Camping Sleeping Bags Guide

When it comes to choosing a good sleeping bag, one of the main things that you will need to consider is the fill.  The two main types of fill are down and synthetic.  Each type has its advantages and disadvantages, but down sleeping bags are considered by many to be superior.  They provide the best insulation for the least weight and are very soft and comfortable.

A few of advantages to down sleeping bags over ones made with synthetic fiber are that they provide more insulation and are light weight.  The warmth-weight ratio is an important consideration when you are backpacking or having to carry in your camping supplies.  Down is also very comfortable, which is of course very important after hiking or engaging in outdoor activities all day.

Another great advantage is, if properly cared for, down sleeping bags are very durable and will last about twice the amount of time as a synthetic one.  This is important to keep in mind when making a final decision on which sleeping bag to buy.

One disadvantage to a down sleeping bag is that is requires more maintenance and care.  It will either need to be hand washed or put into a front load washer at a laundromat.  Either way they must be handled with care as to not ruin the down.

Another disadvantage to down is if it gets wet it take a lot longer to dry.  So if you are going to be in wet conditions a synthetic fiber fill sleeping bag may be a better choice.  Or you can add a water resistant shell to your down fill sleeping bag.

One final disadvantage to down sleeping bags is that they are more expensive than synthetic ones.  So if you are on a tight budget, you may want to consider a synthetic one.  However, keep in mind that a down sleeping bag, if properly cared for, will last longer and provides a lot of warmth and comfort, as well as being very light weight.  So when it comes to choosing a sleeping bag, go for overall quality if you can afford it.

Down sleep bags use real down feathers for their fill.  There are three main types: hi-loft down, duck down and goose down.  Hi-loft down is made out of finer goose down and provides the most warmth.  For expeditions in cold weather high-loft is recommended.  Goose down is a higher quality than duck down and is therefore a bit more expensive, but for regular camping they are both good choices.