GTS OWNERS CLUB

Maver · Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 5:40 pm Post subject: Sleeping Bag Guide

Sleeping Bags Guide
When choosing between the many types of sleeping bags, the 3 main factors to consider are shape, shell material and fill material.

* Shape affects the bags heat trapping efficiency, bulkiness, and sleeping space.
* Shell Material affects the sleeping bags resistance to wind and water. It's breathability, tear-resistance and durability.
* Fill Material affects the bags temperature rating, weight, bulkiness, packed size, drying rate, durability and cost.

What Shape is Right for You?

Mummy Style sleeping bags feature a tapered cut that increases heat-trapping efficiency. This allows you to choose a lighter and less bulky bag and still get comparable insulation. These are your best choice for colder, high-elevation conditions.

Rectangular sleeping bags are heavier and bulkier due to its lack of tapered ends. It is also inefficient to heat insulation since there is more space for your body heat to heat up. On the positive side there is more room to change sleeping positions plus they can be unzipped and used as a blanket.

Semirectangular bags provide a balance between the two above options. They are more roomy than a mummy and less bulky than a rectangular.

Types of Shell Materials
Dryloft is windproof and highly water-resistant. But breathability is low.

Epic by Nextec Windproof and water-resistant, with good brethability.

Microfiber is a tightly woven polyester or nylon. It is not as water-resistant as coatings or membranes, but is lighter and cheaper.

Pertex Endurance is a tough waterproof and breathable fabric. It is light and weatherproof.

Ripstop fabrics have increased tear-resistance due to it's checkerboard or diamond pattern of threads.

Taffeta is a nylon and polyester fabric. It is less durable but more supple than ripstop.

Choosing a Fill Material
Down
Down is the fluffy undercoating found just beneath the outer feathers of geese and ducks.

Down's Positives:

* Provides maximum warmth to weight ratio.
* Lightweight.
* It can be compacted into very small sizes.
* Insulation effectiveness lasts years longer than synthetic.

Down's Negatives

* More expensive than synthetic
* Dries more slowly. If it gets wet it will be useless till it dries which can take forever.

Synthetic Fill Material
Synthetic materials are basically plastic threads. Usually the threads are hollow, reducing their weight and enabling them to trap more air.

Synthetic's Positives:

* Still insulates when wet.
* Dries quickly.
* Non-Alergenic
* Less expensive.

Synthetic's Negatives;

* Bulkier
* Heavier
* Degrades over time.

Which is Right for You?

Down is the preferred choice. Especially if you find yourself in wet conditions often.

Choose synthetic if you rarely go camping or backpacking and want to save money.

Comfort Ratings

A sleeping bag's temperature or "comfort" rating tells you the lowest temperature the bag is designed for. A bag described as a +20 means you should remain comfortable if the air temperature drops no lower than 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

The comfort ratings are not an exact science. You should use these numbers as only as a guide.

Select a bag with a temperature rating slightly lower than the temperature you expect to experience. If you expect temperatures in the 20's, you should choose a +10° bag. Don't worry about being to hot on warmer nights. You can always unzip the bag to get the amount of ventilation you want.

more info HERE
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elementalist · Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 4:53 pm Post subject:

I'm having problems finding my ideal bag...

Need it big and want it square: I'm a big boy so need a big bag to have a chance of keeping my arms inside - also, I change sleeping position a lot, so I don't like having the mummy-style leg-restriction.

I know big and square means not as efficient, but the plus side is I don't feel the cold too badly (plenty of lagging on me), so that probably averages out.

I'd prefer breathable, natural fibres, but are the synthetic hollow fibre fills any good if the lining is a nicer cotton mix?

So, I need a large, down, square, 3 season bag. There seems to be no such thing...

Anyone know any better?
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smudger · Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 5:55 pm Post subject:

Not down I know but best I could find CLICKY
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Blackpool Paul · Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 6:01 pm Post subject:

Ive got a sleeping bag for all the reasons youve said, its a Vango Nitestar 300xl square, season rating 2-3, comf temp -2 to plus 20, extreme temp -10, length 2.35 width 1.10, weight 2.84kg. Packs away into a bag thats about 2ft x 1ft, Ive had it under my GTS seat {but there wasnt any room for owt else} hope that helps, ps I used it a Kelso once to wake up next morning with thick frost on the ground, snug as a bug. Wink

Christ just posted and seen the above post, thats the one!
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