To sleep, perchance to dream...
Sleeping spaces are important when you camp. How you prepare you and your
gear can effect you greatly when you are trying to sleep in the wilderness.
But even With Planning...
The duffle
I keep all of my sleeping stuff in a duffle strapped tothe top of my pack.
I know that most people keep the sleeping bag on the bottom of the pack, but
this one seems to be a bit upside down for that. I can also use it as a pillow
with my laundry in it. The duffle is scotchguarded for water resiliancy, but
I wouldn't call it water proof.
Sleeping bag
I have only one sleeping bag right now. It is a medium range bag made of nylon.
Yes, when I turn in it, it goes ‘zwiff’. It is good for down to
25 degrees, though I have yet to test that. In fact, you should test any bag
you buy the night you get it to make sure it fits, is comfortable, and is
returnable in time for your trip.
When shopping for a sleeping bag, keep many things in mind. Price is not the first thing you should be thinking about, even though sales(and sales people) can be convincing.
What weather are you going to be in?(summer, winter)
Is this general or specific use?
What is the environment you will be in?(desert, mountain, river bottom)
Is it for one or two people? Large enough to be comfortable?
Are you alergic to anything?
What do you normally sleep on?(as in, do you sleep on a very soft mattress or are you a firm matress person?)
All of these questions can help you choose what kind of sleeping bag to look
at. There are categories of sleeping bag and they should be labled as to what
range of temperatures it is made for.
Drop cloth/Poncho
The drop cloth I use is a heavy weight military poncho with grommets along
the sides. It will keep the dew from seeping up to the sleeping bag and twigs
and rocks I missed from ripping into me in the middle of the night. The poncho
can also be used as part of a lean-to type shelter, or, surprisingly enough,
a poncho.
A drop cloth can keep the moisture in the ground from seeping into your
sleeping bag. It can help inside a tent as well as in the open. A plastic
tarp, a vinyl cloth or even a camping store matress pad can be great to keep
the comfort level up.
Bag cover
Some people have special covers or outer bags to go over the sleeping bag.
I have a few chunks of camouflage material that I use for several uses, including
as a ‘top sheet’ over the sleeping bag. They can also be good for
making a secluded privy or even a toga, if you come across a party. If you
hunt, covering your stuff in camo can help your success rate. For wet areas
or times of year, a large plastic leaf bag winds up around my sleeping bag.
One trick that I found works in most areas is to warm rocks by the fire all day then wrap them in a towel and put them in the bottom of the bag. Toasty! Be careful that you do not set up too close to the fire. You may find that you are getting toasted...
In the picture above, you can see my Pack hanging from a tree, the sleeping bag and ground cloths, and my chair. The pack is up above small critter paws. I do have my bag very close to the fire, but being in a ring, I feel a little more confident that I will not become a statistic. Even with precautions, fire can be the most devastating thing to happen to a camper if it jumps the fire.