Choosing A Sleeping Bag - Six Questions
What kind of sleeping bag should you get? That depends on how
you will use it. Of course, it also depends on what your budget
is. So decide what you can spend, and then consider the
following six questions before you go shopping.
1. What is the coldest weather you will be camping in?
If your backpacking is limited to the summer months, you can
probably get away with any sleeping bag rated down to 40 degrees
Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius). Otherwise, consider your future
plans and get a bag that will work at the coldest temperatures
you expect to encounter. If it is too warm for summer use, you
can always open it up like a blanket and lay it loosely over
yourself so it won't hold in so much heat. Another alternative
is to buy one bag for winter trips and one for summer.
2. What kinds of conditions will you be camping in?
The conditions you can expect will determine what fill is best
for you. If you will always be backpacking in the northwest, and
so possibly getting wet most of the time, you don't want down.
It loses most of its insulating ability when wet. A good
synthetic fill is better. On the other hand, if you will be
camping most of the time in the desert southwest, a down
sleeping bag is the lightest (and most compressible) option
available. My own down bag weighs just 17 ounces, stuffs into a
bread bag, and has kept me warm to below freezing. If you are
careful you can keep any bag dry, but it is tough in some
conditions, so ask yourself where you'll be going, and how good
you are at staying dry.
3. How claustrophobic are you?
Some people really can't get comfortable in a mummy bag. They
need room to move around. If you aren't sure how you feel about
this, there is one way to find out: get in those bags. See if
you feel good in a snug mummy. Borrow one and spend a night in
it if you have to. A good mummy is the warmest sleeping bag you
can get for the weight, but semi-rectangular may be better for
comfort.
4. How big are you?
If you are tall, be sure you can fit comfortably in that
sleeping bag with the hood closed. What if you are too big for a
tight mummy bag? Try a rectangular or semi-rectangular one.
5. How heavy is the sleeping bag?
Even if you are not into ultralight backpacking, there is no
reason to carry too much weight if it isn't necessary. A decent
summer sleeping bag shouldn't weigh more than about three
pounds. To get down to the weight of my down bag (17 ounces)
you'll have to spend more. A winter bag will be heavier because
of the additional filling, but in any case, compare the various
bags according to their temperature ratings and total weight
(with the stuff sack if you'll be using it).
6. How packable is it?
No filling invented yet is as compressible as down. For that
reason, if you use a small backpack, you may want to consider a
down sleeping bag. Some synthetics can be packed in compression
sacks to reduce their volume, but this can eventually damage the
filling and so reduce the bags insulating ability. Also, a
compression sack adds more weight to your load. It is probably
better to simply put a large synthetic-fill bag on the outside
of the pack.
There are certainly other specific questions to ask about
sleeping bags as you look at them. A zipper that opens at the
bottom is nice for those with hot feet. A water-resistant shell
can keep dripping tent condensation from wetting the filling of
the sleeping bag, or allow dew to be shaken off in the morning
if camping in the open. There are many other features you might
find too, but start with the six questions above to quickly
narrow down the options.
About the author:
Copyright Steve Gillman.
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