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Guide to Sleeping Bags

Like most camping equipment, there are a massive number of sleeping bags out there for you to buy, coming in different shapes, sizes and materials. Unfortunately, each of these variations will impact how you’ll sleep on your camping trip, and that can make it difficult to know what to buy
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Our guide to sleeping bags takes you through the fundamentals, explaining what the various ratings and materials mean, so that you can make the right choice.

Sleeping Bag Ratings


All sleeping bags should be advertised along with their ratings, which tell you how the sleeping bag should perform in certain conditions for a number of factors, such as temperature. 

In January 2005 a new set of conditions were introduced by the EU to help regulate the testing standards for sleeping bags. These standards were created to bring testing procedures in line across the board and minimise differences between advertised standards and actual performance. 

There are now generally two ratings used for sleeping bags: comfort and season.

Comfort ratings – what are they?


A sleeping bag’s comfort rating will indicate the optimum temperatures at which the average male or female will feel too warm, comfortable or simply be able to survive, in the sleeping bag. 

There are few average people – some people will be more comfortable at cooler temperatures than others – and so this should be taken only as a guide. If you’re unsure go for the warmer option, as it’s much easier to cool off than it is to get warm.

Comfort ratings are shown as follows:

• Upper limit – the highest temperature the average male can expect to have a comfortable night’s sleep at without too much sweating.
• Comfort – the temperature at which the average adult woman can expect to have a comfortable sleep. 
• Lower limit – the temperature at which the average adult male can expect to have a good night’s sleep in a curled position.
• Extreme – the lowest temperature at which the average adult woman can survive. This rating comes with caution and additional consideration should be given if you plan to sleep in temperatures this low.

A wide range between the upper and lower limits is a good feature to look for, indicating an adaptable sleeping bag. If you get cold much easier than the average person, go for a sleeping bag with a higher lower limit.

Season ratings – what are they?


A season rating is used to inform buyers of the time of year a sleeping bag is most suitable for. Ratings start from season one for summer months all the way up to 5, for extreme cold temperatures. 

• Season one - ideal for warm summer nights, typically 5°C or above.
• Season two - cooler evenings in spring/summer, temperatures from around 0 to 5°C.
• Season three – for anywhere between 0 to -5°C, a cold night but no frost.
• Season four – best suited for the winter months, suitable for temperatures as low as -10°C.
• Season five – for expedition style camping, suitable for temperatures often as low as -40°C. Typically found in the rucksacks of mountaineers.

Sleeping bag insulation


With a lower temperature than your body, a sleeping bag on its own is naturally cold. It’s only once you get in it that it is warmed up, taking heat from your body. The purpose of insulation is to trap as much of this heat as possible - without it, much of the warmth your body generates would be lost, and you’d be in for a tough night’s sleep. 

Insulation is one of the most important elements of a sleeping bag then, and insulation materials therefore one of the key factors to look for. Sleeping bag insulation materials generally boil down to two types: natural and synthetic.

Natural insulation

Down insulation


Down is the main and perhaps best natural insulator for sleeping bags, though it does come at a premium. Found underneath the tougher external feathers on birds such as Ducks and Geese, it is lightweight, compressible and traps heat incredibly well. 

The quality of down is measured by ‘fill power’, which measures how many cubic inches one ounce of down will fill.  The higher the fill power the larger the down cluster, which means it will trap more air and warmth, be more comfortable and last for longer.

A fill power of around 550 is used for mid-range sleeping bags, whilst 650 or more is considered the best. 

It’s also important to consider what percentage of a sleeping bag is made up of down – a good bag will be 85%, whilst the best often claim to be more than 95%.

Pros:

• Can be compacted to a much smaller size than most other forms of insulation
• Weighs very little
• Insulating abilities are incredibly difficult to recreate, meaning it is unmatched by synthetic materials
• Very good warmth to weight ratio

Cons:

• More expensive than other forms of insulation
• Loses most of its insulating abilities when wet

Synthetic insulation


Made from poly fibres, synthetic insulation is used in all ranges of sleeping bags. Whilst synthetic materials can be good insulators, they do not completely replicate the qualities of down.

