| Choosing a sleeping bag requires one to make a | | | | - Mummy Bag or Rectangular Bag |
| choice in a couple of different areas. The two | | | | Mummy bags are generally the ones that are |
| primary considerations are whether you will be | | | | available for a colder conditions and made in lighter |
| packing your bag via a backpack, and secondly, | | | | weights for backpacking. They also tend to be |
| what temperature conditions will bag need to | | | | more expensive and also can be difficult to fit into |
| cover you against. We will cover these factors in | | | | for larger people. Make sure that when considering |
| detail, and then we will also discuss factors like fill | | | | a mummy bag, if you are larger, read the bags' |
| material preference, shell material preference, | | | | dimensions. Mummy bags are made in a variety |
| shape (mummy or rectangular), and dimensions of | | | | of lengths and widths. |
| the sleeping bag. | | | | - Fill Materials |
| We will start with a little history of sleeping bags. | | | | I wish we had time to cover more on this one. |
| To the best of my efforts, I have been unable to | | | | Here are the basics. Down fill used to be the only |
| find evidence of the manufacture of sleeping bags | | | | way you could get the warmth you needed for |
| pre- Civil War era. In fact, it appears that the first | | | | extreme temperatures. The sacrifice you made |
| commercial sleeping bag manufacturer may have | | | | with down, was that if it got wet, its thermal |
| started operation in the 1890's. All of this began in | | | | insulation capacity is almost non-existent. So, now |
| Europe. Prior to the use of sleeping bags, bedrolls | | | | there are synthetics where you get both |
| were the order of the day. | | | | temperature protection and water-resistance. This |
| The first big usage of sleeping bags was by | | | | time, the sacrifice you will make is in cost. The |
| mountaineers. Their sleeping bags were very | | | | best synthetic materials are quite expensive, at |
| crude compared to today's. Obviously the purpose | | | | least by my standards. The best advice I can |
| of their sleeping bags was to be light enough to | | | | leave you with, is to accurately gauge your needs |
| carry and to keep them warm. These kind of | | | | and make your decision on fill material with them |
| considerations are where your choice of a | | | | in mind. |
| sleeping bag should begin. | | | | - Shell Material |
| Is Weight a Consideration? | | | | Typically, any good sleeping bag will have a shell |
| I do not want to oversimplify things here, but a | | | | made of polyester or rip-stop nylon. One additional |
| good starting point to narrow down choices, is | | | | feature that can be important is water repellency. |
| whether or not you need to rule out sleeping bag | | | | While there are bags on the market made with |
| choices that are too heavy to pack on a | | | | gore-tex and similar breathable water -repellent |
| backpack. Sleeping bags that weigh as little as two | | | | fabric, the reviews I have read have not been so |
| pounds are available, but at a price. The lighter the | | | | great. At this stage, I would stick with the |
| bag, the harder (and more expensive) it becomes | | | | water-repellent materials. |
| to purchase one with a low temperature rating. If | | | | - Dimensions |
| weight is not a factor because you will not be | | | | In better sleeping bags, men's and women's cut |
| backpacking, your choices expand greatly. | | | | bags are available. As you may have noticed, men |
| What Temperatures Will Your Bag be Used In? | | | | and women are shaped differently. These bags |
| The purpose of a sleeping bag is to keep you | | | | represent those differences. |
| warm. The purpose of camping is to have fun. It | | | | Also, length is a consideration. Get a bag that fits |
| is difficult to have a fun and enjoyable time when | | | | you. In men's bags, the lengths are generally in |
| freezing through the night. I suggest not wasting | | | | short (up to 5'6"), regular (5'7"-6'), and long |
| your money on any sleeping bag that will not | | | | (6'1"-6'6"). If you are taller, there are bag |
| keep you warm. So how do you know if sleeping | | | | manufacturers out there for you. Look around. |
| bag will keep you warm? | | | | For length in women's bags, the sizes are |
| The problem with ratings used to be that there | | | | generally regular and long. Regular runs up to |
| was no set standard. Recently this has changed. | | | | around 5'6" and long runs from 5'7" to 6'. |
| There is now an EN (European Norm) rating | | | | As previously mentioned, if buying a mummy bag, |
| system that has made an attempt, and a pretty | | | | make sure the lateral dimensions will fit your body |
| good one at that, to establish a better and more | | | | size. |
| consistent rating system.. No rating system is | | | | Conclusion |
| without flaws, but this one gets close. | | | | There other factors you may need to look at. |
| The temperature rating you should look for is the | | | | Some of these include zipper type, hood design, |
| minimum you expect to encounter on the trips | | | | bivvy sacks, etc. The information in this article is a |
| you will take. For example a 20 degree bag should | | | | good starting point to get you out there (or |
| keep you comfortable down to that temperature. | | | | online) looking for what you need. |
| Other Factors | | | | |