Equipment Outer mitts The layering system also applies to your hand’s with mittens being warmer than gloves and with waterproof mittens worn on top.
Bag designs have differing features, some of which can effect warmth (e.g. tapered feet, hood and draw cord, halffull-length or no zip, two-way zips).
Sleeping bags A warm night’s rest is essential for an enjoyable backpacking trip. Bag makers rate their bags by the season (e.g. 2 or 3 season) but these should only be used as a rough guide. How the filling is held in place, the type of filling and the amount will also determine warmth. Sewn through construction allows a lot of heat loss. Bags for all year round use are made with the inner and outer kept apart. Look for box or slant walls, overlapping tubes, shingle or double wall construction. The filling can be of either down or synthetic fibres.
Foam mat Insulates you from the cold ground giving you a warmer and more comfortable night’s sleep. There are different grades of foam mats giving various levels of insulation. There are also inflatable mats which are expensive but extremely comfortable and warm. Mats can be bought in various sizes to reduce weight e.g. full or three quarter length.
Down is light, compresses well when packed and the weight for warmth ratio is good, but it is expensive and no good when wet. Some people are also allergic to down. Synthetic fibres have better insulation properties when wet but are bulky and heavier. A compression stuff sack can help reduce bulk. A rough guide for a 3 season bag would be 1500g of filling for a down bag and 2000g for synthetic fibres. 137
