The right sleeping bag should provide a cocoon of warmth and comfort to allow your body to recover and be ready for tomorrow’s adventures. But deciding which sleeping bag to buy can be pretty overwhelming. Whether you need a warm sleeping bag for a mountain expedition, can’t decide between down and synthetics, or are looking for a roomy sleeping bag for a family camping trip, we’ll help you find the right one in our sleeping bag guide.
Sleeping bag bestseller
Are you less interested in the textiles, workmanship and functions of a sleeping bag? Would you like to see only the best-selling sleeping bags in an overview? Then you will find some highly recommended sleeping bags, which are among the bestsellers on Amazon. You will then find out everything you need to know before buying a good sleeping bag.
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Sleeping bag buying guide
To enjoy a blissful night’s sleep in the forest, you need the right gear. It starts with choosing the right sleeping bag. The good news for car camping is that you don’t have to worry about weight or packing your bag in a backpack, so you can be as plush or roomy as you like. However, if you are on foot, you should definitely pay attention to the size and weight.
What is the difference between a camping and a backpacking sleeping bag?
In general, camping sleeping bags offer a lot of freedom of movement, while backpacking sleeping bags are light and close-fitting. If you use one sleeping bag for both activities, choose a lightweight sleeping bag.
Sleeping bag for different temperatures
How warm does a sleeping bag have to be? A season information statement on sleeping bags is used to inform buyers about which season a sleeping bag is best suited for. The data starts with the first season for the summer months up to 4 seasons for extremely deep.
Summer sleeping bag – ideal for warm summer nights, typically 5°C or more.
2 season sleeping bag – cooler evenings in spring/summer, temperatures around 0 to 5°C.
3 season sleeping bag – for somewhere between 0 and -5°C, a cold night but no frost.
4 seasons sleeping bag – best suited for the winter months, suitable for temperatures down to -10°C.
Extreme temperature sleeping bag – for expedition style camping, suitable for temperatures often as low as -40°C. Typically found in mountain climbers’ backpacks.
Down sleeping bag or synthetic sleeping bag?
There are two main types of insulation in a sleeping bag; down or synthetic.
Down sleeping bags are considered more durable and often have an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio, making them ideal when the lightest and smallest pack size is needed. However, down can be expensive and requires a bit more maintenance. The down sleeping bag should not be stored permanently in a small compression bag, as this crushes the tufts of down. It also needs to be kept dry on the hill or in a backpack, as water will cause the tufts of down to stick together and lose almost all of their insulating properties.
Tip: When you travel, pack your down sleeping bag in a waterproof dry bag instead of the stuff sack provided so that your sleeping bag stays dry and you can sleep well.
Synthetic sleeping bags don’t require as much maintenance as down bags; However, the warmth-to-weight ratio is not as good as down and it does not pack as small. However, synthetic sleeping bags retain most of their insulating properties even when they get wet, making them an incredibly durable and effective alternative. In addition, as technology improves, their warmth and packability is approaching that of down bags.
Tip: When traveling with small children, it is primarily worth using synthetic fiber sleeping bags, as synthetic fiber bags can be washed and dried much more easily and quickly than down bags.
Temperature range for sleeping bags
Many manufacturers provide information about the temperatures of sleeping bags with special designations. For a layman, however, these are not always understandable. Here we tell you the most important things about the temperature range at a Sleeping bag and what the terms mean.
Comfort temperature T comf: Calculated for an average 25-year-old woman weighing 60 kg and 1.60 m. In short, this means that she can sleep at a comfort temperature of 0° without freezing when the ground frost is scarce.
Limit temperature T lim: This value is used for a man (25 years, 70 kg, 1.73 m) who is not yet freezing.
Extreme temperature T ext: This value is calculated for a woman (25 years, 60 kg, 1.60 m) exposed to severe cold. There is an increased risk of hypothermia here.
These labels and values can be a bit confusing. Since each person freezes at different rates, the information can only be used as a rough guide.
Important sleeping bag functions
Sleeping bag shells: The outer fabric, which is made from either durable polyester or nylon, has a Durable Water Repellency (DWR) finish to protect the insulation inside the shell from moisture. Inside the bag you will find materials with a soft, warm texture.
Sleeping Bag Hood: A tight-fitting hood can make a sleeping bag much warmer, so you’re more likely to find hoods on sleeping bags with lower temperature ratings.
Zipper Features: A sleeping bag with more than one zipper puller makes it easy to adjust ventilation. In addition, some sleeping bags prevent zip snagging by shielding the zip with a guard along its entire length. Others address the problem with a zipper cover itself.
Storage Bag: Some bags offer a handy zippered storage compartment for things like a watch or lip balm.
Accessories for sleeping bags
Dry bag: A sleeping bag packed in a dry bag takes up less space when stored in your vehicle.
Storage Sack: Keeping a bag permanently in its stuff sack puts a strain on the insulation, so many bags also come with a large mesh or cotton storage sack for long-term storage.
Sleeping Bag Liner: Sliding a soft sleeping bag liner inside your sleeping bag will keep it clean and add extra warmth when you need it.
