Sleeping bag: Bring it or fling it?

Hey Sleepy,

Years ago, it was very common to use sleeping bags in youth hostels and other budget accommodations. These days, not so much. After a few months on the road, they tend to accumulate all sorts of tiny creepy crawlies, which understandably puts off hostel owners. Consequently you’ll often see signs forbidding them in dorm rooms. The good news is, as backpacking has gradually moved upscale over the years, almost all hostels now have a ready supply of blankets on hand. Hopefully they’re clean!

Fortunately there’s something else, called a “sleep sack”, which I’ve never heard of anyone banning. Essentially just a queen-size sheet folded over and sewn into a bag, they’re easy to launder and serve as a nice protective barrier between you and whatever your hostel’s cleaners failed to catch. You can buy them ready-made, or if you have access to a sewing machine, quickly make one yourself.

Of course, if you’re planning on sleeping in the rough, or traveling through truly cold places like the Himalayas, forget all this, and bring your subzero sleeping bag along. Life without toes is no fun at all.