Is it time to buy a new sleeping bag? If so, I strongly recommend that you take into account the temperature ranges most sleeping bags have available and buy accordingly. Check a few weather forecasts of where you are going to get an idea of what to expect, then buy a sleeping bag that works to 20 degrees below that.
A couple of years ago, I was preparing for a 2 day boat trip to the 1000 Islands. After shopping around all Summer, my husband and I found a boat in late October which suited our needs. We decided to drive the boat back home down river rather than trailer it to save some money, but the boat had no heater.
So, how to keep warm? I did not feel like bringing sheets and blankets, so warm sleeping bags seemed logical. Knowing it might get chilly at night, I checked a few weather sites and determined 45ish would be the low. So, on-line I went to find SO much information and so many decisions to make, it all became a blur.
Overloaded with information, I ended up choosing a pretty blue sleeping bag which matched the color of our new boat. It was made by Mountain Hardwear, was good to 50F and was in my price range. Too bad I didn't look around a little more, I would have noticed other sleeping bags in the same price range which were good to lower temperatures.
But no, I went with color and completely regretted the decision that night. Arriving at the marina to pick up our boat in the early morning, the temperature was in the mid 60s and we enjoyed a lovely day cruise down river. We ended up on one of our favorite islands near Brockville, Ontario and had a nice meal just as the sun was setting.
Darkness came early and we knew we'd have an early start, so after a quick tour of the island to let our dog do his business, we made our beds in the aft cabin and were asleep by 10:00 p.m. A few hours after midnight, our dog woke me up and when my feet touched the floor, it felt like there was ice in the cabin!
Unfortunately for me, the bed was too small for 3, so I couldn't even enjoy the warmth of my dog next to me. I quickly dove back into my sleeping bag, but it was too late. My feet were already numb and they didn't seem to warm up all night.
The next morning we heard on our radio that temperatures had dropped to 25 overnight! What a surprise, the weathermen got it wrong. So please take my advice and learn from my mistakes - when deciding on which sleeping bag to buy, get one that works to at least 10 degrees lower than you think you may need. You'll be happy you did!
A couple of years ago, I was preparing for a 2 day boat trip to the 1000 Islands. After shopping around all Summer, my husband and I found a boat in late October which suited our needs. We decided to drive the boat back home down river rather than trailer it to save some money, but the boat had no heater.
So, how to keep warm? I did not feel like bringing sheets and blankets, so warm sleeping bags seemed logical. Knowing it might get chilly at night, I checked a few weather sites and determined 45ish would be the low. So, on-line I went to find SO much information and so many decisions to make, it all became a blur.
Overloaded with information, I ended up choosing a pretty blue sleeping bag which matched the color of our new boat. It was made by Mountain Hardwear, was good to 50F and was in my price range. Too bad I didn't look around a little more, I would have noticed other sleeping bags in the same price range which were good to lower temperatures.
But no, I went with color and completely regretted the decision that night. Arriving at the marina to pick up our boat in the early morning, the temperature was in the mid 60s and we enjoyed a lovely day cruise down river. We ended up on one of our favorite islands near Brockville, Ontario and had a nice meal just as the sun was setting.
Darkness came early and we knew we'd have an early start, so after a quick tour of the island to let our dog do his business, we made our beds in the aft cabin and were asleep by 10:00 p.m. A few hours after midnight, our dog woke me up and when my feet touched the floor, it felt like there was ice in the cabin!
Unfortunately for me, the bed was too small for 3, so I couldn't even enjoy the warmth of my dog next to me. I quickly dove back into my sleeping bag, but it was too late. My feet were already numb and they didn't seem to warm up all night.
The next morning we heard on our radio that temperatures had dropped to 25 overnight! What a surprise, the weathermen got it wrong. So please take my advice and learn from my mistakes - when deciding on which sleeping bag to buy, get one that works to at least 10 degrees lower than you think you may need. You'll be happy you did!
About the Author:
Dale Gatehouse is a professional writer who loves boating and camping with her family. To visit her preferred place to purchase down sleeping bags, visit Top Down Sleeping Bags.
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