If you are looking for a guide on how to choose a camping sleeping bag, then you will find the tips here very helpful.
One of the very basic camping items is a sleeping bag. Sleeping bags for camping come in a variety of shapes, sizes and thickness. They also have different features to meet different camping situations and needs.
When choosing sleeping bags for camping here are some things you will want to consider.
Table of Contents
How to Choose a Camping Sleeping Bag – Things You Need to Consider
What type of Camping You are Planning on Doing
If you are backpacking you are going to want to choose a light weight sleeping bag that is easy to carry. Car camping families should choose a sleeping bag that will give them the most comfort.
What Time of Year You are Planning on Camping
A sleeping bag for summer camping is going to be lightweight and have fewer additional features and less insulation than a sleeping bag you are going to need for camping in the winter or late fall.
Where You Intend on Camping
If most of your camping trips will be spent in warmer areas or climates, then a lighter sleeping bag will be beneficial.
But if many of your camping trips will be done in the mountains or areas where temperatures fall during the night then a well insulated sleeping bag will come in very handy.
In addition, if your camping is mostly done in areas that are susceptible to rain, then a water resistant sleeping bag might be a good choice.
Who Will Be Using the Sleeping Bag (Size)
You also want to consider the person who is using the sleeping bag. A child size sleeping bag works well for smaller children keeping them warm and snug. An adult size bag will be too large for the child to be able warm.
Teenagers and adults should use bags made for adults. There are even larger size sleeping bags for larger people as well as double wide bags for couples.
Choosing the Best Sleeping Bags for Winter Camping
When choosing a sleeping bag for winter you are going to want a sleeping bag that will keep you warm.
You should look for a sleeping bag with good insulation. (Either down or polyester insulation is appropriate.)
You will also want a sleeping bag with collar that helps to keep cooler air from entering your bag. A bag with a cinch hood will be ideal since most body heat is through the head and the feet.
In addition, you are going to want to consider the shape of the sleeping bag. Sleeping bags keep you warm because they trap dead air inside the bag and your body heats the air keeping you warm.
A barrel or mummy sleeping bag is designed to hold less dead air. This allows your body heat to warm the limited amount of air faster and hold the heat longer.
You should also consider using a sleeping bag liner. This is because a liner will raise the temperature of the bag between 8 degrees and 15 degree Fahrenheit. Thus, adding additional warmth to your sleeping bag.
Choosing the Best Sleeping Bags for Summer Camping
The best sleeping bags for summer are lightweight with minimal insulation.
There is no need to have a collar or cinch hood in a summer sleeping bag as you don’t want to be overly heated.
You may also want to choose a rectangular shaped sleeping bag for summer. This is necessary because these sleeping bags tend to be more comfortable and roomy.
So you won’t tend to get overly heated as quickly as there is more dead air to heat up, keeping you cooler during warm weather.
How to Choose a Camping Sleeping Bag – Others Things to Consider
There are other things you may want to consider when choosing a sleeping bag and they include:
- Pillow Pocket – A pillow pocket is a special pocket in your sleeping bag in which you can stuff clothes to form a pillow for extra comfort. This allows you to travel lighter as you don’t need to carry a separate pillow along with you.
- Stash Pockets – A sleeping bag with stash pockets gives you a convenient place to store glasses or cell phones.
- Sleeping Straps or Sleeves – These help to keep the sleeping bag connected to the sleeping pad no matter how much you toss and turn.
Do keep in mind that experts state that you will stay warmer with more layers underneath you than piling layers on top.
So it makes sense to either use a sleeping mat or air mattress. This will help form a barrier between your sleeping bag and the colder ground.
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