Backpacking Series: The Sleeping Bag

Special Note: With all outdoor related products, manufacturers will offer a range of prices and item options. You will probably be guided by your needs and your budget. The top of the line products may include options that are unnecessary. On the opposite end of the spectrum are the cheap offerings. You can bet that there are reasons why they are the cheapest and you will most likely regret your purchase once you are in the field.

Purchase from manufacturers and outdoor stores who have an established reputation for customer service and satisfaction.

A full article about sleeping bags would be far too lengthy and complex to hold most people's attention. I hope to offer some basic information that you can expand upon when you visit an outdoor retailer.

Questions You Should Ask Yourself
Where will you be using the bag?
During which seasons?
Climatically, what will you most likely encounter?
Do you like to move around inside the bag or do you like a snug fit?
How much money are you prepared to spend?
Do you get cold easily?

Shape of your Bag
Mummy: narrow, close-fitting and are designed to save weight and maximize heat retention. They start narrow at the feet, get wider toward the shoulder, then taper to an insulated, fitted hood. Nearly all backpacking bags are mummy-shaped. Positive: The slim cut increases efficiency and saves space and weight. Hoods retain a lot of warmth. Negative: A big consideration for the claustrophobic type is the narrow shape can feel restrictive and inhibit sleep.

Rectangular: are warm-weather and built to be roomy. As a result, they let a lot of body heat escape. Many rectangular bags can be unzipped and used as comforters. Few have hoods. Positive: Lots of interior wiggle room. Negative: They're inefficient insulators, too heavy/bulky for most weight-conscious backpackers.

Tapered/Barrel: are narrow at the feet, broad at the hips and shoulders. You get more space than a mummy, but also more weight and bulk. Some offer hoods. Positive: Good heat retention and a little more room to maneuver. Negative: More room means your body has more space to keep warm; some thrashers still find them restrictive.

I prefer the barrel bag as I am one of those who cannot stand the restriction imposed by mummy bags. The lack of a hood can be compensated for with a warm hat. I also find the trade-off in weight to a mummy bag is negligible. In warmer weather I can unzip the bag and use it as a blanket which is not possible with a mummy bag.

Fill
There are two basic types of fill - synthetic and down. Down is the fluffy undercoating found just beneath the outer feathers of geese and ducks. Synthetic is basically plastic threads. Many manufacturers will have their own copyrighted fill based on weaving, material, and construction.

Down: works well for just about everyone except people who frequently find themselves in rainy conditions. Women often value downs warmth, softness and minimal weight. Positives: the warmth to weight ratio is excellent - it can be compacted into very small sizes - it far outperforms synthetic by many years. Negatives: if it gets wet it provides no insulation - takes along time to dry - can be quite pricey.

Synthetic: the threads are most commonly a long, single strand. Positives: less expensive than down -non-allergenic - still provides some insulation when wet - dries fairly quickly. Negatives:
it takes up more space than down in your backpack - heavier and takes more weight to get the same warmth down provides n- the fill gradually degrades over time - does not drape over the contours of your body as effectively as down.

Loft
Loft is the thickness of the bag. In combination with shape and size it will have a great bearing on warmth. A reasonable loft for a three season bag is 11cm/4 in to 14 cm/5.5 in. It is important to note however, that some people sleep warmer than others. You may require a greater loft.

Length
Make sure the sleeping bag is long enough to accommodate your body. Here's a general rule: If you are no taller than 6 feet, choose a regular length bag. If you are up to 6-feet-6, you'll want a long bag. If you are over 6-feet-6 take up basketball. If you are right on the border, maybe right at 6 feet or maybe half an inch taller, it's a judgment call on your part. If you choose a bag that's too short, you might tend to stretch a bag to make it cover you. Doing so flattens the bag and its insulation in spots, reducing its effectiveness.