So, are you
looking for a comfortable night’s sleep during your new
outdoor adventure? Let’s make sure you have the right
sleeping bag to give you that comfort.  Follow me while I show
you how to choose the right sleeping bag for all seasons and how to
treat your sleeping bag so it will last and last, for years to come.

First, Some Basics 

A sleeping bag is
made up of a cloth or nylon outer fabric called the shell. 
Inside the shell is the fill material of synthetic fiber or down
feathers from ducks or geese.  The fill traps your body heat
and holds it close to you for a comfortable night’s sleep.

Fill
Materials
Fill usually
includes down or synthetic fiber.  Goose down provides the
most warmth for the least amount of weight.  However, its
major drawbacks are the cost and they tend to lose their loft when wet
and will not keep you warm.  Synthetic fills of polyester
fiber provide warmth-trapping loft even when they are wet. 
The key disadvantages are that they are heavy and bulky. 

Sleeping
Bag Temperature Ratings
Most sleeping bag
manufacturers give their bags a “suggested”
temperature rating that the bag can be used, down to a certain
temperature.  Even though a +30º F sleeping bag will
not keep you as warm as a -10º F rated one, keep in mind that
these are guidelines.  I remember purchasing what I thought
was a good 0º F bag from a reputable on-line
retailer.  I took it to the desert in November and
froze!  Even though the temperature only went down to
30º F at night the synthetic fill did not keep me
warm.  I returned the bag and got another one that
worked!   I also learned a valuable lesson on
price.  You can’t buy a sleeping bag that has a
0º F or less (-) rating without spending close to a hundred
dollars.  I was trying to go “cheap” and
was bitten.

Since you will
most likely be camping in the summer, warmer months you can safely
choose an inexpensive rectangular synthetic fill bag that will satisfy
most of your needs.  If you are too warm in your sleeping bag
you can open the zipper and vent your heat. If you are too cold, put a
blanket over your sleeping bag or put on socks or sweat pants until you
are comfortable.

If after a bit of
camping experience you venture out into fall or spring camping then
look for a sleeping bag that has some additional features such as:
hoods, collars, drawstrings, mummy shaped and insulated zipper flaps to
reduce the amount of body heat loss.

Caring
For Your Sleeping Bag
With the proper
care, your sleeping bag will last for many seasons.  Here are
a few important TIPS:

• Don’t
  store your sleeping bag in its stuff sack.  Fill material that
  is compressed for a long time will lose its loft and its insulating
  ability.  If you have a rectangular sleeping bag with
  tie-strings, undo those strings and hang the sleep bag up.

• Air
  out your sleeping bag after every outing.  Weather permitting,
  hang it up outside on a clothesline or draped over a lawn
  chair.  Open up all the zippers and lay it out
  fully.  Let it get good and dry then hang it in a dry spot
  until your next campout.  I fold my kids’ sleeping
  bags in half long-ways and fold them over a coat hanger.  Then
  you can put them in a closet or hang them on a hook in the garage.

• To
  keep the loft or thickness of your sleeping bag evenly distributed (no
  cold spots!) shake your sleeping bag before you lay it down on your
  sleeping pad.

Don’t
forget your pillow!  ☺  “Good night, sleep
tight, and don’t let the bugs bite!”