How to Choose a Sleeping Bag and Sleeping Gear
When I was younger my sleeping bag was my best friend on a camping trip. I would exhaust myself on the trail, or with all of those fun family camping activities and sleep would come suddenly. I would want to lay my head on a pillow, curl up in my sleeping bag and fall into a deep comfortable sleep.
I was lucky that my parents had put a lot of thought into sleeping bags, mattresses, cots and pillows. This is how they taught me to select the proper sleeping gear.
So here are some sleeping bag reviews to help you...
Start with yourself
How much space do you have?
How much comfort do you want?
How much money are you willing to spend for that comfort?
These are the big limitations that you have to work with.
Sleeping Bags
Now you know your personal preferences and any limitations. Lets get into what you need to get out of your gear to make the right choice.
How do you choose a sleeping bag?
There are a few things that you need to take note of while you look for your sleeping bag.
- What weather are you doing most of your camping in?
- Is this for camping or backpacking?
- Do you get cold at night when you sleep?
There are two types of sleeping bags.
Down Sleeping Bags
Down is made of the undercoat found just beneath the outer feathers of ducks and geese. It is a great insulator, it is lightweight and it out performs its synthetic friend.
It is believed that goose down is better than duck down (but don't tell that to a duck).
Down bags are lighter, can compact into very small sizes and expand quicker. So if you are going backpacking this might be what you need.
It also lasts longer than the synthetic bags but they are more expensive to buy. So if you are looking to save money and you don't camp that much spending the money for the higher quality might not be worth it.
Another negative about down is that if it gets wet it is worthless until it dries and that can take some time depending on the circumstance...
Down is a long term investment. They can last years or decades longer. If you are doing a great deal of camping it might be worth spending the money.
Synthetic Fill Sleeping Bags
Synthetic bags are also good insulators. They are filled with hollow plastic threads (sometimes just one plastic thread). The hollow thread traps more air to keep you warmer.
Unlike the down bag the synthetic bag can keep you warm if it is wet (this depends on how wet it gets and how cold it is).
Also if you have allergies the synthetic fill would be a good choice.
Of course the synthetic bag does not roll up as nice as the down and it is also a little heavier (perhaps a pound or two).
The synthetic bag is also the cheaper of the two types.
Sleeping bags have comfort ratings...
A comfort rating is the most extreme temperature that a particular bag will keep its occupant warm at. If a bag is rated at +35 this means that if the temperature drops below 35 degrees Fahrenheit you will get cold.
Of course this is just a guideline to help you choose a sleeping bag. There are other considerations like:
- What type of sleeping pad you are using
- Are you in a tent
- What types of clothing are you sleeping in
- Your gender (women tend to get colder then men)
- How hydrated you are
- If you have eaten properly (this is a big one)
You can also add a liner for additional warmth.
Does all of this sound like a lot?
Are you feeling the pressure?
Don't worry you will do fine. Just remember to play it safe and get a bag rated for a little colder than you think you need.
You can always adjust the temperature by unzipping it!
How to take care of a sleeping bag
I make a habit of leaving my bag partially unzipped and open when I am not using it. This keeps it fresh while you use it.
When you get back from your trip you should unzip the bag completely and hang it over a chair or a cloths line for a day. Air it out and then pack it back up with the rest of your gear.
If your bag is dirty get it dry-cleaned. If you take care of your bag it will take care of you for years to come...
Sleeping Pads
The second part of your necessary sleeping gear is your sleeping pad or mattress. A pad or mattress will not only help you with comfort but it will also insulate you.
Here is a good rule of thumb to figure out if a mattress will be a good insulator. If the air roams free then so does your body heat... Roaming air is cool air...
How do you choose a sleeping pad?
Like all your other gear you have options to weigh and limitations to fit into.
What do you have to consider?
- Weather: is it cold enough that you need your mattress or pad to help insulate you?
- How much comfort do you want? The more comfort that you want the more weight and/or size you have to deal with. Backpackers don't have as much to say about this because of weight and space constraints.
- How much weight can you carry? This is the big one for backpackers. If you are camping this might not be as big an issue.
- How much space do you have? Backpackers have to deal with this as well as weight. The good news for campers is that if the mattress you want is to big you can always buy a new tent!
- Durability: what can I say? Some people are harder on their mattresses than others.
What kinds of pads are there?
- Air mattress: Can be an individual size or up to queen size. They are cheap and comfortable but if you are hiking you probably don't want to deal with the weight or the space issue. Also if you are looking for an insulator then you are in the wrong isle of the store. They can also flatten quickly
- Open cell foam pads: These are made of small open air cells kind of like a sponge. These are comfortable and will keep you warmer than an air mattress but as I said earlier they are like a sponge. Not so good in the wet weather. They also can be bulky and don't pack well.
- Closed cell foam pads: Unlike the open cell pads these are water resistant and will keep you very warm. They are cheap and durable. Unfortunately they sacrifice comfort; they are stiff and firm.
- Self-inflating pads: Although these mattresses can be heavier than the open or closed cell pads they are waterproof, they are great insulators, they are compact and can be adjusted to a comfort level you like. They can be punctured or ripped so you would want to bring along a patch kit just in case (they fix easy). When you are ready to pack up you just open the valve and squeeze the air out as you roll it up.
Cots
If roughing it is not in your blood and you have the space you can always get a cot! Of course this is not an option if you are backpacking. Most cots are made with an aluminum frame and a sturdy fabric.
Hammocks are also an option if the weather is good.
Pillows
There are also a wide variety of travel pillows that range in size and shape. So if you need to conserve space or you just don't want to get your pillow dirty there are plenty of great options out there for you.
With this information you will be sleeping like a baby no matter where you are...