Thread: choosing a sleeping bag

not a bad article
might have to sleep on it though

I haven't read the article closely but if I can make an input....

Something I hadn't considered when I bought mine was on which side the zipper should be. I sleep on the LHS of the bed (as viewed when in the bed), so I get in and out on that side. I also sleep on my LHS.

Unfortunately, my bag has a RH zipper and I have to get in, zip up the bag, and then try to roll over to my LHS. Not so easy for an overweight person.

I know what you're thinking - flip the bag over. I would but my bag has a hood.

I was thinking you should lose some weight...

Originally Posted by p38arover

I haven't read the article closely but if I can make an input....

Something I hadn't considered when I bought mine was on which side the zipper should be. I sleep on the LHS of the bed (as viewed when in the bed), so I get in and out on that side. I also sleep on my LHS.

Unfortunately, my bag has a RH zipper and I have to get in, zip up the bag, and then try to roll over to my LHS. Not so easy for an overweight person.

I know what you're thinking - flip the bag over. I would but my bag has a hood.

That's an important consideration along with if you plan to zip 2 together with the other half - if on speaking terms at the time that is .

Still doesn't help me with - I want to buy a (pair)of bags - one each for me and the missus - which can be used all year round.

Ha ha yeah I know.

As for the negatives of down due to a lack of water repellency. Most hiking and adventure stores of worth will sell down wash with a DWR treatment. The alternative is to spray your bag with a DWR product. $20 a bottle works out much cheaper than the so called treated down which is merely washed in the DWR treatment in the manufacturing process. Also DWR breaks down with time and exposure to the elements so an expensive water repellant treated down bag will still need a freshen up from time to time. Equally applies to any down bag that, over time, captures body oils and dirt to be less effective at insulating. Thus regular washing, based on usage, is advisable. The DWR treatment will wash out if washed a few times so re-application is required even on the uber expensive bag.

I think there are 2 types of DWR products, the non-heat activated and the heat activated type. Read the instructions. Throwing your bag in the dryer with a few tennis balls is the recommended way to dry a down bag after washing. The tennis balls break up the down fibres but you still have some clumps that you need to break up.

IMHO a down bag, pound for pound, is superior to non-natural fibres.

As for the 1 bag for all seasons, big ask of the bag to not be too hot in summer yet keep you toasty warm in the mid of winter. Less of a concern for those in QLD where temps are moderate in winter.

I'm off to the Shoalhaven river in Bungonia NP this weekend, yippee.

MLD

Originally Posted by p38arover

I haven't read the article closely but if I can make an input....

Something I hadn't considered when I bought mine was on which side the zipper should be. I sleep on the LHS of the bed (as viewed when in the bed), so I get in and out on that side. I also sleep on my LHS.

Unfortunately, my bag has a RH zipper and I have to get in, zip up the bag, and then try to roll over to my LHS. Not so easy for an overweight person.

I know what you're thinking - flip the bag over. I would but my bag has a hood.

Sleep with your head at the foot of the bed

I hate sleeping bags, over priced(especially down filled bags) and a pain in the arse, I use a sheet and doona in a swag.

Baz.

Originally Posted by VladTepes

Still doesn't help me with - I want to buy a (pair)of bags - one each for me and the missus - which can be used all year round.

Ha ha yeah I know.

Just get a summer rated bag and take blankets/ doona's with you, on the winter wombat camp i put one bag into another and was warm as toast even at minus 6.7c.
I think ours are rated to about 4c which is fine for summer.