An essential piece of equipment to your hiking or camping trip is a sleeping bag. But, choosing a sleeping bag is not an easy process. You can easily be overwhelmed with the amount of options you have. And, the bags do not only differ by company and model. They all are different weights, materials, shapes, and have different temperature ratings. So, knowing how to choose a sleeping bag is essential before making a purchase. There a number of criteria to research in all of your options, so I have outlined them below and added my recommendation for each.
How to Choose a Sleeping Bag
1. Material/Fill
Sleeping bags can either be filled with synthetic material or natural material. The natural materials used to fill them are down, cotton, and wool. Down is very light and retains heat very well. Wool repels water greatly. And, cotton has a low cost. However, all of these natural options have problems. Down and cotton will both have high water retention, so if you get them wet, they will be ruined for your trip. Wool is also very heavy.
Because of these problems, I would personally recommend purchasing a bag with a synthetic fill. The main benefits of synthetic fill are that it repels water, dries very quickly, and it is warm even when soaking wet. Choosing synthetic fill is an excellent choice for anyone looking to buy a sleeping bag that can be used in any situation.
2. Shape
When learning how to choose a sleeping bag, a very important factor is the shape of the bag. There are a few different shapes, but the two most common are: basic and mummy. The bags with a basic shape are rectangles with zippers on two or three sides. These are okay for car-based camping trips, but if you are going to carry your pack, a much better option would be a mummy-shaped bag. The mummy shape has several features that make it superior to the basic shape. These include:
Tapering from head to foot - reduces volume and surface area Zipper on only part of one side - reduces heat escape A hood-like feature on the top to further prevent heat escape When choosing a sleeping bag, you should definitely consider buying a mummy-shaped bag. They are smaller and do a much better job preventing heat escape.
3. Temperature - Sleeping Bag Ratings Explained
The biggest factor to take into account when learning how to choose a sleeping bag is the temperature rating. Each bag you see available for purchase has a special rating that you must take into account. Your decision has to be based on when and where you plan on using it. Because choosing a sleeping bag based on temperature rating is a process that takes some thought, it is the hardest aspect to take into account. Many people need sleeping bag ratings explained. So, here is how to choose a sleeping bag based on its temperature rating:
First decide where you plan on using it. If you are going to use it in warm regions only, you will most likely not need to buy a zero degree bag. On the other hand, if you are going to be hiking in places such as Alaska, picking a bag with a low temperature rating is a must.
Decide what seasons you plan on using it. You can get away with a 30 degree (or more) bag if you are only going to use it during the summer (in temperate or warm regions). But, if are going to be winter hiking, you should look into a bag with a lower rating. This step is essential, because you do not want to pay for a 30 degree bag, and then decide that you want to go hiking in the White Mountains in December. Always plan for the future. So, that is how to choose a sleeping bag based on temperature ratings. Also, it is a good idea to add 5 to 10 degrees to the temperature ratings to be realistic. Do not always expect to sleep in underwear in a zero degree bag in zero degree weather. It is a lot better to pack for colder weather. You can always unzip your bag if you are too cold. However, you cannot comfortably warm yourself up if you packed a bag whose temperature rating is too high.
started by Lisa Rose on 16 Jul 20
https://www.plansoutdoor.com/how-to-pack-a-tent-and-sleeping-bag-for-backpacking/
How to Choose a Sleeping Bag
1. Material/Fill
Sleeping bags can either be filled with synthetic material or natural material. The natural materials used to fill them are down, cotton, and wool. Down is very light and retains heat very well. Wool repels water greatly. And, cotton has a low cost. However, all of these natural options have problems. Down and cotton will both have high water retention, so if you get them wet, they will be ruined for your trip. Wool is also very heavy.
Because of these problems, I would personally recommend purchasing a bag with a synthetic fill. The main benefits of synthetic fill are that it repels water, dries very quickly, and it is warm even when soaking wet. Choosing synthetic fill is an excellent choice for anyone looking to buy a sleeping bag that can be used in any situation.
2. Shape
When learning how to choose a sleeping bag, a very important factor is the shape of the bag. There are a few different shapes, but the two most common are: basic and mummy. The bags with a basic shape are rectangles with zippers on two or three sides. These are okay for car-based camping trips, but if you are going to carry your pack, a much better option would be a mummy-shaped bag. The mummy shape has several features that make it superior to the basic shape. These include:
Tapering from head to foot - reduces volume and surface area
Zipper on only part of one side - reduces heat escape
A hood-like feature on the top to further prevent heat escape
When choosing a sleeping bag, you should definitely consider buying a mummy-shaped bag. They are smaller and do a much better job preventing heat escape.
3. Temperature - Sleeping Bag Ratings Explained
The biggest factor to take into account when learning how to choose a sleeping bag is the temperature rating. Each bag you see available for purchase has a special rating that you must take into account. Your decision has to be based on when and where you plan on using it. Because choosing a sleeping bag based on temperature rating is a process that takes some thought, it is the hardest aspect to take into account. Many people need sleeping bag ratings explained. So, here is how to choose a sleeping bag based on its temperature rating:
First decide where you plan on using it. If you are going to use it in warm regions only, you will most likely not need to buy a zero degree bag. On the other hand, if you are going to be hiking in places such as Alaska, picking a bag with a low temperature rating is a must.
Decide what seasons you plan on using it. You can get away with a 30 degree (or more) bag if you are only going to use it during the summer (in temperate or warm regions). But, if are going to be winter hiking, you should look into a bag with a lower rating. This step is essential, because you do not want to pay for a 30 degree bag, and then decide that you want to go hiking in the White Mountains in December. Always plan for the future.
So, that is how to choose a sleeping bag based on temperature ratings. Also, it is a good idea to add 5 to 10 degrees to the temperature ratings to be realistic. Do not always expect to sleep in underwear in a zero degree bag in zero degree weather. It is a lot better to pack for colder weather. You can always unzip your bag if you are too cold. However, you cannot comfortably warm yourself up if you packed a bag whose temperature rating is too high.