GROUND BEDS

AT HOME, a mattress beneath you and blankets on top trap your body heat and keep you warm. Outdoors, a couple of blankets will do the same on summer campouts in mild weather. You might want to fold the blankets into the shape of an envelope. If you have a choice, though, use a sleeping bag. Because it is snug around your body, a bag will often be warmer than blankets. It will also be easier to pack and to keep clean.

Sleeping Bag The cloth part of a sleeping bag is called the shell. Inside the shell is fill material of synthetic fibers or the down and feathers of ducks and geese. The fill traps your body heat and holds it close to you. For more warmth, zip the bag closed and pull the drawstring snug around your face. To keep A its loft, or thickness, evenly distrib- uted, shake your sleeping bag each time you use it.

Sleeping Pad Increase your comfort and warmth with a sleeping pad, a piece of foam that will give you a soft surface on which to sleep and will prevent the cold ground from drawing away your body heat. Pads are often lighter and more durable than air mattresses, and they insulate better. You can find them at camping supply stores.

Ground Cloth Keep moisture away from your bedding with a ground cloth - a plastic sheet cut to the size of your sleeping bag or tent floor. If you will be using a tent, tuck the edges of the ground cloth beneath the tent floor so that rainwater will not collect on the cloth and run under the tent.