By: Patrick Gensel
Just like you shouldn’t TP your neighbors house without concealing your identity, you shouldn’t go camping without an adequate sleeping bag. The problem is that if, like many, you are new to the whole outdoor scene, combing through the mountains of options available might be harrowing at best.
Options such as down, synthetic, mummy, 800-fill, 600-fill and beyond may have you scratching your head and saying “WTF!” With all of these things to consider, doing some research before heading out to buy your next sleeping bag is in your best interest.
The first things you need to ask yourself when deciding what sleeping bag to buy are where and when. Where am I going to use this sleeping bag the most? Does it rain often there? When will I be using this sleeping bag? Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall? These are all important questions that can drastically change your decision and budget.
Temperature Rating
Many of you may have noticed a temperature rating on the sleeping bags you have been looking at. What do these numbers really mean? I have found that the number assigned to a sleeping bag can be quite subjective. If a given sleeping bag is rated for 10 degrees, Some may find that they are comfortable down to 10 degrees in that sleeping bag while others may be quite cold in that bag at 10 degrees. Many of the suggested temperature ratings are for the the extreme end of the bags temperature spectrum. A bag that is rated for 10 degrees will allow you to survive at 10 degrees with a fair amount of clothing on and the hood pulled tight around your head. Generally I have been comfortable about 10 or so degrees above the listed temperature rating, but this will certainly vary from person to person.
Knowing your tolerance to cold will go a long way when coming to a decision on temperature rating. Keep in mind that you can add a little more warmth to your sleeping bag by using a sleeping bag liner and a sleeping pad to help insulate between you and the ground.
The Many Baffles Of A Down Sleeping Bag
Down or Synthetic?
This decision really comes down to the climate you will be in. Down is an insulator composed of bird feathers. It does a fantastic job of insulating and is very lightweight. Where down falls short is its inability to insulate when wet. Once down gets wet, the feathers clump together and do not provide any insulation again until they dry out and separate. There are two major different down types. 600 and 8oo fill down. The difference between 600 and 800 down is is in the fineness of the feathers. 800 down is more fine than 600 therefore it has more air pockets allowing for better insulating.
If you intend to spend a fair amount of time in a wet climate, it may be beneficial to go with a synthetic sleeping bag. Synthetic insulation is composed of many different manufactured materials, and will retain its insulating qualities even when wet. Once such synthetic fill that is popular is called Primaloft.
Mountain Hardwear Lamina 0: Synthetic
The Fit
The most common style available these days is the mummy bag. The reason for this is simple: they do the best job of keeping you warm due to their body hugging shape. Mummy bags provide very little extra space inside the bag to maximize the use of your body heat to keep you warm. When buying a mummy bag, you want it to fit your height in a way that you are not cramped in it, but you also don’t want a lot of extra length below your feet. This extra space could lead to cold feet.
One tip I have for sleeping in a mummy bag is to roll with the bag, not inside it. This will allow you to maintain comfort and effective heating.
Weight
The last major consideration is weight. If you will be primarily car camping with your sleeping bag, then weight won’t be much of a concern, but if backpacking and mountaineering are in your plans then you need to consider weight. As I mentioned earlier, down is the lighter choice when it comes to insulator types, but you sacrifice reliability when the weather turns wet. Unless you spring for a super pricy ultralight bag, the lower the temperature rating, the heavier the bag will be. The best thing you can do is figure out what you are willing to carry in terms of weight, then make a decision based on that.
Ultralight Minimalist Style Bag
The Bottom Line
While it may not be as important when car camping as in backcountry travel, having a good night of sleep is important if you want to make the most out of your outdoors experience. Of all the gear on your list, having a reliable and comfortable sleeping bag is one of the most important. Though I don’t believe it is ever a good idea to buy the cheapest thing available for any piece of outdoor equipment, I think buying a quality sleeping bag that is designed for the type of activity you have plan is especially important. Oh, and one last thing, when you aren’t using it, take that sleeping bag out of its stuff sack, you will be glad you did when it’s keeping you warm for years to come.
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