Pros:

• As it is manmade, synthetic insulation is much cheaper than down
• Maintains a lot more of its insulating abilities when wet
• Much easier to care for

Cons:

• Less effective at retaining heat when compared to down
• Because of its weaker insulating properties, more is needed to maintain similar temperatures to that of down, making it much bulkier and heavier.

For family camping trips in the UK, where the weather is typically much wetter, a synthetic sleeping bag should suffice, as long as you pay careful attention to the comfort rating. 

Those looking for more lightweight but still high performing sleeping bags should consider down, which often provides the same insulating abilities with half the weight.

External sleeping bag lining fabrics


The inner and outer fabrics of a sleeping bag protect the insulation, and are the only parts in contact with your body. Factors that go in to determining the type of fabric used here include comfort, breathability – good breathability keeps the bag drier on the inside, durability and weight – they are usually not supposed to be waterproof.

Shell fabrics:


• Nylon, Polyester, Taffeta – found in the most basic bags, these materials are perhaps the least durable used. They are best for indoor or family oriented camping trips – i.e. nothing that will test the durability. They are, however, breathable and low-cost. Recommended for drier conditions. 
• Ripstop – ripstop fabric is nylon or polyester that has been slightly reinforced with heavier threads, making it more durable whilst maintaining breathability. Ideal for slightly more testing camping trips, or bags that are to be used frequently.
• Breathable, water-resistant, technical textiles, such as DryLoft (a Gore product) - these materials offer excellent protection from moisture on the outside, whilst their breathability keeps the bag dry on the inside. Good for four season camping, DryLoft comes at a premium and is found less frequently than nylon and ripstop.

Many bags also come with a durable water repellent (DWR) finish, which helps to minimise the amount of moisture absorbed. This can be especially important for down sleeping bags, which can be incredibly hard to dry, and will lose most of their insulating properties when wet.

For most family camping trips where conditions are mild, nylon or ripstop should suffice as a shell. Those looking to camp in more extreme conditions, should consider investing in DryLoft or other more premium fabrics.

Lining fabrics:


A suitable fabric for a sleeping bag lining should be breathable, smooth enough so that it doesn’t catch on clothes and should avoid trapping too much heat when you sleep in the same position for long periods of time, which can become uncomfortable.

• Nylon, polyester, taffeta – used across all ranges of sleeping bags, from high end to budget, these materials are soft on the skin and breathable. Taffeta is the highest quality.
• Polycotton – very comfortable against the skin, but takes longer to dry, making it less suitable for cooler climates. This features in lower end or less technical bags. Recommended for summer or indoor use.
• Silk – often found in the more expensive sleeping bags, silk is soft and breathable, though it is more vulnerable to tears than other materials and can be much harder to repair.

A form of nylon should be suitable for most camping trips, whilst those looking for higher performing materials should consider taffeta or silk. If you’re considering polycotton bear in mind that these sleeping bags should be used in much drier climates or indoors. 

Sleeping bag shape


Even a sleeping bag’s shape can affect its ability to trap heat. Bags that are to be used at particularly lower temperatures need to minimise the amount of room cool air has to move about in, which should make it easier retain heat. In contrast, a rectangular shape is fine for sleeping bags that are to be used in indoors. 

If you are camping outside it is recommended that you opt for a mummy sleeping bag, which provides a warmer night’s sleep. Another option is a tapered bag, which offers a combination of the heat retaining shape of a mummy bag, and slightly more room as found in a rectangular bag.

Final words


Hopefully we’ve helped you come closer to a decision on which sleeping bag to purchase. Just make sure to remember to consider what conditions you will be camping in.

If you’re still not sure watch out for more articles on sleeping bags, or sign up to the newsletter to get them straight to your inbox.
 
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