How to Choose a Sleeping Bag

Though the sleeping bag does not have as many factors as, for example, hiking boots or backpacks, still it is one of the most important piece of camping gear and there are still some factors that you should consider before buying one. The key is to find the sleeping bag that is the best balance for you. After all, a good sleeping bag is going to give you the rest and comfort you need and keep you warm during the night.

Types of Sleeping Bags

Sleeping bags fall into two categories: camping and trekking.

Camping sleeping bags are designed for a passive rest in the nature, such as picnics, camping with cars or on the shore of a lake. This type of sleeping bags stand out with their maximal comfort, softness. They usually have lining made of soft fabrics and a special pocket that can be used as a pillow. You can wholly open  these sleeping bags and sue them as a blanket. Due to their shape and weight these sleeping bags aren’t convenient for mountain tourism.

Trekking sleeping bags are used for trekking and mountain tourism. They have a smaller size and are made of lighter and more modern materials. These sleeping bags usually get narrow on the bottom and make a cowl on the upper part. This is done to make less air space and to warm easily at cold weather. These type of sleeping bags are also called mummy.

Temperature Rating

Sleeping bags are all about insulation. They don’t actually provide heat – it’s your body that does that. A sleeping bag’s job is to retain the heat you produce. So the temperature rating is an important factor to consider when choosing a sleeping bag. There are three main temperature ratings for the sleeping bag: comfort, lower limit and extreme.

The “comfort temperature” is the temperature at which you will feel comfortable enough to sleep.

The “lower limit” is the lowest temperature to have a comfortable sleep.

The “extreme temperature” rating is essentially the survival temperature. This is the very limit at which the sleeping bag will keep you alive without frostbite.

When choosing your sleeping bag, consider what time of year you’re heading out camping and whether or not you’re more susceptible to the cold. In Armenia from spring to late autumn the sleeping bag in the range of +10 to -5 usually would be ideal for having an overnight in a tent. Some high mountainous areas such as mount Aragats or Geghama mountains are exception.

There are two main types of insulation that the sleeping bag may use – synthetic and down. Each of them has its cons and pros.

Down insulation

These type of sleeping bags are much lighter than synthetic bags and compress to a smaller size when packed. The main disadvantage of down sleeping bag is that it easily absorbs moisture when damp and when it gets wet the feathers lose their fluffiness and the heat insulating properties are lost, plus it’s difficult to dry once wet. This type of sleeping bag is also more expensive.

Synthetic insulation

The synthetic sleeping bag is heavier then the down one and compared with the latter it won’t keep you warm enough. This type of sleeping bag will be cheaper, easier to clean and requires less care than a down sleeping bag. The great equalizer for synthetic insulation is its ability to keep you warm even after it’s been soaked through with water. This is something that remains out of reach for down. Synthetic insulation also dries out much faster than down can.

There are also high class sleeping bags that are made for using in extreme conditions. For example expeditions in polar areas or ascents in high mountains when the temperature may hit -50 degrees and lower at night. Besides having a thicker filler they also have stronger outer layer and sometimes are covered with membrane. This helps to prevent your sleeping bag from getting wet.

You should remember that depending on the price, different sleeping bags having the same temperature ratings can have different weights. And note that the lighter is the sleeping bag, the higher is the price.

There is one more thing that you should know when choosing a sleeping bag. Usually it is possible to attach two sleeping bags and make one double bag. If you want to travel with your partner it is an important factor. If your sleeping bag has a rectangular shape you can choose two identical bags and attach them. But in case of mummy shape sleeping bags you should note that they can be right hand and left-hand zip. So make sure to take a pair of opposite-handed bags that can be zipped together to create a double sleeping bag.

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