Slumberloft HQ

is a synthetic fiber composed of a 50% hollow core polyester fiber joined with a 50% solid core polyester fiber. This combination offers great warmth and loft. Examples of sleeping bags with Slumberloft HQ are: Slumberjack – Latitude, Long -20F/-29C and Slumberjack – Lil’ Timber, Kids Bag +10F/-12C.

DuPont Hollofil 808

is a synthetic fiber. Its hollow core is designed to trap more air for greater warmth and loft. Examples of sleeping bags with this insulation are: Coleman – Crescent +15F/-9C and Coleman – Mountain Lodge, King -5F/-21C.

DuPont Hollofil II

is a synthetic fiber that features four hollow tunnels that run throughout its length. With four compartments per fiber to trap air, it typically provides even more warmth and compactibility than Hollofil 808. An example of a sleeping bag with this insulation is: Coleman Exponent – Northbound +0F/-18C.

DuPont Thermolite Extreme

is a high performance insulation that blends three different fibers – fine denier fibers, thermal bonding fibers, and hollow core spring fibers. This tri-blend fiber system offers ultimate warmth and superior compactibility. Examples of sleeping bags with this insulation are: Slumberjack – Diablo +40F/+4C and Slumberjack – Odyssey, Long +10F/-12C.

DuPont Thermolite Extra

is a high-loft, high-resilient technical insulation for extraordinary warmth. Because it is made from unique patented hollow-core, three-dimensional crimp having a helical configuration, it provides superior loft, compactness, and exceptional resiliency. An example of a sleeping bag with this insulation is: Slumberjack – Telluride, Long +30F/-1C.

Polarguard HV

is a high-performance insulation made of high-void, continuous-length polyester filaments that are bonded into a batting of multiple layers. Because it is a continuous filament, Polarguard HV does not shift, clump, or separate. An example of a sleeping bag with this insulation is: Coleman Exponent – Boulder Ridge +20F/-7C.

Polarguard 3D

is a high performance insulation produced from continuous filament in the same manner but finer than Polarguard HV. This makes Polarguard 3D softer, more compressible and stronger while providing great insulating value and loft. Examples of sleeping bags with this insulation are: Sierra Designs – Paul Bunyan, Long +10F/-12C and Sierra Designs – Rosa, Regular +20F/-7C – Women’s sleeping bag.

Polarguard Delta

continuous filament polyester is the newest member of the Polarguard family. Polarguard Delta combines a super void cross section with modified batt formation. The larger void creates higher loft with less weight, making it warmer, yet lighter. An example of a sleeping bag with this insulation is: Sierra Designs – LX, Regular +45F/+7C.

Down

is a time honored, expedition proven natural insulation made of very small extremely light down plumules found next to the skin of geese. For its weight, down has an exceptional ability to trap air, making it the most efficient warmth to weight insulation available. Examples of sleeping bags with this insulation are: Kelty – Light Year Down, Long +15F/-9C and The Backside – Blue Ice -50F/-46C (750 Down).

ThermoTech

exclusive to Coleman, is made of solid-core fibers and is soft and lofty with good thermal retention, properties to keep campers warm. Generally used for mild condition bags, this insulation keeps campers snug on cool summer nights. Made of 100 percent polyester fibers, which are non-allergenic, machine washable, and odorless. Examples of sleeping bags with this insulation are: Coleman for Kids – Journey Junior +40F/+4C and Coleman for Kids – Voyager +40F/+4C.

Coletherm

also exclusive to Coleman, is a hollow-core fiber, allowing for greater loft (a measure of the amount of space the insulation occupies and the amount of air the insulation can trap). The hollow-core fibers create pockets of air that serve as an extra barrier between the sleeper and the environment, maximizing thermal efficiency. Made of 100 percent polyester fibers, which are non-allergenic, machine washable, and odorless. An example of a sleeping bag with this insulation is: Coleman Exponent – Big Basin +0F/-18C.

Buckloft

is a fine denier, solid core polyester fiber. This combination offers outstanding warmth with extra loft. An example of a sleeping bag with this insulation is: Slumberjack – Kenai +0F/-18C.

Buckloft HQ

is a synthetic fiber composed of a 25% siliconized, hollow-core polyester fiber joined with a 75% solid core polyester fiber. This combination offers great warmth and comfort. An example of a sleeping bag with this insulation is: Slumberjack – Chaparral -30F/-34C.

Kelty CloudLoft

is Kelty’s affordable and durable branded synthetic fill insulation. The blend of solid core and hollow core fibers trap heat efficiently and provide excellent loft and comfort. Cloudloft is used in Kelty’s most value-oriented mummy and rectangular bags. An example of a sleeping bag with this insulation is: Kelty – Mistral, Long +20F/-7C.

