The Kelty range is an impressive one, with every bit of their gear built on a foundation of recreation and enjoyment in the outdoors. Their impressive camping range features impressive tents, sturdy backpacks, camp chairs, sleeping pads, kitchen organisers, shelters, and of course, sleeping bags.
The Kelty sleeping bags are absolutely brilliant for so many reasons, with lots of designs and features to choose from. Which then begs the question: which Kelty sleeping bag should I be choosing?
How to choose a sleeping bag
If you’re a first-timer looking to do it right, or an avid camper interested in picking something perfect for your next getaway, choosing the right sleeping bag is important. A good sleeping bag is the difference between a fantastic trip enjoying the great outdoors and cold, sleepless nights cursing the elements.
Things to consider
Shape
Sleeping bags come in three basic shapes: rectangular, semi-rectangular, and mummy.
Each design has different specifications and are best suited to different types of camping. A rectangular sleeping bag is shaped with right angles and a roomy interior. They’re ideal for car camping and festivals and are often made using more affordable materials.
- Semi-rectangular:
Semi-rectangular sleeping bags feature a shape that slightly tapers from head to foot and they have a little more room than a rectangular bag. This hybrid type of sleeping bag typically features higher quality materials, making them perfect for all kinds of camping – but perhaps not always super rough camping in the dead of winter.
- Mummy:
Mummy sleeping bags are shaped to swaddle the human body, keeping you wrapped up tight and cosy. Mummy sleeping bags offer the lightest and most heat-efficient shape, making them the typical shape for backpacking where lightweight and warmth are paramount. However, if you’re a sleeper who enjoys spreading out, or tossing and turning, a mummy sleeping bag does restrict this slightly.
Insulation
It goes without saying that the insulation type of your sleeping bag is incredibly important. No one wants to wake up in the night freezing, which is what makes choosing the right sleeping bag so much more important.
Synthetic sleeping bag insulation is a type of man-made fibre that behaves similarly to organic down. It’s the best cost-effective insulation filler, as well as being more affordable and more water resistant than natural down. Not only this, but it also dries faster and performs better when damp.
However, synthetic down is heavier and less durable as the loft degrades a tiny bit every time it is compressed.
- Down:
Down is made from the fluffy layer of insulation underneath a goose’s exterior feathers and it is light, durable, compressible, and breathable. It is the desired insulation type for cold and dry conditions and is very effective. However, there are some cons to down insulation as it can be a bit pricey, takes longer to dry and needs more care when cleaning.
Kelty use, in their own words, “a range of ultra-durable, feather-light, buttery-soft, water-repellent nylon and polyester materials for our liners and shells—all produced with minimum possible impact on the environment.” So, you know with your Kelty sleeping bag, you’re buying a top quality product.
Temperature rating
Nearly every sleeping bag manufacturer use the EN (European Norm) testing standard for sleeping bag temperature ratings. The EN temperature rating will be the lowest outside temperature at which you can sleep comfortably.
For spring and summer time camping you’ll want something that can stand around 0 to 5°C. For season three (colder nights without frost) you’ll want something that can withstand between 0 to -5°C. While season four is your winter sleeping bag and should be suitable for temperatures as low as -10°C. And for super extreme campers who brave it up mountains, you’ll need a season five sleeping bag capable of insulating you in temperatures of -10 down to -40°C.
Design features
There’s a fair bit of jargon associated with sleeping bags and choosing the right one, so we’ll cover some of the most essential design features below.
- Compression bag:
A compression bag can also be called a stuff sack and they usually come with your sleeping bag. A compression bag is a lightweight bag that you can use to stuff your sleeping bag into to get a portable, carry-size bag. It may not look like it will fit, but it will. Just persist and stuff it all the way in for easy carrying.
- Hood and draft collar:
Your head loses heat faster than any other part of your body, which is why a lot of sleeping bags come with a hood for you to pull tight and escape from the chill.
- Footbox:
A footbox ensures that you have ample room for your feet and enough space to keep them warm after a busy day.
- Stash pocket:
Not every sleeping bag has a stash pocket, but once you’ve experienced life with one, it’s impossible to go back. Things like keys, medication, lip balm or other essentials you may need in the early hours should be kept handy in your stash pocket for easy access.
- Baffle:
The insulation in your sleeping bag needs stitching to make sure the feathers or fibres don’t migrate and leave cold spots. Adequate stitching will create cosy pockets where insulation can fully loft for maximum insulation. The Kelty Cosmic sleeping bags actually have an award-winning baffle that has been proven to maintain warmth on even the coldest nights.
- Zippers:
Zippers aren’t that exciting a feature, but having an anti-snag zipper ensures that you don’t get it caught. Other features such as a draft guard are important as it gives you extra protection from the cold evening air.
Cleaning your sleeping bag
Now on to cleaning your Kelty sleeping bag. Kelty are a US brand and for them, cleaning your sleeping bag is integral to avoid issues with wild animals sniffing you out and thinking you’re a tasty burrito. This isn’t as much of an issue if you’re camping in the UK, as we don’t have ‘bear country' - but cleaning your sleeping bag is still important, ‘cause no one wants to zip up for the night and smell feet.
Spot washing
A sleeping bag doesn’t need to be washed as often as clothes and you can get away with not washing your sleeping bag for several seasons if you’re careful. The key is wearing clean base layers to bed to avoid any mess in your bag. However, if you do get your sleeping bag dirty, you can just spot-wash it to remove the marks or stains.
- Remove any debris or food
- Use some water and a gentle non-detergent soap and use a clean toothbrush to gently scrub.
- Drape over a tent or airer, or wherever really, to dry.
- Avoid direct sunlight if drying outside and make sure your sleeping bag doesn’t blow away!
Washing the entire bag
Without a washing machine:
- Fill your bath with WARM water.
- Use insulation-specific cleaner to avoid damage to the sleeping bag.
- Lay the sleeping bag in the water and slowly work a small amount of cleaner into the bag.
- Allow the sleeping bag to sit for 30 mins, drain, and press out the excess water.
- Refill the bath with more warm water to rinse the bag.
- Repeat until all the cleaning solution is rinsed away.
You can dry your sleeping bag in a tumble dryer on low heat, or you can air dry it.
With a washing machine:
- Never use a top-loading washing machine with an agitator, it can cause serious damage to your bag. A full-size washing machine without an agitator is recommended.
- Wash the sleeping bag on a gentle cycle using an insulation-specific cleaner.
- Ensure the bag is fully rinsed and free of cleaner by running the rinse cycle a few times.
- As above, you can use a tumble dryer or air dry your sleeping bag, but make sure it is completely dry before placing it in a storage bag or compressing.
Extra tips
- After a long camping trip, you don’t need to clean your sleeping bag every time. Simply lay your sleeping bag out in the partial sun for 10 mins or more for a freshen-up.
- Always pick the bag up by gathering it up and lifting it from below to avoid damage to the seams.
- Avoid eating in or on your sleeping bag to reduce the risk of spills.
- Kelty-specific care instructions here.
Happy camping folks, we hope this blog has helped. You can browse the complete Kelty range stocked at Preppers Shop today.
For more sleeping bag-related questions, you can contact us at [email protected]