CHOOSING THE PERFECT SLEEPING BAG
If you’re planning on taking a camping trip choosing the right sleeping bag can mean the difference between a good night sleep and next day exhaustion. In this guide we’ll look at the two main types of insulation material used.
There are two main categories – synthetic and down. In terms of warmth the best down bags are almost twice as warm as their synthetic rivals but cost considerably more.
SYTHETIC BAGS
Synthetic insulation bags work by trapping air between polymer fibres. The amount of air trapped can be increased by using microfibres, or hollow fibres in the manufacturing process.
DOWN BAGS
These bags are filled with bird feathers. A well designed bag will make sure the down is evenly dispersed and that there is enough space within each compartment for the feathers to trap the air and heat up.
Down sleeping bags are more expensive. Sometimes costing up to twice as much as the synthetic type. They are very warm in dry conditions and extremely lightweight. On the negative side they struggle in the wet losing almost all their insulation properties and take a long time to dry. Synthetic bags are perfect for family trips or festivals. They’re less expensive and easier to maintain but can be heavier and bulkier than the alternative down. Perhaps importantly, they function better in damp and wet conditions.
5 Classic UK Festival Performances
Nirvana, Reading, 1992
Before the gig critics questioned whether Nirvana would even make it to the stage. Rehearsals hadn’t gone well, the band had been fighting and a series of increasingly bizarre rumours dogged the lead singer Kurt Cobain. At various points gossip had him – hospitalised, arrested or even dead.
Mocking the bands detractors Cobain came onstage in a wheelchair, gave a nod to fellow Seattle band Mudhoney, feigned collapsing and launched into an incredible two hour show.
Jimi Hendrix, Isle of Wight Festival, 1970
According to the Guinness Book of World Records over 600,000 attended the festival. From a commercial perspective it was a disaster. Poor planning and inadequate safety meant that it was eventually announced as “a free festival”
At approximately 2 a.m, on the evening of the final day, Jim Hendrix appeared on stage. Those lucky enough to still be awake were treated to an electrifying performance from perhaps the greatest guitar player in history.
Queen, Live Aid, 1985
Live Aid was a global jukebox charity event to raise funds to help victims of the devastating Ethiopian famine. Practically every major popular artist was on the bill including Queen. Still, no one anticipated the impact of their performance. By the mid 80s, most people considered Queen to be past their best.
However, as soon as Freddie Mercury began to strut on stage it was clear something special was about to unfold. The reaction to Queen’s performance was extraordinary. The crowd and the watching audience at home were wowed. “ALL WE HEAR IS/RADIO GA-GA/RADIO GOO GOO” *claps hands in unison* “ALL WE HEAR IS/RADIO GA-GA/RADIO GOO GOO”.
The Smiths, Glastonbury, 1984
Festival organiser Michael Eavis has claimed that The Smiths debut in 1984 was every bit as controversial as Jay -Zs headlining act of 2008. Widely recognised as the performance that ushered in the modern era of Glastonbury, the idea of booking such a popular band as The Smiths originally caused uproar amongst the festival faithful.
Eavis recalled “When they started playing people started rushing towards the stage, Morrissey was actually beckoning them up onstage and when I saw that, I knew then the whole thing (Glastonbury) had changed into something else.”
Stone Roses, Spike Island, 1990
Were you at Spike Island? 27,000 lucky fans were and saw the Stone Roses perform what turned out to be a legendary gig. The beginning of ‘Madchester’. For such a mythologised event, the setting was somewhat unglamorous, a reclaimed toxic waste site opposite a cement factory.
Nevertheless, the gig will always be remembered as a key moment in British pop culture. The Roses were at the peak of their powers and for many this was the start of a magical, long, hot summer. The Berlin Wall would fall, Margaret Thatcher would be kicked out, and England nearly won the World Cup.
