How to Choose Sleeping Bags
If you like hiking, mountain climbing, or just traveling and camping out, then sleeping bags come in very handy. Sleeping bags are comfortable readymade beds. Very easy to set up. You will just lay it and you are ready to use it. But note that not all sleeping bags are the same. You have to take in some considerations before choosing the best sleeping bags for you. How are you going to use it? You must first check your condition and needs.
For instance, just some of the things that you should be asking before buying sleeping bags are the weather, quality or material, the condition, shape and size, and weight and portability. Now let us consider the state wherein you will be using your sleeping bags.
The first to consider is the weather or climate. You should first ask yourself how cold or hot the weather will be during the time you will be using your sleeping bags. This is very important as it will determine how comfortable you are going to be in your sleeping bags. Is your sleeping bag good enough to keep you warm on a winter season? Consider getting sleeping bags that will work at the coldest temperatures you expect to encounter. Secondly, considering the climate will affect the care you are giving sleeping bags. In particular, in a summer season, if your sleeping bag’s insulation does not suit the weather, you may not be able to avoid overheating and excessive sweating, which will dampen and damage the fill of your sleeping bag. In this case, it is best to choose sleeping bags that are breathable.
Also, the best sleeping bags for summer are the ones’ rated 40 degrees Fahrenheit or 4 degrees Celsius (Yes, you should check the temperature rating). Otherwise, if it is still comfortable for you, you can just open up your sleeping bag like a blanket so it does not hold in much heat. Hence, you should prepare two sleeping bags according to your needs – one for winter the winter, and one for your summer trips. You also might want to pick advanced sleeping bags rather than standard for use in extreme weather conditions.
Next to consider is the quality or material of your sleeping bags. You must know that sleeping bags’ temperatures depend on the type of insulating pads they are made with. A quality sleeping bag you are looking for may just depend on the padding. They work irrespective of the weather conditions outside. Foam core pads are warmer are thicker and warmer than air core pads. Closed cell foam pads add extra warmth – perfect for winter mountain campers. You can also choose from more insulated air mattress bags that are blown up, or those Thermarest style pads, also blown up but mouth-delivered only.
Also to consider is the wet or dry conditions. If you are backpacking on the northwest then expect wet conditions. Do not pick sleeping bags with down fill as it loses much of its insulating capability when wet. Choose light down sleeping bags only if you are traveling southwest where the conditions are desert dry. Choose those with synthetic fill for wet conditions.
Next is shape and size. Some people are claustrophobic and mummy sleeping bags are not advised. Best to go for semi-rectangular. A tight mummy bag is also much stricter with size – you must fit in perfectly with the hood closed for comfort. If you are too big then try a rectangular or semi-rectangular. As long as you are fit for comfort.
Lastly, you might want to consider portability, compactness – ease of carrying your sleeping bags. Your bags should not be greater than three pounds for carrying. Neither should it be too big according to your carrying capacity (Except if you are going winter camping with expected bigger winter bags). There are compression sacks for bulky bags but remember that this could damage the bag’s filling in the long run and affect its insulation. The most compressible sleeping bags are down bags. You can fit them in a backpack.
So those are the things to note. There may be other considerations in choosing a sleeping bag. However, I hope these ones certainly help you narrow down your choices.
Camping Sleeping Bags – How to Choose the Best Sleeping Bag For You?
Camping used to be about bulky sleeping bags. Other times, when you are really lucky, you do not have any sleeping bags to sleep on at all because you ended up carrying heaps of other things and sleeping bags are just not a priority (thinking that you can just find a nice person to share with). For many people, camping before means being at a state wherein you are uncomfortable. But now, gone are those days! Camping nowadays means feeling just like home with the best sleeping bag with you.
