After a day of hiking, backpacking, climbing, or any other outdoor activity, you may need to spend the night outdoors. Your sleeping bag is one of those essentials that should be chosen wisely, as it can turn a relaxing or exciting trip into an utter disaster. Indeed, the effects of a poorly-chosen sleeping bag - whether you’re simply camping out or backpacking - can influence your well-being beyond the night hours.
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Design
Sleeping bags are all designed with your safety and comfort in mind. While sleeping bags intended for backpackers may sacrifice some comfort at night for more comfort during your waking hours when you have to haul your sleeping bag on your person, they still take into consideration that a night spent outdoors should be made as comfortable as possible.
Anatomy
The basic setup of a sleeping bag includes an inner lining, insulation, and an outer shell. The mechanics and composition of these layers can be altered and formed to fit a wide variety of needs.
Inner Lining : The inner lining of any sleeping bag is designed to promote the dispersal of moisture.
Insulation : The insulation in any sleeping bag aims to prevent the loss of heat from your body to the external environment. There are three main types of insulation available for sleeping bag users.
Insulation Type | Guidelines | Best for: |
Synthetic | Affordable, durable, and typically made of polyester. It’s quick-drying and insulates even if it gets wet. This option is not nearly as warm as down insulation. This will last about 5-7 years in general. |
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Down (Goose or Duck) | An exceptional insulator that is light, easy to compact, and has a good long-term value. More costly than synthetic counterparts, the insulation is made from down feathers. This keeps you extremely warm but can lose most of its insulation qualities if it gets wet. Keep it in a waterproof compression sack and keep dry. This will last 20-25 years in general. |
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Water-Repellant Down | Similar to traditional down except feathers are treated on a microscopic level with water-repellent properties. |
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Outer Shell: Typically comprised of ripstop nylon or polyester, the outer shell is designed for durability. The shells of most high-quality bags are treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) finish. DWR causes water to bead up rather than soak through the fabric.
Beyond the basics structures comprising all sleeping bags, there are further features to consider.
Shape
Sleeping bags work by insulating your body from external variants, effectively trapping your body heat within the confines of the bag itself. This creates a layer of ‘dead air’, and the snugger the bag fits, the less time it takes for you to warm up and stay warm within the bag. Camping bags are roomier than backpacking bags for greater comfort, with the tradeoff being less efficient warming of this dead space.
Shape | Guidelines | Best for: |
Rectangular | Provides maximum comfort and roominess, but tends to take up more space in your pack. |
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Barrel-Shaped | Also known as semi-rectangular, these are tapered for greater warmth and efficiency while still providing some of the roominess of a rectangular bag. |
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Mummy | Narrow shoulder and hip widths maximizes warmth and reduces weight. |
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Double-Wide | Designed to accommodate 2, these can be used atop an air mattress for added comfort. |
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Size
It goes without saying that where there’s variation in shape, there’s also variations in size. Bags are specifically designed for genders and ages.
Men’s Bags come in different lengths to accommodate different heights:
Short: For people up to 5’6”
Regular: For people 5’7” to 6’0”
Long: For people 6’1” to 6’6”
Women’s Bags are specifically designed with different proportions to suit a female body. In comparison, women-specific bags are shorter and narrower at the shoulders, wider at the hips and add extra insulation in the upper body and footbox. Similar to men’s bags, women’s bags also come in different lengths:
Regular: For people up to 5’6”
Long: For people 5’7” to 6’0”
Kids’ bags feature a built-in sleeve on the bottom of the bag to hold the sleeping pad in place. Additional pockets for pillows and gadgets help to keep the kid’s belongings comfortably in place.
In addition, there are extra long bags for folks 6’8” and over, but these are a bit of a rarity compared to the other standard lengths.
Baffles, Shingles, and Layers
When it comes to how the insulation is held between the inner lining and outer shell, there are many styles of sewing techniques with a goal of even heat distribution. Down bags use a system of baffles; synthetic bags use either a network of shingles or a layered approach.
Down Bags:
Box : This baffle construction keeps insulation from shifting within the layers, creating a perfect environment for consistent warmth. This construction, though, will take up more space within your pack and thus should be used for those with a more relaxed trip in mind.
Sewn-Through : For those trying to capitalize on backpack space and weight, the sewn-through technique keeps insulation in its place without the need for a baffle. The downside is that you may feel heat loss at the seams and stitching.
