermafibre filling, which ensures decent heat insulation despite keeping the bag as thin as possible. The minimum recommended temperature of 7°C makes this perfectly suitable for the vast majority of UK caravan use. But the nylon shell doesn't breath, so it will get uncomfortably stuffy in there. There's a pull cord to keep heat in at the head, but we found it rather uncomfortable to use; more padding here would definitely help.
Verdict Packs tightly and is warm enough, but it's not breathable.
Rating: * * * *

Pro Action King Size
Price £29.99
Tel 0870 600 3030
Web www.argos.co.uk
Size 130cm x 185cm
Packed size 32cm x 32cm x 52cm
Inner lining Cotton
Outer surface Nylon
This looks supremely inviting, thanks to a turned-down flap over the pillow area that reveals the cotton inner lining. And with a tog rating of 8, this is a bag you're not often going to get cold in. But for the price, this is too basic. Yes, it's a king-size double, but a zip on only one side is a serious oversight, particularly when the person on the side without a zip wants to get up in the night. Getting this into its laughably tight storage bag is no mean feat. Find yourself a helper and, even then, allow at least ten minutes.
Verdict Comfortable, but flawed in many ways.
Rating: * *

Slumbalux Camouflage
Price £15.99
Tel 01246 571 270
Web www.yeomansoutdoors.co.uk
Size 80cm x 230cm
Packed size 22cm x 22cm x 35cm
Inner lining 65% polyester, 35% cotton
Outer surface 65% polyester, 35% cotton
The camouflage pattern may not be the first style you'd choose for your van, but everything else is spot on. The suggested 5°-25°C temperature range covers most conditions caravanners are going to encounter in Britain. The cotton content of the inner and outer surfaces will let the bag breathe in warm conditions. The pull cord and Velcro fastening at the head end will keep in warmth. We also like its low weight, and the fact that it can be machine washed. Finally, it packs up easily into its storage bag.
Verdict The right balance of quality, warmth and price.
Rating: * * * * *

Blacks Quad 2
Price £34.99
Tel 0800 665 410
Web www.blacks.co.uk
Size 80cm x 220cm
Packed size 20cm x 20cm x 40cm
Inner lining Nylon
Outer surface Nylon
Blacks is perhaps one of the best known sleeping bag brands of all, so we were keen to try this out. But, surprisingly, this model appeared less well made than similarly priced rivals. We were less than impressed with the nylon inner lining. Although Blacks sets 1°-13°C as the best temperature range for using this bag, it beginning getting stuffy inside at way below the maximum. Still, the nylon-and-polyester construction makes it machine washable, very lightweight and water resisitant. The storage sack is very compact – in fact, it's far too small, making this the worst bag in our test group for packing away in its holder.
Verdict Not bad, but the Columbia Mummy is cheaper and better.
Rating: * *