Mummy- Provides more warmth for cold conditions and is more compact/lighter when packed. The narrow cut and insulated hood means less air for your body to heat. This bag is wide at shoulders and narrows down to feet. The drawback is it restricts movement. That said Marmot Sawtooth sleeping bag is a good light 3-season 15 Degree down sleeping bag ideal for backpacking.

Rectangular- These sleeping bags are ideal for campground camping because they give you more room to move around in. They're not suited for winter due to larger area you have to heat and open top design. This is best design for double sleeping bags, usually you can just zip two of same kind together. Not for weight conscious backpacking and hiking gear enthusiasts.

Semi-Rectangular- A combination of mummy and rectangular sleeping bags this hybrid splits middle between room to move and warmth.

Comfort Ratings- The "comfort rating" is minimum temperature that a sleeping bag is designed for. Of course this is just an approximation as people tolerate temperature differently. If in doubt go...

If you'd like more information on sleeping bags click here for rest of article. You may also want to take a look at this related article on how to pick a great camping tent.

Look for camping cookware with rounded corners/edges to help reduce hot-spots and for ease of cleaning.

Remember that most camping cookware handles can get hot so bring something you can use to protect your hands. For quicker boiling and heating look for camping cookware with black colored bottoms because it will absorb heat better and save you some fuel.

Backpackers: One liter pots are a good size for two people who don't eat much, if you and you're buddy have a normal appetite you'll want to use a 1.5 liter pot. A two liter should supply about three hikers with a bigger appetite each with a good-size meal. If you're in a bigger group you'll want to bump up size.

There are several different types of camping cookware and they have different advantages and disadvantages...

Aluminum pans and cookware: Advantages: Lightweight, heat quickly, and cheap. Disadvantages: Possible link to Alzheimer's, food has a tendency to stick, hot spot heating can easily burn food so you'll want to stir it, hard to clean, can taste bad, pans can get bent/dinged easily, and aluminum has a tendency to react with foods. I've seen tomato sauce eat through...

If you'd like more information on camping cookware please click here for whole article. You may also want to take a look at this related article on how to pick best camping stove for your use.