When choosing a new sleeping bag it is very important to think about where and when you are going to use it.
The material the sleeping bag is made from, either synthetic wadding or down clusters plays a huge role in deciding the weight, warmth, size and protection that the bag offers.
Synthetic
These sleeping bags are much cheaper than down and can be washed and dried with greater ease leading to easier overall care of the bag. If a synthetic bag gets wet it will still keep you warm as it will not lose as much insulation as a down bag would. Synthetic sleeping bags are bulkier and heavier than their down counterparts and cannot be compacted as much so they take up more space whilst not being used. They have lower warmth to weight ratio than down and the synthetic material tends to break down and lose its insulation properties faster than a down sleeping bag would. “Vango” make a range of synthetic sleeping bags that are lightweight and offer the ability to be compacted to a small size, these are ideal for backpackers who are limited on space but want a comfortable night sleep.
Down
Down sleeping bags are very light and can be compacted into a very small space. They have incredibly high warmth to weight ratio and usually have a softer feel to them. Choosing down will incur a greater cost than choosing a synthetic bag and when choosing a down bag you should also look for a high goose down percentage, this can come at even higher cost. If a down bag gets wet it will lose insulation as the clusters will clump together and can provide less insulation than no sleeping bag at all! This can be rectified by a spin in a tumble drier and will restore the bag to its original state. Down bags are, however, more difficult to clean, you can’t just whack them in the washing machine. Ideally, you should get your down bag professionally cleaned by someone like WE Franklins of Sheffield (0114 268 6161) . If you do decide on a down bag then you must look at the “fill power”, this is a measure of how much space a set amount of down occupies in cubic inches and therefore how much insulation it will provide. The higher the fill power the better performance of the bag. “Mountain Equipment” makes a great range of high down ratio sleeping bags that have water resistant shells to keep snow and moisture out, these bags are perfect for extreme mountainous or sub zero adventurers.
In general if you are on a budget, allergic to down or will be using the bag in wet or damp conditions such as in a rainforest, caving or sailing then a synthetic bag would be the right choice for you. If you are going to be in extremely cold conditions, want very high warmth to weight ratio or want a durable and long lasting and compact bag then choose down.
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