Copyright © 2005 by Alan M. Marcum. All rights reserved. Permission granted for Scouting units to copy or use this material, in whole or in part, so long as attribution is given. Others please contact the author. Sleeping Comfortably: Sleeping Bags and Sleeping Pads Alan M. Marcum Asst. Scoutmaster, Troop 14

Roundtable - December, 2005Comfie SleepingSlide 1 The Plan General info Broad recommendations Specifics Practical stuff

Roundtable - December, 2005Comfie SleepingSlide 2 Purpose of Bag and Pad Keep you warm Create dead air above Create dead air around Separate from ground below Cushioning

Roundtable - December, 2005Comfie SleepingSlide 3 General Categories Season-based (summer, 3-season, winter) Fill type (down, synthetic) Shape (mummy, rectangular, semi-) Design purpose (car camping, ultralight, etc.)

Roundtable - December, 2005Comfie SleepingSlide 4 Comfort Ratings Approximate minimum comfortable temperature Not an absolute Different methods used by different companies Generally: 40ºF bag summer only 15º–30ºF three-season 0ºF (some say – 20ºF) for winter

Roundtable - December, 2005Comfie SleepingSlide 5 Bag Terminology Shell Shape Mummy Semi-mummy Rectangular Hood, Draft tube, draft collar Baffles Loft Fill power

Roundtable - December, 2005Comfie SleepingSlide 6 Recommendations for Youth Synthetic Three-season Winter bag too warm: uncomfortable, clammy Summer-only bag not warm enough Mummy Full-featured (i.e., not ultralight) Reasonable zipper Hood Draft tube Be sensible!

Roundtable - December, 2005Comfie SleepingSlide 7 Scout’s First Bag: Examples BagRatingWeightPrice* Slumberjack Big Scout+30°F3#0$45 Kelty Light Year 3D+25°F2#6$100 REI Volcano Jr.+15°F2#9$90 ALPS Crescent Lake+20°F3#12$60 TNF Tigger+20°F2#5$70 ALPS Clearwater+20°F3#0$70 *Price is non-discounted sample retail

Roundtable - December, 2005Comfie SleepingSlide 8 Purchasing Pads for Youth Be sensible! Best bets: solid foam Closed-cell foam (blue Ensolite ® ) Ridged dense foam Waffle pads Have the boy try it out in the store Kids often need less padding than adults Be sure the user will be comfie Self-inflating pads need more care

Roundtable - December, 2005Comfie SleepingSlide 9 Bags, Pads for Women Shorter Broader in the hips Slightly more insulation Insulation distributed for typical cold spots

Roundtable - December, 2005Comfie SleepingSlide 10 New Technology Shell fabrics: Pertex ®, taffeta, ripstop, GOR- TEX ® Insulators Down: age-old; recently higher fills (e.g., 800 and 900 in 3 /oz) Innumerable synthetics: Polarguard, Quallofil, Cloudloft, PrimaLoft Semi-elastic thread Zippers (self-healing, plastic, etc.)

Roundtable - December, 2005Comfie SleepingSlide 11 Weight Down is lightest Shell affects weight Features affect weight Zipper length Pillow pocket Draft collar Typically, warmer is heavier

Roundtable - December, 2005Comfie SleepingSlide 12 Fills and Loft Fill: the insulating stuff inside Loft: insulation volume (thickness) Loft insulates It’s the loft It’s not the weight It’s not the fill material It’s not the baffles It’s the loft

Roundtable - December, 2005Comfie SleepingSlide 13 Down Typical: 600 in³/oz High-end: 800 or 900 in³/oz Light; compresses well Does not insulate when wet Expensive

Roundtable - December, 2005Comfie SleepingSlide 14 Synthetics Variety Hollofil, Quallofil: heavy, bulky Polarguard: bulky, not so heavy Thinsulate Lite Loft, MicroLoft, Primaloft, Thermolite: closing in on down; less expensive Newest relatively light, compress fairly well Insulates when wet Low to moderate cost (less than down)

Roundtable - December, 2005Comfie SleepingSlide 15 Storing and Cleaning Store bag in large storage sack Do not store in its stuff sack! Ensure it’s dry Ensure it’s clean Store self-inflating pad inflated and unrolled Clean bags Use only gentle soap By hand or in front loader (no agitator) Lift and carry carefully! Tumble dry, very low heat, with clean tennis ball

Roundtable - December, 2005Comfie SleepingSlide 16 Bag and Pad Emergencies Rip in shell Soaking wet bag Hole in self-inflating pad

Roundtable - December, 2005Comfie SleepingSlide 17 Old Wives’ Tales Don’t wear extra clothes to bed: you’ll be warmer without them Applies to the damp (even slightly damp) clothes you’ve been in all day Insulation is insulation If you’re cold, put on a dry shirt Consider sleeping in a watch cap (keep that head warm!)

Roundtable - December, 2005Comfie SleepingSlide 18 OWTs (cont) You don’t need a pad Warmth: uncompressible insulation Comfort: cushions! You don’t need a tent Indeed, you don’t, but you might want one Warmth Weather protection (precipitation, wind, dust) Insect protection

Roundtable - December, 2005Comfie SleepingSlide 19 Show & Tell