Down Sleeping Bags

Camping, climbing and other outdoor explorations can take a toll on one’s body. It is true that roughing it out can be a rewarding experience but it is important to remember that in order for the body to function at optimum levels, rest should be an integral part of the camping scheme. Choosing the right sleeping bag can spell the difference between a good night’s sleep and a fitful one.

There are many sleeping bag varieties available in the market today but to a lot of outdoorsmen, down sleeping bags are still the finest kind. Compared to other sleeping bag makes, bags made of Down consistently rate high under the following criteria:

Down sleeping bags are made of goose down so they provide a lot of comfort. They’re excellent insulators so they are able to hold in air better than other varieties. This means they are extremely efficient at providing much needed warmth during the night. If you often go climbing in cold weather areas, these sleeping bags are the best choice.

Compared to a sleeping bag made of synthetic material, a down sleeping bag is more compressible as you can fold it to half the size of a compressed synthetic bag. Down sleeping bags are also more lightweight so you can keep your pack weight to a minimum. Durability is also another advantage of these sleeping bags and with proper care and maintenance, can last years.

While sleeping bags made of down are excellent choices, they do have some disadvantages to them. Because of the material and quality within which they are made, they tend to be pricier than other types of sleeping bags. Another major drawback is that a down sleeping bag is so efficient at taking in water that it is practically rendered useless in places that have predominantly wet weather. Climbers usually don’t have enough time to spare to wait for the bag to dry.

The bottom line though, is that when you study the drawbacks against the advantages, down sleeping bags still count as a great investment. While there are other more economical choices, you may end up spending more money. It simply won’t do to keep buying new bags because your previous choices keep getting ruined. At the end of the day, all you will really care about is the quality and performance that your bag provides.