Sleeping Bag Down
Outdoor enthusiasts who go camping need to make a range of decisions, quickly, so that their wits are best pitted against the elements of nature. How to pitch a tent, where to lay the sleeping bag down, how to find the best possible spot for fishing and when to light a fire, are all seemingly simple questions. Yet each such query requires a lot of forethought and planning, if the follow up answers and action is to be effective.
Sleeping bags are an integral part of outdoor life; so, choosing one that is fit for purpose is quite important, especially if an individual is embarking on an outdoor expedition. Sleeping bags are generally made out of synthetic fills or of down, and the latter is colloquially known as a “sleeping bag down”.
If you think there is only one type of sleeping bag down, then you are mistaken. Ultra-light down sleeping bags are made for mountain marathons, adventure racing and lightweight backpacking, while warmer ones are made for winter trekking and for those who undertake expeditions in very cold territories. This is done by adjusting the “fill volume” in the sleeping bag, so as to meet the user’s requirements.
For the uninitiated, the sleeping bag down is made up of artic or sub-artic birds’ feathers and is naturally thermal insulated. Down can be differentiated from ordinary feathers by way of the fact that it grows without a quill. To obtain down, the most commonly used birds’ feathers tend to come from ducks (including eider ducks) and geese. Generally, goose feathers are deemed to be superior to those obtained from ducks, but the age of the birds too play a part in the quality of down obtained.
The sleeping bag down is generally considered to be superior to that made of synthetic fibers. There are many reasons for connoisseurs to arrive at this conclusion. For instance, firstly, the sleeping bag down has a greater ability to take in air and expand; a property which is commonly referred to as “loft”, which makes such sleeping bags warmer, when measured weight-for-weight against its synthetic counterparts. The sleeping bag down is also lightweight and compressible. When laid out, it also settles around the body, taking on its contours and thus minimizing drafts, which is indeed advantageous in colder climes.
However, the down sleeping bag does have its limitations, too. It is not as resistant to moisture as are most synthetic sleeping bags. Therefore, if you do purchase a down sleeping bag, it is always advisable to obtain a waterproof wrapping when trekking, and place it under a shelter when in use, if rainy weather is in the offing.
So, if you are embarking on an outdoor expedition and the weather holds little prospect of rain, investing in a good quality down sleeping bag might prove to be a good idea. With many suppliers to choose from, this task has never been easier, for outdoor enthusiasts.