Camping
101 – Sleeping Bags
A sleeping bag is one of the most important camping
equipment purchases and outdoors person makes, and one that many people
purchase at the last minute or on the spur of the moment. Many types of
sleeping bags are available. The best bag for you depends on your sleeping
habits, the temperature and climate where you camp and whether you’ll be
carrying the bag on your back or in the trunk of your car.
Sleeping bags come in two basic shapes, mummy and
rectangular. The best choice for you depends on your sleeping style and how
you intend to use the bag. Most backpackers prefer the mummy-shaped bag. The
narrow cut can decrease a bag’s weight by up to a half-pound, which is
critical to backpackers who measure every ounce. The mummy’s smaller size
also requires less energy to heat up at night than the larger rectangular
bag, which has more air space. Remember a sleeping bag does not warm you,
but retains the heat your body generates.
While the rectangular bags end abruptly just above the
shoulders, the mummy bags have a hood that can be pulled tight around the
sleeper’s head.
Sleeping bags come in different sizes. Some bags are made
in junior or youth sizes. Most are available in regular and extra-long. Some
also come in extra-wide sizes. Backpackers often buy longer sleeping bags
for their winter treks because they store so much gear (such as boots,
drinking water, flashlight and batteries) in their bag at night. If at all
possible try on the sleeping bag at the store. If you can’t try it on then
measure a bag that you know is the right length for you and compare it to
the ones you are considering buying. If you are ordering one from a catalog
make sure to give yourself plenty of time for returns in case it’s not what
you expected.
A sleeping bag acts as an insulator to slow the loss of
body warmth. How well a bag insulates depends on its insulating material,
construction, and amount of loft. Choose a temperature rating based on the
conditions you plan to camp in most often. A bag’s temperature rating
indicates the lowest temperature at which a camper would be comfortable. But
what is comfortable for one sleeper may not be for another. There is no
industry standard for temperature ratings and they vary from manufacturer to
manufacturer.
Some things to consider before choosing the right
temperature rating for you. Temperature ratings always assume that the bag
will be used with a ground pad. Your metabolic rate, levels of fatigue and
hunger, and the quality of your tent and ground pad also impact your
sleeping comfort. Some people are colder than others when sleeping and might
want a warmer, or lower-rated, sleeping bag.
Many traditional camp bags are comfortable to about 40°
F. A bag rated to 20° F is considered a versatile
three-season bag, usable in New England from early spring to late fall. A
bag rated to 0° F is used for cold weather and
some winter camping. Bags rated from -15° F to
-30° F are suitable for most
winter camping conditions.
Sleeping bags are filled with either down or with
synthetic fibers. Down is the best natural insulator known. It is light and
compressible. It packs small and its loft can be fluffed back with just a
couple quick shakes. Down costs more than synthetic fill, and if it becomes
wet it loses about 80% of its insulating abilities and takes a long time to
dry. Keeping your down bag dry is essential. A well-cared-for down sleeping
bag will keep you warm and comfortable through several years of outdoor
adventures.
Synthetic fill is made from small fibers that are treated
with silicon to help enhance their loft. The fibers also have chambers in
them to help trap air. Synthetic-filled bags cost less and are great for
people who are allergic to down. They also continue to insulate when wet and
dry quickly. However synthetic bags weigh more and have a shorter life span
than down bags.
Other things to look for are a zipper draft tube, a draft
collar, well-designed baffles and double stitches sewn at stress points.
