Biking Hiking with Kids

I was going though the closet to clean house of some of my camping/backpacking stuff and came across my old down mummy sleeping bag. It sure brought back memories.

It’s a Sierra Designs. I think it was one of the Ultralight models and was rated as a 4 season sleeping bag. The bag has goose down insulation with a rip stop but non-waterproof shell.

The bag is over 30 years old. The goose down’s fill power is still pretty good. The last time I used the bag on an actual backpacking trip was in late August of 1982 or so, on a five nights, hut-to-hut trip in the White Mountains in New Hampshire. The sleeping bag is light, warm and compact when stuffed in its stuff sack. … And the color is nice, too, if I do say so.

When I was shopping for a sleeping bag for the first time, I had to decide on between getting a goose down fill or synthetic fill bag. That is still a major consideration today.

Back when I brought the bag, down was the way to go. Synthetic fill sleeping bags were just coming out but they were bulky and heavy and not very convenient for light overnight backpacking trips.

Now that I don’t go backpacking anymore, the goose down sleeping bag is really not practical. I have been using a Wal-Mart or Target brand cheap sleeping bag for a few years now and it serves me fine. But my sons have outgrown their Wal-Mart brand youth sleeping bags so its time for me to shop for new sleeping bags for them.

I can see the justification for spending money on a lightweight down sleeping bag for backpacking, but buying one for my sons, 9 and 12, for car camping is another matter. Just like every thing I buy them at their age, the things have to last at least couple of year from being used by kids, until the kids out grow them. Down sleeping bags are expensive, so I don’t want to spend too much money on bags that they will out grow in a few years, or they won’t use because they lose interest in camping. The sleeping bags don’t have to be top be top of the line, or anyway near it, light or compact, as long as they will withstand rough treatment, comfortable and keep them wear during cold summer nights.

Not only are synthetic fill sleeping bags less expensive than down fill bags, they are more durability, hypoallergenic, water resistant and provides insulation even when wet and compressed, dries quickly when wet, and machine washable and dryable. Down is useless and provide no insulation when wet, and takes a very long time to air or sun dry. Down is also useless when compressed so that you need to use a good insulation mat between the bag and the ground.

Synthetic fill sleeping bags are bulkier, heavier and less compact than down bags. Over the long term, synthetic fibers break down regardless of how well you take care of them. But that should be a concern for a bag that you only expect to use for couple of years. Synthetic fill also tend to trap moisture, unlike down which wicks body moisture to the outside of the bag and allows it to evaporate. Moisture wicking goes a long way in keeping you comfortable during the night if you camp in humid climate. But bags usually come with enough adjustments to let you control ventilation inside the bag.

So here is a quick rundown of what I would be looking for in synthetic filled kids’ sleeping bags for my two sons.

Comfort – When it comes to selecting a sleeping bag for kids, or anything for that matter, comfort is a prime consideration. I won’t need anything more than a 3 season sleeping bag. I want to make sure to get a bag that is roomy enough for my son to shift around during sleep; a bag with zippers that can be unzipped from the foot end and the head end to allow control of ventilation and humidity inside the bag; a bag with a hood or a draft tube to give added warmth and keep out drafts; and a bag that has extra insulation on the bottom to keep the back warmer.

Shape of the bag – For my sons, I would not consider mummy sleeping bags. While a mummy sleeping bag would provide additional protection from the elements but may be too constricting and claustrophobic for most kids. I know my kids move around quite a bit when they sleep and a mummy bag would be ripped to pieces in no time at all. I would look for rectangular sleeping bags with hoods or draft tube or collar to make sure they stay warm and keep out drafts.
Allergies – Look for a bag that is hypoallergenic. While almost all synthetic sleeping bags are specifically made to be hypoallergenic, don’t assume.

Durability – Most sleeping bags made for kids are usually constructed extra durable with tougher materials and extra stitching. But I would closely examine how the sleeping bag is constructed before buying. I wouldn’t shy away from store brands but I would check the workmanship of the bag before buying it.
Weight and Bulkiness – For car camping use, bulk and weight of kid sleeping bags are not considerations.

Cost - This is going to the final deciding factor for me. There are significant price differences between top synthetic sleeping bags and cheap bags. I don’t rule out buying the cheapest or least expensive bag if the workmanship is acceptable.

I will shop around to find the best deals since I still have a few months before I can seriously think about going camping in the Northeast of the United States of America.