A guide to camping sleeping bagsA guide to camping sleeping bags - there are many different sizes, shapes, colours, designs, fill material and fabrics used to make the numerous camping sleeping bags available on the market. The basic structure of sleeping bags and the main factors to consider when purchasing sleeping bags are reviewed below:- Sleeping bag components: 1. Shell: the outer fabric which is usually made from nylon. The shell is normally water resistant but more expensive models can be fully waterproof. The shell needs to be breathable to prevent the sleeping bag from getting clammy.
2. Fill material: Inside the shell is the fill material usually made from synthetic (polyester) fibres or duck or goose down. This material traps body heat within the sleeping bag. Goose down fill tends to be the warmest, lightest, compresses smallest and longest lasting, however, these sleeping bags are more expensive, become less effective when wet and are difficult to clean. Synthetic fills retain their heat retention qualities even when wet and are easy to clean, however, they can be heavy and bulky.
Features to aid heat retention: Bear these factors in mind when buying a sleeping bag since lying in bed with all your clothes on as you have bought an unsuitable (and cold) sleeping bag is not a pleasant experience. 1. Hoods
Sleeping bag shape:
1. Rectangular: can be zipped to another rectangular sleeping bag to form a double sized sleeping bag. They are ideal if the occupant moves about in their sleep. These bags are not as warm as the tapered and mummy shaped bags as there is more air inside to heat up.
2. Tapered: Allows restricted movement but are warmer than the rectangular sleeping bags.
3. Mummy: The warmest sleeping bags but only allow restricted movement.
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