Continued from page 1
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.
Marc learned about quality gear when his tent flooded forcing him to sleep in his tiny 2-seat Honda CRX. His hiking equipment & camping gear guides & reviews save you time & money. Subscribe to his camping & hiking newsletter & get the most usable info. FREE! © Marc Wiltse. Reprint permission if author, copyright, links & this notice are intact.