Four Things To Look For In A Sleeping Bag

If it is your first time to go camping, you might have to go shopping for camping gears and the sleeping bag is one gear you shouldn't forget. So here are some things to look for in a sleeping bag.

1. Comfort. Would you feel comfortable sleeping in the outdoors and shivering at the same time? Will you be able to sleep knowing that you are exposed to all the harsh elements? Of course not. So when you go shopping for a sleeping bag you will have to take note of its insulating capacity. In other words, you have to ask about that bag's capacity to keep you warm during cold nights.

Each bag has a temperature rating. For example, a bag with a temperature rating of -40 will surely keep you warm in winter or when you are camping in places of high altitudes. However, you have to keep in mind that the lower the temperature rating the higher the price goes. So if you are not an avid camper, you might want to get a bag whose temperature rating is somewhere in the middle. A bag that can keep you warm during the cold nights will surely make you feel comfortable.

2. Insulation. How the bag can keep you insulated will surely depend on the stuffing. Stuffing is the term used to call the materials placed in between the linings of the sleeping bag and the ones that provide the insulation.

There are two types of stuffing, the synthetic stuffing and the down stuffing. Sleeping bags with synthetic stuffing are not as compressible as compared to sleeping bags with down stuffing but these synthetic stuffing can surely keep you warm even when it is wet. This is an advantage especially if you get caught in a storm or when water leaks into the tent.

Bags with down stuffing on the other hand are light and very compressible which means you can roll it to the smallest size possible. It can fit into your backpack and still have some room for other gears. The only problem is when the down stuffing gets wet it loses its insulating capacity meaning it won't be able to keep you warm anymore.

3. Type. Sleeping bags have different types based on their shape. Generally sleeping bags have three basic types; the rectangular sleeping bag, the barrel sleeping bag and of course the mummy sleeping bag. The rectangle or rectangular sleeping bag is the basic type of sleeping bags. Judging by the term itself, this bag is rectangular in shape and can be zipped together. It can also be rolled to the size of a child's toy car. In addition to that, rectangular sleeping bags provide enough room for the feet and are often thick which provides you with more insulation and cushion.

The second type is the barrel sleeping bag. This type is oval in shape and is a lot smaller than the rectangular sleeping bag. The oval shape provides more body warmth. The barrel sleeping bag is more or less the same with the mummy bag minus the hood. Barrel bags have also more space as compared to mummy sleeping bags.

Mummy sleeping bags are the last type of sleeping bags. This type is usually used when camping in cold weather. The mummy sleeping bag is wide at the top and narrows down when it gets to the feet area. It is rather tight fitting and it also comes with a hood that keeps your head and neck warm.

4. Material. Just like your tent, you will have to consider the materials used to manufacture your sleeping bag too. Always go for those bags made with high quality materials because these are more durable and can withstand the harsh elements. It will also last longer than those made with sub standard materials. Go for sleeping bags that are made of waterproof materials and those with good ventilation.