Sleeping Bags

You would think that it should be easy to get a good nights sleep when enjoying all the fresh air of the Great Outdoors, however, a sleeping bag is one of the most important purchases that you need to make to ensure a restful sleep!

Sleeping bags act as insulators to slow down the loss of body warmth. How well a bag insulates depends on its insulating material, construction and amount of loft.

In order to choose a Sleeping Bag that will keep you comfortable when camping, you need to look at the temperature ratings for each product. This shows the lowest temperature at which an occupant would be comfortable according to the manufacturer. Think about the conditions that you will be camping in most often when purchasing, but remember that what is comfortable for one person, may not suit another. There is no industry standard for temperature ratings and they vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Sleeping bags come in two basic shapes, mummy and rectangular. The best choice for you depends on your sleeping style and how you intend to use the bag.

If you tend to move your arms and legs around whilst sleeping, then a rectangular sleeping bag may suit you best. Mummy sleeping bags are smaller and therefore require less energy to heat up.

Air and Camp Beds

Some other products are available to help get a good nights sleep - camp beds, air beds and various mattresses, which can all help to make you more comfortable and can be easily carried in your car.

Camping Mats

The number one reason for sleepless night whilst camping is a bad sleeping bag. The second most common reason is not having a quality sleeping mat or air mattress. Both are invaluable for comfort as well as helping to keep warm.

There is a wide choice of sleeping mats available, with designs for specific use. When choosing a sleeping mat/air mattress, remember that the thicker it is, the more insulation value the mat will have, this may mean it will be heavy and bulky, and may not suitable for backpacking. So if you are backpacking, a thinner/narrower mat would be preferable and is usually sufficient for normal British summer weather.