Hiking Backpack Zone

Posts Tagged ‘sleeping bags’

Nothing excites me more than camping and hiking! Once I start driving out to the wilderness my problems and worries just fly out the window. When I am out in the wild I like to still be comfortable though and having the right camping equipment is key. Most importantly are of course the your choice of camping sleeping bags. There is nothing better than getting a great nights sleep with just the sound of crickets. Before you buy your camping sleeping bags there are number of things you should first consider.

The first and most important thing to consider is the temperature and climate you will be camping in. All good camping sleeping bags come with a temperature rating. This is a number, for example 20 degrees, which mean the sleeping bag will keep you warm and comfortable down to that temperature. Be sure to get sleeping bags with the right temperature rating or else you may end up being too hot or too cold. It is of course better to be too hot than too cold as with most camping sleeping bags you can unzip them and let some cool air in.

Zippers are a brilliant idea for camping sleeping bags! Be sure to get one in yours because it just makes sense. Zip it right up to keep you warm and toasty or unzip it on hot summer nights!

Before choosing a camping sleeping bag think about some of these options. You can get ones of different sizes such as light or double sleeping bags, kids sleeping bags and even ones they call mummy sleeping bags. You may also want to consider getting a waterproof one if you think you will be hiking and may encounter rain.

Hiking is fantastic to say the least! Discovering new trails and sights and just getting lost in the wild can be very relaxing, but there is nothing worse than having to carry a heavy pack. So if you plan on hiking with your pack then be sure to get a light sleeping bag. There are many choices when it comes to these including ones suitable for very cold climates.

Double sleeping bags are great for two main reasons. First if you have a double sleeping bag and your partner to snuggle up with, well I don’t really need to say anymore! Second if you love to spread out when you sleep this will give you loads of room to do that provided the first reason isn’t in play!

Kids sleeping bags are great for one main reason..cartoons! Yeh those boring adult sleeping bags with plain colors are not match for Spiderman and Snow White. Best of all the kids will be climbing into them in a flash giving you a peaceful night!

There is more to think about when choosing camping sleeping bags then you would initially think. You should also consider the material that they are made with. Warmer ones are usually filled with down. These are usually a little more expensive but definitely worth it if you are planning to camp in cold climates. A lot of sleeping bags are made with synthetic material. Synthetic sleeping bags can either be really crappy or really technologically advanced. The difference will of course be in the price. One sure way to check the quality of a camping sleeping bag though is the fill rating. This is a score measuring how much filling there is per square inch. A higher score is better.

find out all of the inside info on the latest camping sleeping bags on the market. Also find out the latestcamping sleeping bags reviews so you are sure to find out the best ones for you and your family.

Sometimes we really have to go back to our roots, leave the hustle and bustle of the city, and commune with nature. It’s an urge that is natural to us. And while the advancements of technology has somehow spoilt us and these new machines have become sort of like our second skin, we still find the urge to go camping once in a while or to go fishing.

Somewhere within every man is a caveman, an adventurer, just looking for an opportunity to escape. And when we don’t indulge that urge, we get edgy, irritable, bored.

However, braving the wilderness without the common comforts of modern living is incredibly hard. Besides, it is not really necessary. Bringing a bit of technology into our little nature adventures can’t exactly be considered as cheating, just practical.

Of course, there’s a limit. There are some things that are outlawed on camping trips, such as portable satellite TVs or microwave ovens. There are certain things that are allowable, however, like mosquito nets and of course, sleeping bags.

Sleeping bags, as the name implies, are sort of like large body bags where you can sleep in when you retire for the night during camping. They come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. You can take your pick, really. But what’s special about it is that it is a large bag, sort of like a cocoon, which you can zip up when you go to sleep. People use it when they go camping or in any other situation where bringing a bed along would be sort of difficult. They are usually made of cotton or wool, and which one you’ll use depends on where you’ll go.

While sleeping bags provide a relative amount of comfort which would lessen the machismo effect of camping, they actually do serve a more practical purpose.

The wild is not a place to be taken lightly, especially if you are not very experienced with it. There are dangers there that you would do well to shun if you do not want to be harmed. First of all, there’s the threat of mosquitoes. Down sleeping bags can effectively keep these critters at bay.

Most importantly, down sleeping bags provide warmth. When the temperature drops during the evenings, down sleeping bags can provide warmth.

If there is one thing to consider when buying your next sleeping bag, I say its all about temperature. Get the right range! If the forecast says its going to be warm during the day and then cool off overnight, find out how cold cool off really is, then buy the sleeping bag that is good to 20 degrees below that!

A couple of years ago, I was preparing for a 2 day boat trip to the 1000 Islands. After shopping around all Summer, my husband and I found a boat in late October which suited our needs. We decided to drive the boat back home down river rather than trailer it to save some money, but the boat had no heater.

So, how to keep warm? I did not feel like bringing sheets and blankets, so warm sleeping bags seemed logical. Knowing it might get chilly at night, I checked a few weather sites and determined 45ish would be the low. So, on-line I went to find SO much information and so many decisions to make, it all became a blur.

So, I picked a pretty blue one from Mountain Hardwear called Sunrise for just under $200.00 that was good to 50F. I didn’t really consider my options at that time, but now I wish I had noticed, similar sleeping bags in the same price range and slightly more expensive were available that were good right down to 5 and even to -40F.

