One of the essential pieces of mountaineering gear is a sleeping bag. This is handy because it can be used as a “bed” for camping or other outdoor activities.
The sleeping bag shouldn’t be used carelessly so that the person sleeping in it can still feel comfortable even if they aren’t in a room.
Let’s look at some tips for choosing the right sleeping bag so that you don’t get the wrong one and it meets your needs:
1. Adjust the Shape to Your Needs
There are two kinds of sleeping bags on the market: those that look like mummies and those that look like envelopes. Both have the things that make them different.
Most nature lovers and climbers choose mummy-shaped sleeping bags because they wrap the body well.
This sleeping bag can protect you from the cold mountain air because it keeps you warm while you sleep.
If you have a big body, you should get a sleeping bag with a rectangular shape. The size is big enough to give you more space to move around in it.
2. Materials
The next thing to think about when picking out a sleeping bag is what it’s made of. Many different kinds of materials can be used to make sleeping bags.
Generally, three types of materials are used to make sleeping bags: parachute, polyester, and polar.
Most sleeping bags made from parachutes are light and thin, so they must be lined in the middle with cotton or fur.
Sleeping bags made of polyester, on the other hand, dry out quickly when they get wet. And a small sleeping bag made of polar material can keep you warm even though it’s not very big.
3. Consider the Filling Material
Not only should you pay attention to the outside, but you should also pay attention to the inside. Three kinds of materials can be used to fill sleeping bags: dacron, down, and chemical fiber.
Dacron is an artificial fiber often used to stuff pillows, dolls, and sleeping bags. This material is pretty light, bendy, and good at expanding.
Dacron is also not easy to break and can keep you warm. It’s also easy to wash in the machine, which is another plus.
The following material down is expensive compared to the others. Down is light, but it keeps a sleeping bag just the right amount of warmth.
Still, down can’t stand up to water, so it takes a long time to dry.
Even though the chemical fiber material is pretty cheap, it can still handle heat well. To match the weight and size of the down, you need a chemical fiber that is bigger and heavier.
The problem is that it is hard to fold up, so you need a lot of space to store it.
4. Adjust Size to Height
When choosing a sleeping bag, ensure it’s the right size for your height. With the right size, a sleeping bag can keep you warm.
If your sleeping bag is too big, it won’t keep you warm. And on the other hand, a sleeping bag that is too small is too narrow to be comfortable.
For example, if someone is 170-175 cm tall, they should choose a sleeping bag that is 75-80 cm wide. For someone who is 175–180 cm tall, a sleeping bag with a width of 80 cm or more works well.
5. Check the Zipper Section
There is a zipper on each sleeping bag, just that this section is prone to problems, like getting stuck when opening or closing it.
Before buying a sleeping bag, you should always check the zipper to ensure it’s not broken.
The warmth is also affected by the zip. The better the sleeping bag keeps you warm, the smaller and tighter the rit is.
If the zipper is small, less air gets into the sleeping bag than if the zipper is oversized.
6. There are Supporting Features
When choosing a sleeping bag, you might want to consider its extra features. The sleeping bag has a cover for the head that keeps the ears from getting too cold.
A pocket can also be used to keep important things safe while sleeping. A pocket can be used to store the sleeping bag when it is not used.
Still, not all sleeping bags have these features. So, check to see if the sleeping bag’s features match what you need.
7. Easy to Clean
When you do things outside, like camping, it’s easy for things to get dirty, including sleeping bags. One thing to think about before buying a sleeping bag is how easy it is to clean.
Using a washing machine is the easiest way to clean a sleeping bag. But you can’t wash all sleeping bags in a washing machine.
We suggest you don’t put a heavyweight in the sleeping bag and wash it in the washing machine. The sleeping bag won’t clean as well as it could and could damage the washing machine.
Here are some things you can do to choose a sleeping bag before you buy it. Make sure the sleeping bag you choose has a good reputation for comfort.