sleeping.

how to select a sleeping bag.

Sleeping bags are the most versatile and popular sleep system of choice for outdoors enthusiasts and professionals alike. They go unrivaled in comfort to weight ratio and are extremely packable for various carry systems. There are many factors when considering the correct sleeping bag for any given trip, these are some of the most important points to deliberate.

Temperature Rating

Sleeping bags have various temperature ratings which is the suggested outside temperature for use. While it is not a restriction it is important to understand that the temperature range is the ideal environment for that bag and will be less ideal, but still function out of the specified temperature range. Three season bags or summer bags will usually have a temperature range of thirty degrees and above with 15 or 20 degrees being its extreme limit. One could of course choose to use a bag of this rating during the winter but would need more resources and clothing to stay warm through the night. Reversed, a winter bag can be used during the summer months, but the user would likely overheat and sweat throughout an uncomfortable night.

Filling

The density and material of the filling is what gives the bag most of its thermal properties. There are two major types of filling, synthetic and feather/down. There are benefits to both kinds and neither is necessarily better than the other. Synthetic materials are generally used for three season bags and some winter bags and are more economical and better in bad conditions. Synthetics main advantage over down / feather bags is its ability to work whilst wet. This helps sustain the bags warmth through small amounts of moisture like sweat or condensation. Synthetic filling itself also dries out much faster than its competitor. Down and feather bags are advantaged through their significantly better ‘fill power’, the grading system that evaluates a bag’s ability to retain heat (REI.com). Within winter bags, down bags tend to compress better and weigh less overall. This makes down a popular choice within winter bags but come with a risk of seriously reduced performance when wet.

Shell / Liner Fabrics

The inner liner and shell layers are typically made from some sort of nylon or polyester to protect the filling from both your body and the outside environment. Higher end sleeping bags sometimes include hybrid liners like polycotton or even 100% silk which provides extra comfort at even further reduced performance when wet. The shell layer usually includes a protective weave like ripstop that helps the overall durability of the sleeping bag from minor tears or punctures in rugged terrain (campingintheforest.co.uk).

mummy style.

Quilts.

Size / Shape

There are various options for shape and size otherwise known as ‘styles’ of sleeping bags. In terms of sizing, the options fall under single and double sized bags for one or two people respectively. While dimensions can vary the sizing still falls under these umbrella categories. Shape and style are where most of the variation comes for sleeping bags. Most popular are mummy style bags that are form fitting and with almost no dead space, create a climate of sustained warmth throughout the night. On the other extreme, rectangular bags are popular for those who enjoy spreading out at night and value the extra maneuverability. In the middle is semi rectangular bags also known as barrel or tapered bags that resemble a mummy shape but with slightly more room, especially towards the bottom. While there are size and weight differences, the difference here is comfort and what feels best for the users sleep. It’s important to experiment as beneficial rest is critical on extended trip and it can sometimes be as trivial as legroom that makes all the difference.

Extra

Some sleeping bags come with extra functionality for convenience and comfort. Vent and tow way zippers are common addition to sleeping bags allowing for better air flow and sweat management. Zipper tabs are commonly even glow in the dark for easier access at night. Mummy style bags often have draw strings to shrink the head opening for better heat containment. Baffles are also standard on most sleeping bags today, a stitching that prevents the fill from shifting between the two shell layers and creating inconvenient clumps of differing insulation.

Sleeping Pads

Sleeping pads are insulating layers that separate your body from the floor of the tent / the ground. Beyond that, they provide needed back support and comfort for better night’s sleep. Sleeping pads come in a variety of shapes sizes and designs but they usually fall under foam or air-mattress styles. These mats are graded in what’s called R value, which in basic understanding is its insulation level. By stacking sleeping pads, it is even possible to combine R values for even better insulation. Many winter adventurists bring both a foam and air pad for increased insulation, comfort, and protection from the cold.

foam.

Foam mats can be as simple as a yoga mat or as complex as a closed cell collapsible mat. These types of mat’s are lightweight, foolproof and an excellent option for mild to intermediate trips and climates. For that reason, they have relatively low R values when compared to the Dead Air Space of air-mattresses. Another positive tradeoff you get with foam pads is their affordability, durability, and versatility. Foam pads can be used as an impromptu seat, windshield or even emergency splint without any concern of puncture or damage (nemoequipment.com). Even if damage in sustained, they are normally still perfectly functional and easily replicable.

air mattress.

Air-mattress style pads are popular for increased comfort and insulation over their foam counterparts. Air mattresses are traditionally blown up manually to the user’s optimal comfort / support level, however some mats today can even be inflated via airbag or even self-inflating for increased ease of use. One could imagine that this obviously comes at a higher price tag than foam pads. They are also fragile as one puncture could very quickly deflate the whole pad and render it useless. These pads require you to bring some sort of patch kit on every trip which can be a nuisance. The benefits however are a much better R value, customizable stiffness, and significantly increased comfort for side and stomach sleepers. Some air pads are even custom made for different sleep styles with different thicknesses and support areas.

other considerations.

Liners

Sleeping bag liners are just that, they are a separate lining that you slide into your sleeping bag at night for better insulation and comfort. It is an effective and cost-efficient way to stretch the capabilities of any given sleep system. They are a great option for fall and spring sleep systems where it may be too cold or hot for a specific bag. They also help increase the ratings of winter bags an extra couple of degrees which can make all the difference in extreme cases.

Over-bags

Over-bags are an additional outer layer for your sleeping bag that does much the same as a liner but over top of the whole system. Usually designed for mountain environments these are primarily focused on retaining warmth in harsh cold and winters. Associated with over bags is increased warmth and durability for the most extreme of conditions.

Bivy’s

Bivy bags are high mountain emergency shelters designed for last effort survival in face of unexpected weather or storms These tiny almost coffin style structures are just designed to fit just the user and their sleeping bag with zero wasted space. Today, bivy bags have been somewhat commercialized for ultralight camping and adventuring use, allowing their users better protection from the elements without committing to a whole tenting system. When combined with a ground cloth or overhead tarp, they can make perfectly functional shelter systems for solo travel.

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