Sleeping Gear

Camping and Outdoor Equipment

Sleeping Bags

When camping the sleeping bag is a very important part of your camping and outdoor equipment. The sleeping bag is basically a blanket that can be closed using a zipper or something similar. It is a protective bag that a person sleeps in and also functions as a bed when a full bed is not available. The main aim of the sleeping bag is to give the user warmth and thermal insulation whilst they sleep. The bottom surface of any sleeping bag will provide the user with a little cushioning though it is more comfortable to have at least a sleeping pad as well. To protect a sleeping bag whilst out hiking or camping is a waterproof bivouac sack that fends off any moisture or rain.

Designs of sleeping bag

The very basic and most common design of the sleeping is that of just a blanket that has a zipper on one or both sides to do it up when you fold it in half.

Temperature Ratings Of Sleeping Bags

Sleeping bags are rated in Europe using the EN 13537 standard which normalizes the temperatures at which you can use a sleeping bag. A test performed using a heated mannequin gives four temperature.

1- The upper limit. This is the highest temperature at which an average adult can have a decent, comfortable night’s sleep without sweating too much.

2- The comfort rating. This is the rating for an adult woman being able to get a decent night’s sleep without excessive seating.

3- The lower limit. This is the lowest temperature that an adult man is able to get a good nights sleep.

4- The extreme rating. This is a survival only rating for an average adult man. Because this is just an extreme survival rating it is not advised to rely on this rating for general use.

The second major type of sleeping bag design is that of the mummy bag. It is called this because of it’s shape. It tapers from the head end of the bag to the foot end making it’s volume and surface area a lot smaller than a basic sleeping bag.. This shape makes the mummy bag more efficient with heat retention. Some mummy bags are specifically shaped to suit the female body.. The weakness in any sleeping bag is the zipper when it comes to insulation. Hence the mummy bag does not zip all the way down the bag. So with this feature and the shape of the bag combined, the mummy bag will protect your feet better. And it’s worth noting that the feet are more vulnerable than any other body part to heat loss.

Fillings For Sleeping Bags

There are quite a few different materials available to fill a sleeping bag to provide the insulating features. Frequent or outdoor activity professionals prefer either synthetic fill or natural fill.

Synthetic filling does not easily absorb water, can be dried very easily and even gives warmth when it is wet. It is these qualities that could actually save a person’s life in an extreme emergency situation. Synthetic filling is also firm and can be very resilient, so even when it is underneath body weight it can insulate. On the negative side, synthetic filling cannot be compressed as easily as down fill, and hence weighs more and takes up more space in a backpack. Synthetic filling also has a habit of breaking down quicker than natural fillings.

Down filling weighs a lot less than synthetic and also retains heat much better. But a down filled bag must be kept constantly dry. A wet down filled sleeping bag will give less insulation than no sleeping bag at all. This could cause hypothermia out in the wilderness. To try to combat this weakness, manufacturers now make bags with water resistant shells that can be used in damp conditions. It is also recommended that you keep a sleeping bag in a larger sack instead of a small travelling pack.

Cotton and wool have been used as sleeping bag fillings. Wool is good at repelling water and resisting compression. However it is the heaviest alternative of the lot. Cotton on the other hand suffers from high water retention and has a significant weight, but is low cost and hence makes an attractive proposition for such things as stationary camping.

Sleeping Bags And Children

Indoor sleeping bags are called slumber bags sometimes and are widely available to buy. They tend to be used particularly by children when camping. These bags however tend to be not designed to be weatherproof and are generally made from natural fabrics rather than synthetic fabrics which are commonly used to make sleeping bags. A child’s sleeping bag usually features brightly coloured patterns and designs with popular media stars images on. These slumber bags do make sleeping on a floor more bearable and comfortable though and can be used for sleep overs or any other situation where a bed is not available.

Infant sleeping bag

The infant sleeping bag is a garment that is bag like and worn by infants for sleeping in when they go camping. These bags differ from a standard sleeping bag both in design and purpose.. They tend to be designed just for indoor use rather than outdoor use. They usually have arm holes or even sleeves.

The British Standard describe an infants sleeping bag as “ sleep bags for the use of children with a minimum weight of 4 kg designed to provide sufficient warmth so as to remove the need for additional bedding when sleeping in a cot or similar product in which a child is contained”.

Easy to use and easy to transport when backpacking or camping, these bags are a very good piece of camping and outdoor equipment. To pack a bag like this, all you need do is fold it in half, or even thirds, and then simply roll it up. This rolled up shape is perfect for attaching it to the top of any rucksack. For most basic camping needs this is the perfect type of sleeping bag. However it may prove to be lacking if placed under more demanding circumstances.