Buying Sleeping Bags on a Budget
Going camping or backpacking can be an expensive
endeavor, but you can’t rely on outdated, worn-out gear.
Even a master at the sewing machine
will have trouble making something with real quality.
A better suggestion for the cash
strapped mountaineer would be to compromise for now and search for the most
affordable but decent wilderness gear. Cheaper
sleeping bags are available that won’t make you feel like you’re being
cheated of your money. You can’t
expect the highest standards (you get what you pay for), but you should be
able to find something that is well worth its stated value.
The easiest weather conditions for which to go budget
shopping is the summer. A lot of
cheaper material can be used to protect against minimal wind chill at night,
so companies don’t have to go chasing geese for filling.
The Pro Action 300 summer bag is one
such product. It only costs around
US$20 and is made of synthetic material, so it’s easier to clean.
It’s a little thin for much else, and
the zipper won’t stay put, but at the price it’s good enough at above 50
degrees F. Another suggestion would
be the Backside Anti Pil, which goes for around the same price.
Now, two season bags can be a little trickier, and of
course more expensive. You really
have to go above US$30 to protect against the cold.
It’s also tricky because cheap two
season bags are actually summer bags, and cheap three season bags are
actually two season bags. Never trust
the rating at these prices. Coleman
has started to make decent bags, and their
Remember about cheap bags and their ratings?
Well, the Wenzel Omega II is a great
0 degree F bag for 20 degree weather. You’ve
got to be a really warm sleeper to use it below that.
At US$40, it’s pretty good.
You'll just want to wear extra
clothing to make sure. The Coleman North Rim is a little better for a little
more, but at a hefty seven pounds, you may want to invest in a pair of
dumbbells as well.
Now, you’d have to be the ultimate bargain hunter to go
cheap when choosing a winter sleeping bag. But
if you really are strapped, go with the Eureka Eagle Point rated at -15
degrees F. It’s made of quality
material, but not enough of its patented Therma Shield filling to really
protect at those temperature extremes. At
0 degrees it should be fine. Another
decent choice is the Slumberjack Switchback, which, at 8 pounds, is stuffed
with enough cheap filling to keep you alive.
Both bags should set you back just a little over US$70.
For expeditions to the
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