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[S553]Sleeping Bags For Camping

by Rachel Nunez, Rac

The perfect ending to any camping day is a night of peaceful sleep that promises another day of camp adventure the following morning. But what if you're stuck in a tent with no beds, only blankets? As you lay down after a day of camp activities, you feel the ground from the tent's fabric and you know for sure that you will be deprived of a restful sleep. Sleeping bags have been invented for a reason. It would be such a shame if we do not make full use of its potential. There are a myriad of reasons why campers should never be without a trusty sleeping bag. But you need to be familiar with at least the top three things which should either remind or enlighten you as to the astonishing value of the sleeping bag!

First, portability. So you cannot bring your lovely queen size bed when you go camping with your boyfriend; or, maybe that double-decked bed that you share with your twin when you go camping with your family. But that does not mean you cannot bring a bed altogether! Why suffer through the camp grounds and sacrifice decent slumber when a sleeping bag is out there, yours for the taking? Sleeping bags are popular primarily for their portability. You can lug them around anywhere, not just on camping trips. They are easy to use---just roll it out, lay down, and close your eyes. It is the bed of your dreams, literally! You can even get one of those ultra lightweight sleeping bags which you will surely be able to carry from one place to another without effort. These bags can weigh as low as one pound, twelve ounces. For the young adult or lady who finds it difficult to carry a sleeping bag on their backs as they go camping or hiking, the ultra lightweight ones are the best option.

Second, sleeping bags bring you comfort. Part of the advantages of portability is comfort. No matter where you are going, you can bring your sleeping bag with you and be assured of a comfortable sleep anywhere! Today's sleeping bags come in a variety of added features such as modified shapes, insulators, and many others. Some sleeping bags are made to hug your body, stretching around you as you toss and turn. Synthetic-fill sleeping bags are made to cater to those campers who want more room for movement as well as a guaranteed warmth from what could be freezing weather.

Third, sleeping bags now give you the option to be stylish. Gone are the days when you would rather sleep on the ground than be caught sleeping on an ugly piece of sleeping bag that looked like it came from a museum of ancient artifacts! Today, sleeping bags are made in a multitude of design that will surely suit your taste and preferences. You no longer need to sacrifice design and style for comfort.

At the end of that proverbial day, your comfort should rank first in priority. Sleeping bags were created to provide you a comfortable space for rest and sleeping while you are away from your home bed. There are many types and kinds of sleeping bags to choose from, all of which have their own features to boast of. All of which, also, vary in price. It is not so much as to what kind you pick, but more like---did you pick one? Because if you are a serious camper, then you should know that sleeping bags are as essential as food and water during that camping trip.

You really need to decide what sort of weather you are most likely to use your sleeping bag in. If you are going to use it in a dry environment where you can air it then a down bag still gives better insulation weight for weight than a man made filling bag will do. A good quality down bag will, with the right care last longer (maintain its loft) as well. However if damp, a man made fiber bag may provide better warmth. Here are some preferences:

1) Use a combination of bags. Have a 2-3 season insulated sleeping bag that you can use with either cotton or fleece liner. This allows best matching the insulation with the prevailing weather conditions and so preventing overheating and excessive sweating which will dampen the fill of the sleeping bag. It takes up a bit more room than a single bag but it worth the space. It also means that the sleeping bag needs less washing and that the liners can be washed more often without damaging the sleeping bag. The liners are also easier to air, dry and wash while camping.

3) Make sure you can care and do care for the bags as detailed in their instructions. Most bags need to be kept "uncompressed" (lying flat (under a bed on a wardrobe) or hanging, not in their compression sack.

4) Budget for, buy and use a sleeping bag liner.

5) Most of heat loss is through the base of the bag (the bit you lie on) as the filling is compressed so make sure you have a good ground mat.

6) Get a breathable (it is very important that it is breathable) sleeping bag cover. It will add about 3/4 (.75) of a season to your bag (my estimate).

How you avoid slipping and sliding in sleeping bag on a pad? You could try to sleep on a cot. You could try to put some Velcro on your sleeping bag and pad which would keep you from slipping and sliding off your pad. Another idea is to put something on the sides of your pad or dig a small trench for your pad. This would in effect put some edges on your pad and keep you in your bag.

There are several choices when it comes to sleeping pads. First, there's the typical air mattress, which must be blown up, usually by a battery-operated pump or a foot pump. It is comfortable, with good insulation against cold ground, but a bit of work, also, a bit bulky and subject to leaking from time to time.

Second, you have the Thermarest style pads; requires only a little mouth-delivered air, but only from 1/2 to 1 and 1/2 inch thick; relatively comfortable, good insulation from cold ground, durable, rolls into a small bundle. For car camping, go with the thickest mattress, as weight is not an issue. Also, lengths vary, as do widths, so get what fits your needs.

Finally, there are the foam pads - various thicknesses, no work, most durable, pretty good insulation against cold ground, roll into small bundles, multiple uses due to durability, but probably the least comfortable. Get a thick pad (more than an inch thick), and you should be all right.

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Both Rachel Nunez & Victor Epand are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

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