How to choose a sleeping bag: a buying guide

How to choose a sleeping bag: a buying guide

Our comprehensive guide to choosing a sleeping bag will ensure a comfortable night's sleep whatever the temperature

Whether you're a weekend warrior hitting the mountains or preparing for a multi-day trek through the Himalayas, choosing the right sleeping bag can make or break a camping trip.

It could be the difference between waking up fully charged and ready for another day on the trail or completely exhausted and ready to pack up and head home to the comfort of your own bed.

With that in mind, we've put together a comprehensive guide to choosing a sleeping bag.

How to choose a sleeping bag

We have divided our guide into the following subsections.

• Wo werden Sie Ihren Schlafsack verwenden?
• Wärmewerte
• Staffelbewertungen
• Isolierung: Daune vs Synthetik
• Daunenfüllkraft
• Wichtige Merkmale, nach denen Sie suchen sollten
• Formen und Größen

Where will you use your sleeping bag?

The first question you need to ask yourself is, “Where will I use my sleeping bag?”

I have two sleeping bags. One of these is a four-season or 'pro-performance' bag which I use in more extreme conditions such as trekking in the Himalayas, high altitude climbing or winter camping trips in the UK and Europe.

The other is a lighter three-season bag that I use for spring, summer and autumn trips in the UK and Europe.

Before you buy a sleeping bag, think about where you're traveling, what climate you'll experience, and whether you need to consider weight.

Nicram Sabod/ShutterstockWhere will you use your sleeping bag?

There's little point in investing in a heavy, four-season, expedition-style sleeping bag that you'll only use in the summer. On the other hand, a night that's too cold can ruin a camping trip and potentially put you in danger.

If you are hiking for several days, you should also remember to keep your backpack as light as possible. However, if it's a family vacation, a festival, or just an overnight trip, packing weight probably won't be as much of an issue.

Before you buy a sleeping bag, think carefully about what you want to use it for.

Heat values

Once you know where you plan to use your sleeping bag, you can start thinking about warmth ratings.

There are two temperature limits to consider when choosing your bag: the comfort limit and the extreme limit. These are usually shown on a sleeping bag's label using a color-coded scale.

Jens Ottoson/ShutterstockA warmth rating for a sleeping bag

The comfort limit is the lowest temperature at which you should be able to sleep comfortably and safely. For reference, my four-season backpack has a comfort limit of -12°C and my three-season backpack has a comfort limit of -2°C.

The extreme limit is basically the survival temperature, or the minimum temperature at which the bag will keep you alive without causing you frostbite. My four-season bag has an extreme limit of -42°C and my three-season bag has -21°C.

Many heat values ​​also have a “lower limit” or “transition temperature” between the comfort and extreme limits as a reference.

In general, when it comes to sleeping bags, it is better to choose a sleeping bag that is a little too warm than one that is too cold, as it cools down more easily than it warms up.

We recommend purchasing a sleeping bag with a comfort limit that allows for a lower temperature than expected. This allows for a few degrees of insurance so you can get a good night's sleep.

eskystudio/ShutterstockSleeping bags use warmth and season ratings

Season ratings

Some manufacturers may use a “seasonal rating” instead of a heat rating. Although simple enough, a season rating is a less accurate method of measuring a bag's suitability.

It's a pretty self-explanatory system:

• Vier Jahreszeiten: Das ganze Jahr über geeignet, einschließlich kalter Winternächte mit Frost und Schnee.
• Drei Jahreszeiten: geeignet für Frühling, Sommer und Herbst, aber nicht für Nächte mit Frost oder Schnee.
• Zwei Jahreszeiten: Nur für Frühling und Sommer geeignet.
• Eine Saison: Nur für Sommercamping und Indoor-Nutzung geeignet.

Insulation: down vs synthetic

There are two main types of insulation in a sleeping bag: down and synthetic. The type of insulation determines the price, durability, weight, compression and care required for your sleeping bag.

• Höheres Wärme-Gewichts-Verhältnis.
• Behält bei richtiger Pflege länger seine Bauschkraft (Bauschigkeit).
• Verliert Isolierfähigkeit bei Nässe.
• Weniger haltbar (läuft leicht aus, wenn es zerrissen wird).
• Benötigt mehr Pflege (Daunenschlafsäcke sollten in einem Netzsack aufbewahrt werden).
• Teurer.

• Geringeres Wärme-Gewichts-Verhältnis.
• Verliert seinen Loft schneller als Daune.
• Behält bei Nässe mehr von seiner Isolierfähigkeit.
• Haltbarer.
• Benötigt weniger Pflege.
• Billiger.
• Ethischer.

Ethical Considerations: Remember that geese and ducks are victims of the down trade. Therefore, we recommend that you choose “traceable down” or down with the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) label.

This means that manufacturers can trace the origin of their down and the harvesting practices of their suppliers.

ANGHI/ShutterstockGoose and duck down are used in sleeping bags

Despite significant advances in synthetic insulation, humans have yet to develop an insulating power equal to down, which still has the best warmth-to-weight ratio.

Our advice is if you plan to only use your sleeping bag in warmer climates or on shorter trips, then opt for a synthetic sleeping bag. They are cheaper, more durable, work well in wet conditions and are more ethical.

However, if you plan to use your sleeping bag in colder climates or on longer trips, then choose a down sleeping bag. Down is still the warmest.

Down fill power

When it comes to down, the quality of insulation is usually measured by “fill power.” This is basically how much insulation can fit in a given area (in this case, cubic inches). The higher the number, the better.

Generally:

• 650 Fillpower gelten als hochwertig.
• 750-850 Fillpower gelten als in der oberen Qualitätsklasse.
• 900+ Fillpower ist die beste Qualität.

Note: There are two main methods for measuring fill power, and the "US" method gives a slightly higher value than the "EU" method for the same quality of down. A fill power of 800+ according to the EU method roughly corresponds to a fill power of 850+ according to the US method.

Important features to look for

Neck baffles are the additional padding pieces that are located around the neck area. They are great for reducing cold spots and heat loss.

Draft tubes are the same as neck baffles but are located along the zippers and reduce drafts and heat loss.

Drawstrings are usually located near the shoulders and around the hood of the sleeping bag and help secure the opening and reduce heat loss.

Stash pockets are useful for storing valuables or devices that are particularly vulnerable to the cold.

Zippers on sleeping bags are notorious for snagging, so look for self-locking zippers and anti-snag sliders or guards.

Shapes and sizes

Finally, you should consider the size and shape of your sleeping bag.

Mummy sleeping bags are the most popular shape and are tapered at the legs and head to follow the natural contours of the shoulders and hips. These are the most efficient in terms of space and weight and will keep you warmest, but can feel restrictive once you're zipped in.

alt=“A mummy sleeping bag in the snow”>Ondra Vacek/ShutterstockMummy sleeping bags are the warmest

Rectangular sleeping bags are square on the bottom and top of the sleeping bag to prioritize comfort over performance. They are slightly more versatile in that they can be opened and used as a blanket, but can be bulky and are not efficient in terms of space, weight or warmth.

Double sleeping bags are designed for two people, which can be romantic but not very practical. They tend to be bulky, heavy and have a low warmth-to-weight ratio.

Cover photo: Jens Ottoson/Shutterstock

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