About the author:

Jimmy is author, owner, and publisher of http://www.allsleepingbags. com

AllSleepingBags.com – all sleeping bags, all styles, all temperatures, all occasions

Written By: Jimmy Zambrano

Consistent Sleeping Bag Ratings

No matter what temperature a bag is rated for, under any system of testing, it won’t necessarily keep you warm to that temperature. We can’t solve the problem of people having different metabolisms and bodies. A particular bag might be good for one person down to 20 degrees, while for another it is only good to 40 degrees. You generally can figure out if you are a cold or a warm sleeper, but that doesn’t help if you don’t know whether a bag is rated too high or too low.

You need to know that if a bag says 30 degrees it will keep you warmer than one that says 40 degrees. With that, even if you add or subtract 10 or 20 degrees for your personal tastes, you can still figure out which bag is the warmer one. How do we get this consistency?

Begin testing with any sleeping bag, by putting a bag of water in it that is human-sized, weighing perhaps 160 pounds. Have three standard sizes for small, regular and large sleeping bags. Always start with the water temperature at 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and measure how long before it drops to 90 degrees. External air temperature has to always be the same too, whther it is 60 degrees or 40.

The numbers are not crucial. What’s important here is that once the standards are chosen, every bag is tested the same way, with the same conditions (even the temperature and material of the testing platform would have to be the same). This is what will give consistency to the sleeping bag ratings for warmth.

Now, if a bag rated to 40 degrees keeps the water above 90 for two hours, a bag rated for 30 would obviously have to keep it above 90 degrees for a longer time. Pegging heat-retention times to specific temperature ratings would be a bit tricky at first. However, once done, each new bag on the market could be submitted to the testing and quickly given a consistent rating. We would know that a lower rating would always mean a warmer bag, degree-by-degree. We could even have old bags tested to see if it is time to replace them.

Manufacturer Acceptance?

Would manufacturers pay a private testing company to have their bags rated? Some, at first, because it would be a an advantage for those companies who are already conservative in their temperature ratings. They would have “proof” that the bags are even warmer than they were claiming. Then, eventually, all bag makers would feel some motivation to have their sleeping bags tested, because consumers would be wary about buying ones that weren’t tested.

I hope someone will take this idea and run with it. An existing consumer rating company, like Consumer Reports, could do this on their own and report the results. Even if they listed the bags without temperature ratings, but in absolute order by which held the heat in the best, it would be very useful. One could look at the list and if their current bag kept them warm to 25 degrees, they would know that any bag higher on the list would be warmer. Isn’t it time for consistent sleeping bag ratings?

About the author:

Steve Gillman is a long-time advocate of lightweight backpacking. His tips, photos, gear recommendations and a free book can be found at http://www.TheUltraligh tBackpackingSite.com

Written By: Steve Gillman

How do you find the right sleeping bag? Any quality outdoor sleeping bag for kids should be light (we recommend 2.5 pounds or less for most cases), durable, and easily washed. Once you are sure a kids sleeping bag meets these qualifications, there are two additional factors to consider. How tall is your child, and how cold is your climate?

In mild climates, most kids will do well in a basic, light sum mer kids sleeping bag. Make sure to find one under 2.5 pounds, there is no excuse for a sleeping bag like this to be heavy. A summer sleeping bag will keep most children comfortable when nights dip down into the 45F range, and they’ll survive the occasional colder night as well.

For kids who camp in cooler conditions, the right bag is a more important choice. In temperatures below 40F, a quality sleeping bag is an essential piece of safety gear. A sleeping bag rated to 20F or 30F is a good place to start, but there are several more things to consider.

The first consideration is to find a bag sized correctly for your child. For kids under four feet tall, a regular kids sleeping bag (or adult bag) will be much too large. In cooler weather, your child won’t be able to keep the air space in a larger sleeping bag warm, no matter what the supposed temperature rating is. Also remember that smaller children can get cold easily, even if they normally feel like little heaters when they sleep. Properly sized sma ll kids sleeping bags will keep them far more comfortable and happy in most weather conditions.

For larger kids, the important factor in finding a good three season sleeping bag is quality of construction. You want to find a bag made by a reputable outdoor manufacturer, like Marmot, Sierra Designs, Big Agnes, or NorthFace. These brands produce quality kids sleeping bags that share features with their adult bags – draft collars, high quality stitching, well functioning zippers, etc.

About the author:

Debora Geary is the owner of an online store featuring a wide selection of kid sleeping bags.

Written By: Debora Geary