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Sleeping bags are an essential part of any camping trip and beyond, so when you choose which one to buy, you know that the consequences of choosing the wrong material, warmth, or size can ruin a trip. With so many variables these days in materials, shapes, and comfort, it can be overwhelming to go into a store and try to pick one without sleeping in every bag, but by the time that you're done reading, you'll never have to worry again.

There are two main choices for sleeping bag insulation, synthetic and down. Synthetic bags are much better for damp climates because they still provide insulation while wet and dry very quickly as well. Synthetic filling also tends to be cheaper than down which is good if you are looking for something cheap to use and you can usually purchase a decent synthetic bag for around sixty to seventy dollars. Another great part about synthetic filling is that it is non-allergenic which can be a very crucial factor if you have sensitive allergies, especially around animals. There are a few downsides to getting a synthetic bag however, most importantly its weight and durability. Synthetic materials are less dense so they need more to produce the same insulation that down can do with less. The insulation is also heavier and cannot compress as well as down, which is something to consider if space is an issue.

Down bags are filled with down from ducks or geese, using the feathers below the outer layer and it makes a fantastic insulator for sleeping bags. Down is very light but produces a very high level of insulation for little weight. Down tends to be much warmer as well and is favorable for cold climates and high elevations. They can also compress into much smaller sizes than synthetic bags which is very convenient for those with little space to spare. Down bags are also much more durable and can last years longer than their synthetic counterparts. Down sleeping bags tend to be more expensive, but they are a better value if you plan to use your bag for a long time and will pay for itself with enough use. A good down bag starts at around one hundred dollars and just keep going up from there, with the most expensive high-tech bags costing upwards of two hundred and fifteen dollars. The only real downside with down is that they cannot be used in wet climates. They lose all effectiveness for insulation if they get wet, and they take a while to dry out as well, and when you can't just throw it in the dryer but have to wait for the sun to come out

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