As camping sleeping bags vary in shapes and sizes, it is a must that you know what sleeping bag in the market suits you best. Here are my strongest suggestions on how you can choose the best sleeping bag that can make you feel just like home:
a. There is a common type of camping sleeping bag called the Mummy Bag. If you are situated in a place or country with colder temperature and you are after the warmth of your sleeping bag, you better go and look for this type of sleeping bag. A Mummy Bag is made to confine warm air on your head as it provides a hood ensuring that heat will not escape even from your head. It takes off human body shape that is why it surely maintains heat better than those other shapes of sleeping bags. As the name suggest, it really feels like you have your Mum around wrapping you with her warm embrace all through the cold shivering night.
b. If you are living or camping in a place with warm weather, you must go for Rectangular type of camping sleeping bags. Although this is not specifically designed to trap heat as good as a Mummy Bag, this bag is roomier and absorbs more body heat to warm. Other things must be considered for this sleeping bag to perform at its best such as its fabric, construction, and fill.
c. Now that you have just enough appreciation of the two most common types of sleeping bags available in the market and you find yourself in a dilemma as to which one is better, check this out: You do not need to choose at all! If you want the warmth of a Mummy Sleeping Bag at the same time the softness and coziness of a Rectangular Sleeping Bag, producers can modify their versions of sleeping bags giving you the best sleeping bag ever!
I understand that you have to be aware of other accessories that you can suggest to the producers of camping sleeping bags that is why, for your convenience, I have listed down these things that you may want to add to your personally-modified and very unique sleeping bag. Here are your options:
1.Zippers – The main purpose of zippers is to permit ventilation. You can actually have a Two-way Zippers if you wish to so that you can unzip the other one to let ventilation of cooler air through the sleeping bag from your foot or head without having to unzip it especially on summer nights.
2.Hoods – A special part of Mummy Bags, hoods are your most effective option if you want to trap heat from your head keeping you warm from head to toe all through the night.
3.Multi sectioned Hoods – Compared to just hoods, multi sectioned is made from multiple panels. This fits your head better with less chance to compact insulation.
4.Chest Baffles – The use of this accessory, from the name itself, is to provide a barrier at the top of your chest to help you keep warm as it traps warm air from breaking out at the same time preventing cold air from coming in.
5.Foot Boxes – This is designed to keep your feet and toes warm. Also found in majority of Mummy bags, you can lay your foot naturally as it traps warmer air without reducing insulation.
6.Round and flat pull cords – Part of Hoods in Mummy Bags, these cords are ideal if you want to fine-tune your sleeping bag in the middle of the night.
7.Ground level seams – These are found on the side of your sleeping bag which are vulnerable to exposure specifically during windy conditions. The only way to minimize your risk of exposure is to have well insulated ground pads.
8.Ground Pads – Commonly known as sleeping pads, this accessory makes you feel warmer against the ground surface area as well as the ground level seams.
9.Staggered Seam – Also called as off set seams, this is another type of accessory that confines heat and blocks air from breaking in your sleeping bag.
10.Zip together compatibility – This is an amazing accessory if you want to sleep and be zipped together with another person. Most rectangular camping sleeping bags zip together but for Mummy Bags, you need to have this accessory to be compatible enough to zip with other sleeping bags.
11.Insulating and/or wind stop baffle behind the zipper – Simply known as Zipper Draft Tube, this option helps keep warm air inside your bag and cool air outside through the zipper of your bag.
12.Wallet and flashlight pockets – If you want your wallet and flashlights to be secured and close to you even when you are sleeping, you may want to look for these accessories.
With all these information already available to you, I hope that in your quest in looking for the perfect camping sleeping bag, you will find both enjoyment and excitement as you are just one step away from your wonderful time at the camp with your best sleeping bag with you! Definitely no need to worry because whatever the activities at the camp the following morning, you will surely make it because you are assured of your good night sleep that will keep you going all day, all night.
Sleeping Bags – 6 Questions to Ask Yourself to Find the Perfect One
Backpacking? Scouting? Planning a camping trip for the whole family? Whatever journey you decide on, it is essential to choose the right equipment before you begin your expedition. Sleeping bags should be on top of your list. It is particularly important you select one that will suit all your needs.
Like any other equipment, there are different designs and high-tech materials available. It mainly depends on your budget and how you will use it. So decide on your preferences and consider the following questions to make a smart choice before you go shopping for the perfect bag.
1.What is the coldest temperature you will expect to encounter?
Season and temperature range are often considerations in choosing the ideal bag. You will need a warmer bag if you plan to take a trip in winter than go backpacking in the summer months.
2.Is it down or synthetic insulation?
An important element of good bag is its insulation. Modern bags offer two choices; they are either down or synthetic. Both materials present advantages and disadvantages.
