The foundation for comfort outdoors , a sleeping bag is probably the most essential item of bivouacking paraphernalia . But , they now come in a lot of styles . Mummy , rectangle , quilt , synthetic , down and backed or backless . Which is right for you ?
Why You Need A Sleeping Bag
I have friend who come political party bivouacking sometimes who just bring a jumbo pile of sympathiser . This works pretty well during the summer , where nighttime temporary do n’t incline to fall below about 50 degrees , even in the mountains , but even then , the shear volume of insularity they have to fetch along is positively ridiculous . A proper sleeping base would provide as much if not more heat and comfort while pack down to a small , manageable size with much less weight .
insulating material requirements outdoors are simply far greater than they ever will be at home . Not only does your bed keep you off the stale ground , but you are n’t facing wind , rain and very cold temperatures . A sleeping bag is design - establish to address all of that , providing the most effective possible cocoon of warmth for the human body in a portable package .
Not everyone take a-30 sleeping bag design for backpacking through the Himalayas , but even a basic , low-cost summer sleeping grip will be a good choice for tent out at Coachella than just bringing a blanket ever will be .
What Type Of Sleeping Bag Is Right For You?
You ’re likely familiar with the rectangle and the mummy , but there ’s now way more to sleeping cup of tea than just those two shapes .
Rectangle : These maximize space at the expense of heat , free weight and jam-packed size . A good selection for summer railcar bivouacking , but not much more . You do n’t want to hold a rectangle for any distance . rectangle do be given to be cheesy though .
Mummy : By contouring the base closely to your eubstance shape , mummy bag denigrate weightiness and majority while maximise warmth , a virtue add together to by the goon , which retains high temperature from your shoulders , neck and head teacher .
Semi - Rectangular : Ca n’t get easy within the restrictive confines of a traditional mummy ? These are a hybrid between rectangular and mummy bags , offering most of the blank space of the former with the warmth of the latter . In most cases , carry to be stock a piffling more weight and packed size with one of these . Every manufacturer suddenly has their own version of one of these ; spoonful , whorled , pyramid , whatever , they ’re all semi - rectangle contrive to add a small comfort back into the mom and all at the expense of more weight .
Bed - way : A new case of bag from Sierra Designsemphasizes comforter and versatility across variety of sleep ( side , back , breadbasket ) without sacrificing warmth , but with a picayune add free weight and pack loudness .
comforter : These are capable to pack much small and lighter than traditional designs by ditching the bottom insularity . You need to use an insulated quiescence pad with these as a result , but you should be doing that in any case . Some quilts contain foot boxes and hoodlum , but the prototypical design is literally just a flat square toes . More various than they sound , you could easy adapt a comfort to a warm night but by poking your ramification or legs out or folding the comfort down a piece . But , it takes a little practice to get the most warmth potential out of a quilt and to feel good in one . A capital option for ultralight summertime pack and a estimable way to supplement another bag ’s warmth in the wintertime .
Integrated Bags and Pads : The gold standard . With similar thinking to the comforter , a much greater degree of comfort , warmth , stability and security is achieved by integrating a sleeping bag and stamp pad into a single , often modular whole . The design also belittle jam-packed weight and volume . But , you have to bribe the dish and pad together and these are typically only made by timber brands , so this may be out of some campers ’ budget .
What Temperature Ratings Mean
dead nothing . really , let me step back for a second . There ’s a world-wide job across the outdoors industry with a lack of foil and honesty about the public presentation of its intersection . This is most apparent in sleeping bagful temperature valuation . I ’ve slept warm in bags value to 32 degree fahrenheit than I have in others rate to zero . And , despite the borrowing of the European Norm ( EN ) testing communications protocol , there is no good , objective , worldwide testing procedure you could use to either equate the performance of traveling bag across manufacturers or even to just get an idea of how warm any bag will be .
This problem is doubled by the fact that all us human being sleep differently . I ’ve sweated in the same old bag , on the same night , where my girl thought she was going to freeze to death . Not only do char and serviceman kip with dissimilar levels of fondness , but your individual results will vary from another appendage of your sex too . The only way to love how warm a bag is , is to actually sleep in it . Which is a number of a Catch 22 .
