Serious sleeping bags (i.e. those intended for outdoor camping) are rather incredible feats of human innovation. Compact, reasonably durable and wonderfully warm, sleeping bags make it possible to truly enjoy sleeping outdoors. In essence, these bags are simply blankets that can be secured around an individual's body by means of a zipper or other similar device. In practice, sleeping bags are specially designed pieces of outdoor equipment that provide an incredible amount of warmth without being overly heavy or bulky.
The shell of a sleeping bag designed for camping is usually made of nylon or polyester. These fabrics have the advantage of being extremely pliable and lightweight, making the bag easier to carry. The shells of best sleeping bags are treated with water proof coatings. The inside of a sleeping bag is sometimes lined with a different material, such as polyester taffeta, which makes the bag more comfortable to use. But the most part of a sleeping bag is what is in between the shell and the lining: the fill.
The fill of an outdoor sleeping bag is traditionally made of bird down. Down feathers, which are found under a bird's exterior layer of feathers, are extremely warm and provide excellent thermal insulation. Some of the most expensive sleeping bags use goose down, which some experts hold to be the best. However, not all modern sleeping bags use down. Some feature synthetic fill, such as polyester fibers.
There is some debate of what kind of fill is the most effective, and opinions vary according to individual. One the one hand, synthetic fill does not readily absorb water, dries easily and provides some warmth even when completely soaked. Under extreme circumstances, these properties can save the life of a camper. Synthetic fibers are also resilient, which means that they insulate well even when being depressed by a person's weight. However, synthetic fill is not as compact, so the bags tend to be relatively bulky, making them more difficult to carry. Down fill, on the other hand, is extremely compact and lightweight. It is also technically better at retaining heat than synthetic fibers, at least as long as it is dry. However, if it becomes wet, then it loses all ability to act as insulation.
Most modern outdoor sleeping bags are vaguely shaped like the human body; that is, they are narrower at the base and wider at the top. This shape reduces both the bags volume and its surface area, making it easier to carry and easier for the body to warm up. Some bags are even specifically designed to fit women, who obviously tend to have wider hips and narrower torsos than men. Most outdoor sleeping bags have a drawstring around the top, allowing the sleeper to completely encase him or herself within the bag. Alternatively, some bags have an actual hood at the top. The hood is a nice feature, as it allows the sleeper to cover his or her head while remaining in a natural sleeping position. In a bag without a hood, the sleeper must usually curl up in order to fit inside.
In spite of being around for almost four decades, Moonstone still holds the firm position as the industry leader of the sleeping bag segment. It owes its consistent performance to its innovation habits resulting in the production of most comfortable, synthetically insulated or down-filled sleeping bags for its customers.
Moonstone sleeping bags have a very versatile usage considering the fact that not only they can be utilized in wet and dry environments, they offer warm comfort and high-compressibility for lightweight packing as well.
Such excellent performance is possible only because moonstone takes care of every small detail that goes into making a good sleeping bag. This is primarily the reason that almost all the hikers and campers depend on moonstone for their sleeping bag needs.
Every great company's accomplishments are built on a noble mission. Moonstone found its inspiration in the Northern California's mountain rescue teams needs for excellent sleeping bags essential for rescue operations in wet coastal climatic conditions. It is that endeavor that has led to the company Moonstone is today.
Before the Moonstone era, hikers and campers mainly depended either on synthetically insulated or down-filled sleeping bags. However, moonstone provided them with much needed half synthetic insulation and half goose down comfort that changed the world of outdoor camping gear forever.
Goose-down normally looses its insulation ability in wet conditions, thus it is not suitable for rainy or humid terrains. Moonstone cracked this limitation effectively and brought sleeping bags that had synthetic insulation at the bottom (which takes care of wetness) and natural goose down filled on the upper surface. This concept gained instant acceptance from hikers and campers all over the world as they could safely rely on a sleeping bag that would not get wet due to uncertain weather conditions.
Excellent wind and water resistant fabrics go into the shell construction of Moonstone sleeping bags. In the interiors, you can find ultra-light fabrics rendering much desired comfort and warmth for hikers and campers.
Sleeping bags from Moonstone also boasts of attractive features like glow-in-the-dark zippers (this is a blessing when one gets the urge for natures call in the middle of the night), hoods, good length draft tubes and many more.
People who have used the Moonstone sleeping bag even once consider it great value for money and vouch readily for its superior quality and comfort.
Moonstone is known for its research and development programs that leave no stone unturned in venturing into technological domains no other company would dare, just to make their sleeping bags little more better for their customers. Some of these adventures have led to innovations like in-built sleeping pads and detachable hoods that have made life easier for hikers and campers everywhere. Devoting its energies to develop serious products targeted at serious camping and hiking enthusiasts has made Moonstone the world-class company it is in its domain.
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