Sleeping Bag Blog

As anyone who has ever used a sleeping bag realizes, the primary purpose of these bags is to provide warmth and insulation. They serve as bedding when more standardized bedding is not available. Prime examples of these times would be while camping, hiking, or otherwise trekking. A sleeping bag is almost always used in conjunction with a sleeping pad or a tent.

If a tent isn’t feasible, some people opt for a bivouac sack. These are waterproof covers that cover sleeping bags. Sleeping bags are almost always outfitted with zippers on the side. This is true whether it’s a standard straight bag or a tapered mummy bag. Most campers prefer these mummy bags, because they increase heat retention. But they also have less surface area and volume, so they fold up more compactly than other bags.

When you’re doing serious hiking, one of the most important factors with your equipment is weight. You want to try to minimize the amount of weight you’re carrying as much as possible, because the bag is going to feel exponentially more heavy as you start to ascend that ridge or trek those multiple miles. That’s why so many hikers are enamored with dehydrated meals. Not only are they packed with nutrients and much needed calories, but they are also extremely light.

This is also why lightweight sleeping bags are so important to find. The thing to remember about lightweight bags, however, is that you don’t want to go too far with it. Instead, you want the perfect balance between lightness and protection from the cold. After all, if you’re going to be sleeping in extremely cold conditions, it’s worth the few extra ounces that a zero degree bag would offer.