How to choose a tent and sleeping bags

Seasonal Guidelines for sleeping bags 

Season

Temperature Range

Summer

Above 40 F

Three-Seasons (spring, fall, and high altitudes in summer)

15 F to 40 F

Winter Camping

-10 F to 15 F

Polar and extreme alpine

Below -10 F

REI Co-op Down Time 25 Down Sleeping Bag - Men's

                                           

Kelty Cosmic 20 Sleeping Bag - Men's

                                                   

REI Co-op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag - Men's

                                               

 

Choosing Ground Insulation (sleeping pad) 

Ground Insulation

Typical R-Values

Typical Uses

Closed cell foam: 0.38 in, 0.63 in, 0.75 in

R1.5, 2.7, 3.5

Inexpensive and puncture-proof. Multipurpose pads for sitting, dress, and cooking. Frequently combined with three-quarter-length self-inflating pad or insulating aire mattress.

Self-inflating pad: 1.5 in - 2 in

R2-5

General-purpose insulating pad.

Non-insulating air mattress

R1

Not appropriate for mountaineering except in mild weather.

Insulating air mattress

R2-5

General-purpose insulating mattress

Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Ultralight Foam Backpacking Mattress

 

Choosing a tent 

Before purchasing a tent, try it out at the store to check space, protection, and weight.

Space: Tents are rated for the number of sleepers, usually assuming no gear inside and smaller, rather friendly climbers. Is there sufficient head and foot room? How vertical are the walls? The steeper the walls, the greater the interior usable space. Is it easy to go in and out of the door(s)? Does each side have a door? How easy is the tent to set up?

Protection: Summer in the Sierra, autumn in the Alps, or winter in the Cascades? Will the shelter need to withstand above-timberline wind or heavy snowfall? A four-season tent implies more protection.

Weight: What does it really weigh? Break out the scale since manufacturers are notoriously optimistic. With two-person, four-season tents weighing from 3.3 to almost 10 pounds (1.5 to 4.5 kilograms), a tent can be the heaviest piece of gear in the pack. Ultralight two-person tents can weigh as little as 1.3 pounds (600 grams), and tarps, much less. Tents often list a "minimum

weight" (excluding stakes, stuff sacks, instructions, etcetera), and a "packaged weight," which includes everything. Use "minimum weight" for comparisons.

REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Plus Tent - 2020