Sleeping Bag Care.
A hooded sleeping bag insulates your head and prevents major body heat loss. Hoods are now available on both mummy and envelope styled sleeping bags. O’Meara Camping carry a range of hooded sleeping bags.
Store your sleeping bag loosely. Under no circumstances should you store the bag in a compression sack as this will shorten the sleeping bags useful life. Dry cleaning is not advised as the chemicals used may damage the bag. The fumes from the chemicals can be poisonous.
If a sleeping bag is going to be used in wet conditions it needs to be stored in a waterproof bag, as a damp sleeping bag, looses its efficiency.
Children’s bags are now available relatively cheaply. An adult bag can also be used for children by just tying off the bottom of the bag below the level to which the child’s feet extend. Children have a habit of getting both older and bigger!
O’Meara Camping supplies a wide range of sleeping bags, from high performance outdoor mummy bags to leisure performance sleeping bags. Typically the price dictates how good the sleeping bag that you purchase really is. A lower priced sleeping bag can, however, have the performance enhanced by using a fleece liner in addition to the sleeping bag itself.
Choose a sleeping bag that fits you and also suits the conditions in which it is going to be used. Too tight a bag is a disaster, too loose difficult to heat up. Too long leaves a cold spot and too short and you are in trouble. For family camping standard sleeping bags are adequate and many people also prefer some room in their sleeping bag.
A double sleeping bag can be made by zipping two identical sleeping bags together. Check at time of purchase. O’Meara Camping carry twin sleeping bags in their range for this purpose.
If using a ‘Down Sleeping Bag’ (i.e. A sleeping bag which is usually lined with duck feather as the primary insulating material, extremely light and efficient insulator) it should be unpacked as early as possible and lofted. Shake air into the bag, which is a practice encouraged for all sleeping bags as it further increases the performance. If ‘Down’ is escaping through the stitching holes of the bag wipe the stitching with slightly dampened soap. This fills the holes.
Be sure to air your sleeping bag if at all possible each morning as body moisture will dampen the bag and reduce its efficiency. The warm bonnet of a car after travelling can be useful also!
Sleeping bag Zips are critical as the bag must be snugly closed so treat the zip with care. If the zip is stiff try rubbing some candle wax on it.
Nicely patterned sleeping bags can be used as bed covers. Sleeping bags are a fantastic way to keep children warm watching television when the heating has gone off. Just try it! O’Mearas have sleeping bags in stock for just this purpose. It really is a great idea and much better than wasting heat.
Wash sleeping bags as little as possible, just use liners instead to keep them clean. Wipe the outside of the bag with a damp cloth or spot clean.
Choosing a Sleeping Bag for Camping:
The key choice in sleeping bags is between synthetic fill or down. Down is lighter in terms of a weight-to-warmth ratio. Down is also more compact. However, only synthetic fills like PolarGuard 3D, Lite Loft, Hollofil, or Quallofil will maintain loft and warmth even when wet. Down turns into a heavy, soggy, cold mess that takes forever to dry out.
A sleeping bag buyer’s guide:
If you’re seeking the ideal sleeping bag that will meet all of your outdoor needs, forget it! There isn’t such a beast. However, there is a bag out there that will keep you snug and happy through most of your adventuring dreams — a three-season mummy with a temperature/comfort rating of around 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
A good three-season bag should see you through a frosty evening in spring or fall and not overheat you during a warm night in July. If your inclination is more to winter camping, then opt for a bag rated to below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter mountaineering requires temperature ratings of minus 15 to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mummy-shaped bags are more efficient at keeping the body warm. However, some people find them constricting. Also, be sure that if you are buying bags to zip together, the zippers are compatible and you purchase a right and left zipper. The other choices of shape are semi-rectangular and rectangular (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: Mummy (left), semi rectangular, and rectangular sleeping bags.
Most bags are constructed of nylon, polyester, or nylon blends inside and out. Sleeping bags with cotton insides, quilted rectangular shapes, and Pokémon or other entertaining figures printed on them, not surprisingly, they re not recommended for backpacking or remotely serious outdoor use.
When you buy any sleeping bag, take the time to “kick the tires.” Climb inside each one, roll around, zip it up, stuff it, unstuff it, compare lofts, and then choose the one that seems to best meet your needs for space, warmth, and features.
All sleeping bags need some of the same general features. Check out the following:
- A lining of taffeta or other soft non-cotton material is more comfy, warms quickly, and breathes supremely.
- A two-way zipper offers more ventilation and flexibility options. Be sure to buy a right- or a left-side zipper that is compatible with the other bag if you desire companionship.
- You want a differential cut — the inner lining is sewn smaller than the outer shell — which allows insulation to loft to its maximum. If there is more loft, there is more warmth.
- An insulated draft collar helps to seal in the warmth and keep out the cold around your neck and shoulders.
- Hook and loop tabs cover the zipper toggle by the hood, preventing unplanned unzipperings whilst you slumber.
- A multi sectioned or shaped hood cups the head naturally.
- Ample draft tube that hangs from the top of the bag and covers the zipper to seal out cold air.
- A windproof and water-resistant outer shell. DryLoft is the most downproof.
- Semi rectangular cut for sleepers who toss and turn. Mummy-style bag for sleepers who manage to stay put.
- Dark coloured lining. This absorbs heat better and the sun’s rays most efficiently should you need to dry out your bed.
- One last highly desirable option: a fleece-lined stuff sack. Turn it inside out for a comfy pillow when stuffed with a parka or your extra clothes.
Bags for cold nights:
Sleeping bag designers generally agree that a cold weather bag must have the following features to keep the occupant really warm: zipper draft tubes and shoulder collars, hoods that cup the head and insulate without being claustrophobic, and a temperature rating of 0 Fahrenheit or below (in the winter it is far better to err on the side of warmth).
What insulation do designers prefer? Down, with a 650-power fill rating or above, is best for weight-to-warmth ratio and for longevity. The fill power of down indicates the amount of actual downy feather and quill. The lower the fill number, the more quill and less feather. The higher the number, the less quill and more feather.
How big should a winter bag be? Buy it long. Most mountaineers recommend against regular-sized bags and opt for bags that offer at least an extra 8 to 10 inches of space at the foot after you are nestled comfortably inside. Those extra inches provide adequate space to store cameras, water, boots, and such items that you don’t want to freeze. In addition, bags with a wider cut can offer more warmth because they give you room to add clothing without constricting the bag.