CHOOSING THE RIGHT SLEEPING BAG
You’ve been walking all day, you’ve showered, eaten, and now it’s time to sleep. For you to get a good night’s rest, it’s wise that you choose exactly the right sleeping bag to fit your personal needs. There are many different types that you can choose from, and you can buy specialist male and female designs, each type adhering to the contours of our differing bodies, and catering to the way in which the different genders respond to heat and cold. You can also select different types for different climates, and different weights according to the way in which you intend to travel.
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Temperature Ratings
When buying a sleeping bag, look for the temperature rating. The temperature rating tells you the lowest temperature at which the bag will keep you warm. For example, if you are going to be walking in winter, then you'll need to look for a bag with a temperature rating of about -10 degrees or lower. Before you go shopping for a sleeping bag, check out the general climate conditions for the region and season that you'll be doing your camino journey. Then choose one that will keep you comfortable.
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An important Note About Sleeping Bags
When you zip up your sleeping bag, it traps a thin layer of air between your body and the inside of the bag. Your own body heats up this air, and the bag's insulation lining plus the zipper's protective covering, prevents that heat from escaping. If the bag is too large for you, you will find it much harder to warm up, and you will then need to wear a lot of extra clothing. Not warming up could be dangerous in freezing winter temperatures. So bear this in mind when choosing a sleeping bag. Make sure it is a good snug fit, without it being restrictive. Try it on for size and make sure there is a thin layer of air surrounding your body.
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General Sleeping Bag Classifications and Temperature Rating (°F)
Summer Sleeper (+35° and higher)
3-Season Sleeper (+10° to +35°) Cold Spell Sleeper (-10° to +10°) Extreme Cold (-10° and lower) |
Click here for an online temperature converter
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ULTRA-LIGHT ON AMAZON
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LIGHTWEIGHT PORTABLE ON AMAZON
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Choosing Lightweight Sleeping Bags
At any camping store you can buy Down sleeping bags or those with synthetic fills. Down is much lighter and more compressible, meaning that it can be stuffed into a very small tote bag and it won't take up much space in your backpack. It is quite expensive though, compared with synthetic. If you can afford it, and if you are carrying your backpack with you every day, ask for the lightest bag you can find, with a temperature rating that will keep you warm in the season that you will be walking.
DOWN SLEEPING BAGS ON AMAZON
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