Archive for the ‘Sleeping Bags’ Category
Some of my friends call me crazy for going on regular winter camping trips, but I have a special term reserved for them: wimps. While I still love traveling to national parks and wilderness destinations during the summer, I don’t relish the process of dealing with huge crowds of tourists. In winter, the landscape is completely different, and it’s just me and a few of my closest buddies roughing it in the woods.
Needless to say, the supplies and equipment necessary for winter camping are a bit different. It helps to shop for Coleman sleeping bags with a third-party temperature rating; I prefer those that are rated below 32 degrees as it can get downright frigid in the forest at night. Beyond that, look into portable propane heaters and tents that are well sealed against the elements.
It’s important to scout out the climate and weather conditions for a camping trip well ahead of time, but altitude is a consideration that often goes overlooked. That’s unfortunate because hikers are drawn to the splendid vistas and picturesque scenery unique to mountainous regions. In a high-altitude camping situation, one needs to bring a suitable set of backpacking supplies.
Obviously a weather-resistant backpacking tent is the first and most important thing to bring, but a sleeping bag is close behind. Nights cool down quickly in the mountains, so you’ll want to have a cold-rated sleeping bag. Sleeping bags stuffed with down or a comparable synthetic material work best. Most bags will advertise their weather rating right on the packaging, but you can also get an idea by checking the thickness of the material.
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