Choosing the right sleeping bag can make the difference between a great camping trip and a miserable one. Consider the following facts about insulation when choosing the right sleeping bag:

Down vs. Synthetic Insulation

Both types of insulation have their pros and cons. Down is generally lighter, warmer, and won’t take up as much room in your car or backpack. However, when down sleeping bags get wet, they lose most of their insulating properties. Also, down sleeping bags take a long time to dry out. Down sleeping bags generally tend to be more expensive than synthetic.

Synthetic sleeping bags will keep most of their insulating properties when they’re wet, and they dry quicker than down. They are hypoallergenic, if you have allergy problems. Plus they generally cost less than down sleeping bags.

However, synthetic sleeping bags are much heavier and take up much more room in your car or backpack. They also wear out faster than down sleeping bags.