Most pocketbook will have two numbers : a comfortableness limit and an extreme limit . The comforter is the of import one . tote up 10 or 15 level ( Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit ) to it and that ’s typically the in force minimal temperature at which you ’ll be prosperous .
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That applies to quality manufacturers only . Whilecamping with Bear Grylls , I spent a nighttime in one of his own - brand synthetic bags grass to 0F. It got down to about 15 that Nox and , even with all my stratum on , I was so cold I could just sleep . Buy your bag from a major outdoors mark you distinguish and trust and still summate that 10 or 15 degrees on top of its comfort military rank .
Down or Synthetic?
Are you sensitised to down ? No ? bribe a down bag . The decision is in earnest that simple . Down packs more passion into a smaller volume and lasts longer too . It ’s important to store any traveling bag uncompressed and to permit it to fully dry out after any trip , but the service spirit of a celluloid traveling bag is only a few old age before its insulating fibre break down . A timber down bag will last a few decades . That makes them deserving their humble premium .
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The only advantage of man-made insulation is that it insulates even when it ’s wet . You patently need to take pains to ensure your freakin ’ sleeping bag is ironical in any event , but simply using a rainproof stuff chemise such as those fromSeallinemakes doing so idiot - trial impression . And , new hydrophobic coatings such as Downtek are eliminate this problem anyways , give down the ability to retain its loft ( and therefore its insulation ) even when soaked through . Look for that technology on any timbre slumber bag you be after to buy .
The Power Of Fill
You ’ll see down name by its “ fill office , ” which is the volume 1 oz of it can loft into , in cubic inches . So , 1 oz of 600 - fill down loft into 600 three-dimensional inches and 1 oz of 900 - fill down lofts into 900 cubic inches , etc . compare two bags of equivalent temperature ratings and features , the one with the higher fill business leader fill be clean and more squeezable .
timbre sleep udder manufacturers will also list the weighting of a bag ’s fill in ounces . you’re able to face under a old bag ’s proverbial strong-armer when shopping by comparing filling index to fill system of weights . A suitcase with both a gamy filling number and mellow filling weight will be a warmer , more lofted handbag .
Image viaFeathered Friends
Bag Construction
Your down catch some Z’s bag is constructed of baffles that hold the plume in place . How these baffles are shaped can have a large impact on your bag ’s warmness and system of weights .
The best old bag utilize box seat baffles , in which there ’s a large separation in meridian at the stitch between baffle that keeps quick air in . This is a unproblematic , light and efficient method of making a sleeping bag .
Cheaper bags use quilt baffle board ( or “ Bavarian Baffles ” ) that just sew together though the layers , bringing them together between each baffle . This is obviously less insulative . Manufacturers accost that by using three-fold - height , alternate row of baffles call an offset - puff construction . More textile equals more weight .
Doubling Up For More Warmth
There ’s two ways to add warmth to a sleeping bag , both of which regard total insulation . But first , we should address the patently false myth that wearing your layer inside a sleeping bag will make you colder . That is perfectly , categorically out of true . So long as the dress you are wearing are dry , the more you bear of them inside your bag , the warmer you will be . In cold-blooded temperatures , I never go to bottom without a thick pair of wool socks on my feet , a exercise set of merino sheep wool base layers covering my organic structure and a wool capital on my head . If I get cold during the night , I will add a down jacket and other insulative mid - layer as necessary . More insulation is more warmth , period .
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But , sleeping in all your layers should be a last recourse . A great elbow room to accomplish a warm sleep without break in the coin bank is simply to combine two dormancy bags . This works peculiarly well if you have a lightweight summer base you may pair with a mid - weight three - season bag . Do n’t overthink it , just figure out which handbag fits best in the other and geminate them .
Want to figure out how warm a combining of purse will be ? I ’ve find this formula from theBackpackingLight forumto be fairly accurate :
x -(70 – y)/2 = z
x = first bag ( higher rank / lower degree )
y = second grip ( lower place / high degree )
zed = rating of repeat bag
This is in fahrenheit and work best if you employ experience - base form rather than just a grip ’s bullshit selling call .
And do n’t bury , you needan insulated sleeping padtoo !
Packing And Storage
Most bags come with an included stuff sack . With very few exceptions , that poppycock sack is neither a dependable spot to store your bag or an effective way of life to denigrate its volume for pack .
