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To stay warm on cool nights, you must assemble a good sleeping system
The best sleeping bags for motorcycle camping are synthetic-filled bags rated down to about 20 to 25 degrees
Fahrenheit. Down filled bags compress into a smaller space but will lose their warmth when wet - and they will likely
get wet on several motorcycle trips. Mummy bags may feel more confining than rectangular bags (especially for big
men) but compress and pack into a small space. Look for a bag that fits your body type and weighs
less than 4 pounds.
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| The newer bag (bottom) packs into a much smaller space than the older bag (top) |
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| The Kelty Adirondak and Sierra Designs Rosa bags are synthetic bags rated to 20 degrees |
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In addition to your sleeping bag, you will need a mattress or sleeping pad. Many novice campers buy
small, inexpensive foam pads that pack small. But, most veteran campers (including myself) know that self-inflating,
insulated air matresses such as the ones sold by Therm-a-Rest pack small and will keep you warmer on cool nights.
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| The Therm-a-Rest Expedition (left) is more comfortable but the Prolite 4 (right) packs small. |
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| Robin was reluctant to get up one cool morning |
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You will also need a pillow. You could use a daypack, a stuff sack filled with clothes, a dirty clothes
bag, or a small pillow cover stuffed with clothes. I bought a flannel pillow cover from a sporting goods store
and replaced the stuffing with clothing for one day (T shirt, underwear, socks, thermal underwear, long sleeve
shirt, and a pair of swim shorts).
To stay warm on cool nights, you must also wear long pants, wool socks, and a hat.
This book lists over 50 sleeping bag models and gives lots of information that will help you select the
sleeping gear that best suits your needs.
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