camping backpack with sleeping bag image
I'm traveling to Indonesia this January and planning on doing some camping. I'm taking my tent with me but do I also need a sleeping bag? I already have one but it would be easier to not carry it around backpacking.
Thanks
Answer
When I've traveled in tropical areas I use a sleep-sheet rather than a sleeping bag. This is like a double sheet (mine is a poly/cotton blend) that is folded ove and stiched across the bottom and halfway up one side, with a pocket at the top to insert a pillow. CampMor's online catalog has about a dozen different models, most under $30
http://www.campmor.com
I also carry a very lightweight polyester fleece sleeping bag of the same design (also available at Campmor for around $20 to $30). This is handy for traveling because you can open it out flat to use as a regular bed blanket or a beach mat, even as a bath towel in a pinch.
Both of these roll up very small. The sleep-sheet is less than the size of a can of soda and I can carry it in my purse or daypack. The fleece blanket/sleeping bag rolls up about the size of a loaf of bread. The sleep-sheet is handy when you sleep in a hotel, too -- I don't trust the cleanliness of the beds in a lot of cheap places so I use the sleep-sheet and my travel blanket on top of the hotel bed so I don't have to contact their bedding.
On hot nights camping I lie on top of the fleece bag with my body inside the sleep-sheet. If I wake up cold in the middle of the night I crawl inside the fleece bag or pull it up over me and I'm fine.
Much easier to carry and to keep clean than a sleeping bag and more versatile in a range of temperature conditions.
Campmor also sells nylon or Goretex bivouac sacks that go over your bag, including some that have light tent poles and mosquito netting over the head area. One of those would be a good idea for traveling in Indonesia if you plan on sleeping outdoors without a tent.
When I've traveled in tropical areas I use a sleep-sheet rather than a sleeping bag. This is like a double sheet (mine is a poly/cotton blend) that is folded ove and stiched across the bottom and halfway up one side, with a pocket at the top to insert a pillow. CampMor's online catalog has about a dozen different models, most under $30
http://www.campmor.com
I also carry a very lightweight polyester fleece sleeping bag of the same design (also available at Campmor for around $20 to $30). This is handy for traveling because you can open it out flat to use as a regular bed blanket or a beach mat, even as a bath towel in a pinch.
Both of these roll up very small. The sleep-sheet is less than the size of a can of soda and I can carry it in my purse or daypack. The fleece blanket/sleeping bag rolls up about the size of a loaf of bread. The sleep-sheet is handy when you sleep in a hotel, too -- I don't trust the cleanliness of the beds in a lot of cheap places so I use the sleep-sheet and my travel blanket on top of the hotel bed so I don't have to contact their bedding.
On hot nights camping I lie on top of the fleece bag with my body inside the sleep-sheet. If I wake up cold in the middle of the night I crawl inside the fleece bag or pull it up over me and I'm fine.
Much easier to carry and to keep clean than a sleeping bag and more versatile in a range of temperature conditions.
Campmor also sells nylon or Goretex bivouac sacks that go over your bag, including some that have light tent poles and mosquito netting over the head area. One of those would be a good idea for traveling in Indonesia if you plan on sleeping outdoors without a tent.
What is the best sleeping bag to get for camping in the Rocky Mountains?
elizabeth
Should I get a cold weather sleeping bag, or warm weather if I am camping in the summer months? Are higher altitudes colder even in the summer?
Specifically the Colorado area, in a designated campsite in Rocky Mountain National Park. Nothing too wild here (I'm a beginner, lol)...I won't be hiking to the campsite. Thank you for the information, guys!
Answer
Here is my opinion. others will disagree, but I don't care. I have lots of experience and I'm an independent old fart. First, Down is warmer than any other insulation. It lasts longer and compresses better. In modern tents you will not have an issue keeping it dry. New fabrics are more water resistant than older shells. So don't believe those critics that say down isn't good because it looses it's insulaation value when wet. In well over 40 years of backpacking and climbing in Washington, Alaska and California I have managed to keep my down dry and am loving it. Next, get a bag that will work for at least three seasons. Next, a limit of 2.2 pounds (1000grams) is maximum you need or want to carry. If price is an issue you might check the REI down Kilo bag. I don't own one, but the reviews are quite good. If price isn't an issue check out Marmot and Western Mountaineering brands. Don't pay much attention to temp. ratings, as they vary by manufacturer. Customer reviews are a better way to evaluate bags. If you purchase quality it will last a long time and you will never regret it when you climb into your comfy bag on a cold night.
Here is my opinion. others will disagree, but I don't care. I have lots of experience and I'm an independent old fart. First, Down is warmer than any other insulation. It lasts longer and compresses better. In modern tents you will not have an issue keeping it dry. New fabrics are more water resistant than older shells. So don't believe those critics that say down isn't good because it looses it's insulaation value when wet. In well over 40 years of backpacking and climbing in Washington, Alaska and California I have managed to keep my down dry and am loving it. Next, get a bag that will work for at least three seasons. Next, a limit of 2.2 pounds (1000grams) is maximum you need or want to carry. If price is an issue you might check the REI down Kilo bag. I don't own one, but the reviews are quite good. If price isn't an issue check out Marmot and Western Mountaineering brands. Don't pay much attention to temp. ratings, as they vary by manufacturer. Customer reviews are a better way to evaluate bags. If you purchase quality it will last a long time and you will never regret it when you climb into your comfy bag on a cold night.
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Title Post: Do I need a sleeping bag when camping in Indonesia?
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Rating: 95% based on 981 ratings. 4,6 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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