There are two types of sleeping bags; goose down sleeping bags and synthetic fill mummy bags. These differ by the type of material that is used for the fill. The fill is the most critical part of the sleeping bag. It’s what prevents you from losing heat. The fill should do a good job of trapping air, providing you with insulation against the cold outside air.

Down Mummy Bags

Down is the most efficient fill for mummy bags, because it’s very light and traps air better than synthetic bags. This warmth for weight efficiency makes it ideal for hiking.

Down Mummy Bags compress better than any available synthetics and so are less bulky when packed. When unpacked, a goose down bags goes back to its open state more readily and quickly. It has almost fluid like properties as it readily fills up the void compartments of the sleeping bags.

The best down comes from geese mainly from China. A debate has been made in the past whether white goose down are better than gray goose down but there’s really not much difference.

Down filled sleeping bags are marked as 600-fill, 700-fill or 800-fill. This is referred to as the fill power. It is the amount of space that one oz of down will occupy.

The bigger the number of fill power means that for the same amount of space, less amount of down is used which makes the sleeping bag lighter. This is achieved by using fluffier and longer-tendrilled down.

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) ordained standards for down content and fill power. By law, down must be at least 80 percent down i.e. cluster and fiber rather than quills, beaks, etc.

A good down sleeping bag will bounce back when you poke it with your finger. When properly taken care of, a down filled bag can last for a long time. One spirited hiker I personally know used his for more than 20 ages.

But down as a fill is not perfect. You need to avoid getting it wet or it will stop keeping you warm and you’ll have better luck drying mud on a rainy day than drying a down sleeping bag on your trip.

Down is also very expensive and demands rather more care in maintenance. In some cases, unusual as it is, an allergic reaction may occur.

Synthetic Filled Sleeping Bags

Synthetic fills have been around for ages. They come in different name like Polarguard, Thermolite Micro, Hollofil I & II and more. The names frequenly change and the manufacturers will likely come up with more technologically advanced sounding names.

Synthetic fills are categorized into three forms. All the three forms of synthetics can be lubricated with silicon or other liquids to make them feel more silky, more down-like.

Yet down is still the best fill for sleeping bags, synthetics are not far behind. One major advantage of using synthetics is that, unlike down, they can keep you warm even when wet and drying them is very easy.

And because synthetics are a lot cheaper than down and there’s still room for improvement.

If you have ever gone camping with the wrong type of clothing, then you already know what a disaster it can be.

The type of camping equipment you bring is critical for your overall experience in the woods. So camping while wearing your regular street clothes and assuming it will be enough to keep you warm or dry will quickly change your mind.

Clothes you wear every day just aren’t sufficient to keep you comfortable and protect you from the elements you normally face when camping.

The Details Behind the Clothes

The technology in camping clothes is very sophisticated compared to many years ago. There are many aspects to camping clothes that really do help when you are outside for a large portion of the day, and are made specifically for that type of environment.

The materials themselves are advanced now, with most allowing water from natural elements, as well as sweat, to escape without entering the fabric. This is a great help for the inevitable rain that comes during some of your camping adventures. If you wind up soaked, you’ll wish you had brought an RV instead of setting up camp.

Keeping the Water Out

Moisture is generally one of the biggest problems campers face, making them uncomfortable and cold at night. The newer material - such as laminates and coatings made of micro porous fabrics - keeps this moisture out to keep you warm and dry.

Monolithic membranes also help the water escape while preventing any additional moisture from entering the clothing. It uses body heat that you naturally generate to get rid of water vapor. So even as you are hard at work, the sweat you have will dissipate because of your natural heat.

The Type of Material Matters

Another option for clothing material is between nylon and polyester. Both are very popular with campers, with newer polyester material usage growing rapidly along with other standard camping apparel.

Both provide durability and are very “breathable” material, but polyester keeps you warmer. It really depends which time of the year you decide to go camping as to which one you would likely prefer.

Down filled materials that seem to be very popular with campers are not as efficient an option as the newer materials. Although they keep you very warm, wetness that seeps in will remain for a very long time.

Comfort is a Priority

You are best served by synthetic clothes that provide just as much warmth and are capable of drying more quickly than down.

When you head out for a camping trip, it is important for the enjoyment of your trip to be comfortable. There is little worse than spending a few miserable days outside.

So, the next time you plan your camping trip, take time to look for clothes that are specifically geared to camping so that you are able to remain comfortable, warm, and dry.