On the field there’s only so much you can do to care for your sleeping bag. Just remember to keep it clean and try to keep it away from anything wet including wet and dirty clothes when you’re camping.

At home you can do a lot more to maintain your sleeping bag so that it can last a little bit longer. These tips cover how to wash, dry, store and repair your sleeping bag in the proper way.

Washing and Drying

- Keep your sleeping bags clean by washing it frequently but only when it is necessary. Washing too much can break down the properties of both down and synthetic fills.

- Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions manual and use mild soap. You can hand wash or wash in the gentle cycle of a washing machine. If your sleeping bags are too large, bring them to a launderette and use a larger machine but never dry-clean a sleeping bag.

- When using the tumble dryer, use the lowest setting . Put a tennis ball into the machine to prevent the down from clumping. The ball will help dissipate the clumps.

- When wet, handle with extreme care. Do not dry on a clothesline. Find some place to that can support the weight of the bag so that the delicate baffles do not tear. Hanging it on the dryer is a common practice.

Storing

- Store your sleeping bag in a large cotton storage sack. Make sure the bag sit loosely in the sack. Avoid putting the bag in a stuff sack for long periods of storage because compressing it too much will reduce its loft.

- Don’t store the sleeping bag in a plastic sack as the moisture will be trapped and hence provide a suitable breeding ground for mould, mildew and bacteria. Only store your bag when it is completely dry.

Repair

- Tears need to be repaired immediately especially the ones on the shell and lining.

- For temporary repairs use a duct tape or Gaffa tape. Instead on cutting the tape in a square, cut it in a circle so that it doesn’t snag the fabric.

- Permanent repairs can be made with a nylon repair tape or patches that are sold in most outdoor stores.

- You can also ask a professional company that can do repair jobs for tears, separating seams and zip problems. There are quite a few of these companies around and they might even throw you a discount if you ask nicely.

Coleman is most likely one of the most famous name in the camping and outdoors industry, from coolers, flashlights and lanterns, water heaters, sleeping bags, backpacks, stoves, and obviously, the ever reliable Coleman tents. It has more than thirty years of experience and goes on to use its extensive experience to assure continuous development of its products as well as the lasting happiness of the buyers. When it comes to camping gears and equipments, Coleman is one of the foremost makers and definitely a name which campers rely on for many years.

There are many available designs and styles for your camping needs. Tent designs and models are in family, dome, cabin, beach, kids, and even for your favorite pet. These are made of quality materials so that you have a comfortable camping experience come rain, snow, and wind. Your tent’s fabric provides a very thin wall which separates you from the elements outside and its quality will spell the difference between an enjoyable outdoor adventure and a wet and sodden weekend. They are manufactured to last for many camping seasons and are tested in natural conditions. You will not have to visit your sporting goods store every camping season to buy a new tent. You will enjoy many an outdoor adventure with these tents.

Two other tents you should also consider are Vango tents and Khyam tents. Even though not as common as their equivalent, these give the same quality products. Khyam tents are famous for their easy pitch and take down feature, perfect for camping newbies and on the move outdoor escapade. Alternatively, Vango Tents are known for their dependable tents which can endure the most extreme weather conditions.

Camping and other outdoor activities require definite specifications because you will be exposed to nature’s elements which, more often than not, are unpredictable. Even though brand name can guarantee quality and reliability, make sure that the tent you have your eyes on suits your needs and not just because of the brand name that goes with it.

Anyways, there is one more thing you need to consider when camping and that is, responsible camping. Camping gear manufacturers such as Coleman have joined Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics to advocate responsible camping. The campaign is intended to the delight and stewardship of the outdoors through volunteerism, education, and ethical manners.

To continually enjoy the experience of the outdoors, we must be responsible individuals by respecting camp site rules and

regulations, using biodegradable goods when camping or even when you are not camping, and recognizing the value of our obligations to the surroundings. Pick the appropriate tent and the best camping gear that suit your needs and do your share in protecting our natural environment so that other people will also get the chance to delight in it.

It is no secret that Merrell does not cater to couch potatoes. The Merrell identity is synonymous with outdoors-men (and women). If you need a product that meets all of your adventures, you’ve come to the correct place - Merrell shoes. Known for their lines of footwear, apparel, bags, and accessories, they do their best to honor you with a quality product. Whether running on the beach or hiking in the woods, Merrell has whatever you need. A lesser known fact is that they also have an incredible selection of men and women’s sandals. Just like any other Merrell product, you can expect fine work with the best materials available.

