A Better Tomorrow!

The Best Fill and Shell
Down is the best fill for a sleeping bag. Nothing can yet beat if for its soft, luxurious and warm feel. They pack very small and can last very long compared to its counterpart, the synthetic sleeping bag.

However, down needs proper maintenance to it last. Light down bags can be hand washed with soap or down wash. Bulkier down sleeping bags need to be cleaned professionally because the risk of damaging the fabric is too high.

Down has the best warmth-to-weight ratio which means they keep you warm very well yet are very lightweight. Goose down is the best quality down and the higher the down fill rating the warmer the bag.

Then there’s the shell you need to worry about. Most high-end down sleeping bag makers claim that their shell material is the best for both breathability and water and wind resistance. If you read the specifications on all the different shell-fabric brands, you will be dizzied by the variety. Some would say Gore DryLoft is best, but vote for Conduit, Hyvent, G3, Pertex, or Epic as the best shell for sleeping bags.

There are plenty of choices for a sleeping bag shell material. All the materials will give you different degrees of protection from the temperature, humidity, and water but they also need to work well together with the person’s sleeping metabolism and the insulation material, i.e. the fill.

When W.L. Gore introduced DryLoft, Gore Tex made for sleeping bags, it was the best for water resistance and breathability compared to other shell fabrics. Snow and rain can find its way to the exterior of the sleeping bag even if you’re in a tent.

Remember that when down gets wet, it losses its insulating properties and in the field it has proven to be impossible to dry quickly without damaging it. Adding a water resistant shell that can breathe as well hiked up the price of sleeping bags by $80 to $100 but other makers still respond with their own versions of the outer shell.

Mountain Hardwear’s Conduit is waterproof. Pertex is not as waterproof but it’s an ultra-lightweight nylon material. Epic uses silicon coating on fabric threads to create the water-resistant and breathable shell. Polyester microfibre may be the best outer shell fabric because it’s light, the fabric won’t leak out “down”, windproof and water resistant.

The problem is, makers try to make you think that you really need to keep your sleeping bag, especially down, from getting wet. While I agree that it is critical that you keep your sleeping bag dry, it’s not as likely as they make you think.

The fabric needs to be able to breathe because the water vapor we transpire might condense or freeze if it cannot escape from the sleeping bag.
Comparing Sleeping Bags by Brands?
Now lets try compare brands instead of specific models because new models tend to come out very quickly. There are four big brands; Big Agnes, Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, The North Face and Western Mountaineering.

Each brand will have their own unique features. Big Agnes is “The Mother of Comfort”. They combine the sleeping bag with a sleeping pad to provide maximum comfort and insulation. This solved the problem of people rolling off their sleeping pad. Now there is no way you can roll off the pad as it’s now integrated into the sleeping bag itself. Overall this results in a smaller and lighter pack to carry.

If this is not what you need then you can get a cheaper sleeping bag with less features yet still does everything you want it to. Maybe you can sleep well without a mat and just want a sleeping bag to minimize weight.

Western Mountaineering uses polyester fiber for its outer shell and this makes it very light. In my attempt to compare brands I find an almost impossible task because of the wide range of models available.

But you can be sure that brands like Big Agnes, Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, The North Face, Western Mountaineering and Sierra Designs will deliver a high quality sleeping bag.

Backpacker Magazine Award Winners (Winter)
•Best All-Around
Western Mountaineering Antelope GWS
•Top Ultralight
Marmot Lithium
•Killer Deal
MontBell Super Stretch Burrow #0
•All-Weather
Mountain Hardwear Banshee SL 0
•Winter Bargain
The North Face Nova
•Best Kids’ Bag
Sierra Designs Big Dog

http://hubpages.com/hub/Best-Down-Sleeping-Bags