| I have very fond childhood memories of | | | | close to your body and traps the warmth, |
| adventuring out into nature with my sleeping | | | | rather than a traditional rectangular bag. |
| bag. For me nature was really only a tent in | | | | |
| the backyard, or perhaps visiting a friend | | | | Sleeping Bag Materials |
| for a sleepover, but there was something | | | | |
| about using a sleeping bag that just made it | | | | Sleeping bags are made from a variety of |
| seem so much more exciting. I didn't have | | | | materials and contain different sorts of |
| anything fancy as a sleeping bag - just a | | | | fill, and that's what makes each one |
| rectangular, navy blue sack that was really | | | | different. So check out the recommended |
| only warm enough for hot summer nights or | | | | temperatures for each bag, because that will |
| sleeping indoors. Still it made the | | | | give you a much better idea of whether or not |
| experience so much more special. | | | | it's right for your camping conditions. The |
| | | | fill also makes a difference to how heavy the |
| Technology has well and truly caught up with | | | | bag is to carry, and how much you can |
| the simple sleeping bag, delivering a variety | | | | compress it. |
| of choice that can leave you feeling | | | | |
| completely confused when you go to buy one. | | | | It's important to know whether you're likely |
| There are strange shapes designed to keep you | | | | to drive to most of your campsites, or |
| warm in the coldest of conditions, | | | | whether you will be carrying your sleeping |
| specialized fibers that can squeeze down to | | | | bag in your pack. This will help to narrow |
| almost nothing for carrying in a pack, and | | | | down your choices, as size and weight are a |
| for kids there are a multitude of cool | | | | lot more important if you're going to be |
| character designs to choose from. | | | | carrying the bag for long distances on your |
| | | | back. |
| How Do I Choose a Sleeping Bag? | | | | |
| | | | Spend some time looking around before you |
| If you plan to do some camping, then you need | | | | make your final choice. Sporting goods and |
| to buy a sleeping bag. Perhaps you don't want | | | | outdoor stores are usually the best places to |
| one with a cartoon character on it, but you | | | | see a wide variety of sleeping designs, |
| do need one that will keep you warm if it's | | | | styles and brands. Don't be afraid to ask |
| cold and put a barrier between you and the | | | | questions, because many of the staff at these |
| night critters when it's a bit warmer. The | | | | types of stores are likely to be campers |
| first thing you need to do is decide what | | | | themselves, and can give you recommendations |
| sort of conditions you plan to be camping in. | | | | based on their own experiences. |
| Is it likely to be very cold? Or do you | | | | |
| mostly camp in summer? | | | | It can also be a good idea to shop online for |
| | | | sleeping bags. Most stores can only carry a |
| Having a basic idea of the temperatures you | | | | limited range of stock, whereas online you |
| expect to camp in helps make it easier to | | | | can see every single type of sleeping bag |
| narrow down your sleeping bag choices. You | | | | imaginable. Go to manufacturer sites for |
| don't need a sleeping bag that's appropriate | | | | technical information, and also check out a |
| for sub zero temperatures if you only camp in | | | | few customer review sites to see what other |
| summer, for example. And if you do plan to | | | | people have to say about any sleeping bags |
| camp in freezing cold conditions, you might | | | | you're thinking of buying. |
| be better off with a shaped bag that fits | | | | |