DAVE'S THOUGHTS ON SLEEPING BAGS
================================

In buying a sleeping bag, the most obvious decisions 
will be:
+ How warm
+ Down or Synthetic
+ Shell material

Here are some loose thoughts......

+ If you can afford it, get separate summer and winter 
bags.  IMO, 0f bags are too heavy for summer use and 
not heavy enough for New England winters.

+ The new top dog of the synthetic game seems to be
the new Polargaurd 3D.  

+ Higher quality down seems to be more available.
Outrageous claims of 800ci fill power are being made
these days.

+ I've been burned by synthetic bags loosing loft
in 2 or 3 seasons.  Typically this is considered
normal life span and not covered by warranties.  
I carry down bags now because of this.

+ Beware of the law of diminishing returns, especially
for down bags.  Some folks will insist that only
Feathered Friends or Western Mountaineering bags
are the only bag$ for $eriou$ enthu$ia$t$. Next
tier down (ahem) is Marmot, Mountain Hardware 
and the like.  TNF comes after them along with
EMS.  Personally, I don't like REI products and
would rate them along with SlumberJack or Campmor stuff.
At every level, for the same warmth you trade $$s to shed
ounces. 

+ GoreTex shells are out, and DryLoft shells are in.
GoreTex is not breathable enough.  Micro-denier nylon
like VersaTech will also add some water resistance for
less bucks.  Others advocate relying on Bivy sacks, 
even inside of tents.  

+ If you like zealotry with your gear (pro or con), point 
Google to "Stephenson’s Warmlite" and "Wiggy's".  Stephenson’s
Warmlite produces down sleeping bags with built in vapor-barrier
linings and an integrated inflatable down sleeping pad. Wiggy's
produces synthetic sleeping bags and claims that their bags 
miraculously retain their loft.  Some folks claim that their
Wiggy's bags are retaining their loft.  Others claim that the
bags have lost their loft at the same rate as other synthetic
bags. You've been warned.

+ At this point, I send most of my friends to EMS
or L.L. Bean.  I'm pretty impressed for the quality/price 
value of their stuff for most folks.  


COPYRIGHT BY DAVID MANN, 2003