Camping Sleeping Bag - How to Choose
How to choose a sleeping bag
You spend 1/3 of your camping trip cocooned inside a sleeping bag. As the above video shows, you want to base your choice on these 5 criteria:
- Temperature or comfort rating. Will it keep you warm?
- Insulation type. A down sleeping bag is warm & luxurious , compacts better and lasts longer. But is it worth paying $300- $500? Synthetics have come a long way. I use one and it’s very comfortable.
- Shape of bag. Do you like snug-and-warm or roomy-but-cooler? I settle for a compromise, the semi as shown on the video. How about mating bags sometimes called double sleeping bag – 2 bags that can be zipped into one? A romantic idea but not usually implemented unless you like waking up 69 times a night. If your height is over 6 feet, many manufacturer offers a "Long" version.
- Weight and size. This matters more if you are backpacking. If you are transporting the sleeping bag in a car, a few extra ounces won't matter, but still pay attention to compactness to mimize cargo space.
- Quality. Look for features such as the smoothness of the fabric, the softness of the insulation, and other features such as self-healing zippers, zipper tab, hoods, and flat bottoms so your toes can wiggle
A good sleeping bag will be your best friend, to lie on when you watch the stars at night, to snuggle in when it rains outside, to stir up from when the sun shines and the birds wake you up in the morning.
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Filed under Sleeping Bags by Myrtha Chang.
Comments
Coleman Rechargeable Lantern | Joy of Camping said (pingback):
[…] The most comforting thought for me is that this Coleman fluorescent lantern won’t explode in the tent, scorch our down sleeping bag or release fumes and give us all emphysema. The U-tube fluorescent tube also keeps the lantern running cool and I worry less about it burning my kids as they get too absorbed rolling dice, praying and hoping they will bypass my Park Place and Broadwalk properties. […]
Camping Gear for Your Next Camping Trip | Joy of Camping said (pingback):
[…] Number two on the list of camping gear is a sleeping bag. Know how many people will be in your camping party, and make sure you bring enough sleeping bags for everyone. Although warm summer weather may have you thinking you need only a light sleeping bag, keep in mind that summer storms can bring chilly weather with them, especially at night. […]