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Shells
The most common sleeping bag shells are
Pertext, Nylon, and Taffeta Nylon. These shell fabrics not
only repel water and resist the wind, but they also allow
the moisture from perspiration to pass out of the sleeping
bag, helping to keep your fillings nice and dry.
Hardly any sleeping bags are waterproof, this is because
anything like Gore-Tex proved insufficient at removing the
moisture build up in the bag. For waterproofing you have to
look at buying a bivvi bag or an overbag.
There are many summer bags that are only a cotton or
polycotton shell and these are fine for caravanning and
indoor use, but you need to consider a more technical bag
when camping outdoors.
Temperature Ratings
Temperature
ratings can only be used as a rough guide when it comes to
sleeping bags. There are so many factors that will determine
your comfort that it is almost impossible to judge if a
sleeping bag will match the temperature rating it boasts.
However seasonal ratings can offer a good indication of the
bags warmth.
One Season bag -
Basic summer bags designed for use in warm weather or
indoors
Two Season bag - General
purpose bags for use from late spring through to early
autumn.
Three Season bag -
Spring/Summer/Autumn bags for use down to freezing point and
just below
Four Season /Five season bags -
Specialist bags for the coldest of expeditions.
Shape
When deciding on a sleeping bag bear in mind
your space and comfort when choosing a shape. The mummy
shaped bags, with head and shoulder baffles are the ultimate
in heat retention, but can feel slightly restrictive.
Whereas a good square bag will provide enough warmth for the
average user, and gives more room to toss and turn.
If you are going to be using your sleeping bag in a wide
range of environments then we recommend spending the money
on a 3 season mummy so you'll have no regrets when the
temperature suddenly drops.
Rollmats
No matter how efficient your sleeping bag
is, without a rollmat you will be cold during the night.
Because you compress one side of the bag completely when
you lie on it it practically halves the bags heat
retention. Therefore a good groundmat or inflatable
mattress is essential in order to maintain efficient
insulation.
Liners
A sleeping bag liner will
protect your bag from general wear and tear and will also
help to reduce odours and stains. Not only is a sleeping bag
liner easier to clean than the sleeping bag itself, but it
can also add an extra layer in cold weather, or be used as a
cover in warm weather.
We stock a variety of
liners to suit all needs:
Cotton liner -
Silk Liner -
Fleece Liner -
Hostelling Liner -
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