GUIDES

Sleeping Pad vs Air Mattress

December 29, 2019 by Ricky Leave a Comment

Sleeping is extremely important if you want a fun, relaxing camping trip. In order to sleep well and comfortable, you need to choose the proper gear. If you want to know the differences between “Sleeping Pad vs Air Mattress” and if you wonder which one is the best? You should know that when it comes to camping, proper gear depends on your condition.

We will explain everything about a sleeping pad and an air mattress, for you to make a choice. At the end of the article, you will be able to choose the perfect gear for your condition.

Here is a quick simple comparison table of Sleeping Pad vs Air Mattress

Sleeping Pad vs Air Mattress Comparison Table

Header	sleeping pad	air mattress
Picture
Weight	Light (varies between 1 lb to 5 lbs)	Heavy (varies between 5 lbs to 20 lbs)
Stuffed Size	Small and compressible	Bulky
Comfort	Less Comfortable	More Comfortable
Size	Although most of them are small and solo type, there are also quite enough types of queen sized sleeping pads	Generally big and queen-sized
Best For	Backpacking	Car Camping

Features to Consider on Sleeping Pad vs Air Mattress

Weight

When going to backpacking trips, sleeping pad is a better choice than Air Mattress because it has less weight and can be packed in smaller size.

When it comes to comparison between Seeping Pad vs Air Mattress weight is one of the biggest elements to consider.

Air Mattresses are much heavier than sleeping pads. In general, the weight of an Air Mattress varies between 5 lbs to 20 lbs, on the other hand, the weight of a sleeping pad varies between 1 lb to 5 lbs.

If you are planning a backpacking trip you should go with a sleeping pad. But if you are planning a car camping trip, then the weight is not the first priority. You can consider other features such as comfort, warmth, etc.

Stuffed Size

Sleeping pads are much smaller than air mattresses when packed. Although it depends on the brand and the type, solo sleeping pads can be compressed down to Ø 5″ x 8″ while the air mattresses twice/ thrice bigger when compressed.

If you are planning a backpacking trip you should consider purchasing a sleeping pad. If not, stuffed size doesn’t have to be the first priority.

Comfort

Air Mattress has higher thickness than sleeping pad, thus providing more comfort.

Air mattresses are much more comfortable than sleeping pads, they are much thicker.

While a person sleeping on an air mattress is completely off the ground, a person sleeping on a sleeping pad can feel the ground (especially when moving during sleeping).

Compared to sleeping pads, air mattresses are better for your back. But if you are going for a backpacking trip and if you have a bad back there are also sleeping pads for bad backs as well.

Size

Although both sleeping pads and air mattresses can be found in every size, sleeping pads tend to be smaller than air mattresses.

If you are planning a trip with your partner, you should also know that; most of the sleeping pads are made for solo-sleeping. But that is not the case with the air mattresses, most of them are queen-sized.

Conclusion

If you are planning a trip where weight and bulkiness are important issues (such as a backpacking trip) you should definitely go with a sleeping pad.

Sleeping pads are more feasible since they can be both used in backpacking and car camping trips.

But if you are a fellow who doesn’t compromise on comfort and if you are going for a car camping trip, you should consider purchasing an air mattress.

Watch the video on Sleeping pad here:

Watch the video on Air mattress here:

Features and Types of Sleeping Bags

November 3, 2019 by Ricky Leave a Comment

There are a lot of sleeping bags to choose from, but here is one of the best sleeping bags in the market, the Western Mountaineering Ultralight 20.

There are some essentials for camping such as a tent, backpack, sleeping bag, etc. But for me, the sleeping bag is the most important gear for camping. It can make your camp a hell of a camp but it can also make you miserable, therefore you should know types of sleeping bags and how to choose one before purchasing a sleeping bag.

There are lots of sleeping bag types. It might be confusing to choose the right one, but if you stick to it we will cover everything about sleeping bags. Whether you are looking for a sleeping bag to use in winter, or on the sunniest day.

Make sure to look at our articles about Best Cold Weather Sleeping Bags and Best Ultralight Sleeping Bags.

