Hiking

Image by Threat to Democracy via Flickr

. . . Helping You To a Good Nights Sleep on Your Hike

Hiking ain’t no fun if you haven’t had a good nights sleep, and so far on the other pages we’ve covered quite a lot of detail about tents and sleeping bags, but there are a couple of accessories which can help you to sleep even more peacefully on your backpacking adventure.

• Sleeping Bag Pillows – many backpackers sleeping bags have a pocket at the head which you can stuff with your hiking clothes to make a nice pillow to rest your weary head, but a self inflating pillow can make things even more comfy (you know how you always end up with a not so soft bit of your clothes sticking up, no matter which way you stuff that pillow compartment in your sleeping bag). For those who really do like all the comforts of home whilst they are in the middle of the wilderness (and don’t mind carrying the little extras in their backpack . . . or hubby’s backpack) then a self inflating (or even not self inflating, but one that needs a little bit of puff power) can really help you to get a good nights sleep.
• Sleeping bag straps – some backpacks have a separate compartment in which to carry your sleeping bag whilst you are hiking, others don’t but have straps which you can use to fasten your sleeping bag securely onto your backpack. Well, you can buy these separately if you need to, and securely attach your sleeping bag to the exterior of your backpack (but with quick release fastenings for when you get tired).
• Sleeping bag stuff sacks – are usually supplied with your sleeping bag and really do make a big difference to the volume of sleeping bag you have to carry.
• Trash liners  inside your sleeping bag stuff sack, so your sleeping bag is effectively inside a trash liner then inside the stuff sack will help to keep your sleeping bag dry when the heavens open. You really do not want a wet sleeping bag, that’s not good for sleeping in at all.

Okay, let’s see how these hold up . . . stormy weather indeed!

Not bad at all on the whole . . . yes, I’m pretty impressed.