Sleeping Bags

When comparing down sleeping bags, most people want to simply compare the advertised temperature ratings. But since everyone feels cold differently, temperature ratings can be very subjective and misleading. A better way is to familiarize yourself with the fill power and fill weight of the down bag you're interested in, and this will give you a much more accurate assessment of the bag you require. By multiplying the fill power by the fill weight, you can generally predict how warm a bag will be. The temperature ratings of our down sleeping bags have been derived by factoring in recommendations from the factory, personal testing, and what similar bags are being advertised at in the North American market. We then undersell our bags by a couple degrees °C just to be sure that no one will accuse us of inflating our temperature ratings. Here's another factor to be aware of. For simplicity, we give all our different length bags with the same fill weight (including the envelope bags), the same temperature rating. But in reality, the shorter bags will be a little warmer than the longer bags. And the envelope bags will be less warm than the mummy bags. Finally for all the women. As you are probably well aware, most of you are more sensitive to the cold than most men. So please keep that in mind when choosing the right bag for you.

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Do not leave your down sleeping bag compressed down in the compression sack for a long period of time. Sleeping bags get their warmth from the amount of loft. And by leaving your bag compressed, eventually you will compromise the down properties, and it won't loft up as much. Simply store your sleeping bag in a larger bag such as a pillow case or laundry bag. And after a backpacking trip, make sure you hang your bag up for a few days, so you can let it fully dry and air out.

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When putting your down bag into the compression sack, it is best to fold it a few times and push out as much air as possible. Then roll it up while it's still folded, and slowly work it into the sack while using the under arm, or between the legs technique to prevent the rest of the bag from lofting out. Finally, if you do decide to cinch up the compression sack, use your body weight to compress the sack down before pulling on the straps. Otherwise there's a chance that you'll rip the compression straps off.

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The best way to keep your sleeping bag clean is to always use a bag liner. Wilderness Excursions does sell pure silk liners, but you can use cheaper cotton or polyester liners as well. If you need to wash your sleeping bag, hand wash it in a bath tub using a gentle down soap (do not use regular detergent). You can also waterproof your down by adding Nikwax Down Proof for only a few extra dollars. Let your bag drip dry for awhile, but eventually you will want to put it in the dryer on low or no heat and a couple of tennis balls to break up the down clumps. The information tag listing the washing instructions, temp rating, and materials used is located on the inside at the foot of the sleeping bag.

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Basic tent set up instructions:

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2 Person, 2 Door HV Tent

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2 Person, 1 Door UL Tent

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When setting up the tent, always try to pick a spot that’s sheltered and out of the wind. If you must set up in an open non sheltered area, make sure you align the tent so that the front or back is facing into the wind. This is because the tent will be less able to withstand the forces of the wind if it’s hitting the tent on the side. Tents damaged due to wind will not be covered under warranty. If you’re setting up on rock or gravel, make sure you use the included footprint to protect the tent from excessive wear. When attaching the inner tent clips to the pole, always start at the centre and top, and then work your way out. If you ever feel like you’re forcing it, then you’re setting it up wrong. Finally, attaching guy lines will give the tent more stability, and will help create more space between the fly and inner tent.

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After you return home from your outing, lay the tent out for a day or two, and let it dry out completely. Then fold and roll it up into the storage bag, and store it in a dry area away from any direct sunlight.

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Only use the inflatable sleeping pad on a clean surface inside the tent. Be careful not to lay it on any small sticks, pine needles, rocks, etc. Do not use the sleeping pad outside the tent as there’ll be a greater chance of puncturing it. You can fill the sleeping pad up either by mouth, or with the included dry bag. Simply attach the dry bag to the sleeping pad nozzle. Open the dry bag up to trap as much air as possible, then close and roll the top of the dry bag to force the air into the sleeping pad. If you put too much air in, simply use a small stick to open up the nozzle valve slightly until you have just the right amount of air in the sleeping pad for a perfect night sleep. You can then use the dry bag to protect valuables from the rain, act as an air tight food storage bag, and can even be used as a back country shower.

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Make sure both the sleeping pad and dry bag have been dried out completely before rolling it up and storing it. If the sleeping pad starts to lose air, there’s probably a small puncture hole in it. To find the puncture, fill the sleeping pad with air and wipe soap and water throughout the surface until you find air bubbles. There are many great products that’ll fix sleeping pad punctures such as Seam Grip. No matter what product you use, read and follow the directions carefully.

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The best way to add more insulation to an inflatable sleeping pad is to simply combine it with an inexpensive lightweight closed cell foam pad. Do not be fooled by expensive inflatable pads that claim high R-values. The R-value tests on inflatable pads do not reflect real use conditions, and are just not as effective as combining a closed cell foam pad with a lightweight inflatable sleeping pad.

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All Wilderness Excursions products come with a 12 month warranty. Within the warranty period, products will either be fixed or replaced. The warranty covers manufacturer’s defects and normal wear. The warranty will not cover mistreated items that have not been properly cared for, and will not cover excessive wear.