Camping Gear: A Camper's Guide to Sleeping Bags

When you are out on a camping trip, you need to be able to get a good night's sleep, sheltered from the weather in a good tent, and warmed by a proper sleeping bag, or you won't have a good time.

There is no one kind of sleeping bag which suits all people and all circumstances, but you should be able to find one which will keep you comfortable on most of your trips, at least. When you are choosing, think about the trips you most often make, and choose a bag to suit them.

The main thing is choosing synthetic or down filling in your sleeping bag. Down supplies the greatest warmth and comfort, and is recommended for most camping situations. However down takes a long time to dry if it happens to get wet, whereas synthetic filling will dry much more quickly, and can still keep you warm. They are however heavier to carry.

If you mainly plan general purpose camping trips, you need a three season sleeping bag, with ten to twenty degrees Fahrenheit temperature comfort rating. For more specialized trips, for example camping in specific seasons, then you should buy a bag specially designed for that season.

Summer sleeping bags should suit temperatures between 10 and 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and winter sleeping bags minus 15 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit

Here are some things to look for in choosing a sleeping bag:

The best materials for sleeping bags are nylon or polyester. Cotton, especially printed fabrics, should be avoided, unless the children insist....

Taffeta or other non-cotton lining material is best. Plain nylon and cotton do not breathe as well or warm up as fast, and overall other fabrics are more comfortable.

Many people like the modern mummy shaped sleeping bags, though there are some who find that these restrict their movement too much. If you like a bag which is snug and comfortable, choose the mummy shape, but if you like to move and wriggle around when you sleep, choose a rectangular or semi-rectangular one.

Zippers should be double sided so you can open them from both ends, and you might want one with a zipper hook to stop it from opening up by accident. Insulated draft collars can also be a good idea, because they keep you warm around your neck and shoulders.

Dark colors absorb more heat than lighter ones, and this makes them easier to dry out.

Conclusion

You might still like to try out the bag and see if it suits, and some camping stores will allow this. Climb into the bag and see if you think it will give you the comfortable night's sleep you are going to need on your trip.