When you’re in the market for a sleeping bag, your primary consideration should be the insulation used. Just about every sleeping bag you’ll see has one of two different fills: synthetic fibers or goose down. While there are positives and negatives to each, you’re usually better off with a down sleeping bag. There’s simply no other material which makes a better sleeping bag fill than down.
Down Sleeping Bags Weighs Less When you happen to go hiking on trails or even when you are climbing a mountain, your backpack’s weight and its contents is crucial. When you carry more weight, you will tire out that much sooner and will need a break. If you carry a down sleeping bag, your pack will be a little bit lighter. Since you know that your sleeping bag is one of the largest items you will carry when you go hiking, this will most definitely be a good place to save some precious weight.
Down is Warmer than Synthetic Fiber Surprisingly, there have not been any synthetic fills that are able to match down’s weight when it come to warmth ratio. You simply must have a warm sleeping bag when you are camping in very cold weather. If you do not want to loose sleep because you have been shivering all night, then it is best to get a down-filled sleeping bag. After all, you will have to expend a lot of energy for that early morning mountain ascent.
Down Sleeping Bags Use Less Space In Your Backpack Camping gear needs to be compact; a down sleeping bag can be compressed tightly to fit into a smaller space. This leaves you more room in your backpack to bring food and extra clothing on your trip.
The Downside Of Down Sleeping Bags While there’s plenty of good arguments to use a down sleeping bag, there are some cons you should know about as well - these include water resistance and price.
Many down filled sleeping bags are not the best choice for camping in wet conditions. A down sleeping bag tends to compress when it’s wet, which means it’s not a good insulator or a comfortable place to sleep. You can find down sleeping bags with a waterproof or water resistant outer shell, making them suitable for wet weather and kayaking excursions. There is also the fact that a down sleeping bag is more expensive than those filled with synthetic fibers. The higher price does have a reward though, since these sleeping bags are of much higher quality.
Conclusion If you can afford the higher price tag of a down sleeping bag, then it is the obvious choice for your camping gear. A down filled sleeping bag is warmer and more comfortable, takes less valuable space in your backpack and is lighter. All of these are strong selling points to any hiker.
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