People are rediscovering the joys of camping and many parents are taking their children for short weekend camping adventures in the countryside. Camping in the United Kingdom, even in the summer months, is always a risky business. Not because of Bears or Snakes, but due to the uncertain British weather.
But, as long as yiou have the right camping equipment you and your family can have a lot of fun, regardless of the weather. One of the most important pieces of camping kit has got to be your sleeping bags.
There are a great selection of sleeping bags to choose from these days, some will cost only a few pounds but others can cost a small fortune. So how do you choose the right ones for you and your family?
The first thing to consider is the time of year that you will be using your sleeping bags. There is no need to spend money on an expensive arctic quality sleeping bag if you are only ever going to use it during the summer months in the United Kingdom.
Another consideration is packing. Will you be hiking with your sleeping bag in a backpack or will it never need to be crammed into a small pack? Size and weight will be important factors to bear in mind if you will be carrying your sleeping back in a backpack.
It is also worth keeping in mind who bag is for, how big they are and whether they have any special comfort requirements. Some people (including my own partner) are never comfortable sleeping within the confines of a sleeping bag and lots of children prefer to have child size bags.
And finally we must, of course consider the price. Sleeping bags, both down and synthetic fibre filled, can vary in price enormously. The most expensive sleeping bags are those that are made for all year round and winter use, often down filled.
Your most economical choice is likely to be a polyester fibre filled bag that is suitable for the summer months only. For additional sleeping comfort add a sleeping matt or maybe an airbed.