Synthetic Bags:
Shingles : Shingles are cut pieces or sheets of fill stitched to both the shell and lining. They overlap each other similar to the way shingles lay on the roof of a house.
Layered : The offset-quilt approach utilizes two layers of insulation offset from one another to prevent heat loss at the stitching. The quilted-through approach uses a sheet of insulation cut to fit the shape of the bag. For this, the shell, insulation, and lining are all sewn together with a single stitch line. While less expensive, it is prone to cold spots and should only be used in warmer weather.
Shop our extensive line of sleeping bags at Outdoor Shopping.
Temperature Ratings
The temperature rating is a gauge for the lowest temperature that any given bag will keep the average person warm. Thus, a ‘20 degree bag’ will keep the average person comfortable in conditions of no lower than 20 degrees. Different individual factors such as a person’s metabolism or the sleeping bag manufacturer can influence the accuracy of this rating, so use it only as a guide - not law. Here’s the traditional categories you may find:
Type | Temperature Rating (F) |
Summer Season | 35 degrees + |
3 Season | 10 to 35 degrees |
Cold Weather | -10 to +10 degrees |
Winter/Extreme | -10 degrees and lower |
A good tip to keep in mind is that you should choose a sleeping bag with a temperature rating lower than the lowest temperature you plan to face - for those ‘just in case’ scenarios. You’d hate to expect just-freezing temperatures and end up tackling temperatures closer to 20 degrees. Plan ahead, and come prepared.
Because this traditional temperature rating was fallible, the European Norm (EN) 13537 testing protocol was created. This rating is used for many 3 season bags, and in this testing, two temperature ratings may be assigned:
Comfort Rating (for women) - This is the lowest temperature at which any given bag will keep the average woman warm.
Lower-Limit Rating (for men) - This is the lowest temperature at which any given bag will keep the average man warm.
This reflects the findings that women typically sleep colder than men and, thus, their ratings should be distinguished by gender. You may also see an EN extreme rating which essentially describes a worst-case scenario and is a survival-only rating for the average adult woman. It is advisable not to be too literal about the "Extreme" rating.
Shop our extensive line of sleeping bags at Outdoor Shopping.
Additional Features
There are other accessories and features that may be included on your sleeping bag or can be added easily. Here are just some to keep an eye out for.
Hood : For campers in colder climates, the sleeping bag hood can be attached to a rectangular bag to keep heat from radiating away from your head. Coupled with a pillow pocket, it makes for a comfortable night’s sleep.
Pillow Pocket : Some bags include a "pillow pocket" which allows you to stuff your clothes inside to create a pillow. You can also purchase camping pillows, or, if you have room, simply bring your own pillow from home.
Sleeping Pad : A sleeping pad helps to give you an extra layer of comfort between yourself and the rough terrain.
Sleeping Pad Sleeve : These sleeves allow for a sleeping pad to fit snugly against your bag, preventing you from an unfortunate roll-over and off of the pad in the middle of the night.
Pad Loops : These sewn-in straps provide an attachment point so you can secure your sleeping pad directly to your sleeping bag so you won't roll off.
Draft Tubes and Collars : The draft tube is a hollow tube running the length of your zipper that helps keep heat from radiating through the zipper seams. Draft collars are usually found on bags rated 0°F or colder; these are insulated tubes positioned just above the shoulders to prevent body heat from radiating up and out of a bag.
Stash Pocket : Locations can vary by models, but stash pockets are little hidden pockets to keep gadgets like phones and glasses close at hand.
Zipper Orientation : You’ll notice that some of our bags are labeled ‘right’ and ‘left’. This is the zipper orientation, and matching a right zipper with a left zipper bag allows folks to join two bags together for dual capacity.
Accessories
Sure, certain features are great to have for a sleeping bag, but there are accessories available for purchase that can make your trip much more enjoyable.
Stuff Sack : Used for easy transportation of your sleeping bag, new or replacement stuff sacks are now sized by volume (liters) in addition to length-by-width dimensions.
Storage Sack: To prolong the life of your sleeping bag, take it out of a stuff sack when it’s in storage and store loosely in a cotton storage sack. This long-term storage prevents the insulation from getting permanently compressed, which reduces its insulating properties.
Sleeping Bag Liner : Purchased in addition to your sleeping bag, a comfy sleeping bag liner can minimize wear, keep your bag clean, and increase the warmth factor by 8-15 degrees. Best of all, you can simply sleep in the liner itself when the weather is extremely warm.
