Selecting a sleeping bag for camping 10 points!?
Tuesday, April 6th, 2010 at
5:56 am
Looking for a good all around camping bag to be used in 0-60 degree weather that will fit easily into a backpack or XL military duffle.I don’t have much money to spend.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Everest-Mummy-5F-15C-Degree-Sleeping-Bag/2581360
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-3-Pound-Sleeping-Bag/8812039
Witch one would you prefer or have in mind other than these two?
10 Points to best answer! Thanks
Tagged with: backpack • camping • degree weather • ip • much money • mummy • Sleeping Bag • walmart • witch • xl
Filed under: Camping & Backpacking
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
No bag will do well over a 0 – 60 degree range. I would recommend two bags to cover that much range. A better solution would be just do not go camping in very cold weather. I would not recommend a Walmart bag for below 40 degree camping.
I personnally had two SlumberJack brand bags one rated at 15 degrees and another at 40 degrees. I camped in 5 degree farenheit weather by putting the 40 degree bag on top of the 15 degree bag. In very cold weather below 32 you will need an insulating foam pad under you. In the summer I used just the 40 degree bag. I also bought an REI zero degree bag for my wife.
Often the sleeping bag is attached to the outside of a backpack. If you have space limits you may want to go to a store and see the bag. A bag rate to 15 degrees is bulky. The most compressable are down. They however, are very expensive.
Check rei.com and campmoor.com on the web. Both are very good companies with good gear.
In general a mummy bag will keep you warmer by having less space to keep warm. Quality low temperature bags also have draft tubes around zippers to keep out cold air. After draft tubes the next step up is a draft collar around your head or shoulders. You see this on bags rated for zero degrees.
Another thing to check is the EN rating it is a standard of sleeping bag temperature rating. It has been adopted by REI and some other manufactures. With it you can compare one brand to another for teperature rating. Check REI site for how to pick a bag.
http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/sleeping+bag+backpacking.html
If you go too low on price you may have a long, cold, sleepless night. Check out a good bag and see the temperature rating. Check, to see how thick it is. Check what is the material. Check the bag for draft tubes along the zippers. Then compare it to the Walmart bag. For summer camping it will not matter. For Spring and Fall and Winter camping quality makes a huge difference.
Enjoy your camping.
I am not in the US (and we don’t have Walmart here in Australia), but I looked at the URLs you posted and looked at the ads for the two bags you liked. One costs $10 and the other costs $20. The $20 bag is mummy-shaped and has a hood, it will be much warmer than the rectangular bag that costs only $10.
I do hear you when you say you don’t have much money to spend, but please let me advise you, earnestly… Don’t be too miserly with the sleeping bag you buy, or you will regret it very quickly!
You should buy the best quality sleeping bag you can afford, preferably a 3-season one (or even a 4-season bag, if you ever expect to camp out when it is icy outside). I just took a quick look at the selection of sleeping bags that Walmart is offering, and I’d be inclined to point you at sleeping bags costing between $45 and $80. Think about these, especially the any of the 10 different mummy-shaped bags for $77.99 each. They are all different colors and have different names but they look the same to me! I believe the ‘differences’ are just marketing bulldust.
You will find more advice on sleeping bags here:
http://www.1campingtent.com/sleeping-bags.htm
http://www.outdoors123.com/camping-gear-sleeping-bags.html
Best of luck. I really hope you can rustle up a bit more money and get a better sleeping bag!
the above poster is right on.
$60 tends to be around the low end to get a bag that will last a decent amount of time and will still compress down to a reasonable size. the rectangular one you linked to won’t do either.
a note about temperature ratings: ratings are made by the manufacturer, so you have to take them with a grain of salt. your comfort also varies according to whether you’re a warm or cold sleeper. likely a 0 degree bag in 0 degree weather is not going to keep you warm.
Walmart I wouldn’t. I tried a low priced Slumberjack from Campmor, used it every night for four months and it fell apart. Campmor, REI, Bass Pro Shops have other better bags. If you need help REI stores are very helpful. Don’t sleep on just the ground or ground cloth in weather below 40. Use a insulated air mattress or self inflating mattress to add more warmth to the bag. A two liter soda bottle filled with hot water helps. I all ways get a bag too long so I can shove a bottle at the foot. Yes, cap very tight. Extra long Mummie Bag. I look at it this way. For the price of five nights in a motel I can buy good quality bag, tent, insulated mat that will last me three or more years. I’m under canvas for up to 4 months a year.