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Solo Gear - Sleeping Bags For years trippers have debated the pros and cons between a sleeping bag with down or synthetic insulation. While both materials work well in keeping you warm and dry, the choice ultimately comes down to such factors as budget, personal preference and the climate conditions the tripper will face. To help make your selection easier, we’ve narrowed down a few features of each.
Down: Down is one of nature’s best insulators. The weight/warmth ratio of down is superior to any comparable model with synthetic insulation. Add to this the incredible compressibility of down, trippers may feel this is the best choice of bag. These advantages do come at a cost though. Quality down bags are usually more expensive than their synthetic cousins and they lose almost all their insulating properties when wet. For this reason, trippers that choose down bags need to take extra precautions to ensure their bag never gets wet. Waterproof dry bags are a must and it’s recommended to “double” up to ensure your sleeping bag is always dry!
Synthetic: Synthetic bags have come a long way over the years and today’s bags provide a nice mixture of comfort, versatility and price. They excel in wet conditions and will hold most of their insulating properties even when soaked. You’ll pay for this however with a bag that is a little heavier, bulkier, and not as comfortable as down.
Barrel Bags vs. Mummy Bags:
Sleeping bags come in 2 distinct styles; mummy and barrel. Both will provide excellent comfort and warmth and it really comes down to personal preference.
Mummy Bags: Mummy bags feature a tapered shape and are more restrictive than barrel bags. With less space between your body and the bag, mummy bags are more efficient at keeping you warm. Most extreme cold weather sleeping bags will be a mummy design. While they compress smaller, and are warmer than barrel bags, they’re less comfortable due to the lack of extra space.
Barrel Bags: The design of choice for most 3 season trippers, this style affords you ease of movement in your bag without the restrictions that mummy bags offer. They’re roomier, so they’ll take longer to warm up and they won’t pack down as small as a comparable mummy design.
Before selecting a bag, assess your needs, budget and where you’ll be tripping. Below is a detailed list of the most popular sleeping bags.
| The ultra-light Arroyo has just enough high quality down to make it warm enough for alpine bivvies and lightweight camping trips in temps dipping below freezing.
Feely" Draw Cords Ease Nighttim... [View]
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| the likelihood of wet weather precludes down, the durable Pounder Plus 25 delivers reliable synthetic warmth for cool-weather camping, backpacking, river rafting and summer mountaineering.
Fee... [View]
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| This sleeping bag has the roomy comfort of a barrel bag, yet is reasonably light and compressible, thanks to the down insulation. The continuous channel box baffles (meaning there are no side bloc... [View]
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| Some folks are only really happy campers if they have room to sprawl in their sleep. If you’re one of them, you’ll appreciate the Drake. It’s a spacious barrel bag, but light and compact enough to... [View]
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| This sleeping bag has the roomy comfort of a barrel bag, yet is reasonably light and compressible, thanks to the down insulation. For those who want or need the spaciousness of a barrel bag, duck ... [View]
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| The Raven is a value-oriented duck down mummy bag for backpacking, mountaineering, and general summer outdoor use. This bag offers the long-lasting durability and comfort of down at a price many s... [View]
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| The Raven is an inexpensive down-filled bag designed for comfort during all but the warmest season. It's a good cost-conscious alternative to our premium Pharaoh model. The lower cost is made poss... [View]
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| This synthetic bag from The North Face meets the needs of three-season backpackers looking to save a little weight and gain a cozy night's sleep.
Climashield® Prism insulation is warm, light and ... [View]
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| At just 1 lb 3 oz., the SummerLite is the lightest bag we make in a continuous baffle construction. Our goal in designing this bag was to make it as light as possible without eliminating key featu... [View]
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| This bag represents an uncompromising combination of performance and weight. It is ideal for summer cycling trips across varying climate zones and extended 3-season use. Incredibly light and compr... [View]
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