Welcome to Helping Us With Camping
Colemancampingtents Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
The Best Camping sleeping bags for You
from: Helping Us With CampingMost of us had a sleeping bag when we were little, either because we actually went on a camping trip or two, or because they were the staple of childhood sleepovers. But now, the sleeping bag has come a long way from the simple zip up bag with the print of our favourite superhero that we probably had.
The basic camping sleeping bags still exist. It’s simply a square cut of material, often quilted, that is folded in half and zipped up two sides to make a type of sleeve for the camper to slip into. To carry it, you fold it, roll it up tightly and secure it with cords or with specially designed straps. Often it comes with a carrying case that keeps it tightly rolled, clean and waterproof. These kinds of camping sleeping bags is fine for many basic camping needs, but if you are planning to spend a great deal of time in your sleeping bag or if you plan on visiting sites that have more extreme weather conditions, then you will want to consider purchasing a tapered, or mummy sleeping bag.
These bags are meant to give you better temperature control and protection from the elements but with less bulk. They are called mummy sleeping bags because they are tapered in shape to be narrower at the feet and head than at the rest of the bag. This style difference makes the bag look like a mummy wrap; hence the name. Some of the bags even come in shapes that are a better fit for a woman’s body than the standard.
The tapered design and close fit make carrying mummy style camping sleeping bags different from the standard type of bag in several ways. The reduced shape of the bag means that it is less bulky and easier to carry. However, because of the shape, it won’t roll well – so you’ll normally keep it in a compression bag with a drawstring closure. But moreover, the reduced volume, along with a couple of other design features, means that the camping sleeping bags are better able to retain body heat. These type of camping sleeping bags normally don’t zip all the way down and around the feet, and since the zipper is a potential area for cold to penetrate, this feature helps to keep your feet warm on chilly nights. For your head, mummy bags usually have a ‘hood’ that you can pull tight around your head with a drawstring. Since the majority of the body’s heat escapes through the head, keeping it covered will keep you much warmer as well.
When it comes to fill for a sleeping bag, synthetic fill is usually the popular choice, even though it can’t be compressed as much as down and can. It is light, not as water absorbent, less expensive, and the fact that it doesn’t compress as easily means that it keeps a nice layer of insulation even when your weight is on it.
Colemancampingtents News