With a selection of over thirty different styles in many colors, you will find whatever you need in a sandal. It would be tough to find a better selection with any other company, and difficult to find sandals with the same level of quality. From rugged and sturdy to colorful and attractive these sandals all have a practical use in a stylish package. Beachcombers will like styles like Terracina or Westport. Hikers may want to select Chameleon Cargo Sport. Ladies wanting something a little more dressy will opt for Sundial Cross or Primrose. Any adventure, any occasion, any outing can be covered with a fine product from Merrell footwear.

Appropriate for all kinds of land and water sports, Merrell sandals are lightweight. The breathable leathers, suedes, and fabrics from which they are constructed make it easier to stay in the game all day. Our patented air cushion midsoles support your arch for additional comfort. The online store has a system that guides you to the exact shoe for your requirements based on style, terrain, activity, temperature, price, color, and technology. Desire a vegan friendly sandal? Put that in as one of your specs and you will be led to one of several varieties. Let the system know your price range and it will give you options that fit your range as well as your style. Ladies, prefer a colorful sandal over traditional colors? Select your preferred color and see your choices. This is online shopping at it’s most convenient.

Merrell clients know they don’t have to settle for less. You will find when shopping for Merrell sandals, just like other footwear, you can not do better. You request the best and we are pleased to bring you the best. They encourage you to look around because they efinitely know that you will come back to them. You appreciate quality, and Merrell appreciates you!

At the beginning of my love interest with hiking and camping I used to pack my down bag loose into the backpack or even tie it on the outside.

It took me 3 trips before I started using stuff sacks to store my sleeping bag.

These cylindrical shaped nylon, usually waterproof, enclosures protect your bag from unnecessary wear and tear and also from the rain.

Material

Most stuff sacks are made of newer fabrics like coated polyester and ultralight silicone-impregnated nylon.

While the material itself is waterproof, the drawstring closure in most stuff sacks is not so be careful about getting it into water and if you tie your sleeping bag to the outside of your backpack, make sure you at least cover the drawstring closure with a waterproof material to protect against rain. A plastic bag will do in most cases.

Newer stuff sacks like the eVac Dry Sack from Sea To Summit don’t use drawstring closures but instead you roll the sack down and then close the buckle.

This accomplishes two things. First, when you roll the sack down air is pushed out of the base so water can’t get in.

Second, it allows you to save both space and weight. The weight saving though is not such a big deal. You only save a little bit of weight but the space saving is much appreciated.

The lightest stuff sacks are made of silicone-impregnated nylon parachute cloth. It can be as light as 0.5 oz or even less.

GoLite employs this type of material and they made an improvement to the drawstring closure by adding a collar instead of just a drawstring and flap configuration.

Outdoor Research on the other hand uses a good waterproof fabric called Hydroseal.

This fabric is tough and can handle rough use but still limp enough to mold itself to the contents of the sack. This sack bag is available in the drawstring-flap configuration as well as roll closure secured with Velcro bindings.

Compression and Size

Most stuff sack suppliers have some sort of compression model with straps, laces or double drawstrings that reduces the volume by up to half. You can also stuff in your down jacket or windbreaker jacket together with the sleeping bag into the sack. Make sure that yours is big enough for you to easily put in whatever you intend to put in.

Don’t get a small stuff sack just because you think it would save you space because in most cases you’ll just have unused, wasted space in your backpack as a result.

Another problem is that even if you can cram your sleeping bag and other stuff into the sack when you’re at home, doing so in less than ideal conditions on an empty stomach with the cold wind biting at you can turn it into a monstrous task.

Get one that’s big enough to take its load with extra room to spare, leaving it soft, malleable and easy to stuff. I use Outdoor Research Hydroseal DryComp Sacks but I’m thinking of getting the eVac Dry Sack from Sea to Summit for myself.

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.

It’s good to leave for the weekend out of town under canvas. There is nothing to beat having fresh air and eating outdoors, around nice scenery. Of course, having the right camping supplies and gear makes the experience all the more enjoyable.

The basics are the most important to get right. Tents differ in price and size, from the simple one-man type to enormous family tents. It’s essential to choose one that fits the terrain and climate of the destination. Some tents are only designed for summer weather and any winter camping will necessitate a 4-season one. A lot of persons prefer to have some sort of air mattress to sleep on. It cushions against the ground and gives insulation too. These come in single, double and king size with pillows and pumps that may be charged up from a car battery.

A quality sleeping bag will provide a good night’s sleep. Again, depending on weather conditions, there are various material available. Kids can have their own junior size models. A good item to put on the camping supplies list ia a lantern or flashlight with spare batteries. Sheltered dining areas give extra space and make camping more comfortable. Plastic table and chair sets can be cleaned easily and will last for years. There are portable stoves, Dutch ovens and barbecues, kettles and sets of strong pans and dishes. Food, wine and beer can be kept cool in mini refrigerators or cool boxes.

