Ultralight Sleeping Bags
Carrying heavy baggage up the mountains and while crossing streams is difficult.
The weight alone may even cause injury. To make hiking and mountain climbing easier, small or lightweight items have been created. Among these things is the sleeping bag.
You want to have a sleeping bag that would protect you from cold weather or rain, one that can give you comfort and enough insulation without being bulky. Well then, the answer to all of that is the ultralight sleeping bag. The only question is which one to choose. There are two types of ultralight sleeping bags. One is the ultralight down sleeping bag and the other is the ultralight synthetic sleeping bag.
The Ultralight down sleeping bag is stuffed with fine feathers known as down, usually seen on young birds or chicks. It is also present in adult birds but is found beneath the exterior feathers. Down feathers are used in making sleeping bags because of its thermal insulation property. The insulation of this fill material is measured by the fill power. For this type of sleeping bag, choose a fill power rating of 725 – 850. Since The U.S. and the European manufacturers would have a different way of calculating the fill power, get a fill power of 650 or higher if it is from Europe.
The ultralight down sleeping bag has good loft characteristics and thermal properties. It is also considered very light and easy to pack. The weight range of an ultralight down sleeping bag is between 1lb – 3lbs.
One disadvantage of the ultralight down sleeping bag is when used in wet environment. When it gets wet, it loses its warmth and it tends to form clumps. Some would use a water-resistant shell which would cause extra expenses. Also, it tends to accumulate moisture within the shell.
Ultralight synthetic sleeping bags are usually made up of polyester fiber filaments. This type of sleeping bag is not far behind in terms of the quality of insulation and loftiness. The ultralight synthetic sleeping bag is suitable in wet environment because of its water-resistant property. Although some synthetic sleeping bags are heavier and bulkier than the down sleeping bags, recently there are synthetic sleeping bags that weigh as light as a down sleeping bag. Other than the water-resistant property of this type of sleeping bags, another advantage is that it cost less than the down sleeping bag. The usual price range for these sleeping bags is $150 - $200. The weight of an ultralight synthetic sleeping bag is 1lb to 3lbs.
Carrying camping equipment need not be difficult, nor sleeping outdoors be uncomfortable. Ultralight sleeping bags help ensure this.