How to select a sleeping bag: buying advice

How to select a sleeping bag: buying advice

Our comprehensive guide to choose a sleeping bag ensures a pleasant night's sleep at every temperature

No matter whether you are a weekly warner who storms into the mountains, or prepare for a multi -day hike through the Himalaya, the choice of the right sleeping bag can decide a camping trip about success or failure.

It could be the difference whether you are fully charged and ready for another day on the trail or are completely exhausted and ready to pack your things together and go home in the comfort of your own bed.

Against this background we have put together a comprehensive guide to choose a sleeping bag.

How to select a sleeping bag from

We divided our guidelines into the following sub -sections.

• Where will you use your sleeping bag?
• heat values ​​
• relapse ratings
• insulation: Daune vs synthetic
• down filler
• important features that you should search for
• shapes and sizes

Where will you use your sleeping bag?

The first question you have to ask yourself is: "Where will I use my sleeping bag?"

I have two sleeping bags. One of them is a four-year period or "pro-performance" bag, which I use under extreme conditions such as trekking in Himalaya, climbing at great altitude or winter camping trips in Great Britain and Europe.

The other is a lighter bag for three seasons that I use for spring, summer, summer and autumn trips in Great Britain and Europe.

Before you buy a sleeping bag, think about where you are traveling, which climate you will experience and whether you have to take the weight into account.

nicram Sabod/Shutterstock Where will you use your sleeping bag?

It makes little sense to invest in a difficult four-year sleeping bag in an expedition style that you only use in summer. On the other hand, a camping trip that is too cold can ruin and possibly put it in danger.

If you hike for several days, you should also remember to keep your backpack as easy as possible. However, if it is a family vacation, a festival or just an excursion with an overnight stay, the pack weight is probably not such a big problem.

Before you buy a sleeping bag, consider exactly what you want to use it for.

heat values ​​

As soon as you know where you want to use your sleeping bag, you can start thinking about heat values.

When choosing your bag, two temperature limits must be taken into account: the comfort limit and the extreme limit. These are usually displayed on the label of a sleeping bag using a color -coded scale.

Jens Ottoson/Shutterstock A heat evaluation for a sleeping bag

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

The outermost limit is basically the survival temperature or the minimum temperature in which the bag keeps it alive without being frosted. My four-year pocket has an extreme limit of -42 ° C and my three-year pocket has -21 ° C.

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

We recommend buying a sleeping bag with a comfort limit that allows a lower temperature than expected. This enables a few degrees as insurance so that you can sleep relaxing.

Eskystudio/Shutterstock Use sleeping bags Heat and season ratings

relapse ratings

Some manufacturers may use a "season evaluation" instead of a heating evaluation. Although it is simple enough, a season evaluation is a less precise way to measure the suitability of a bag.

It is a fairly self -explanatory system:

• Four seasons: Suitable all year round, including cold winter nights with frost and snow.
• Three seasons: Suitable for spring, summer and autumn, but not for nights with frost or snow.
• Two seasons: only suitable for spring and summer.
• One season: only suitable for summer camping and indoor use.

Insulation: Daune VS Synthetics

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

• higher heat weight ratio.
• retains his bull power longer if properly maintained.
• loses insulation of wetness.
• less durable (runs easily if it is torn).
• needs more care (down sleeping bags should be kept in a net bag).
• more expensive.

• lower heat weight ratio.
• loses his loft faster than Daune.
• keeps more from its insulation.
• more durable.
• needs less care.
• cheaper.
• ethical.

ethical considerations: Remember that geese and ducks are victims of down trading. We therefore recommend that you decide for "traceable down" or down with the responsible down Standard (RDS) label.

This means that the manufacturers can understand the origin of their down and the harvest practices of the suppliers.

Anghi/Shutterstock goose and duck down are used in sleeping bags

Despite significant progress in synthetic insulation, people still have to develop an insulating force that is equivalent to the Daune, which still has the best heat weight ratio.

Our advice is if you plan to use your sleeping bag only in warmer climate zones or on shorter trips, then you choose a synthetic sleeping bag. They are cheaper, more durable, also work on moisture and are ethical.

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

down filler

When it comes to down, the quality of the insulation is usually measured on the "building power". This is basically how much insulation fits a certain area (in this case cubic toll). The higher the number, the better.

in general:

• 650 Fillpower are considered high quality.
• 750-850 Fillpower are considered in the upper quality class.
• 900+ Fillpower is the best quality.

NOTE: There are two main methods for measuring the building power, and the "US" method gives a slightly higher value than the "EU" method for the same down quality. A Fillpower of 800+ using the EU method corresponds approximately to a Fillpower of 850+ using the US method.

Important features that you should look for

necklace plates are the additional upholstery parts that are around the neck area. They are ideal for reducing cold areas and heat losses.

draft pipes are the same as neck guidelines, but are located along the zippers and reducing drafts and heat loss.

train straps are usually near the shoulders and around the hood of the sleeping bag and help to secure the opening and reduce the loss of heat.

Stash Pockets are useful to stow valuables or devices that can be particularly attacked by the cold.

zippers on sleeping bags are notorious to get stuck, so pay attention to self-locking zippers and anti-snag slide or protection devices.

forms and sizes

Finally, you should take the size and shape of your sleeping bag into account.

mummy sleeping bags are the most popular shape and taper on the legs and on the head to follow the natural contours of the shoulders and hips. These are the most efficient in terms of space and weight and keep you warmly, but can feel restrictive as soon as you are tapped.

alt = "a mummy sleeping bag in the snow"> ONDRA VACEK/Shutterstock mummy sleeping bags are the warmest

rectangular sleeping bags are square at the bottom and top of the sleeping bag in order to put the comfort about the performance. They are a little more versatile because they can be opened and used as a ceiling, 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 is not very practical. They are usually bulky, heavy and have a low heat weight ratio.

cover picture: Jens Ottoson/Shutterstock

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