Gearing Up: Choosing the right sleeping bag can guarantee sweet dreams

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May 21, 1998

Gearing Up: Choosing the right sleeping bag can guarantee sweet dreams

By KRISTIN HOSTETTER
SPECIAL TO THE POST-INTELLIGENCER

It was mid-July and I was headed into the High Sierra for a few days of easy, summertime hiking. When I left the trailhead, it was close to 80 degrees and I hadn't seen a cloud in days. Being the optimistic type, I left my rain gear and spare set of long johns in the car, in order to lighten my load by a few precious ounces.

Big mistake.

The next night a cloud thick as pea soup rolled in, and the rain came down in sheets. I spent a miserable day hiking and shivering in the rain, but at least I had a good, warm sleeping bag to crawl into at the end of the day.

Your sleeping bag might just save your frigid derrière some day. But even in less dramatic situations, crawling into a cozy bag sure is a nice way to end a hard day on the trail. The question is, what type of bag is right for you?

The first decision you need to make concerns insulation type. Should you go with a down or synthetic filled bag? If lightweight, packability and durability are your top priorities, down may be the way to go. Despite many improvements in modern-day synthetics, down still packs the most BTUs into the smallest, lightest package. And if cared for properly, down will last a lifetime.

But synthetics (such as Polarguard 3D and Primaloft) have their place, too. If you're on a tight budget, a synthetic bag will save you a fistful of cash. More importantly, if you often find yourself in damp, soggy or downright soaked places synthetic insulations give you a bit more protection. Whereas down becomes a useless, clump of feathers without a shred of insulating ability when it gets wet, synthetics keep insulating.

I'm not saying that a night spent inside a wet synthetic bag is going to be fun, but you're far better off than if you had a soaked down bag or no bag at all.

The bottom line: If you're a year-round camper here in the Northwest, you're better off with a synthetic bag. On most of my low-country trips, I pack a 20-degree synthetic bag. If you venture up into snow country or if you're strictly a fair-weather camper, down may be the way to go.

Other shopping tips:

Look for beefy, smooth-running zippers that are backed with a tape or stiffener to prevent snagging.
Look for a puffy draft tube that insulates the zipper and prevents cold drafts from sneaking in.
Crawl inside. You want enough elbow room to feel comfortable, but not so much that you'll have a hard time heating up all that space.
Look for a well-sculpted hood that hugs your head and seals around your face.
If you're a cold-weather camper, make sure you have six to 12 spare inches at the bottom of your bag so you can keep your camera warm and your water bottle from freezing when the mercury drops.

Kristin Hostetter is the equipment editor for Backpacker magazine. She resides in Portland, Ore., but spends most of her time out in the wilds testing gear. For more information on equipment, check out Backpacker's Web site at:www.bpbasecamp.com

Kristin Hostetter is the equipment editor for Backpacker magazine. She resides in Portland, Ore., but spends most of her time in the wilds testing gear. For more information on equipment, check out Backpacker's Web site atwww.bpbasecamp.com.