Selecting a sleeping bag

Hunting involves not only locomotion, but also an overnight stay, which averages up to 35% of your total time spent in the forest during the hunt. And, do you know that on how well you relax – will depend on how actively you will behave during the hunt? Therefore, it is necessary to approach the issue of providing a comfortable overnight stay in advance, and not when you were in the forest without a tent, with a backpack and with a gun. And, that’s where the question arises – which sleeping bag to choose?

When you visit any specialized store that sells equipment for hunting, fishing and tourism, you will definitely be impressed by the availability of a sufficient number of sleeping bags. It, like any other equipment, must be chosen, based on how and in what conditions, it will be used. Bags are produced for normal, elevated and extreme conditions. They do not sew special for hunting conditions. The fact is that no matter who they are used by a tourist, a fisherman or a hunter, they all have the same requirements and want to get from it – convenience, comfort, low weight and the ability to save heat in various living conditions outside the home.

Types of sleeping bags

It is possible to break all existing versions of sleeping bags into several types, according to criteria such as the appearance of sleeping bags of cocoons with a hood (anatomical forms – narrow in the legs and broad in the shoulders), sleeping bags – blankets (sleeping bags that resemble a rectangle can be equipped hood). Depending on the season of use – summer, winter, for the off-season.

For the summer season, a summer sleeping blanket (on a sintepon) with a temperature range of + 5 to + 8, with several layers of heaters, may come up.
The off-season sleeping bags – have a greater number of heaters and the temperature extremes of such sleeping bags reach a mark of -17 degrees below zero Celsius. Typically, these off-season sleeping bags look like cocoons, but off-season sleeping blankets – you can meet very rarely. It is noteworthy that such off-season sleeping bags can be used for summer hunting – in such a sleeping bag you will be warm and comfortable.
Winter sleeping bags, as a rule, come from 3 or more layers, can also be made of fluff. In such a sleeping bag, you can spend the night in a 35 degree frost. True, it is worth remembering that if your winter sleeping bag is downy, then the formation of condensation will become a drawback after spending the night in a sleeping bag, and you will need to dry it in the morning. Since if you do not dry the down sleeping bag, then after several nights your sleeping bag will order for a long time to live – down will go to pieces and stop you from warming. Therefore, if you do not have the opportunity to dry the down sleeping bag – it is better to take a winter sleeping bag from another material.

Also, it is worth knowing that there are pairing and non-pairing sleeping bags. Do not you know what it is?

A pair of sleeping pins is called a sleeping bag which can be docked with another sleeping bag, and thus your sleeping bag will turn from a single to a double, and it will easily accommodate 2-3 people, depending on the composition.

These sleeping bags are also called stitches or fusions. The advantages of such sleeping bags are so much warmer to sleep, besides, if you are hunting 3 people, then you will only have 2 such pairing sleeping bags. While the third hunter can carry something else, for example a backpack with provisions.

How to find out whether your sleeping paired or not? If a label is glued on the sleeping bag and only 1 sleeping bag is shown on it – your sleeping bag is not pairable. If there is a capital abbreviation L or R – your sleeping bag is paired and in such a spar it is either left or right.

By the way, pairing a sleeping bag is necessary considering this is the left-right aspect, and the sleeping bags themselves must be from one manufacturer and one model, otherwise you can break the zipper of the sleeping bag and it will not close.

Is it possible to sew a non-pairing sleeping bag into a pairing – to be honest, it’s too troublesome, and if you are not a seamstress and a hunter – it’s better not to experiment.

What kind of insulation is best for sleeping bags

In the first sleeping bags as a heater it was decided to use cotton wool. However, although such sleeping bags were warm enough, they weighed a lot, and such a sleeping bag was worn behind back, besides a backpack, provisions, first-aid kit and a gun-it was a bit expensive. In addition, they were bulky and cumbersome, and if suddenly they were wet, then it was almost impossible to dry them, and their weight became heavier 2-3 times. Therefore, if you find a cotton version of the sleeping bag – better refuse, too troublesome and not practical.

And, that’s what you should pay attention to, choosing a heater for the sleeping bag – this is the temperature regime of such filler, volume and weight.

