Sunday, June 1, 2014

Guide buying sleeping bag

The following points are to be kept in mind and to be used as a guide buying sleeping bag.

1. Size: They come in different sizes for men, women and kids.

2. Shape: There are two main categories based on the shape.


a) Mummy Bags: As the name indicates, these bags allow users to entomb their bodies inside to preserve the warmth of the body. These bags are ideal for cold weather conditions or people who feel chilly, generally. These bags are not comfortable to those who move a lot in their sleep as the space in these bags is constrictive.

b) Rectangular Bags: Compared to Mummy sleeping bags, these bags are more comfortable as there is a freedom of moment and more space. These types of bags can be unzipped completely and used as a blanket. The main limitation with these bags is loss of heat.

3. Insulation:

a) Natural ( down/goose feather) fill: These bags are heavier compared to synthetic but provide better insulation and are considered to be far more comfortable. They become cumbersome to handle when they get wet. These type is not appealing to those with budgetary constraints as these bags are more expensive compared to synthetic. Higher the fill number, more expensive the bags are.

b) Synthetic (Polyester/nylon) fill: Most of the buyers go for these bags because of factors like- inexpensive, lighter and non-allergenic even though they are not as comfortable or as well-insulated as the natural fill alternatives.

4. Temperature Rating: This is the most critical factor to consider. This is the lowest temperature at which the bag continues to retain the body temperature effectively. If a bag is rated to zero F, there is a risk of using this bag at temperatures lower than that.

5. Psychological and environmental Factors: These include:

• Older people and females are more susceptible to cold than younger ones and males.
• Cloths worn will have influence over tolerance limit to the cold.
• First timers or inexperienced campers are less tolerant to the cold than the regular ones.
• Higher the altitudes, lower are the temperatures
• Chill factor is more in open areas compared a covered tent or shed.

6. EN 13537 Ratings: It is advisable to use comfort and lower limit as guideline when purchasing a sleeping bag.

7. Reviews: Look into the reviews of the sleeping bags that you are considering buying. This way, you will not end up buying the wrong sleeping bag.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.