Query by elizabeth: What is the most effective sleeping bag to get for camping in the Rocky Mountains?
Should I get a cold weather sleeping bag, or warm weather if I am camping in the summer time months? Are increased altitudes colder even in the summer time?
Especially the Colorado spot, in a designated campsite in Rocky Mountain National Park. Practically nothing as well wild right here (I’m a novice, lol)…I won’t be hiking to the campsite. Thank you for the info, guys!
Most effective solution:
Solution by c_kayak_enjoyable
yes, it will be colder in increased elevation. You greatest all around option would be a synthetic fill mummy bag rated at all around 15 to twenty degrees F. minimal. That will keep you warm on nights it could dip to close to freezing but will not be as well hot on milder nights. You can get a decent bag for beneath $ a hundred that would suit these conditions. Look at http://www.campmor.com for good deals and also outstanding comparison charts exhibiting temp ratings, wieghts and dimensions on a wide selection of bags. The Huge Agnes brand is a good a single for value and good quality but most of what they promote good equipment.
You can add some warmth to the bag by obtaining both a liner (like lightwieght polartec pile) or a nylon overbag or bivouac sack (which also assists retain the undesirable clean and dry.) Do not forget a superior insulated sleeping poor for comfort and warmth underneath you, unless you are sleeping in a cot in a cabin, in which case you won’t require that.
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Question by Bert R: What food must I take on a hiking and camping trip?
I want some very good tips for food for a backpacking and camping trip. Trail mix, Jerky, and half cooked rice or oatmeal just does not appear to cut it for me. There has to be anything that is fulfilling and hearty.
Ideal solution:
Answer by Amityy
you can go to a army navy shop and get some mre’s. The food the military employs that you just add water too. My husband employed to be in the army and he said that’s what he would do! Have entertaining!
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13 Responses to “Q&A: What is the very best sleeping bag to get for camping in the Rocky Mountains?”
At higher elevations temps. can drop below freezing even in the middle of summer, I’ve been snowed on in mid-July. Are you car camping or backpacking? If you are car camping it doesn’t much matter what you get as long as you are comfortable with it, you can bring extra blankets if you need them. If you are backpacking I would suggest a down bag made by Marmot. Their temp. ratings are accurate
Here is my opinion. others will disagree, but I don’t care. I have lots of experience and I’m an independent old fart. First, Down is warmer than any other insulation. It lasts longer and compresses better. In modern tents you will not have an issue keeping it dry. New fabrics are more water resistant than older shells. So don’t believe those critics that say down isn’t good because it looses it’s insulaation value when wet. In well over 40 years of backpacking and climbing in Washington, Alaska and California I have managed to keep my down dry and am loving it. Next, get a bag that will work for at least three seasons. Next, a limit of 2.2 pounds (1000grams) is maximum you need or want to carry. If price is an issue you might check the REI down Kilo bag. I don’t own one, but the reviews are quite good. If price isn’t an issue check out Marmot and Western Mountaineering brands. Don’t pay much attention to temp. ratings, as they vary by manufacturer. Customer reviews are a better way to evaluate bags. If you purchase quality it will last a long time and you will never regret it when you climb into your comfy bag on a cold night.
It really depends on the area you are in. The Rocky Mountains is a huge range of climates and altitudes. Where specifically are you going? The best bag will depend on the temps, the climate, and how you sleep. Personally I sleep somewhat warm, so I will often take a sleeping bag rated to only to the expected temps…but my wife sleeps cold, so she will often bring a bag that is rated to 15-20 lower than the expected temps. Keep in mind that there is no industry-wide standard for rating sleeping bag temperatures. I have seen some laughable ratings on cheap walmart and dicks sporting goods sleeping bags…I know they are not as warm as they are rated, and I had a friend discover that the hard way on a winter camping trip with me a couple years ago. In general, the more reputable the company (Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, REI, EMS, Featherd Friends, etc.) the more likely the rating is to be reasonable. Some companies like Mountain Hardwear are now using European Norm (EN) ratings…which use careful scientific tests and procedures to determine standardized temperature ratings…these are the most reliable.
