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Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Bags
At the end of an adventurous day outdoors, there is nothing quite like crawling into a comfy sleeping bag and enjoying some rest. To help you narrow your selection and find the perfect sleeping bag, here are a few important things to consider and features to look out for.
Temperature Ratings
All sleeping bags have a recommended temperature rating. It refers to the lowest temperature the bag is suitable for. However, because outside factors like your metabolic rate and the sleeping mat you use will also affect how warm (or cold) you are when sleeping, it's probably best to mentally add about 10° when searching for the right bag. This means you should think of a 20° bag as really 30°'s, -20 as -10 and so on.
Down Insulation
Goose down is the lightest, most compressible insulator available, giving it a high warmth-to-weight ratio. That means that a 20° down bag will probably weigh less than a 20° synthetic. This is important for hikers who can't afford to carry too much weight. Also because it retains its superior insulating qualities for years and years, down is a terrific investment. On the minus side, when down gets wet it stops insulating and becomes heavier.
Fill Power
Down's insulating ability is measured in fill power. This refers to the number of cubic centimetres given mass of down will displace when under controlled pressure. The higher the fill power, the less down the bag needs to keep you warm. This is why a sleeping bag insulated with 800-fill down will most likely weigh less than a bag using 600-fill.
Synthetic Insulation
As a rule, synthetic insulation performs better in wet weather than down; it dries faster and is usually less expensive. Remember, though, that compared to down; synthetic is bulkier and wears out sooner.
PrimaLoft® Insulation
Sometimes called "synthetic-down" for its compressibility and great warmth-to-weight ratio, PrimaLoft stands out from other synthetics. Its fibres are very hydrophobic, making it the best of all insulations at dealing with wet conditions. Thinking of hiking trip in a rain forest! PrimaLoft is your best bet.
PrimaLoft Infinity
Is the latest generation of this insulation. It's a continuous filament synthetic, giving it a longer life-span when compared to other types of PrimaLoft and most other synthetics.
Shell Fabric
Ideally, shell fabric should be lightweight and at least somewhat water-resistant (especially if it covers down insulation). Pertex® nylon is a good example of an ultralight, weather-resistant shell material. Bear in mind, though, that water resistance refers to repelling spills and condensation, not sleeping in the rain without a tent.
Mummy Bags
Narrower at the feet and head, mummy-shaped sleeping bags are more heat efficient than rectangular bags because there is less unused space. And since less material has been used to make it, the mummy is also the lightest and most packable shape. If you are camping in cold weather, go with a mummy bag.
Zip Length
Extremely ultralight sleeping bags sometimes shave ounces off by providing a very short main zipper, or even deleting it altogether. You will have to weigh the convenience of a full-length zip against the savings in weight you get with a partial-length zip.
User Height
Don't select the user height too closely! If a bag is recommended for people up to six feet, and you are exactly six feet, try going up a size. Extra height also lets you store water bottles and clothing inside the bag when winter camping.
Women's Sleeping Bags
Women's bags are cut narrowly at the shoulders and widely at the hips, and the insulation is distributed in a way that's different from a men's. Women's sleeping bags are also shorter.
Two-Bag Option
Instead of buying a winter sleeping bag that can be used only in cold weather, you could couple two three-season sleeping bags together instead. This economic option works best if one of the bags is mummy shaped and the other rectangular.
Don't forget the sleeping Mat!
As you lie in your bag, your body compresses the insulation underneath, greatly reducing its ability to trap air. A sleeping mat or airbed compensates by insulating you from the cold ground below. I can personally assure you after a cold cold night next to Bala Lake in Wales this is not an item to forget!
Rectangular Bags
Rectangular sleeping bags are the roomiest. Plus, they can be opened up and used as quilts or zipped together as a double bed. The trade-offs are warmth and weight. All that extra room means more air your body needs to heat up once you get in. It also means that more materials have gone into making it, translating to greater weight. These bags are great for car camping and sleepovers.
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