Sleeping bag with a filler that will keep the heat well will weigh a little and does not take up much space – an ideal sleeping bag option.

Today in the market there are several such insulation options that are suitable for such descriptions – this is sintepon, fluff and specialized branded insulation. As for the sintepon, it is quite a good option, affordable, but the trouble is not too long, so after a few hunting seasons you will have to go for a new sleeping bag. True, to prolong the life of such a sleeping bag can be such a special device as a compression pouch, but it is not cheap, so you find yourself in a situation of pseudo-economy – bought a cheap sleeping bag and expensive for him kompressionny cover.

Choosing a heater, pay attention to the native case of the sleeping bag – if it is nylon, then know that the lower the density of nylon (the easier the sleeping bag), but the higher the wear factor of such a cover.

Therefore, here everyone decides for himself, what is more important for him is weight, strength, thermal characteristics.

Temperature mode of the sleeping bag

On your sleeping bag, if you look closely at the label, you can see as many as 3 temperature indicators. Such temperature indicators tell, for what temperature conditions is your sleeping bag intended for maximum, optimal and extreme. So the optimum temperature is the temperature at which you can sleep in your sleeping bag, completely buttoned your sleeping bag, but the extreme temperature is the temperature threshold beyond which you can freeze.

Also it is worth taking into account that the body of the man gives off more heat than the woman’s body, so if you are a female hunter, choose a warmer sleeping bag.

What clothes to sleep in a sleeping bag

Ideal for resting in a sleeping bag, of course, is thermal underwear, it has high characteristics to keep heat. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to take care of the purchase of such a set of thermal underwear, in order to really not freeze, even with the temperature extremes in your sleeping bag.

In case if you have problems with a thermal underwear – choose a set of knitted underwear or things from natural cotton fabric. Should I put a jacket on my sleeping bag to make it warmer? It will be superfluous, and not entirely correct. The sleeping bag is meant to keep the heat inside your body inside, but this heat will block the coat layer.

And, at last – to make you feel warm and comfortable – you need to choose a sleeping bag for your height and weight – in a wide, but short sleeping bag, you will be uncomfortable and not comfortable!

What else should I look for when choosing a sleeping bag?

Hood: The hood of the anatomical shape should cover the ears, temples and forehead. Screed with a stop allows you to adjust the volume of the hood.
Collar: Warm collar is designed for extra thermal insulation and more comfort. The collar should snug against the neck so that cold air does not penetrate into the sleeping bag.
Slings along the edge of the zipper: A special sling must be sewn around the edge of the zipper, which will prevent “biting” of the fabric when zipping / unfastening.
A warm valve with a zipper: Through the entire length of the zipper, there must be a special safety valve on the inside of the sleeping bag, filled with a heater, so that cold air does not penetrate inside the sleeping bag through the zipper.
Velcro for fixing the zipper lock: In the upper part of the zipper – at the hood – there must be a special velcro. That fixes the zipper lock and does not allow it to unfasten itself.
Inner pocket: Most sleeping bags have an internal pocket with a zipper, in which it is convenient to hold different trifles.
Warming for the feet: At the bottom of the sleeping bag, where the user’s legs are located, usually sections with a lot of insulation are made to keep the feet warm and comfortable.
Loops for hanging the sleeping bag: Outside of some sleeping bags, at the bottom, there are small loops that are convenient for hanging the sleeping bag to dry.

Recommendations

To carry the bag, protect it from dust and dirt, you must use a special case. In addition, you can additionally purchase a compression bag. Its main purpose is to reduce the volume of the sleeping bag. It is made of a dense waterproof fabric, which additionally protects the product from moisture and damage. Storage and its use provides a careful attitude towards it. Not all sleeping bags are folded into a bag or compression bag in the same way, it depends on the filler material and is indicated in the product passport.
Do not place it near fire and heating devices.
Most of the time, store the equipment in a straightened condition and follow the recommendations specified by the manufacturer.
Washing of the sleeping bag is allowed only according to the recommendations of the company.
It should be remembered that all models, regardless of price, lose their properties when wet.

We offer you to watch educational videos on this topic. Pleasant viewing and comfortable hunting game!