Needless to say, that night was c o l d !! We picked up the boat on a balmy 65 morning, and drove all day, ending up in the 1000 Islands near Brockville, Ontario that night. We should have picked up a clue that it was going to be cold when we found that all the docks were removed from the islands, but we just scoffed at the scared, cold-fearing tourists and enjoyed a late dinner all alone on an island.

We enjoyed a warm meal on the boat followed by a nice walk on the island with our golden retriever, then went to sleep early knowing we had another long day ahead of us. Some time during the night, I heard our dog barking so I got up to investigate. The cabin was freezing! It literally felt like there was ice on the floor.

Unfortunately for me, the bed was too small for 3, so I couldn’t even enjoy the warmth of my dog next to me. I quickly dove back into my sleeping bag, but it was too late. My feet were already numb and they didn’t seem to warm up all night.

We found out the next day that the temperature dropped to around 25 overnight. First order of business that day, buy a portable heater! And my advice to all sleeping bag buyers: buy a sleeping bag that’s good to 20 degrees lower than you think you’ll need - you’ll be happy you did!

If there is one thing to consider when buying your next sleeping bag, I say its all about temperature. Get the right range! If the forecast says its going to be warm during the day and then cool off overnight, find out how cold cool off really is, then buy the sleeping bag that is good to 20 degrees below that!

I remember getting ready for an overnight boat trip to the 1000 Islands a few years ago. My husband and I had bought a boat in late October (when they are cheaper!) and we were going to bring it home down river. The boat had no heater and we did not have a portable one, so I knew it was time.

So we knew it was time to buy warmer sleeping bags. I checked a few forecasts to see how cool it might get overnight and found the average to be around 45 degrees. I researched my sleeping bag options on-line, and found a wealth of information. So many sleeping bags to choose from, with so many choices to make!

I ended up choosing a sleeping bag from Mountain Hardwear called Sunrise. Yes, sleeping bags have names! It cost about $200.00 and seemed to suit my needs. Of course, I didn’t really think about temperature options then, I was comparing prices and looks. This sleeping bag was a pretty blue one that matched our new boat!

But no, I went with color and completely regretted the decision that night. Arriving at the marina to pick up our boat in the early morning, the temperature was in the mid 60s and we enjoyed a lovely day cruise down river. We ended up on one of our favorite islands near Brockville, Ontario and had a nice meal just as the sun was setting.

Knowing we had an early start the next day, we quickly made up our beds in the cabin and turned in by 10:00 p.m. Sometime after midnight, our golden retriever Kramer started growling so I got up to check on him. Holy crap, it was cold! I brought our dog into the cabin where he settled happily on the couch.

Unfortunately for me, the bed was too small for 3, so I couldn’t even enjoy the warmth of my dog next to me. I quickly dove back into my sleeping bag, but it was too late. My feet were already numb and they didn’t seem to warm up all night.

The next morning we heard on our radio that temperatures had dropped to 25 overnight! What a surprise, the weathermen got it wrong. So please take my advice and learn from my mistakes - when deciding on which sleeping bag to buy, get one that works to at least 10 degrees lower than you think you may need. You’ll be happy you did!

When the time comes for you to pick out a sleeping bag, one of the most important things to consider is what type of insulation it will be made of. Today sleeping bags are usually made with either down or synthetic fill. Each type of sleeping bag has its own advantages and disadvantages. However, in the long run the best choice is usually the down filled sleeping bag. Let’s face it; goose down is just a better insulator.

Down Sleeping Bags Are More Lightweight Every little bit of weight you’re carrying makes a difference when you’re on the trail. Unless your goal is to tire yourself quickly, you’ll want your backpack to be as light as possible. Down sleeping bags are lighter than sleeping bags with synthetic fills, so you can avoid carrying a little extra weight by choosing a down filled sleeping bag.

Down is Warmer than Synthetic Fiber Surprisingly, there have not been any synthetic fills that are able to match down’s weight when it come to warmth ratio. You simply must have a warm sleeping bag when you are camping in very cold weather. If you do not want to loose sleep because you have been shivering all night, then it is best to get a down-filled sleeping bag. After all, you will have to expend a lot of energy for that early morning mountain ascent.

A Down Sleeping Bag is More Compact When it is time to choose your camping gear, you are going to have to take into consideration the space factor. You will find that a down sleeping bag is able to compress more and will take up less space in your backpack than will a synthetic sleeping bag. That will leave you more room to pack extra food and clothes.

Disadvantages of Down Sleeping Bags Although there are many benefits to having a down sleeping bag, you will find some drawbacks such as versatility and price. When you experience wet conditions, a down sleeping bag might be a rather poor choice. This is due to the fact that a wet down sleeping bag will become very compact and will provide very little insulation. This will, for all intents and purposes, leave you without a sleeping bag for the night. In order to solve this problem, look for a down sleeping bag that is made with waterproof or water resistant material. Therefore, you will still be able to get a down sleeping bag for one of your kayaking trips or for rainy camping.

Finally, the only other drawback is that you will find that a down sleeping bag will be much more expensive than a synthetic sleeping bag. The price reflects a sleeping bag of a higher quality than a synthetic-filled sleeping bag.

Conclusion Unless you have a big concern with the price factor, down sleeping bags are usually your best bet for the money. When you choose to have a down sleeping bag, your backpack will weigh less and you will have more room in it. You will keep warmer as well.