Selecting the best sleeping bags for the appropriate temperatures and trail situations is very important. Don’t know what to look for? Well, this information should help you make that determination. :
Choices
Sleeping bags are measured in loft. Loft is basically how “fluffy” the bag is. How high is it when it’s laying on the ground. The taller it is, the more air “pockets” or dead airspace there is and the warmer it will keep you.
Due to the disparity in the past of the temperature measurement of the best sleeping bags, there have been newly released testing adjustments within the sleeping bag industry in America.
The Europeans have had a evaluating structure, for a while now, that has proven to be reliable in how it determines a sleeping bag’s temperature range. It also gives more details by recognizing the matter that guys and women have diverse opinions to what is a comfortable sleeping temperature.
Some U.S. companies of backpacking sleeping bags have followed the European Norm (EN 13537) approach of temperature testing. Without going into too much depth about how they arrive at these numbers, generally they test the best sleeping bags under rigorous guidelines utilizing a clothed mannequin sporting thermal underwear and a hat. Devices on the dummy report temperature readings.
The New Tag: A label using this new screening method shows:
EN Comfort Score for Women
: This is an outside air temperature that typical female would stay pleasantly warm.
EN Lower Limit Ranking for Guys
: This is an exterior air temperature that a typical man would stay cozy warm.
EN Extreme Score
: This is an outside air temperature that the sleeping bag would still keep a female alive. These ratings should not be applied too literally.
Take note: these figures are centered around the concept that you are dressed in a single layer of clothing and have a sleeping pad underneath the sleeping bag.
Do not Remove This Tag Under Penalty of the Sleeping Bag Patrol:
If the sleeping bags you happen to be thinking about have not implemented the EN standard, don’t panic. You can use their temperature measurement. The only difference is that these ratings are to be used as a guide only and don’t take into consideration the male/female difference. When you are like me and are always cold whenever you sleep, then purchase a sleeping bag with additional loft and a lower temperature measurement. The lower the measurement, the colder the external ambient temperature can be where the bag will sustain your warmth.
How Low Can You Go:
In either scenario, with the older rating or the innovative EN, when choosing a bag, establish what kind of weather and what time of year you will probably be using it. When you are in the mountains and only plan to hike Spring, Summer and Autumn, then get a three season sleeping bag. Obtain the average lows for that coldest time of year that you will be backpacking and subtract 10 to 20 degrees and choose a bag in that scale. (For instance: say that the typical low around the mountains during the spring is 20 degrees Fahrenheit, then subtract 20 degrees and find a sleeping bag which is ranked at 0 degrees. Here is a requirement chart to help:
Bag Style Temperature Rating (Fahrenheit)
Summer: +40 to +60
Three Season Bag: +10 to +40
Cool Weather: -10 to + 10
Winter: -10 and Below
Shapes/Styles:
You’ll find three standard shapes of the best sleeping bags for hiking and backpacking:
Mummy: Mummy sleeping bags are portioned broader on the shoulders and slimmer at the feet. These kinds of bags are the most “snug” fitting bags and therefore are more succesful in maintaining your warmth, because of the absence of airspace between your body and the bag. Considering their style, they’re additionally one of the most lightweight. These bags also are available with a hood that has a drawstring which helps retain warmth around your head. By the way, up to 50% of heat loss from the body can disappear from the head.
Rectangular: These happen to be exactly like the term suggests. A large rectangle. Because of their shape, they are inclined to be the least efficient style of sleeping bag. There exists a good deal of room inside the bag for your body to heat up. Due to their significant weight, they can be much better suited for a “car camping” experience as opposed to a hiking outing. They do have the advantage of a pair of bags being able to be zipped together and turn into a sleeping bag for a couple rather than a single individual. Using this design, a full or queen air mattress underneath actually contributes to a cozy night’s rest. (Again not ideal for the back woods).
Semi-Rectangular: I refer to this as the cross-breed. This backpacking sleeping bag is rectangular around the head and then tapers along towards your feet. Having this form, you have additional space, but not all the weight as a real rectangular sleeping bag. For those of us who are claustrophobic, like me; we can get to sleep a little better inside a bag with extra room in it and still have some benefit from the form.
There are also a few other shapes designed specifically for body styles:
Woman’s: These seem to be more narrow at the shoulders. Broader for the hips in addition to extra insulation inside the upper body and foot compartment.
Kid’s: These essentially have “Kid Friendly” features such as: pouches for their “things”, make a pillow at their head along with a sleeping pad restraint system to ensure that the pad remains in place all night.
Characteristics:
Hood: as mentioned above with the Mummy Sleeping Bag, a hood that has a drawstring can help retain body heat
Draft Tube/Draft Flap: This is a flap or tube that runs along side the zipper. This flap helps protect against temperature loss. When looking for a hiking sleeping bag, check that the flap is solely attached to the lining and not through the bag. Always examine the zipper before purchasing to verify that the flap/tube does not interfere or get caught in the zipper path.
Draft Collar: This is a tube at the base of the hood. It “closes off” the spot at the neck so that air does not get away. When testing out a bag, make certain that this tube is comfortable.
Foot Box: This is, as the term implies, the region around the feet. Some sleeping bags have extra space in the foot compartment to keep your hiking boots or water bottles.
Zipper: The zipper must have large teeth and ought to run easily. They ought to also not snag the fabric in the course of use.
Pockets: Pockets can be an asset or an irritation. If your bag comes with pouches, be careful with just what you put in them. Likewise, before buying the bag, take note of the pockets locations. Do you want to roll over onto your car keys or MP3 player in the middle of the night?
Length: If you are taller when compared with the “average bear”, there are backpacking sleeping bags that come in extended lengths.
Materials:
Fill: You’ll find two standard types of sleeping bag fills; Fabricated (polyester) and Down (insulating feathers of geese or ducks).
Goose Down Sleeping Bag: There is nothing having a greater weight to warmth ratio than down. A goose down sleeping bag is incredibly lightweight. The problem with down is if it ever gets wet, it loses its thermal capturing capability. Additionally, the drying out time for down is particularly lengthy. If your down sleeping bag becomes wet along the trail late in the day, you’re in for a cold night. Down is only for individuals most diligent in keeping their sleeping bag dry.
Manufactured: The best sleeping bags have been getting lighter in weight and more efficient every year. They do weigh more than down bags, however if they do get wet, they preserve more of their warming functionality. In addition, they dry a lot faster than down. Consequently, the trade-offs are weight, warmth and drying quicker.
Taking Care of Your Sleeping Bag:
Prior to setting up your hiking sleeping bag, you should shake it out a couple of times. This will help fluff it up and increase the airspace.
When packing up your bag, always put the bag into your stuff bag. (Is that redundant?) Just don’t roll up and fold the sleeping bag, this can decrease the insulating properties faster.
When not using your sleeping bag, don’t keep it inside a stuff bag, always hang it up or store it in a loose storage bag. In case you forget about it being stored in a small bag, it can permanently pack the insulation.
Remember that over time, from regular use, a backpacking sleeping bag is likely to lose its warming efficiency. This is attributed to the fill getting more compact. This will cause the air pockets to lessen.
Lastly, read and pay attention to the care recommendations from the manufacturer. They produce best sleeping bags for hiking and backpacking and they understand how you can keep it in great condition.