Whalen's Wanderings

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

My nose is pink and cold and my breath quickly turns to frost as I exhale. The moist morning air is a freezing -18, but the temperature inside my tent is a still and balmy -5.

I managed to sleep comfortably throughout the night and I am trying hard to resist the call of nature as I snuggle further into my sleeping bag. Finally, I crawl out and squint against the cold wind as I search for a nearby tree. As I finish and turn back, I look at my tent and admire the snowpack up around its walls before stumbling back through the vestibule and back into my sleeping bag.

Anyone who has gone winter camping knows the importance of a good sleeping bag, but a good bag is not just a necessity in the winter but year round. There are many different types of bags which are often sorted by size, shape, filling, and temperature rating.

Out of any piece of gear, this is the one that requires the most research and testing and I suggest you read up on your choices.

I have three sleeping bags that I use depending on the time of year and where I am going. My mummy bag is rated for -10 although I have spent a February night in Cape Breton where the temperature dipped to a chilly -22, but I wore layers of clothes to bed that night and had a good blanket.

I find my mummy bag a bit tight, but it is very compact which is important when packing a backpack for three nights of winter camping. My regular bag is less packable, but when car camping during cooler months I always take it along just for the space it gives me.

For the warm summer I have a fleece bag that is great for keeping the night breeze off my shoulders and is light and very packable for those longer summer solo journeys.

When choosing a sleeping bag you really have to be honest about yourself. If you like to sleep in the fetal position versus the spread eagle, you would likely be more comfortable than I am in the mummy bag.

If you are a warm sleeper then you could likely drop the degree rating a point or two, but if your toes are always cold in bed then you might want to take an extra blanket with you.

A sleeping bag is not the only thing that is needed for a comfortable night sleep in your outdoor room. I always carry a bedroll or air mattress, which keeps a nice comfy layer between my aging back and the cold ground. In the winter, I also put a fleece blanket between me and the air mattress to add another layer of warmth. Some people even have bag liners which add a few more degrees of warmth to your sleeping bag, but I suggest trying that method before purchasing a liner.

Once you buy your sleeping bag, make sure you look after it because even an expensive bag can become worthless if not properly dried before storage. I find the best way to maintain mine is consistently use them so I strive to camp out as much as possible. See you in the woods.

Ben Whalen is an avid backpacker, adventurer, and environmentalist, who loves the natural areas in and around Kings County. If you have a suggestion for an article or would like to join him on a hike contact him at benwhalen@hotmail.com.