For those who want to take a break from cooking, camping supplies could include pre-prepared meals to which you only need to add water. There is a good range that includes curries, chilies, meatballs and pasta and some delicious puddings. Screens will give protection from interested insects and windbreaks will get you shelter from the elements. The most efficient way to transport water from the campsite’s water supply is by using water carriers.

Everyone wants a great camping experience using the nicer camping accessories, you can now enjoy yourself more. Most don’t feel that camping is relaxing until after the first trip. The accessories make the adventure more enjoyable. Before long, it just becomes a way of life. You can find camping accessories online or at local sporting stores as well as camper dealers. In many cases, you will find better discount prices online. Even after shipping and handling, you will still save money. If you have a need for any camping accessories for tent camping or accessories for pop up campers, you can find many different brands and models more so online than in local stores. You won’t find any camper arguing with the fact that having the proper camping equipment is essential to a good camping trip, and one that, besides the enjoyment it provides.

I started my camping as a spare time activity just a few years ago. Initially, I was disturbed by the cost of outdoor camping equipment. Even though it is possible to look for cheaper camping gear, somehow it is quite difficult to come by. Camping gear outlet try to promote everything to you. These include trying to sell you the latest outdoor clothes, high-tech sleeping bags, synthetic thermal underwear or whatever they can think of. It does make sense . But, what I didn’t know those item being promoted is only really required for difficult and advanced camping trips which falls under emergency survival supplies. If you understand what you really need and what you can make do without, my dear friend, you can save a lot of money. Thus, making wise purchases will definitely help you to enjoy your camping trip even more.

A good friend of mine who I called “serious outdoors guy” stated that the top two vital stuff for hiking trip are hiking and sleeping. This might sound obvious, yet, many people don’t really follow it through to its conclusion. Let me explain further. You need outdoor camping equipment that helps you to hike and that helps you sleep. Meaning that a hiking trip starts with your boots. Hiking boots are vital. You shouldn’t spare any expense on your hiking boots. You need shoes that are heavy and padded enough, yet pleasant to walk in. You also need a pleasant sleeping bag. You can get cold at night – especially if you are up in the mountains. It is definite a worth preparation in a good one. Here’s the word of advice. You are advised to look for a sleeping bag that is rated to 10° lower than you ever expect it to get.

Next, you need a good jacket. There are a lot of outdoor camping jacket that designed to keep you warm. A thermal jacket is a good investment as you can wear it casually when you are not camping as well. They are great-looking and well made. Most of them are getting more and more well known in urban areas. For your information, you don’t needs serious outdoor shirts for every step of the day. What you need is to get one with a cotton T-shirt, khaki pants, and boxers or thermal underwear. You need not to buy those high-tech thermals either. Plain cotton ones work well other than you are on an extremely difficult and demanding trip. Though cotton doesn’t really make the best outdoor camping component, it is fine for most function. Lastly, you need a consumable backpack. If you are just going for few days, you don’t need to buy an uneconomical one. Any longer, however, and you’ll be happy to have a consumable internal frame hiking outdoor camping backpack. If you need more ways,you can always hop online for further research on camping equipment shops. Enjoy your camping.

I love sports equipment since I am young. I love the odor of a new baseball mitt, how a new bat feels, and the firmness of a new pair of soccer cleats. It doesn’t matter which sport really. I love outdoor sporting gear, hockey equipment - I have tried many sports, and I love them all. There is nothing better than new equipment and a good match between friends.

Most people fit into one of two categories regarding playing sports. Either they are good at sports or they’re not interested in sports. There are few people who are good at sports but not interested in them, and few people who are interested in sports but not good at them. I bucked the trend. I love sport equipment because I love sports, But I am not better than ordinary at a single one. I took martial arts classes as a kid, but could never get to black belt. I was in little league baseball, but I spent many hours on the bench. It doesn’t matter. I love collecting the sports equipment, to watch the games, and possibly even be lucky enough to play.

These days, I don’t have as many chances to play sports games as I used to. Many of my sports equipment is resting on outdoor shelving in my garage, collecting dust. Nonetheless, I still get to use some of the equipment sports every now and then. The outdoor sports equipment, in particular, was getting use this spring. The weather was very nice, and it has been difficult to remain inside any more than I need to. I have been mountain biking, hiking, and I even had a chance to play a friendly game of soccer. It was good to take out the old sports equipment and try it on again.