Shapes of Sleeping Bags

There are four main types of sleeping bags regarding shapes. The shape is an important issue to consider before purchasing a sleeping bag because every shape has its own individual features, pros & cons.

Rectangular Sleeping Bags

Teton Sports Celsius is a rectangular-shaped sleeping bag. It may not be the best for cold conditions, but it is more comfortable than the others since it has more space.

Rectangular sleeping bags are the most common and most basic sleeping bags. Since they are rectangular, they don’t wrap all body, therefore they are not the best in cold conditions.

They are slightly heavier than other sleeping bags. But in the meantime, rectangular sleeping bags have more space, therefore, they are more comfortable considering other shapes of sleeping bags. Since they are symmetrical, rectangular sleeping bags are easier to roll up and pack.

They can be entirely unzipped, and zipped together with another rectangular sleeping bag, to use them as double sleeping bags. If you are going to a car camp or the packed size is not a big issue for you, rectangular sleeping bags are more than enough for camping at warm seasons.

PROS	CONS
Comfortable	Not Good at Cold Conditions
Easy to Pack	Heavier and Bulkier
Can be Entirely Unzipped	Cell

Mummy Sleeping Bags

Outdoor Vitals Atlas is a mummy-shaped sleeping bag. It is perfect for mountaineers because it has high warmth to weight ratio.

Mummy sleeping bags have a tapered form, which helps to wrap the user’s body and decrease air circulation in the sleeping bag, Thus decrease the heat loss and weight. They are the perfect type of sleeping bag for mountaineers and backpackers due to their size and warmth ratio.

For backpacking and mountaineering during cold season mummy sleeping bags are the best choice.

PROS	CONS
Suitable for Cold Weathers	Less Comfortable
Light	Cell
Smaller Compared to Other Shapes	Cell
Lighter Compared to Other Shapes	Cell

Semi-Rectangular (Barrel) Sleeping Bags

Nemo Forte 20 is a semi-rectangular-shaped sleeping bag. In comparison to the other sleeping bags, it is more efficient than rectangular and more comfortable than mummy.

Semi-Rectangular sleeping bags also have a tapered form, but they are not as narrow as mummy sleeping bags at the bottom.

For warmness, they are more efficient compared to rectangular sleeping bags, and they are more comfortable compared to mummy sleeping bags.

PROS	CONS
Relatively Light and Small	Not-so-Comfortable
Good for Chill Conditions	Cell

Double Sleeping Bags

Sleepingo Double Sleeping Bag is a better option than buying two sleeping bags if you are camping with a loved one since they are lighter, warmer and easy-to-carry.

If you are camping with your significant other and love to cuddle with your companion when sleeping, double sleeping bags are great for you.

Keep in mind that rectangular sleeping bags can be zipped together to make a double sleeping bag. If you are camping only with your loved one, buying a double sleeping bag would be the better option, because they are lighter, warmer and easy-to-carry compare to two rectangular sleeping bags zipped together.

If you are camping solo from time to time, then purchasing two rectangular sleeping bags would be more feasible. Don’t forget that not every rectangular sleeping bag can be zipped together look for that feature before purchasing.

PROS	CONS
Good for Camping with a Companion	Bulky
Comfortable	Cell

Insulation

There are two main types of sleeping bags when it comes to Insulation. They are down-filled and synthetic. Weight, warmth, and compressibility of a sleeping bag, depends on the insulation type, therefore knowing about insulation is crucial before buying a sleeping bag.

Down-filled Sleeping Bags

Kelty Unisex Cosmic Down 20 Degree uses down feathers for insulation. It is lighter and compressible, however, not effective when wet.

Down-filled sleeping bags are insulated with the feathers of ducks and geese. Down feathers are great for keeping the egg warm, which makes it a great insulation material for sleeping bags.

For down-filled insulated sleeping bags, the quality of insulation can be understood by the fill power. Fill is basically the measurement to determine loft (amount of puff that the down feather has). So higher fill power means greater insulation.

