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One Season
These bags are ideal for UK summer use or travelling in warmer climates.
Introduction
Choosing the perfect sleeping bag can spell the difference between success and failure for any camping trip.
This guide will take you through everything you need to know about sleeping bags so you can choose the best one for you.
Seasons & Temperature Rating
The first thing to think about when buying a sleeping bag is 'when and where am I going to use it?'
It may sound obvious but the warmth requirements of a summer-only sleeping bag are going to be very different to a bag that you use year round.
For each sleeping bag, we include the comfort, limit and extreme temperature rating. These are results gained from testing under the EN-ISO 23537 ‘Requirements for Sleeping Bags’ Standard. The standard enables reliable comparison between the different brands and bags. The test produces three temperature results, which relate to different user experiences:
Comfort Temperature – based on a ‘standard’ adult woman having a comfortable night’s sleep.
Limit Temperature – based on the lowest temperature at which a ‘standard’ adult male is deemed to be able to have a comfortable night’s sleep.
Extreme Temperature – a survival only rating for a ‘standard’ adult woman. At this temperature, there is a serious risk of hypothermia and other temperature related ailments.
The temperature rating icon can be found on the features tab on each sleeping bag.
The two ratings that you should focus on are the Comfort Temperature and the Limit Temperature. For colder sleepers, the Comfort temperature is a good guideline. If you sleep warmer or are more experienced sleeping outdoors, the Limit temperature is likely to be more relevant. You want to make sure that these represent the lowest temperatures that you expect to experience.
NB: The EN-ISO 23537 standard is not accurate for sleeping bags at the extreme ends of the weight and temperature spectrums. For these bags, the ratings supplied are based on the manufacturer’s recommended sleep limit.
To make it easier to distinguish what and when a sleeping bag has been designed for we include a Season Rating. The ratings give you a clear indication of a sleeping bag's intended use and are split into six categories:
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Anatomy of a Sleeping Bag
Along with the temperature and season ratings, the features, insulation and material of a sleeping bag can all affect your comfort. Here are some of the things to look out for when choosing a bag:
Hood – If you are a cold sleeper or heading somewhere where temperatures are likely to drop, a good hood is essential. Look for a hood that is fully adjustable and seals well around the face. The best fits tend to come from hoods made with multiple contoured baffles.
Neck baffle – Also known as a draught excluder or shoulder baffle. Effectively an extra tube of insulation sewn into the neck area, it creates a barrier of warmth around your neck and shoulders that stops heat from escaping/cold getting in.
Zip baffle – Similar to the neck baffle, it's an internal tube/flap of insulation that covers the zip to prevent heat escaping.
Zip – Sleeping bag zips can be full, three-quarter and half length. The latter save weight and require less stitching while the former are easier to use and better for venting. Two-way zips are particularly useful as you can vent from both the top and bottom of your bag for personalised climate control.
Shell material – The shell of a sleeping bag can range from being ultralight and highly compressible to heavier and more durable – the material usually corresponds to the activity it's been designed for. In damp or humid environments, a shell with a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatment is a bonus.
Insulation – There are two main choices when it comes to insulation: down or synthetic. Down is light, has excellent warmth to weight ratio and is very compressible, synthetic is better in damp conditions and is generally cheaper.
Foot box - Often you will see trapezoidal or comfort foot boxes mentioned in the sleeping bag specs. These allow you to lie with your feet in a natural position, with enough room for them to point ‘up' for better comfort (something walkers with weary feet may appreciate!).
Length - Sleeping bag lengths inevitably vary between brands and styles, so if you're particularly tall look out for the long versions available. A sleeping bag should fit over you comfortably, if you point your toes and the hood comes off then it's worth switching to something longer.
Sleeping bag shape & fit
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