What bag Sleeping choose?
to know what kind of sleeping bag choice, will be useful for you to answer the following questions:
- How is the climate of the place where you go? . It's a rainy, desert, Mediterranean, another.
- What are the extremes of the place? . There are sleeping bags designed to withstand several degrees below zero, and others to higher temperatures.
- Do you often get cold at night? . There are those "chilly", ie they spend more cold than others. If so, consider a sleeping bag to withstand somewhat lower temperatures that we consider.
- What use will the sleeping bag? . If your application will be recurring investment in comfort can be a good idea.
- How much weight I can take? . If you must carry your own sleeping bag, a kilo more or less can make a difference.
- How much space I can take? . If space is a problem, you may want to save a few inches with a compact bag.
- much money do you have? . If money does not reach you in a sleeping bag that meets all your requirements, decide which is the most important: Do not go cold, get comfortable, using little space, carry little weight.
deciding to choose a sleeping bag, look for the main characteristics of sleeping bags, which are detailed below
Form
The most
common sleeping bags are rectangular , narrowed and Mummy (or coffin).
Rectangular Los quite versatile because you can easily open for hot weather, and join it with another sleeping bag to create a sack "double." The
narrowed and mummy usually keep heat better, and that leave little room to escape the heat, and they can also be compacted in a smaller space.
Tip: If you need to keep warm, choose a bag that will not be very large, and on many areas where there would otherwise be more air space heating, and wind chills will be lower.
rectangular bag
mummy bag-like form Weight
The weight depends on the material and dimensions of the bag. If you want to lower the burden to carry, choose a light jacket might be a good idea.
Thermal Capacity
This depends on the thickness of the insulating layer, the seal, insulation and hood latches.
Manufacturers often indicate the temperature range for which it was designed the bag. This gives a rough idea that can withstand temperatures. It is important to understand the nomenclature used in sleeping bags:
- extreme temperature: lower limit temperature that can withstand before the user may suffer serious damage to the body.
- Comfort Temperature: Temperature to which the user feels comfortable in the sleeping bag.
- Maximum temperature: Maximum temperature where the user is comfortable in the bag.
Tip: is important to remember that the environment where the bag will affect the final temperature you get. A floor well insulated and tightly closed tent will help keep the heat better.
Closures
is a good point if the sleeping bag has a mechanism to prevent the fabric is taken for the closure, and it stuck. Tests that can open and close easily.
A good seal can also help keep heat in the bag, but many closures in the bag can make it harder to maintain, as for example, the bags are locked on the feet. Search protective bands covering the closure, if you need to keep warm.
construction
A sleeping bag has the following parts: filling , insulating layer, hood, collar and closing .
- thermal Collar: A collar around the neck, and strings can be adjusted using the upper body to avoid losing heat.
- Closures: (See section on closures)
- Hood: It protects the head from the cold. Works in conjunction with the collar to avoid losing heat through the top of the bag.
- insulating layer: isolate the cold outside. If you have a very thick and is capable of storing air, provide a better insulation.
Materials
Here are some of the most typical material used in sleeping bags, and a brief description of advantages and disadvantages of each. Cotton
Advantages: is soft, it absorbs the moisture generated by perspiration and retains heat in winter. Cotton flannel feels very warm and quite durable.
Disadvantages: is something heavy. When apelmasa (huddle), can be difficult to separate.
Nylon (F ibra summary) : Some plastic fibers are nylon, polyester and acrylic fibers. There are synthetic fillers, such as: Quallofil, Izotherm, Hallowfill and Polarguard 3D.
Advantages: Lightweight, durable, easy care and protection from the cold. You can get to the washer without any problems. Are ideal for the summer and not lose its insulating properties because of high humidity. If it gets wet, it dries quickly. Its price is lower.
Disadvantages: easily be dirty, does not feel as warm as cotton and the sweat sticks to the skin. They are slightly heavier than the pen.
P luma : The quality of the pen is expressed in the mixture of the amount of pen and his nerve. A sleeping bag with feathers 90/10 is better than 80/20. The amount of feather in a sleeping bag expressed in cuin (cubic inches).
Advantages: is the best insulator, can expand and compress better than fiber and takes up less space when the bag is in its holster, so it weighs less.
Disadvantages: are more delicate than those of synthetic fiber and must avoid getting wet or damp as it loses its insulating capacity. Nor can it be washed often as in the case of the fibers and should be done with special products, because otherwise, boom cake (huddle) and creates holes in the interior chamber of the bag. It is more expensive, if it gets wet dry slope.
First see what you need the sleeping bag . On that basis notes that features a , weight, heat capacity , closures, materials and price are best fit your requirements. This selects the sleeping bag that comes closest to what you want, and get ready to enjoy!.
If you want to see some sleeping bags on the market and features, please visit the Web site Colleman.com (in English) and the TATTOO (in English)
In a future article we will discuss the care must be taken with a sleeping bag.
