as insulation . Often neglected , insulation should be considered more important than cushioning , without it your body temperature will drop regardless of the sleeping bag or blankets and before long your overall sleep experience will deteriorate .
Sleeping pads come in three basic configurations : air pad , self-inflating , and closed cell foam .
Closed cell foam pads are often described as yoga mats , thin dense foam that can be rolled or folder . These pads are lightweight and cheap , and generally extremely durable however , offer little protection against the cold of the ground , and whilst bulky provided little in the way of cushioning and comfort .
Self-Inflating pads offer a combination of open cell foam insulation as well as air . With the valve opened the foam expands and the air is drawn in . The combination of foam and air offers great insulation properties and increased cushioning and comfort . Self-inflating pads come in varied sizes , shapes and thicknesses allowing for personal choice and comfort to be explored however selfinflating pads tend to be more expensive and quite bulky and heavy when packed .
Air pads are available in many sizes and shapes , from lightweight hiking pads to those more at home in a glamping situation . Most of the quality products tend to include an insulation layer or reflector , providing protection from a cold ground . The advantages of air pads are that they are generally the most comfortable of all pads with a degree of controlled firmness level . They ’ re also the most lightweight of all pads , and certainly the most compact when packed . Generally , the lighter they are the more expensive they become . A couple of negatives to consider are that they can be easily punctured or torn , although repairs are easy , even on the road and there ’ s always a chance that mould or bacteria can build up inside the mattress due to moisture in the air being used to fill the cavity . This can be somewhat overcome by using a hand pump .
When considering a sleeping pad , always try to get one with a higher ‘ R ’ rating meaning it will insulate against the cold the best . If you want to purchase cheap then consider using a blanket or picnic rug under the pad to offer a level of insulation .
More important , or at least as important , is a quality sleeping bag .
Like a pad , there ’ s a multitude of things to consider ; size , shape , weather , expected use and even how you sleep . But most important would be , don ’ t buy cheap .
Almost 20 years ago , the European Committee for Standardisation ( CEN ) created the EN13537 standard for sleeping bags and to this day remains the only industry standard for this area . To achieve a rating of EN13537 a sleeping bag must conform to several requirements that test it ’ s temperature capabilities that help customers decide what bag will suit their needs .
The European Committee for Standardisation recognised that people are different however , the ease of uniformity based their tests on similar analogues that looked like this : Males – 25 years old , 173 centimetres tall and a weight of 73 kilograms . Females – 25 , 160cm tall and weighing 60kg . These are basic examples yet do provide a good guide to start with .
Things that need to be considered are what is the majority of your camping or sleeping ? How good is your tent ? And how do you sleep ( hot or cold )?
Look at the limit rating of the bag , most will show an upper and lower limit which are based on the temperature outside of the bag . Consider the fill , is it natural goose ( or duck ) down or synthetic fibres . Both have pros and cons which depend greatly on the situation and camping style .
If the bag is filled with down , consider what its ‘ fill power ’ rating is . This is a number either 500 , 600 or 800 and the higher the rating means that it generally has a good temperature rating without the need for excessive fill , it will be lighter and better suited towards bike travel .
For the most part , down bags will pack smaller and have the best insulating properties however , when wet , down , can be a real problem , taking much longer to dry . Down is also harder to keep clean and while lasting longer than the manmade fibres is generally much more expensive .
If considering a synthetic bag , it will come at the cost of weight , a warmer synthetic bag means much more weight .
The size and shape of a sleeping bag will also determine who it keeps warm and what rating it has been given .
Rectangular bags afford the most room making them a great choice for sleepers who move around a lot in their sleep . These bags are perfect for spring or summer camping and whilst thinner they take up the greatest space when packed due to their size . Rectangular bags often don ’ t come with a hood yet do allow for the bag to be opened to create a blanket or doona for warmer nights .
Mummy bags , yeah , that ’ s what they ’ re called and get their name from , well , you guessed it , their Egyptian mummy shape , narrowing at the foot well and reducing the overall mass . Mummy bags are often the go to bag for hikers so are perfect for bike travellers . Mummy bags tend to always have a hood that can be drawn tight further reducing heat loss throughout a night , many will also feature a durable water repellent shell coating to protect against damp and condensation .
A perfect midpoint between the two aforementioned
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