Getting The Right Sleeping Bag For You
Gabriel Adams
Going camping? Need to buy a sleeping bag? Here are a few tips to
help you select the best one to fit your needs.
Shape / Design
One of the first factors to consider is the shape and design of
the sleeping bag. A standard sleeping bag is a simple rectangle,
usually with a zipper running up one side. The second primary
design is the mummy bag, which is designed to fit the shape of
the body. This allows it to more efficiently retain body heat.
There are also variations of the two major design shapes,
designed for various purposes.
Fill / Insulation
Sleeping bags are usually filled with down, or some synthetic
material. Down filled sleeping bags are generally warmer, and
more expensive. Synthetic sleeping bags are generally less
expensive than down filled bags, and perform much better in wet
conditions. The do not readily absorb water, and still ofer some
insulation even when they do.
Wool and cotton are also sometimes used for insulation. Wool
performs well, but is heavy. Cotton is heavy and performs very
poorly in wet conditions. Both wool and cotton are best suited
for stationary, protected camping, such as in a rustic cabin,
where their drawbacks to not matter.
Temperature ratings
Most sleeping bags are given a uniform rating to help you
determine what temperature weather they are suitable for. For
European sleeping bags, they are rated using the EN 13537
standard. This standard uses four separate ratings:
Upper limit – the highest temperature an average man can sleep at
without excessive sweating Comfort – the most comfortable
temperature for the average woman.
Lower limit – the lowest temperature at which the average man can
sleep 8 hours (curled up) without waking.
Extreme – the minimum temperature that the average woman can
remain in the bag for six hours without risk of death (frostbite
may still occur).
If a sleeping bag only gives a minimum temperature, it is
probably the Lower limit rating.
About The Author: Visit Outdoors And In For your sleeping bags:
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