Camping has exploded in popularity as many parents take their children for weekend camping trips. Camping in the United Kingdom, even in the summer months, is always a risky business. Not because of potentially encountering Bears or Snakes but due to the uncertain and changeble British weather.

But, as long as yiou have the right camping equipment you and your family can have a lot of fun, regardless of the weather. One of the most important pieces of camping kit has got to be your sleeping bags.

There are a bewildering number of sleeping bag designs to choose from, some costing only a few pounds and others costing a small fortune. So how do you choose the right ones for you and your family?

The first thing to consider is the time of year and where you will be camping. There is really no need to buy an expensive winter quality sleeping bag if you are only ever going to use it during the summer months.

Something else to keep in mind is packing. Will you be hiking with your sleeping bag in a backpack or will it never need to be crammed into a small pack? If you expect to be hiking with your sleeping bag in a backpack then size and weight will be important considerations.

Yet another consideration is who the sleeping bag is for, how big they are and their specific comfort requirements. Some people (including my own partner) are never comfortable sleeping within the confines of a sleeping bag and lots of children prefer to have child size bags.

And lastly, the most important factor to consider which is, of course, price. You will find both down filled and polyester filled sleeping bags at a variety of prices. Down filled bags tend to be the most expensive and most suitable for winter and all year round use.

Your most economical sleeping bag is likely to be polyester filled and suitable for the warmer summer months only. You will probably also want a sleeping matt or maybe an airbed for sleeping comfort and insulation from the cold ground.