How Does
How Does a Backpack Sleeping Bag Work?
By Kirk Brown
eHow Contributing Writer
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Portable Bedding
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After a grueling day on the trail, weary backpackers enjoy drifting off to sleep in a comfortable sleeping bag. But it's no fun to wake up in the middle of the night shivering in a sleeping bag that is too cold.
Backpack sleeping bags are designed so that their insulating
fill-material captures and stores a hiker's body heat. A sleeping bag's effectiveness depends largely on its amount of insulation and the outside temperature.
There is an array of compact, lightweight sleeping bags filled with down or synthetic fibers that will squeeze into or strap onto a hiker's backpack for overnight sojourns into nature. But choosing the right backpack sleeping bag can be a challenge.
Tradeoffs
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Most backpack sleeping bags have outer shells consisting of rain- and wind-resistant stitched nylon or polyester.
But it's the inside material which matters most. A sleeping bag's fill material is the critical factor pertaining to the warmth it gives hikers on a chilly night and the weight it will add to their backpacks during the day. Down-filled sleeping bags deliver the most warmth with the least weight and therefore tend to be the most expensive. For instance, down-filled sleeping bags rated for 0 F will often weigh less than four pounds with a cost of $400 or more. Backpack sleeping bags filled with polyester fibers tend to be more affordable - in the range of $200 or less for many - but they are usually considerably heavier than their down counterparts.
When choosing which backpack sleeping bag to buy, experts suggest that hikers choose a model with a warmth rating 10 degrees below the lowest temperature expected during their camping trip.
Shapes, Sizes and Features
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Mummy-shaped backpack sleeping bags, which are wider at the shoulders and tapered at the feet, tend to be both warm and light. Rectangular sleeping bags are roomier but less efficient because body heat can escape from the top opening.
Size also matters. A sleeping bag should be just a few inches longer than its owner's height.
Some sleeping bags have hoods that draw shut around a backpacker's head in cold conditions. Others feature zippers that allow two sleeping bags to be joined together.
Added Comfort and Warmth
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Sleeping pads are a recommended accessory for backpackers. Besides adding comfort, they form a barrier between the cold ground and a hiker's toasty sleeping bag.
eHow Article: How Does a Backpack Sleeping Bag Work?
