Tips for Outdoor Sleeping Bags

Typical Types of Sleeping Bags

Air Mattress Sleeping Bag If you are planning a camping, backpacking or some other type of trip that will take you out and about into the great outdoors, you will want to give some serious and direct consideration to making the purchase of an air mattress sleeping bag. There actually are some wonderful benefits that are associated with an air mattress sleeping bag. The fact is that those people who have tried an air mattress sleeping bag tend to avoid using any other types of sleeping bag.

Coleman Sleeping Bag

If you are a person – or a member of a family – that enjoys spending time in the great outdoors, you understand the vital importance of buying and using the best equipment, the most suitable products for your woodland adventures. In short, when it comes to purchasing products and equipment for camping or for other recreational activities that will find you spending time outside, you want to make sure that you are getting these items from a company or manufacturer that has a solid and incomparable reputation in the field. This particularly is the case when it comes to sleeping gear and sleeping bags. For many years, Coleman sleeping bag products have been at the pinnacle.

Double Sleeping Bag

If you are planning a camping trip with that special someone in your life, you may be giving some thought to the idea of buying a double sleeping bag for the trip. Before you set off to the local sporting goods store to find and buy a double sleeping bag, take a moment to consider the pros and cons of a double sleeping bag. Take a moment to determine how a double sleeping bag can best be a part of your overall gear and equipment scheme.

Love Your Sleeping Bag and It’ll Love You

Your Sleeping Bag is quite often your bed. For some who live a lifestyle that keeps them in the outdoors for long periods of time, it’s their only bed and the most important caming outdoor gear. But your bag isn’t like a regular mattress. It needs attention to keep it at its fluffy best throughout the years. SierraTradingPost has a great sleeping bag guide that contains all the information you’d need when buying or caring for your bag. We’ve listed their care suggestions below, along with ours to help you get the most life out of your bag. So here it is…

How to Clean and Care for your Sleeping Bag…

Dry out your bag immediately after every use. Always follow the care instructions for your bag if washing it. If you misplace them, wash your bag by hand with a mild detergent and tumble dry on low heat, or wash in a front-loading washer on a gentle cycle. Store your bag in a cool, dry place and never leave it jammed inside a stuff sack, or it will eventually lose loft and will permanently become less effective. Use a storage sack if possible. Never pack away a wet sleeping bag for longer than it takes to drive home from your destination. Hang it out to dry or tumble dry it at low heat as soon as you get home. Additional Sleeping Bag Care Suggestions… If your bag is down-filled and you don’t have your care instructions, but would like to clean it, you have options. Try taking a bucket with detergent and warm water and dipping a rag in it. Wipe your bag down with this rag. Antiacterial wipes are also a great way to do a quickie job on your bag before you store it away. Storing your bags in a large Rubbermaid style container is a great way to keep the mice away. Many of us store our gear in garages or basements and you never know when a varmit will be dropping in to see if he can find something to gnaw on. If you are traveling by plane and have to leave your bag stuffed in its stuff sack for long periods of time (days) try unpacking it when you get to your destination and letting it loft up. Often when traveling we have a day or so in a hotel or at a friends house before we hit the trail. This can give your bag a break from being stuffed away and will keep it lofty for your trip and recreation life. By maintaining your bag well you could pull a good 10 years out of it. There are probably many other ways you can keep your bag in top shape.

How to Stay Warm in a Sleeping Bag

Just because your sleeping bag goes down to 10 degrees doesn't mean you can just slide in at nighttime and be toasty all night. Follow these tips to keep your heat close. Use a quality sleeping mat: Get yourself away from the ground. Even putting a 1 inch layer of air between you and the ground (such as provided by a Thermarest) can make a huge difference. Don't lose your clothes: When its below freezing, the only things you should take off before getting into your sleeping bag are your boots and an outer shell jacket. Keep your polarfleece and long underewear on your corpus. I like to change my socks before going to bed (rather than in the morning) as they give your feet a dry, warm home for the night. Wear a hat: It'll make a world of difference. Snuggle deep: Keep your arms and your head inside your bag, and wrap it around your face. Lie still: Limit your movement as much as you can. The cool side of the pillow theory doesn't apply when winter camping.

Sophisticated Customers

Besides growing competition, customers’ changing habits are pushing outdoor and travel equipment retailers to invest into more sophisticated stores, services and goods. The high number of various retailers on the market is one reason that shopper loyalty is very low, as more than two-thirds of Czechs switch between many sport stores. People choose their sport stores mainly according to location, assortment and expertise of the shop assistants, the survey shows. Responding to the changing customers’ habits Hudysport has, instead of expanding, invested tens of millions of crowns over the past two years into revamping its 29 Czech and seven Slovak franchised stores. “We are focusing on remodeling our outlets, which will also continue this year,” Sedliský said, adding that Hudysport is keeping up with new trends and provides products made of innovative materials. He added the store trains its personnel so they can expertly assist clients. “Customers have grown wise and have become more discerning. … They now think carefully what products to buy to invest their still growing amount of money responsibly,” he said. “While five years ago, customers were satisfied with one kind of blue and red jacket that quickly sold out, now they ask for modern designs, innovative materials and various colors.” Regarding outdoor and sports goods, low prices are not the key factor and shoppers pay close attention to the quality they get at a given price. The brand is perceived mostly as a feature that guarantees quality, but the brand itself is not of great value, according to the survey.

“The trend is clear. … Rather than buying a cheap vacuum bottle or sleeping bag in [a hypermarket] they go to specialized stores and invest in higher-quality brand products.”