Also, most of the Rockies aren’t too rainy or humid, so you can get away with a down bag, just be prepared to keep it dry if it does rain. If you want to go a little cheaper, you can stick with synthetic fill materials, but the cheaper synthetic bags are usually heavier and bulkier too (there are some very high quality synthetics out there that rival down, but cost almost as much too).
You will also want to take into account how you will be camping. For instance, if you are driving to the campsite, who cares if you have a 9 lb sleeping bag the size of a mini-fridge…but if you are backpacking, you will need to find one that is reasonably light and small.
So, to sum it up, the “best” bag is hard to determine unless you give some more details about your trip. Update your question and maybe we can help.
http://outdoorscampingequipment.com/category/sleeping-bags/coleman-sleeping-bags/
offer a wide range of coleman sleeping bags, Coleman Fairmont Sleeping Bag, Coleman Palmetto Cool-Weather Sleeping Bag, Coleman Kids Explorer Sleeping Bag, Coleman Richland Cool-Weather Scoop, Coleman Exponent Tasman X 0-Degree Hybrid, Coleman White Water Large Cool-Weather Scoop sleeping bag
one thing that helped spice up my camp cooking was my dehydrator (you can use an oven on lowest setting with door cracked).
I brown hamburger meat and rinse it well to get most fat off and then dry it until it crumbles
add it to packaged noodles (I like stroganoff or noddles with broccoli in garlic sauce)
you can also dry a jar of prepared spaghetti sauce and add to water, freshly cooked pasta and add some dried hamburger
usually had dried onions, green peppers, and garlic with me as well
If you want to cut down on pack weight and make meal preparation easy I suggest you take freeze dried meals. You only need hot water to prepare them.
There are many to choose from but in my opinion Mountain House brand is far better than any other brand. Some of my favorites are beef stroganoff, lasanga with meat sauce and chicken teriyaki. If you like New England style chowder the seafood chowder is awesome. Just make sure you take some crackers to go with the chowder.
Bagels are also a good trail food. For breakfast I’ll cut a bagel in half, pan fry it in margarine until it’s toasted brown and have it with strawberry jam, cream cheese or both. You can get individual packs of cream cheese and jam at some bagel shops and they don’t require refrigeration.
Some people think freeze dried meals are expensive, but consider the cost of a meal at McDonalds. Five dollars isn’t that bad for two hot servings out in the wilderness.
This place has has the best prices on Mountain House meals by far.
http://www.vitacost.com/MountainHouseProducts
Have fun and don’t leave any trash behind.
In my mind there is nothing better than Mountain House Beef Stroganoff.
310 calories of pure goodness. They have a lot of other good meals too.
oatmeal and rice
There are only two considerations when it comes to food: weight and bulk. Remember, you’re carrying everything on your back.
Any outdoor recreation shop carries a line of freeze-dried foods, with almost the diversity as regular a regular market. But freeze-dried tends to be expensive. MREs are available at surplus stores, too.
Don’t neglect the supermarket, though. Browse the shelves and there’s an incredibly variety of dried, pouched, and lite-weight foods that are less expensive. For instance, tuna now comes in foil pouches. And there is an incredibly choice of dried soups, etc.
For hiking, lightweight, high-energy foods, heavy in carbohydrates are preferred. You can buy energy bars, for instance. Or you can make your own. Here are some possibilities:
I don’t know what you should take but I know you should just make sure animals cant smell any of it. We too bread once and the raccoons riped through the tend and took it lol.
survival foods>http://www.pleasanthillgrain.com/foodpak1.aspx
Granola makes a good on trail snack for meals MRE’s and Freeze Dried are great. I also like to pack Ramen and prepare it with olive oil and parmesan cheese.
I know weight is a consideration, but depending on the size of your group & the length of your hike, here is one of my favorite camping meals…if you don’t have to carry it too far… (maybe put it in one of the kids backpacks)
If you can take a large pot & water, this is a great family meal…it’s really hot & hearty. take a small head of cabbage, 6 or 8 potatoes, 6 or 8 large carrots & a pack or 2 of beef kielbasa. Cut it all into 2″ pcs(cabbage in eighths), throw in a large pot with lid & boil for about 45 minutes…Its a full balanced meal & you can drink the hot cabbage liquor(broth) on the side…It’s sooooo good!!!