by Nathan Rogers

Created on: April 29, 2008   Last Updated: May 04, 2008

The sleeping bag is a critical piece of camping equipment that is often overlooked. As anyone that has spent the night above the snow line huddled against their packstove for warmth can tell you, it is critical that you select the right bag for what you are planning on doing. There are many different types of sleeping bags out there and their uses are as varied as the colors of leaves in autumn so selecting the right bag can be a challenging experience. This simple guide is designed to give you a leg up and simplify this experience.

Styles
There is generally two main styles of sleeping bags, the standard rectangular sleeping bag and the mummy bag. The regular rectangular sleeping bag is good for moderate temperatures down to about 40F. Much lower in temp and regardless of filling that draft through the top is going to be murder. For lower temperatures the mummy bag is the best bag you could hope for. The mummy bag is called such because when you are bundled inside it you look like a mummy with virtually nothing showing of the person inside. Mummy bags have the disadvantage of space though. If you are a larger individual, make sure to try the bag before you buy it. Mummy bags are designed to be tightly zipped and the drawstring pulled in tight. I have spent the night in a mummy bag with nothing more than my nose poking out.

Filling Material
Thanks to modern chemistry there are a large number of potential filling materials for your sleeping bag. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. In addition there is also the always present feather down filled bags. All the materials work with the basic priciple of keeping a layer of air trapped inside the insulating material between you and the environment outside. Your body heat warms this air and the insulating materials keep that warm air from escaping making for a comfortable night regardless of outside conditions.
The primary materials for synthetic materials are Hollofil II and Quallofil. Some manufacturers may have other materials as well but these are the standards. Hollofil II is the lower cost, higher weight, less insulating material with Quallofil being a better insulator (i.e. lower weight). Goose down is a common material used in many high end sleeping bags. Down is a great insulator but if it gets wet it loses much of its insulating properties. If there is even a slight chance of it getting wet go with the synthetics. Down also has the disadvantage that if it does get wet and gets put away without being properly

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