If you think sleeping bags should have been called 'insomnia' bags then there's a good chance you've picked the wrong bag. Here's a couple of simple steps to help you review the sleeping bag you own or buy a better one.
Sleeping Bag Rating
Sleeping bags are rated by 'Temperature' and 'Season'. The season rating is just for guidance and gives you the general time of year the sleeping bag is intend for. Two season sleeping bags are generally fine between May and August, three season bags are for summer, spring and fall and four season ones can be used all year round, but might be too warm during the summer. The number that is most important is the lower comfort temperature of the bag. Manufacturers either give a comfort range or they have a Comfort/Limit/Extreme temperature. The limit temperature is the temperature at which you'll start to feel really cold and the extreme temperature tells you at which point you will start to feel the effects of hypothermia. If your summer camping, and not at altitude, always choose the 'Comfort' figure as a starting point to work out whether the bag will be adequate.
Check out average night time temperatures
To make sure you've got the right bag, compare the comfort rating to the normal night time temperatures of your destination. For example, in Oregon in February the average nightly temperature is -5.1 degrees C and in July it's 7.9 degrees C. Compare this to the United Kingdom where the February figure is 1.1 degrees C and in July it's 11.7 degrees C. Be sure to get a sleeping bag with the correct rating for your destination. In winter, to be on the safe side, I'd definitely look at the 'Extreme' rating of the bag and compare it to the lowest record temperatures of a region.
Do you sleep warm or cold?
There are other factors that you might like to consider, like whether you sleep cold or warm. In summer, at home, if you still sleep under several sheets and a duvet, I think you might just be a cold sleeper. If this is the case then you might want to consider reducing the rating numbers a little and getting a warmer rated bag. Women in general are colder sleepers and need a sleeping bag that is about 5 degrees lower than a man's. Older people should also upgrade. Another point to consider is this: the manufacturers make the assumption that you are wearing PJs or baselayers in the sleeping bag. If you wear your full wardrobe or go naked this will affect your comfort rating.
Fabrics
You only need to get into the 'down' or 'synthetic' debate if you're actually going to be carrying your sleeping bag further than the car and back. Down is light and packs really small, so it has a good warmth to weight ratio, but it's expensive. Don't bother with down sleeping bag if you're a family camper. Synthetic filled sleeping bags are reasonably priced, they'll keep you warm if you buy the correct one (see above) and they'll last a long time.
Other considerations
Sleeping mats are important. Heat is lost fairly rapidly into the ground if you don't have a sleeping mat that's insulated. Also, if the sleeping bag doesn't fit correctly, it can cause cold spots, so have a look at the height and width before you buy, better still go to a shop and try one.
Sleeping Bag Rating
Sleeping bags are rated by 'Temperature' and 'Season'. The season rating is just for guidance and gives you the general time of year the sleeping bag is intend for. Two season sleeping bags are generally fine between May and August, three season bags are for summer, spring and fall and four season ones can be used all year round, but might be too warm during the summer. The number that is most important is the lower comfort temperature of the bag. Manufacturers either give a comfort range or they have a Comfort/Limit/Extreme temperature. The limit temperature is the temperature at which you'll start to feel really cold and the extreme temperature tells you at which point you will start to feel the effects of hypothermia. If your summer camping, and not at altitude, always choose the 'Comfort' figure as a starting point to work out whether the bag will be adequate.
Check out average night time temperatures
To make sure you've got the right bag, compare the comfort rating to the normal night time temperatures of your destination. For example, in Oregon in February the average nightly temperature is -5.1 degrees C and in July it's 7.9 degrees C. Compare this to the United Kingdom where the February figure is 1.1 degrees C and in July it's 11.7 degrees C. Be sure to get a sleeping bag with the correct rating for your destination. In winter, to be on the safe side, I'd definitely look at the 'Extreme' rating of the bag and compare it to the lowest record temperatures of a region.
Do you sleep warm or cold?
There are other factors that you might like to consider, like whether you sleep cold or warm. In summer, at home, if you still sleep under several sheets and a duvet, I think you might just be a cold sleeper. If this is the case then you might want to consider reducing the rating numbers a little and getting a warmer rated bag. Women in general are colder sleepers and need a sleeping bag that is about 5 degrees lower than a man's. Older people should also upgrade. Another point to consider is this: the manufacturers make the assumption that you are wearing PJs or baselayers in the sleeping bag. If you wear your full wardrobe or go naked this will affect your comfort rating.
Fabrics
You only need to get into the 'down' or 'synthetic' debate if you're actually going to be carrying your sleeping bag further than the car and back. Down is light and packs really small, so it has a good warmth to weight ratio, but it's expensive. Don't bother with down sleeping bag if you're a family camper. Synthetic filled sleeping bags are reasonably priced, they'll keep you warm if you buy the correct one (see above) and they'll last a long time.
Other considerations
Sleeping mats are important. Heat is lost fairly rapidly into the ground if you don't have a sleeping mat that's insulated. Also, if the sleeping bag doesn't fit correctly, it can cause cold spots, so have a look at the height and width before you buy, better still go to a shop and try one.
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If you need more help, take a look at these pages for reviews of sleeping bags and check here to see some helpful camping gear advice .
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