Sleeping | All Kinds of Travel information

Sleeping Bag

May 4th, 2007 admin No comments

Sleeping Bag

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.

About the Author

For more tips and information about
Sleeping bags
, check out
http://www.summitcampinggear.com/coslba.html
.