Storing your purse compress will cause its insularity stuff to break down over time . It can also make retained moisture to grow mold . Both are big . Either store your bag in a purpose - built , breathable cotton plant or mesh kip bag storage bag or but pay heed it on a dress hanger in your water closet . ensure you ’re storing your bags somewhere ironical and well ventilated .
If you ’re serious about achieving the pocket-sized compact sizing for your bag , look for a quality aftermarket concretion sack with external densification straps or a roll - top dry bag of the type sold by Sealline that I already mention .
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Some hiker skip over the compressing sacks completely , rather using the sleeping bag to replete empty outer space in their backpack , brace their load . If you do this , be very careful to keep food and other odors off your sleep grip .
After a day ’s hike , your bag will need to regain its garret to supply warmth . When you take it out of its stuff sack , give it a good shake .
The Features You Want
On top of all the above , there ’s a number of “ feature ” that can be total or subtracted from a traveling bag to make it more comfortable , more commodious , lighter system of weights or scurvy toll .
Zippers : These can deviate in length from full to 1/4 . The longer a zipper is , the easier it is to get in and out and you need full - length zippers in mirror sides in fiat to zip up two bags together . A zip ’s size of it is typically list as a # X number . The larger that figure is , the broad the slide fastener teeth . face for a name mark zip fastener like YKK if you desire it to a ) last and b ) be repairable .
Foot Boxes : A common complaint about mummy and standardized bags is their tight foot boxes . This can be come up to with a trapezoidal or 3D footbox that will be prominent than the component part of the bag just above it .
baffle : Look for a sizeable , down - fill baffle board running the duration of the zipper run , obstruct atmosphere from menstruate through that . Bonus points if the baffle is faced with a big material that wo n’t rupture if catch in the zip .
front baffle board : These can help varnish the area around your face , helping keep warm air inside the base on a very stale night . They ferment , so long as they ’re well-to-do .
Pillow Sleeves : Want to use a pillow ? It helps a lot of it outride in home . A sleeve holds your pillow to the traveling bag but often requires that pillow be from the same maker as your bagful .
Pad Sleeves and straps : Designed to securely hold your pad and bag together , these range from elementary grommets through which you could tie your own cordage to full - length desegregate sleeves plan to accept a specific breadth , length and form of launchpad . Consider what pad you ’ll be using with the base and how you want it to connect .
Lady Bags : Women tend not only kip cold than men , but are also sometimes different shape . Lady - specific bags will be shorter in duration , narrower in the shoulder and extensive in the hip . They also pack more insulation .
Bag Lengths : You desire a bag sized as tight to your meridian as possible to minimize exercising weight and maximise heat , but one you may equip in well .
Electronics pouch : A good mind ! These let you to keep your cell phone or camera or whatever inside the bag with you , preserving its batteries on dusty nights .
Hood Cinch : You want the mummy hood to girth as closelipped to fully - unsympathetic as possible . On very cold nights you ’ll be sleeping with just your nose poke out .
Zipper pull : A zipper you may use from inside or outside the bag or both is a unspoiled idea .
DWR : A Durabable Water Repellant coating helps keep rain and condensation from penetrating your bag . You want this .
Leg And Foot Openings : These are speechless and unnecessary and should be avoided .
Sleeping Bag Tips And Tricks
Before you go to bottom , meet your uncompromising water bottle with tender water supply and throw that in your quiescence bag . This ’ll make it nice and warm when you ’re ready to wax in .
A log Z’s bag can not beget heat energy , it can only retain your body warmth . Do skip over jack to get your blood pump before climbing in on a cold night .
you may totally wash a down sleeping bag . Do so in the bathtub with tender water and laundry detergent . This help off your physical structure oils , which can cheapen both the fabric and the plume .
As soon as you get home from a encampment trip , take out your sleeping bag and hang it outside in the sun to amply dry for a twenty-four hours or so .
restore any teardrop or holes with epithelial duct magnetic tape before they grow . Patch or stitch them properly when you get home .
Keep your sleeping bag away from the fire , actuate easily put hollow in it and too much heating system will melt it .
Photos : Chris Brinlee Jr.
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