Down bags perform superiorly in ideal conditions because it provides tremendous warmth for just little weight. It also outperforms synthetic insulation for years and gives better comfort range as it regulates your heat inside the bag. The only problem is that if it gets wet, the value of the insulation is very poor.
On the other hand, synthetic bags provide insulation even when wet and dries up very quickly. It is also non-allergenic. But one downside of this type of insulation is that it is bulkier, and heavier.
3.How tall are you?
Height is also a big factor to consider. If you are tall, calculate the length of the sleeping bag from your toe to your neck. Then add a few inches to your height to make sure you will fit comfortably in the bag and have extra room to move inside.
4.How heavy is the sleeping bag?
A good summer sleeping pad should not weigh more than 3 pounds while a winter bag can be heavier. You should compare the bag according to their temperature ratings and total weight to have a clearer idea to the load you will be carrying in the future.
5.Is it packable?
Down bags are usually the best choice in terms of warmth, durability, weight and most importantly, compressibility. Although synthetic bags can be packed in compression sacks, this can possibly damage the filling and decrease the insulating capability of the bag.
6.Is it right for you?
All of us are different. Each person varies on how warm they sleep even under ideal circumstances. A good example is two individuals sleeping in the same type of bag having completely different night’s sleep. One may feel warm and comfortable whereas the other person will feel the cold. So it is essential to determine if you are either a cold or a warm sleeper.
No matter what type of sleeping bags you settle on, keep in mind that it can either make or break your camping experience. Careful planning and preparation is the key to a gratifying and enjoyable time in the great outdoors.
Three Reasons Why Sleeping Bags Are a Must For Camping
The perfect ending to any camping day is a night of peaceful sleep that promises another day of camp adventure the following morning. But what if you’re stuck in a tent with no beds, only blankets? As you lay down after a day of camp activities, you feel the ground from the tent’s fabric and you know for sure that you will be deprived of a restful sleep. Sleeping bags have been invented for a reason. It would be such a shame if we do not make full use of its potential. There are a myriad of reasons why campers should never be without a trusty sleeping bag. But you need to be familiar with at least the top three things which should either remind or enlighten you as to the astonishing value of the sleeping bag!
First, portability. So you cannot bring your lovely queen size bed when you go camping with your boyfriend; or, maybe that double-decked bed that you share with your twin when you go camping with your family. But that does not mean you cannot bring a bed altogether! Why suffer through the camp grounds and sacrifice decent slumber when a sleeping bag is out there, yours for the taking? Sleeping bags are popular primarily for their portability. You can lug them around anywhere, not just on camping trips. They are easy to use—just roll it out, lay down, and close your eyes. It is the bed of your dreams, literally! You can even get one of those ultra lightweight sleeping bags which you will surely be able to carry from one place to another without effort. These bags can weigh as low as one pound, twelve ounces. For the young adult or lady who finds it difficult to carry a sleeping bag on their backs as they go camping or hiking, the ultra lightweight ones are the best option.
Second, sleeping bags bring you comfort. Part of the advantages of portability is comfort. No matter where you are going, you can bring your sleeping bag with you and be assured of a comfortable sleep anywhere! Today’s sleeping bags come in a variety of added features such as modified shapes, insulators, and many others. Some sleeping bags are made to hug your body, stretching around you as you toss and turn. Synthetic-fill sleeping bags are made to cater to those campers who want more room for movement as well as a guaranteed warmth from what could be freezing weather.
Third, sleeping bags now give you the option to be stylish. Gone are the days when you would rather sleep on the ground than be caught sleeping on an ugly piece of sleeping bag that looked like it came from a museum of ancient artifacts! Today, sleeping bags are made in a multitude of design that will surely suit your taste and preferences. You no longer need to sacrifice design and style for comfort.
At the end of that proverbial day, your comfort should rank first in priority. Sleeping bags were created to provide you a comfortable space for rest and sleeping while you are away from your home bed. There are many types and kinds of sleeping bags to choose from, all of which have their own features to boast of. All of which, also, vary in price. It is not so much as to what kind you pick, but more like—did you pick one? Because if you are a serious camper, then you should know that sleeping bags are as essential as food and water during that camping trip.