Choose your kid-sleeping-bag

Kid-sleeping-bag or adult-sleeping-bag?

Whoever the sleeping bag is for the same selection criteria apply. You need to make sure your children enjoy the trip and get a good nights rest.

The sleeping bag is the answer to good sleep

There are 2 foolproof ways to make sure you sleep well when hiking. You can wear yourself out and be so tired that you can’t stay awake, although I don’t particularly recommend this.

The second is to make sure that you have invested in quality gear.

Norwegians have a saying "there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing!" and this similarly applies to camping and hiking gear.

Important Considerations – What you need to know!

Price isn’t everything and simply buying the most expensive products may not be the best option. When you choose a sleeping bag you must consider the following if you really want to enjoy sleeping in the great outdoors. There is much more to choosing than you think and getting it right will reap big dividends for you.

A quality sleeping bag is not a cheap purchase and a properly selected one should last at least 10 years or a lot longer if properly cared for. Kid-sleeping-bag or adult-sleeping-bag, the rules are the same

1. Your physical size

2. The environment you will sleep in

3. The climate you will sleep in, hot or cold?

4. Your personal sleeping habits, do you toss and turn?

Consider the Environment you will sleep in

One important question to ask is what the minimum overnight temperature expected at the location you are going to be in. There is a significant difference between a lightweight summer sleeping bag and a 4 season expedition type sleeping bag.

In most cases you would get two bags to suit those varying environments although some mountain standard sleeping bags are essentially tow bags, one fitting inside the other. Kid-sleeping-bag or adult-sleeping-bag, the rules are the same.

What are the Manufacturers Ratings

This can be very confusing when it comes to selection. They will quote various numbers or other figures to assist in selection, and that includes season application and insulation values.

Some sleeping bags have a simple notation of 2, 3 or 4 seasons however a 4 season bag will keep you warm in all seasons although in summer you may get overheated. Some makers may quote a minimum and a maximum degree rating that relates to the comfort level of the bag. For example a rating of minus 2 degrees C is indicative that the bag will keep you comfortable in that temperature. Of course then you should not forget whether you are a net hot type person (fast metabolism) or a net cold one (slow metabolism).

If you are net cold then you should add 10 degrees to the number when choosing or if you are nte hot like me then subtract 5-10 degrees so you don’t end up sleeping in a sauna.

The problem is there is no uniform standard to which all manufacturers adhere so you have to sift through the marketing hype.

Look further when choosing a bag and this includes the filling types, the filling percentages, loft and design. Kid-sleeping-bag or adult-sleeping-bag, the rules are the same