A good night’s rest is finally in the bag for tall campers

The long and short of it is that as campers have got bigger and tents more varied in shape and size, sleeping bags have failed to follow suit – until now.

Leisure and cycling retailer Halfords has responded to demands from taller camping fans with the launch of a new super-sized extra large sleeping bag that is 41% bigger than the standard size.

The offer of the longer model comes as official figures show the average Briton is getting taller at the rate of 0.75 inches a generation. Official Health of the Nation figures show 30% of men under 25 are now over six feet tall.

With camping becoming ever more popular – the Camping and Caravanning Club saw a 43% increase in site occupancy over Easter this year – so the one-size fits all approach has become increasingly outdated for sleeping accessories.

Ordinary sleeping bags are usually 230cm high by 80cm wide. The new Urban Escape XL Garda envelope sleeping bag from Halfords is a whopping 265cm high by 95cm wide giving more room to turn, stretch and get a good night’s rest for the tallest camping fans.
Human have been increasing in size for around 100 years thanks to better diets, healthcare and more prosperous lifestyles, according to Professor Bernard Harris, from the University of Southampton.

In the 1780s, the average height of a 14-year-old working-class child was 1.3m. Today the Scots average 1.73m for an adult male, while those living in south-east England stand at 1.75m.

Halfords Camping Expert Paul Fensome said: “We only have to observe our customers to see how the general population is growing taller. Having an adequately sized sleeping bag is essential to staying cosy when camping out and getting a good night’s sleep. This addition to our range will help our larger customers feel more comfortable.”

Camping Magazine described the new sleeping bag as combining, “excellent quality with value” and Halfords sleeping bag tester, Phil Latham, said: “For the taller person, it is important to have more room to move around in the sleeping bag. An extra-large sleeping bag will give the extra wiggle-factor needed for a good night’s sleep.”

The Urban Escape XL Garda Envelope Sleeping Bag features double layer insulation, a ridgehood with drawstring, internal security pocket and 2-way anti-snag zip. It costs £27.99.

For more information, visit Halfords.com.