Down sleeping bags are great for colder conditions. They are lighter than synthetic ones, and compressibility of down sleeping bags are much higher than synthetic sleeping bags, therefore they are more expensive compared to synthetic sleeping bags. The only downside of down-filled sleeping bags is they are not effective when they get wet.

pros	cons
Higher Warmth to Weight Ratio	Not Effective when Wet
Light	Expensive
High Compressibility	Cell
Durable	Cell

Synthetic Sleeping Bags

Teton Sports Leef 20 Ultralight is a sleeping bag that has synthetic insulation. It is still effective when wet although heavy and bulky.

As can be understood from the name, synthetic sleeping bags are not made with animal feathers. They are made with synthetic materials such as polyester. They are more windproof compared to down-filled sleeping bags.

Synthetic sleeping bags don’t lose their effectiveness when wet or moistured and they are inexpensive compared to down-filled ones. The downsides about synthetic sleeping bags are, they are heavier, bulkier and less compressible compared to down-filled sleeping bags.

PROS	CONS
No Animal Feather	Bad Weight to Warmth Ratio
Inexpensive	Less Durable
Versatile (Can Be Used in Every Weather	Cell

Temperature Ratings and Seasonality

Temperature rating is the most important issue to look for before buying a sleeping bag. Most of the sleeping bags are being tested and rated according to EN 13537 Standard.

There are 3 types of temperature ratings:

Comfort Temperature: The optimum temperature in which a person can sleep comfortably and relaxed.

Lower Temperature: The lowest temperature in which a person can sleep comfortably in a hunched position.

Extreme Temperature: The lowest temperature in which a person can survive.

Although the names of the season types a sleeping bag can vary from one brand to another, generally there are four types.

SEASON	TEMPERATURE
Summer	>+35 °F
3-Season	10°F-35°F
Winter	<-10 °F
Four Seasons	All Temperatures

Features of Sleeping Bags

There are several features to look for before purchasing a sleeping bag. Some are essential and some are good to have. Here is a quick list of features to look for:

Snag-free Zipper
Two-way Sliders
Cinchable Hoods
Draft Tubes
DWR Coated Shell
Baffle Design
Foot-box

Snag-free Zipper

The sleeping bags are not luxurious gears, like camping hammocks, they are extremely essential especially for camping in cold conditions.

And they are useless when they are torn off. They lose their effectiveness when insulation material falls from the ripped places. So always go for a sleeping bag that features a good snag-free zipper.

Two-Way Slider

Sleeping bags are made for keeping us warm during the night, but let’s face it, it won’t be extreme cold every time we go camping, some nights you will feel hot. Two-way sliders allow you to unzip the bottom side of the zipper, so you can use it for venting.

Cinchable Hood

Hyke & Byke Snowmass 0 Degree has cinchable hood which is one of the most essential thing in cold weather camping.

It is not the most essential thing for camping in the warm season. But, if you are planning to camp in winter or relatively cold weather go for a sleeping bag that has a drawstring on the hood, so you can cinch it down to keep the heat inside.

Draft Tubes

The zipper is the weakest area of the sleeping bag for heat loss. So in order to reduce the heat loss through the zipper, most of the big brands design a draft tube behind the zipper. It is not essential for summer camping, but if you are planning to camp below 40˚F go for a sleeping bag that has a draft tube behind the zipper.

DWR Coated Shell

Camping in the rain is a lot of fun, but only if you have the proper gear. Especially down sleeping bags tend to lose their insulation properties in damp conditions. And we cannot always know if it is going to rain or not, so always go for a sleeping bag that has DWR Coated Shell.

Baffle Design

Hyke & Byke Eolus 0 Degree has a horizontal baffle design so that the fill stay in their place.

If you are planning to buy a synthetic sleeping bag baffle design is not an issue for you. But for the down sleeping bags, baffle design is important since they keep the fill in place. We recommend horizontal baffles since they are more versatile. In cold nights you can move the fill from back to front to get warmer.

