Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
The insulation in a down sleeping bag is made of the small, soft feathers found near the skin of ducks or geese. Air and body heat are trapped between the feathers, creating a fluffy loft that is both comfortable and warm. Backpackers and car campers alike can enjoy the benefits of a down sleeping bag, making it a potentially worthwhile investment for your outdoor adventures.
Burrow Bags are a line of sleeping bags produced by MontBell, a Japanese camping and mountaineering outfitter. These bags come in different weights and are rated for camping at different temperatures; they require special care to keep them in good shape. To extend the life of your Burrow Bag, it is important to properly wash it after use. Burrow bags should never be machine-laundered, but should be hand-washed and air-dried.
Bumps, bruises, and bites are irritating and painful to the skin. Applying an ice pack to the wound numbs the area and provides relief. Wrapping ice in a towel or placing a traditional, solid ice pack may prove more difficult than it seems. The pack may be formed in an awkward shape and fail to reach the wound completely. Not to worry. Making a soft ice pack is a wise way to create a malleable and convenient first aid measure for providing cold relief to wounded areas instantaneously.
The stuff sack, also commonly referred to as the compression sack, is an essential piece of camping gear. According to the camping specialists at REI, most sleeping bags used for camping and hiking come with a convenient stuff sack for easy transportation. (See References 1) The versatile design of the stuff sack allows you to carry most anything you can fit into the fabric body. Use the stuff sack as a dirty clothes hamper while on the trail.
Several different types of fill are used to insulate sleeping bags. The fill types are divided in natural and synthetic categories with different ratings based on the insulation "R" value. The type of insulation chosen for different sleeping bags is dependent on the purpose of the bag. Backpacking bags use lightweight materials that compact easily while thicker material with extra padding is used in permanent camp sleeping bags.
Serious backpackers prefer a down sleeping bag to foam for four important reasons: it breathes better, it compresses better, it weighs less and it has a longer lifespan. Down bags fail to insulate when they become wet, however, and to a greater degree than foam bags. If you keep your down bag dry, it will keep you snug and warm in even very cold environments.
Bivy sacks bags are lightweight portable tent-type shelters designed to be just large enough to cover you and your sleeping gear. Like tents there are many variation in design, with most of the newer models having hoods that use shock cord poles to keep the material off your head. Because of their size, bivy sacks are ideal for those concerned about weight, space or minimizing their footprint. Bivy sacks are ideal when camping in areas with rock ledges, as they do not need to be staked down, or in areas where level space is at a premium. On the downside,…
A sleeping bag can be a pricey investment, so it is essential to take care of it so it lasts for as long as possible. Although it may be tempting to fold up your bag and stuff it back into its sack, this can affect the springy nature of the down in the long term. Create space under your bed or in your closet to give the sleeping bag the freedom it needs to maintain its shape.
You don't have to try hard to dirty a sleeping bag while camping. Sleeping in your hiking clothes, improperly insulating your sleeping bag from moisture and dirt and general wear can soil the lining and down filling. Professional cleaning by a down feather expert can be expensive, and you shouldn't send your sleeping bag to the dry cleaners because of damaging chemical solvents. Washing your down sleeping bag yourself isn't difficult, but it does require more care and time than washing your favorite sweatshirt. Prevent flattening the down filling by washing your sleeping bag only once per year before storage.
Western Mountaineering manufactures high-quality down sleeping bags, jackets and pants. The company's products consistently receive top reviews from industry peers. Western Mountaineering sleeping bags are warm, lightweight and durable, designed for the toughest mountain environments.
When camping, sleeping bags are usually part of the essential equipment. On your next camping trip you might be wondering what type of sleeping bag you'll need. There are two types of sleeping bags: synthetic and down. Each type is different, with several pros and cons, from the fill method to insulation properties and cost.
A goose down sleeping bag is probably one of the coziest kinds you can have when camping, but it does require some extra care. Goose down is usually more expensive than synthetic insulation, but it also has a longer lifespan. You should not dry clean your goose down sleeping bag because it can strip the natural oils in the feathers. The best way to wash your goose down sleeping bag is in the tub. It is best to air dry a goose down sleeping bag, but you can dry it in the dryer.
Sometimes a large block of ice just doesn't work when trying to heal a bruise or injury. When you have to ice down a curved part of your body, using an artificial ice gel pack will work best. You can a buy gel pack from most sports or health stores, but you can also make your own. Almost just as easily as you can freeze water into ice, you can make an artificial ice gel pack. You can even add a little blue food coloring to your gel pack so it looks just like the ones sold in stores.
Minivans have a great deal of extra space in the back that can be turned into a sleeping area while you are camping. Due to their low clearance, minivans should only be taken camping in an area where there is a clear road. Because of their capacity to haul the entire family and all your travel gear, minivans are a great vehicle to take camping.
Picking a down sleeping bag will mean a lighter load. Learn about down sleeping bags and their benefits for camping in this free video on camping gear and the great outdoors.
Light and easy to pack are two great qualities of the down sleeping bag, however, their insulation does tend to leak. Learn more in this free video series.
Camping is a great idea for spring and summer fun; however, it seems that no matter how warm the temperature is during the day, it is always cold at night. The next time you go camping, bring along some extra aluminum foil to keep your feet toasty warm through the night.
Mountaineers have dreamt about Mount Everest ever since Sir George Everest recorded its elevation in 1841. Known as Sagarmatha in Nepal and Chomolungma in Tibet, climbing Mount Everest will always be one of the last great challenges left on the face of the earth. Facilitated climbs and mountaineering companies can enable your trek to scale the world's tallest mountain.
Airships were originally filled with hydrogen, which is cheaper but more flammable than hydrogen. The discovery of natural gas fields in the United States has allowed American airships to use helium since the 1920s. The following steps will explain how to fill an airship with helium.
To provide warmth, a down jacket or sleeping bag needs to be light and airy. Sometimes down can lose its loft and become lumpy. In order to restore its warmth, try the following methods.
