Bushwalk Australia

After much research and deliberation, i bought myself a Black Wolf Compact which is a great sleeping bag and has done really well so far. However i failed to notice when i did buy it (so much for the thorough research) that it has a tapered "mummy" design. I have a cheap $20 s/bag i bought from KMart which is great for the beach in summer. It is standard rectangular in shape, which i find a lot more comfortable as i can actually move around in it.

What is the difference between rectangular and tapered bags?

Personally, I think the 'mummy' design is great but probably best suited to cold conditions or for people who like to be wrapped like a 'mummy' in their bag! In cold weather your body heat can be kept in more effectively as the mummy bag is shaped to your body, avoiding cold pockets of air in corners of a rectangular bag. You may grow to love it! I also find the mummy bag tends to turn with you - which may be a good or bad thing - depending how you like to sleep. In warmer weather we unzip our bag and use it more like a doona.

scubabob wrote:What is the difference between rectangular and tapered bags?

You will find that all sleeping bags made for cold weather camping are tapered or "mummy" shaped. The idea is that there is less air space to be heated by the body. The other advantage is that there is less bag, so less weight to carry, or alternatively more fill weight can be added giving a warmer bag.

Thanks Lynda, i'll persevere with it a bit longer, i am sure i will grow to like it more. Since posting that, i have "Googled" sleeping bag design and have learnt a lot. thanks for your time

Tapered and Mummy shaped sleeping bags are definitely warmer, and definitely less comfortable in other aspects (for me, personally, at least). However, I've got a Mummy shaped bag, as I need something that will cope with very cold weather. I figure I don't sleep much while bushwalking anyhow, so I may as well at least be warm, while I'm lying around in my tent all night, wishing I was asleep.

We also have tapered sleeping bags and i used to fight mine constantly trying to turn and get comfortable. My wife (The clever partner) said if i think of wearing the bag and turn the bag with me rather than trying to turn within the bag its more user friendly. this must have worked i slept so soundly last weekend that i woke up with bites allover my legs from some little visitor in the bag and did not notice until i woke up in the morning.
Cheers Ivan

tapered and mummy bags basically are just a way to save weight and cut down on areas where the warmth can escape from the bag. this is why top end bags don't have full zips as they add to weight and allow for heat loss.