Facts About Sleeping Bags & Airbeds

Adult Sleeping Bags

Usually made in polycotton with a hollowfibre/polyester filling ranging from 40 to 60oz. Suitable for use in caravans and in a tent in warm weather conditions. Usually in polycotton, some in polyester depending on it's purpose.

The cost of these bags will vary from around £12.99 upwards.  The price is dictated by the construction of the filling.  The bottom end of the price range will be one layer of filling with some stitching detail which helps keep the filling in place and stops it bunching up in a corner or to one side.   If it has no stitching it has nothing to keep it in place.  Other sleeping bags come with a double layer of filling which is interlocked to help keep it in place and provides small pockets to retain heat and improves the effectiveness of the sleeping bag and helps stop those "Cold Spots".

Some adult sleeping bags have the facility to zip two together. Most square sleeping bags can be zipped together. Some specialist companies will label their bags with an “R” and an “L”, in which case you need a left and a right to be able to zip them together. In both instances each bag is still suitable for use on its own. Alternatively you could just buy a double sleeping bag, most come with a pillow area, some come with pull cords to help you keep the heat in. Remember we loose more heat through our heads than any other part of our bodies.

Square Bags

A square bag will give you more space for your feet, so for those of you who like to sleep with their feet out, a square bag is an option.  Some will open from the top or the bottom so worth checking if that's your preference.

A square bag may well zip with another and are often in contemporary polyester cotton outers, or alternatively some have cotton outers with a flannel inside which gives a nice soft feeling and of warmth.

Most bags are washable but you should always check the specification label before buying.

Mummy Bags

Mummy bags are of a narrower shape and therefore provide less space which if you are hiking or in extreme weather conditions maybe of benefit so you can retain as much heat from your body as possible. The top section will have a pull cord for you to pull tightly to close the open area and therefore retain your body heat once again.The main section of the bag may have additional thermal lining or elasticated stiching which allows the fabric of the bag to hug your shape, thereby providing a more snug fit, less room for cold air and thereby increasing its thermal qualities.  We loose a large percentage of our body heat through our head, so if you are camping in extreme conditions the Mummy bag is a good choice. This particular style of bag comes in a variety of weights and construction materials. Some lightweight versions will have very high thermal ratings, will pack quite small but will be not be cheap.  Some bags have more depth in the base of the bag to give more room for your feet.  There are also a small selection of Mummy bags made from water resistant materials.

Childrens Sleeping Bags

Baby Sleeping bags are available for small children. These can usually be strapped into a pushchair for easy removal, so you can go out and put your baby in the sleeping bag and when you return you can remove and place in a childs airbed for a good nights sleep.

Junior Sleeping bags are designed for young children upto 12. These are usually in contemporary designs, can be a Mummy or a square bag, some bags will come with a pillow as well.

Why buy a childs sleeping bag ? when a child sleeps they will burrow into the sleeping bag and you will loose them and checking on them will be difficult.  Some parents have tied the end of an adult sleeping bag, which does work on occassions but isn't ideal, as little feet have a habit of pushing through and breaking the tie.   The excess sleeping bag will fill with cool air, a child will not generate enough body heat to heat that cold air, so they will get cold and stay cold.   One idea is to stuff towels in the bottom to fill the gap and stop them sliding down, fill the base and reduce the space for cold air to accumulate.

A smaller bag will give them ample room to sleep and keep warm and the fun of having their own sleeping arrangement that is different from home.