It pays to pick your sleeping bag carefully

Press, 19 October 1978, Page 10

It pays to pick your sleeping bag carefully

It takes only one night of cold, uncomfortable oautdoors “sleep” for a person to realise just how important is the correct choice of a sleeping bag. They range in price from just a few dollars to a few hundred dollars and the number of bags for sale is large enough for the needs of every person to be catered for. But there is such a wide variety of shapes, sizes, styles, and weights that choosing is not always easy. Some certainly function more efficiently than others and there are distinct guidelines to be followed which will help you make the best choice. Ideally, you should .consider the following criteria in choosing your sleeping bag:

Intended use; materials used and type of construction; shape and dimensions; bag weight; and manufacturer’s reputation.

Let us run down this LIST point by point. Intended use: The type of camping you do, as well as where you go, has a direct bearing on the sort of bag you should buy. Car campers, unlike bnackpackers. need not be concerned about weight and bulk. Canoe campers or those who expect to be in areas of frequent rain and dampness should choose bags that are resistant to moisture. If you a r e s eeping outside you will need a warmer bag than if you are sleeping inside

Materials and construction: Sleeping bags consist of an outer cover and an inner lining with insulating filler in between. A zipper, running along one side or down the top allows you to get. in or out. Various bags combine various materials. Covers are generally of cotton sheeting, while linings are generally of soft cotton flannel. Now, however, in order to reduce weight and bulk and to improve washability, many bags are constructed with both cover and lining of either rip-stop or taffeta nylon. Insulating materials used nowadays are either duck or goose down or synthetic fibres. To be effective, the insulating material, whatever it is, must “loft” or fluff up in order to trap air, which is the real insulation. For long, down

has been considered, the ultimate in •loftibility.' It is also very light and compactible. and it is the first choice of many backpackers. It does have its drawbacks. though. That compressibility which is such a boon while carrying the bag is a disadvantage bag is a disadvantage when it compresses underneath you. reducing ground level insulation. Down is almost useless when it gets wet. as it ends up in sodden clumps with no “loftibility” at all. Taking over from down in many sleeping bags now are various synthetic fibres. They have about 60 per cent of the insulating properties of down. They also retain much more insulating ability when wet. and they dry quickly. Also few people are allergic to the commonly used synthetics. And. the greatest plus of all, synthetic filler costs only about one-third the price of down. The disadvantages of synthetics are of concern primarily to backp-backpa-ckers. A synthetic fibre bag of the same insulating property as a down bag will be about one third heavier and much bulkier. Whatever the insulating fibre it must be held in place so it will not move about and create cold areas. Down is contained by the use of baffles or tubes. Better construction features slant wall or veetube baffles. Synthetic fibres are produced in batts or sheets and better quality bags will contain laminated or d o u b 1 e-thickness batts. Bags with sewn-through construction have cold spots along the seams. Zippers on most backpack bags are nylon rather than metal because the extra-big nylon zippers are less prone to jamming and are impervious to rust or freezing. A padded baffle should run the length of the zipper to guard against heat loss. Shape: A roommy rectangular bag requires more heat to warm it than does a mummy-style bag. But there are now modifications of each to meet the demands of campers who seek reduced weight and bulk but who feel too confined in a mummy bag. Check the specification tag attached to each bag as dimensions vary with

manufacturer's and models. Rectangular bags show length and width, while mummy bag> give length, shoulder, hip and fool girth. As a rule of thumb you are better off in a smaller rather than a larger bag — but do not buy one that is too small. As a guideline, your feet should not touch the end of the bag. Weight: Your own requirements should dictate this. Factors that affect the bags total weight include the materials used as well as the size and shape. The lightest bags are very narrow mummy styles made with nylon shell and filled with down. This type is however, physically confining and expensive. Reputation of manufacturer: You can be fairly sure of satisfaction if you select a bag made by a well known company, as any reputable maker stands behind his product, guaranteeing it to be as represented. A good bag if cared for properly will give years of service. Air it after each use: store it folded loosely, not tightly rolled; and wash according to the manufacturer's recommendations. One last thing before you buy: try not to economise. The best bargain you can get is the best bag you can afford.