Mattress Tips

There are many types of sleeping bags available. Things you will need to consider when deciding on what sleeping bag to buy:

1. What is the temperature and climate where you camp going to be like?

Temperature ratings of sleeping bags assume that the camper is going to be using a ground pad with the bag. If you will be using the sleeping bag mostly in the summer months or in a house, cabin, or RV, then a simple rectangular sleeping bag or a summer season sleeping bag should be sufficient.

If the moderate to cold weather is more your style then you want to buy a sleeping bag that is designed to keep you warm. When planning a trip in colder weather make sure you have an idea of what the coldest temperature will be and select a sleeping bag that is rated for that temperature.

2. Will you be carrying the bag on your back, in a canoe or in the trunk of your car?

If you will be carrying your sleeping bag in the trunk of your car, then your choice is not important.

If you plan on carrying your sleeping bag on your back or canoe, then you will have to consider size and weight of your bag. When choosing, consider the following:

Mummy bags are a great choice for backpackers that will be carry the bag. By there design, they are narrowly cut can decrease a bag’s weight by up to a half-pound.

Down insulation is a great choice, especially for backpackers. Down is light and packs compactly. When you are ready to use the bag, the loft comes back easily with a couple of shakes.

Synthetic-filled bags usually weigh more and take up more more than down filled, but the are great in wet conditions. Synthetic-filled bags continue to insulate when wet and they dry quickly. For this reason synthetic-filled sleeping bags are a good choice for camping in wet conditions and for canoe and kayak trips.

3. What shape do you prefer to have in a sleeping bag: rectangular, rectangular with a hood, or a mummy shape.

Rectangular sleeping bags give you more room but do not hold in the heat as well. If you prefer to move around and have some room when you sleep and keeping warm is not a priority than a rectangular sleeping bag may be your best choice.

Rectangular bags usually do not have a hood that can keep your head warm. Rectangular sleeping bags with hoods are a good alternative. These bags are a combination of the hood of a mummy bag and the space of a rectangular bag. Remember, because these bags have more room, they will not hold the heat in as efficiently as a mummy bag.

The mummy bag is smaller size and therefore there is not as much room to move around. This smaller size requires less energy to heat up at night than the larger rectangular bag, which has more air space. Also, these sleeping bags have a hood to keep you head warm and heat loss at a minium. Mummy bags are a good choice if space if size, weight, and keeping warm are important.

Remember, a good sleeping bag can make all the difference when camping and hiking.

About the author:

Pat Hogle is the owner of ACE Camp Gear: http://www.acecampgear.com. Ace Camp Gear is an online store with great camping equipment. Pat has been camping for 25 years and spends much time in the Adirondacks of New York.

Written By: Pat Hogle

In a time of expensive real estate, smaller homes built on smaller lots are becoming the norm, even in the suburbs. In the city, space is at an even greater premium, as more and more people work or live in existing buildings. Any idea that makes the most of these smaller spaces is vital to the comfort of the population.

One such idea, Murphy beds, is resurfacing. The idea of the Murphy bed was born in San Francisco around 1900. The inventor, William L. Murphy, was a young, single gentleman who lived and slept in a one-room apartment. Because he wanted to entertain his girlfriend in his room, and because proper young ladies did not enter a gentlemans bedroom in those days, he found a way to hide the bed while he was entertaining. He invented a means of easily and automatically flipping the fully-made bed on its end into a closet, so it could be safely stored out of sight, but brought out again when he needed it.

Mr. Murphy patented his idea in 1900. He began manufacturing the beds as others heard of Murphy beds and wanted to take advantage of their space-saving properties. After the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, his invention became even more popular. Much of the city had suffered extensive damage, and the available living space was utilized to the utmost. Murphys business prospered as he continued to improve his product.

Murphy beds rapidly spread across the country as more people moved into the cities and apartment life became a popular trend. Mr. Murphy moved his flourishing business to New York in the 1920s, where it still is today. Many of the original beds are still in use today. Now, they can be found all over the world, in apartments, hotels, hospitals, offices, fire stations, and any other building where efficient use of space is vital. Murphy Beds Info provides detailed information on murphy beds, murphy bed plans, wall beds, bed libraries, and antique beds. Murphy Beds Info is the sister site of Bunk Beds Web.

Written By: Eddie Tobey