If you're going trekking or camping, a good sleeping bag is essential. A good sleeping bag keeps your body temperature comfortable, ensuring a restful sleep. The type of sleeping bag you need depends on your specific activities and the conditions you will encounter.
Choosing the right sleeping bag for different conditions
The first question you need to ask yourself is where you're going and what are the conditions there? If you're camping in a place where nighttime temperatures stay above 20 degrees, you'll need a different sleeping bag compared to when temperatures drop below freezing. Therefore, it's crucial to know the temperatures you'll be dealing with. Once you have that information, you can look for a suitable sleeping bag based on its comfort temperature or limit temperature.
What is the comfort temperature of a sleeping bag?
The comfort temperature indicates at what temperature an average European woman can sleep comfortably without feeling cold. Keep in mind that there can be deviations from this average. If you know that you get cold more quickly or less quickly, you can take that into account when choosing a sleeping bag.
What is the limit temperature of a sleeping bag?
The limit temperature indicates at what temperature an average European man can sleep comfortably without feeling cold. The testing assumes that the person's knees are drawn up.
Extreme temperature
We recommend focusing on the comfort temperature or limit temperature when purchasing a sleeping bag and not the extreme temperature. The extreme temperature indicates the temperature at which your sleeping bag still provides enough warmth to prevent hypothermia. At this temperature, you won't be sleeping, and there's a risk of frostbite. It's meant for emergency situations. If the temperature drops to the extreme temperature, it might even be advisable to move around to stay warmer than inside the sleeping bag.
Differences between men's and women's sleeping bags
Generally, women tend to get cold more easily than men. Therefore, sleeping bags for women usually have more insulation, particularly around the upper body, hips, and foot area. Additionally, women's sleeping bags are generally about 15 centimeters shorter.
The sleeping bag range at Snowcountry
At Snowcountry, we primarily focus on lightweight, compact sleeping bags for trekking. Our range includes both winter and summer sleeping bags. We offer the following types of sleeping bags:
- Mummy sleeping bag with a hood
- Mummy sleeping bag without a hood
- Quilt
- Rectangular sleeping bag
Mummy sleeping bag
A mummy sleeping bag fits snugly around your body. This shape minimizes heat loss during sleep, keeping you warm. Most mummy sleeping bags come with a hood to prevent heat loss from your head and neck. A hood is essential in sub-freezing temperatures.
Quilt
A quilt is for enthusiasts who want to carry the least weight when trekking. This type of sleeping bag has no bottom and is essentially a blanket. However, you should consider this in combination with a well-insulating sleeping mat.
Rectangular sleeping bag
This is a comfortable sleeping bag with more room to move around. Rectangular sleeping bags are less suitable for very cold temperatures because of the extra space. You lose the most heat from your head and neck. Since rectangular sleeping bags usually lack a hood, they are not suitable for use in sub-freezing temperatures, regardless of the provided comfort and limit temperatures.
Different types of insulation
When buying a sleeping bag, you have the choice between down and synthetic insulation. For trekking or camping, we always recommend choosing down insulation. While it may be slightly more expensive, the natural filling of down offers numerous advantages.
Why choose down insulation?
Down provides optimal temperature regulation, creating a comfortable sleeping environment. Synthetic insulation tends to be more humid. Furthermore, down can be compressed efficiently for minimal packing volume. You also need less down filling to achieve the same insulation as a synthetic-filled sleeping bag, reducing weight. Finally, down insulation lasts longer. Synthetic insulation loses its insulating properties every time you wash or compress it. This means that a synthetic sleeping bag with a comfort temperature of -10 degrees may become unusable at sub-freezing temperatures within a few years.
The main disadvantage of down insulation is that it dries poorly. During your trip, it's advisable to keep the sleeping bag dry.
How to wash a down sleeping bag
You should wash your sleeping bag as infrequently as possible, only when absolutely necessary, such as when it's become extremely dirty or has an unpleasant odor. As Snowcountry, we recommend against washing your down sleeping bag yourself. Down is a delicate material that requires careful handling when it comes to washing. Washing your down sleeping bag yourself can often result in an unusable product.
Snowcountry advice: have your down sleeping bag professionally cleaned by a down washing service.
Important: Do not take your down sleeping bag to a regular dry cleaner, as the cleaning solvents can damage the down, reducing the insulation properties of your sleeping bag.
Still want to wash your down sleeping bag yourself
If you prefer to do it yourself, here are some tips:
- Start by reading the washing instructions.
- Use a liquid detergent specifically designed for down.
- Hand washing is preferred, but if you use a washing machine, choose a delicate cycle with a maximum of 30 degrees and an additional low-speed spin cycle before removing the sleeping bag from the machine.
- Use a tumble dryer at a low temperature with a few tennis balls inside to prevent clumping of the down as it dries.
Tips from Snowcountry
Here are some additional tips for using your sleeping bag:
Use a sleeping bag liner
A sleeping bag liner, also known as a liner, is a cotton, silk, or polyester bag used inside your sleeping bag. The advantage is that you can easily wash the liner, keeping your sleeping bag cleaner and extending its lifespan since you'll need to wash it less frequently. Additionally, a standard sleeping bag liner adds 3 to 5 degrees to the insulation value of the sleeping bag, allowing you to opt for a slightly less expensive sleeping bag in some cases. Some liners even add approximately 10 to 15 degrees, making them ideal for adapting a sleeping bag to colder seasons.
Are you sleeping in a tent or outdoors?
If you're sleeping in a tent, consider not only the expected nighttime temperatures but also the fact that, when two people sleep in a two-person tent, the temperature inside the tent is often 5 to 7 degrees higher than the outside temperature. If you're alone in the same two-person tent, the temperature inside the tent is significantly lower. You can take this into account when choosing a sleeping bag.
Choose a suitable sleeping mat for the situation
Especially in colder temperatures, it's essential to consider your sleeping mat. The filling of your sleeping bag is compressed by your body and is less effective in that area. Therefore, for insulation from below, you rely on your sleeping mat. If your mat has limited insulating properties, you can still get cold, even if the sleeping bag is suitable in terms of temperature.