Foot-Box

Mummy sleeping bags don’t offer a big space to sleep in, and it is harder to get comfortable in them. Therefore don’t forget to look for a sleeping bag with a large and innovative foot-box design to sleep comfortably.

Inner Pocket

It is not the most important feature to look for, but it is a plus to have an inner pocket to keep your valuables close at hand.

Lastly, quilts can actually work better in some cases. Check out Quilts vs Sleeping bags article on TrekSumo if you’d like to read more about this.

Where to Pitch a Tent

October 28, 2019 by Ricky Leave a Comment

It is important to find a flat ground when pitching a tent to have a comfortable camping.

Camping outdoors is a lot of fun, and being in nature is healthy for our bodies. But a camper should be prepared for everything because nature is not a thing to underestimate. One of the keystones of being well-prepared is to find where to pitch a tent.

Choosing the optimum spot to set up your tent can save you from big problems such as waking up in the morning with the direct sunlight, not being able to sleep due to wind, etc. Below we pointed out 10 things to consider before selecting a spot to pitch a tent.

Find a spot with flat ground

There is no bigger mood-killer than a sore back at camping. Therefore the most important issue for choosing where to pitch a tent is, finding flat ground. Sleeping on an uneven surface can result in months of back pain and spinal problems.

Find soft ground

If you don’t have a thick, comfortable sleeping pad then you should look for soft ground. You can end up having a sore back by sleeping on hard ground.

Clear stones, sticks, and bushes

Imagine you set up your tent, then gone for a hike in nature, ate your meal, maybe had some drinks with your friends and you are ready for your sleep. And you are feeling some sticks poking your back when you lay down. It is the worst thing, to move your tent in the middle of the night and clean the sticks. So before you pitch your tent make sure to clear all the stones, sticks, and bushes around the area.

Look for a shady spot

Pitching a tent on a shady spot can give you a romantic experience in the afternoon and a good sleep until not-so-early morning.

Watching the sunset in the afternoon can be very romantic, but in the morning the sun can be a big pain.

If your tent is directly exposed to the sunlight I can assure you, you will be waking up at 7 a.m. in the morning and not being able to sleep again.

So always look for a shady spot, and if you are going to a bald place with no trees, consider buying a camping sun shelter.

Stay away from windy spots

In choosing a spot to pitch a tent, make sure to stay away from windy areas or at least the door of the tent is not facing towards the wind.

The wind is not a deal-breaker. We, well-prepared campers can do outdoor activities in windy conditions as well. But we need to be ready for it.

If you still haven’t picked your campsite, make sure to look for areas that are sheltered.

If you have already picked it, then look for a natural windbreaker, it can be a big bush if you are out in nature, it can be a big wall if you are camping in a facility.

After choosing the spot to pitch your tent, make sure the door of the tent is not facing towards the wind.

Find a spot close to the water

Water is the main element we need at camping. You need water for cleaning the dishes, boiling a bowl of water, cleaning yourself and countless other things.

It is a good option to pitch the tent near the water, but not too close to avoid flash floods.

If you pitch your tent far away from the water, filling your bottle every time can be a great effort, therefore find a spot within the walking distance to the water.

And make sure to pitch your tent not too close to the water to avoid flash flood.

Check the weather

Camping in the rain can be a lot of fun, but without the right gear it can be a big problem, therefore before camping, you should always check for the weather.

If you are expecting rain, try to pitch your tent under a shelter to be protected. After choosing the spot make sure the door of the tent is not facing towards the wind so rain wouldn’t get in the tent.

Don’t set up your tent too near to other campers

Camping is about relaxing, feeling nature, spending time by yourself or with your friends. It is important to not get disturbed by the others, and also not to disturb others.

Set up your tent far away firing pits

Pitching too near firing pits can cause a constant smoke and smell. Besides, it is good to be away from big fires for safety.

Pitch within a walking distance to the toilet

If you are camping in a campsite that has toilets, make sure to pitch your tent within walking distance to the toilet. Walking one mile every time you need to use the toilet can be harsh.

Watch the video below to know more about where to pitch a tent: