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Sleeping bags, mats and blankets
I use sleeping bags in wintertime, spring and fall. In summer I mostly use a blanket, wool or fleece, as it is often enough.
Sleeping bags comes in a variety of brands and sorts. I only have three and have used these for the last 10-15 years so I am no guru of sleeping bags. I’m sure new technology has produced better sleeping bags than mine.
They are maybe old and maybe not as good as they once were, but I’m satisfied with the two I have.
Two are Ajungilac, Norwegian made sleeping bags (now a Swiss firm I think). The models are Igloo and Tyin Arctic (pictures below).
The Igloo sleeping bag I use mostly in spring and autumn. I have used it in winter too but it is a little too cold for the coldest outings (about -30 deg. Celsius).
The Tyin Arcticmodel is on the other hand a good 3 seasons bag (autumn, winter, spring), but much too warm for the summer.
Both these bags are mummy type with closure (elastic) at the neck and face. This is a must in winter bags. No cold comes in and “no” warm air leeks out.
The igloo sleeping bag has full zipper but the arctic has a zipper third its length to minimize leaking of warm air. Both bags are delivered with compression bags (also seen in pic above). These are important if you don’t want fill your rucksack with your sleeping bag.
The third bag I own is a Norwegian army sleeping bag. I recon it is close to the Ajungilac Igloo in temperature rating. It is made of canvas and is rolled up rather than stuffed. It is heavier and bulkier than the Ajungilacs but is a bomb proof sleeping bag.
Reason I own it is that it was really cheap. It is my least used sleeping bag.
If you don’t have a sleeping bag a wool blanket could be a substitute.
The wool blankets I use are old army issues. They are both cheap and rugged.
I tend to use them only in summer as they are not as warm as sleeping bags. One could also question the use of them in summer as they are almost as heavy as my sleeping bags.
But I like them because they are more versatile in that one could use them as a cloak, sitting around the fire or when fishing. Besides I like the spacious feeling lying under a blanket.
I also use a fleece blanket sometimes, because it is easy to compress and very light. It is really an inner layer for a sleeping bag and has a full length zipper. This blanket is however much colder than the woollen ones, and less wind proof.
I’ve not tried a lot of sleeping mats. I’m fairly conservative, and I tend to use the things I know works.
That is one of the reasons my closed cell foam mat from Artiach is still in use. The mat is 12mm thick. Plenty thick enough to insulate me from the cold ground, at least for three of the seasons. For winter use it is a tad too thin, but I still use it.
I have some cheap self inflating mats (5cm thick, no brand), but only use them when car camping because they are heavier than my closed cell mat.
I know most people swear by them and I’m sure the Therm-A-Rests are very nice and comfortable.
But I use my foam mat in many outdoor situations, not only to sleep on, and I have dropped my knife on it, burnt holes in it and literally beaten the crap out of it. I really want to see an inflatable mat stand up to that kind of abuse and still work.
Besides, my father who uses a thermarest claims it is cold in winter. He uses a closed cell foam mat beneath it. He has also managed to puncture it on one occasion.
In early fall of 2010 I was canoeing with a friend. He had bought a new Thermarest the day before we took of. The thermarest punctured on day two and he had a miserable night.
The thermarests also cost much more than a closed cell mat.
I have no doubt. My next sleeping mat will be a closed cell foam mat.
A poncho could also be a good makeshift sleeping mat. Fill it with grass or ferns and button it up. This will make a good dry bed.
Lying directly on grass or fresh ferns will make your sleeping bag or your clothes damp.
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