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There are many different types of sleeping bags available. When you are searching for the perfect sleeping bag, you should take shape, roominess, insulation, weight and fabric into consideration. If you choose a poor one then you will pay the price in lost sleep. It not just the quality of the sleeping bag ton consider though, as weather conditions are important too. If you are planning a trip to where the weather is relatively warm and dry, you might be able to do with a light-weight “bed roll” or a simple fleece bag. If you are traveling to a cooler area you will need to pack a sleeping bag that is functional for lower temperatures.

There are two basic shapes of sleeping bags – mummy and rectangular. However, many bags are sold that are slight variations of these two. The most widely used sleeping bag is the rectangular bag. It is the oldest design, offering plenty of room with a cozy feeling , even for your feet. Rectangular bags can also be multi-functional. For instance, unzip the bag on a warm night and it can be utilized as a comforter. Some bags also allow the user to zip two bags together for a larger double-wide bag.

The mummy sleeping bag functions much like it sounds. It is a more of a recent design that encompasses the sleeper much tighter than the rectangular bag. The premise is to use much less fabric and material to produce a greater amount of heat. The lack of material (and weight) comes in handy if backpacking for long distances. A mummy bag is best suited for colder climates. If you will be camping in temperatures below 40 degrees, this bag is the best choice.

Both kinds of sleeping bags are available in three standard sizes. Bags can be purchased in junior (or child) sized, standard length and extra long. Small children fit well in the junior bags, but as children can grow rapidly, buying a standard bag will provide them with the extra space to accommodate their inevitable growth spurts without the need to purchase a new bag. If you are claustrophobic, you might opt for a larger bag anyway so you will be more comfortable as you sleep.

Higher quality sleeping bags were once exclusively insulated with prime goose down. However, down is not easy to clean and the cost has become prohibitive to include it on standard camping bags. Modern technology has afforded the development of a synthetic fiber to insulate sleeping bags. These fibers are just as effective (if not more so) for retaining warmth, cost much less, and can be laundered without difficulty. However, highly specialized mountaineering bags still use down in order to balance the requirements of an extremely light bag that can handle intensely cold and dry climates.

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Tags: camping, camping equipment, leisure, outdoors, Shopping, sleeping bags, Travel & Leisure