The first thing a camper should pack is their sleeping bag. A good sleeping bag can serve multiple purposes but most importantly makes sure that you’ve got a safe and comfortable place to rest your bones.
For the uninitiated, a sleeping bag is portable sleeping area that can protect and keep a camper warm.
It’s easy to shop for one as there’re a number of models available. Should the need be there, there’s even a two-person sleeping bag. There are basically three types of bags – the cocoon style bag, tapering and rectangular.
What shape a sleeping bag is in is as important as what it’s stuffed with. Cotton, polyester, down and fiber are the most common choices for sleeping bag stuffing. Down is considered superior to the other three, given that it is more natural and can provide greater warmth than many alternatives.
Any bag can be easily rolled up and fit into a pack, but the down sleeping bag can keep the warmth in. It doesn’t seem like a big thing, but that could be the difference between a restful and fitful night’s sleep.
The best part about down sleeping bags is that they’re just tougher than the synthetic stuff. Synthetic fibers can easily lose their fluffiness and there’s no way to get that back. Down, on the other hand, can get fluffed in the dryer and can easily last ten years with some proper care.
While they last longer and are useful for greater periods of time, a sleeping bag filled with down can actually be more fragile than the rest and has limited usefulness if moistened, making it most useful in dry outdoor areas – though these are drawbacks that can easily be worked around.
Down can get pretty pricey, but if you’re a serious camper and you’ve got a budget, this is the one to get.