The main thing in the hike is to sleep well. If you take a sleeping bag that is too thin, you will freeze; if you take too fat, you will overheat, the night is over, you don't want to go anywhere in the morning. If you want to sleep like a baby, learn 5 rules for choosing the right sleeping bag.
The main thing in a sleeping bag is insulation. The seasonality of the sleeping bag depends on its quantity and quality.
- Summer sleeping bags have a thin layer of insulation and a rectangular shape. Unzipping it turns into a light blanket. Use in warm weather or until the air temperature drops to +5 ° C.
- Off-season sleeping bags are thicker. They are usually rectangular too, but with a hood to protect the head from the autumn chill. Their temperature range is from +5 ° C to -5 ° C.
- Purely winter models: thick, of a special shape, with a hood. For lovers of extreme winter recreation.
To determine the seasonality when choosing a sleeping bag, check the information on the label:
- t ° Maximum - the maximum value of the air temperature at which it is not hot to sleep in an open sleeping bag.
- t ° Comfort - the minimum temperature at which it is not cold to sleep in a closed bag.
- t ° Extreme - the lowest temperature at which it is cold to sleep, but you will not be overcooled.
Types of sleeping bags
According to the shape of the bag, sleeping bags are divided into two types.
1. "Blanket"
A voluminous rectangular blanket sleeping bag is designed for easy trips. Convenient in that the tourist sleeps in it without hesitation in any position.
2. "Cocoon"
Differs in anatomical shape: wide at the shoulders, tapering towards the legs. Thanks to this, the "cocoon" better fits the body and retains heat. Many models have an insulated collar, which, together with the hood, is tightened with a tie with a stopper. All seams on the outer and inner sides of the "cocoon" are offset from each other, which also prevents heat loss.
The tapered shape ensures less weight and volume of the sleeping bag.
Filler material
The quality of the filler determines how warm and light the sleeping bag is.
- Goose and duck down perfectly retains warmth thanks to the huge amount of air spaces between the feathers. But it has a significant drawback - it easily absorbs moisture and dries for a long time. Over time, the fluff rolls down and loses its heat-shielding properties. The most expensive filler.
- Sintepon is a simple and cheap synthetic filler. It absorbs less moisture than down, but does not retain heat well and gets lost in lumps after several washes. Definitely a bad choice.
- Branded synthetic fillers. They have names that are registered trademarks. Made from synthetic fibers with special properties. They perfectly retain heat in dry and wet conditions, tolerate washing well, dry quickly, do not change their properties for many years.
Features of the outer and inner material
When choosing a sleeping bag, the outer and inner material also matters. It is important that the sleeping side of the bag is made of breathable, odorless and soft to the touch fabric. Whereas the outer covering of the sleeping bag must be strong and dense enough. Polyester with fine mesh stitching works best for this.
What should be a good sleeping bag?
Pay attention to the important little things inherent in a quality sleeping bag:
- Protective tape sewn to the inside of the zipper. Prevents tissue "biting" and protects from damage.
- Zipper fixation (Velcro at the hood). Prevents the zipper from opening accidentally.
- Thanks to the two-way zipper, two sleeping bags can be connected together.
- Anatomically shaped hood with drawstring. It will reliably cover your head and prevent cold air from entering the sleeping bag.
- Internal zip pocket. For example, you can put a bag of a chemical heater in it, which will support you in a particularly severe frost.
If you want to supplement or share your experience, which sleeping bag is better to choose, we will be glad to your comments. We are sure they will be useful for novice tourists!
See what makes Camping sleeping bags good!
