You can ensure that your camping experience will be a lot more enjoyable simply by choosing the right camping gear, and one of the most important pieces of gear to properly select, other than your tent, is your sleeping bag. After all, if you don't get a comfortable sleep, you will most likely not perform very well the following day. A tent provides protection from the elements; protection from rain, insects and wind, and privacy are the main benefits of tents. Selecting the proper sleeping bag will ensure a better camping experience through a more comfortable sleep. If you intend on sleeping outdoors under the stars, and want to avoid the extra weight of a tent, bring along a bivouac, which is a cover meant to protect oneself from the elements in place of a tent, when inclement weather intervenes on your lightweight camping experience. This method of camping provides for less pack size and carrying weight, but is for the more hardy camper, since it is just you and your sleeping bag sleeping under the stars.
When selecting a sleeping bag, important factors to consider are the weight, cost, fill type, construction, shape, and loft (the fill level of the sleeping bag). If you are camping in the great outdoors, the proper sleeping bag ensures a proper and comfortable nights' sleep. Blankets will generally keep you warm until you start rolling or moving around, and the sleeping bag will keep you snuggled within it's warm embrace all night long.
Selecting the proper shell construction of your sleepin bag is very important. The shell is the outside of the sleeping bag. You will find shells that are made of nylon, polyester, cotton or blends of these materials. The liner, which is the inside of the bag, is also made of various fibers, and is usually softer to the touch than the outer shell, for comfort reasons. Nylon outer shells feature tightly woven, lightweight fabrics. They are tough, moderately weather-resistant, breathable, and prevent insulation from leaking.
Performance oriented sleepingh bags often use polyester, which is inherently water resistant and lightweight. DryLoft is a material used in bags intended for extreme weather conditions. Slightly heavier than regular nylon, DryLoft laminates provide superior moisture protection, wind resistance, and insulation. These fabrics are particularly effective in cold or moisture rich conditions. Lining fabrics must be comfortable, breathable, and durable. The majority of linings are made of nylon, which also has the benefits of being quick-drying, anti-allergenic, and stain-resistant.
There are different shapes of sleeping bags; mummy, rectangular and semi-rectangular, and the type is displayed on the sleeping bag's packaging. A mummy shape is pack size and weight efficient, because their tapered shape reduces the amount of fabric and fill that must be packed and carried. The lack of dead space allows these sleeping bags to warm up more quickly, and to keep you warmer in colder temperatures than a bag with a less tapered cut will. Rectangular shaped sleeping bags are less constraining than mummy shaped bags, are slightly heavier, and take up more space on your knapsack's frame. However, because rectangular bags are more difficult to warm up and are bulkier, they are best suited for summer and car-camping. A semi-rectangular sleeping bag sacrifices some thermal efficiency for smaller pack size and more wiggle room inside the bag, and are more easily coupled, for those nights when sharing body heat is desired.
The fill of a sleeping bag is the most important choice to be made. There are down and synthetic fills. Down is the small fibers collected from the underbellies of water fowl, mainly geese and duck. Down provides the best insulation for weight and volume, with smaller pack size and less weight to carry. However, down is a very poor insulator if it gets wet and is relatively expensive. When selecting synthetic filled sleeping bags, Polarguard 3D, Primaloft and Thermolite are all high-end symthetic fills. Primaloft is known especially for its' ability to retain insulating capabilities when wet, and is the best choice when water related sports or environments are to be included or possibly expected during your camping experience.
As you would expect, the higher performing fills are more expensive. If you don't mind a heavier and bulkier sleeping bag, then using less expensive fills can be a bargain for camping or backpacking in mild-to-moderate weather.
The fill power of sleeping bags describes the lofting capabilities of the down used. The number is the amount of volume one ounce of down will fill in cubic inches. For example: a down sleeping bag rated at 600 will fill 600 cubic inches, while one with an 800 rating will fill 800 cubic inches.
A higher fill rated bag will generally retain it's loft longer than one with a lower fill rating. In addition, a higher fill rated bag will compress more and be lighter than a lower rated fill bag in the same temperature category.
The lengths listed on the sleeping bags are from the bottom of the bag to the top of the "body" portion of the sleeping bag. meaning up to, but not including, the hood. Measure your height when standing from the floor to your chin, plus a couple of extra inches of space. If your feet are pressed against the bottom of the sleeping bag, it could be difficult to keep them warm during the night. If you will be placing a few items, most likely wallet, purse, phones, GPS devices, cameras and other valuables (no food, please!) at the foot of the sleeping bag, add a few more inches to your toe-to-chin height.
There is no point in buying a bag that is much longer than your toe-to-chin height, as the extra space will just increases weight, pack space, and cost while requiring you to warm a larger amount of dead space in your bag with your valuable body heat. If you do not mind a tight fit, you can save weight and pack space with a relatively narrow bag. Because narrower bags require less fill, they are often less expensive than a comparable, wider bag. As much as twenty-five percent of your body heat is lost through the top of the head, and that is why sleeping bags come with hoods, insulated in the same way as the sleeping portion of the bag. If you do not use the hood, try keeping a wool cap on your head when sleeping, as this will allow less heat to escape.
Cost is a major factor in selecting sleeping bags, as down filled sleeping bags will cost significantly more than synthetic filled sleeping bags, will take up more room on your knapsack's frame, and can be quite heavier than synthetic filled bags. Sleeping bags come with a temperature rating, but take this very lightly, as there is no industry standard; one company's sleeping bag rated at -10 degrees Fahrenheit may be warmer than another company's bag rated at -20 degrees Fahrenheit. Select your sleeping bag based on the uses that you intend it for, and the cost that you can afford.
Enjoy your camping, hiking and/or wilderness adventures. Bringing the proper equipment will ensure your comfort, and make the hiking more pleasant. Enjoy your stay in the great outdoors!