Do you know how to choose a sleeping bag? Let's start to disassemble everything point by point and give advice on all parameters that will help you when choosing a sleeping bag. After the recommendations given in this article, you will already know exactly about all the tricks of choosing sleeping bags for winter and not only, and also choose it without any problems.
Varietyand sleeping bags
We start the choice with the type of sleeping bag, in our tourist life there are two main types - a blanket, a blanket with a headrest and a cocoon. The cocoon is very tight and has a narrowing at the bottom of the legs, with such a sleeping bag it would be ideal to go to the mountains, because in cold and inclement weather, when choosing such a tourist attribute, you will warm up much faster.
When choosing a blanket sleeping bag, we advise you to think carefully before buying such a sleeping bag. It is a good choice if you are going on a hike in the summer. It can also be noted that in such a sleeping bag it is more spacious and lighter, an additional plus will be that you can unfasten the zipper on it and you will get a huge warm blanket that can be used, for example, near a fire at night.
Conditions for choosing a great option
Now let's talk about the conditions for which you choose a sleeping bag. The down filler will be able to withstand temperatures up to -40 degrees without problems, you can sleep right on the snow, the main thing is that your health allows it. For synthetic options, the temperature reaches up to -20 degrees, with such a temperature a person will feel confident, but nevertheless, the cold will already be felt.
The lightest sleeping option, as we have already said, is downy, its weight is about 1 kilogram. The heaviest, as you might have guessed, is a synthetic-filled sleeping bag, its weight reaches 3 kilograms. Do not forget to look at its weight on the package when choosing an option, there should be indicated the weight without packaging.
Do not forget that the quality version weighs at least 1.5 kilograms. We advise you not to choose a sleeping bag if its weight is more than 4 kilograms, such a weight you will simply be tortured to carry on yourself.
Temperature conditions
- Summer options, suitable for summer night temperatures
- Off-season options, ideal for freezing temperatures
- Winter options can withstand temperatures down to -40 ° C (subject to a high-quality sleeping bag).
It is also worth paying attention to the label with the temperature marking, which indicates the lower temperature threshold, the extreme point at which the sleeping bag loses all its properties and the maximum operating temperature of the bag.
- t ° Maximum - the maximum temperature value at which you will feel comfortable, that is, not hot and not cold.
- t ° Comfort is a certain period of time that keeps the sleeping bag and makes you feel comfortable for 8 hours. This is the very minimum temperature at which your future tourist attribute fulfills its assigned function.
- t ° Extreme - extreme temperature or minimum air temperature at which a sleeping bag gives you 8 hours of uncomfortable sleep without hypothermia.
How to choose the right sleeping bag?
How to choose a sleeping bag according to your size and so that it is not cramped for you? To do this, you need to remember that all options have standard sizes and have additional legroom for shoes (+15 centimeters), this makes it possible to put shoes on yourself so that you can then put on warm shoes, and not frozen in the snow.
When choosing a sleeping bag, you should also not forget about the prices, the most affordable sleeping bag with synthetic filling will cost you about 2 thousand rubles. The cheapest option with a down filler will cost 5 thousand rubles, but the best option with a silicone filler will cost you about 8 thousand rubles.
What materials should be
How to choose a sleeping bag, what material should you pay attention to? The usual scheme of the material of a sleeping bag looks like this - the outer layer is made of polyester, the middle layer is synthetic winterizer, and the inner material with which you cover is cotton material (filling is insulation).
Cotton material has only advantages, in this version it will be comfortable to sleep, and nice, such material is perfect for people who are allergic to synthetic materials. From the outside, it is best to choose a sleeping bag made of polyester or polyamide. This material breathes very well, you will not sweat and at the same time will not freeze, but now in order and in more detail.
Outer layer
As you may have guessed, the outer layer of the sleeping bag should be of wear-resistant quality, repelling moisture, clean and breathe well. Decent materials for a sleeping bag, as already mentioned, include polyester and nylon. Nylon is more commonly found as an outer layer because it is much cheaper than polyester and is durable, water repellent and breathable. As for polyester, it is expensive, but it also lasts longer.
The inner layer
Here you need to choose a material that will breathe very well, otherwise you are simply guaranteed to sweat every night. Also, the material should be pleasant and soft to the touch. These materials include all the same cotton fabric, fleece, mixed fabrics (polycotton ...), nylon. Cotton breathes very well, its hygienic properties are better than all other materials. Blended fabrics such as polycotton are more durable, weigh less than cotton, but absorb moisture.
Nylon is not so pleasant in sensations, but it dries quickly and weighs very little, and this is a tangible plus when considering the issue of choosing a sleeping bag and its weight when packing on hikes. On the fleece, only positive aspects can be noted, it keeps heat very well and does not absorb moisture.
How to choose a sleeping bag filler
What kind of sleeping bag fillers should you pay special attention to? Let's move on to choosing a sleeping bag filler. All tourists who love natural fillers, feel free to take down filler (duck or goose down, you will not feel the difference in warmth). When choosing a sleeping bag with natural filling, you will win in two things, such fillings are considered the warmest and lightest, which means that the weight of the backpack will be much less.
Also, when choosing your option with a natural filler, do not forget about the cons. Down filler tends to get wet and absorb moisture, as a result, the down rolls down and loses its heat-shielding properties, but you don't need this, especially in cold weather.
In this case, an offer with synthetic fillers comes to your aid, such fillers dry quickly, quickly recover their shape after getting wet, and yet are less prone to getting wet. But most importantly, if you decide to choose a sleeping bag with synthetic filling, you save a decent amount of money, such sleeping bags are half the price of an offer with natural filling.
The only drawback of a sleeping bag with synthetic filler is its fragility. After a few seasons, you will have to change it, but if you treat the thing well, then it will serve you for a long time.
If you still don't know how to choose a sleeping bag, then go ahead and consider the next polyester filler. This filler is by far the most optimal investment in your health when choosing a sleeping bag. It is as warm as the down filling, and also does not get wet, does not roll like wet down and lasts a very long time.
Sleeping bag sizes
When choosing the size of your sleeping bag, do not forget to add 15 - 20 centimeters of your height.
- standard - measuring 73 cm by 190 cm - the usual average sleeping bag for most people.
- children - have a size of 71 cm by 145 cm and less. The total area is reduced in order to warm up faster with minimal heat loss.
- teenage - measuring 73 cm by 167 cm - these are narrow or short sleeping bags for short people
- enlarged - from 84 cm by 198 cm to 96 by 205 cm - for tall and stout people, and for those who like a lot of space in a sleeping bag.
What should you pay attention to?
When you are already holding your future tourist attribute in your hands, then you need to turn your close look at several things that will help you make the right choice. So, we look at the seams, there should be no seams quilted through. We look at the zipper, the zipper should be accompanied by a reinforced tape that will not allow the material to jam when unzipping or reverse action.
The hood should have a lace made of thick nylon material with good tightening retention, such material will not fail when you do not need it. And the last thing that needs to be paid attention to - the fittings, the fittings should not be made of very hard plastic to the touch, or, best of all, the fittings should be made of metal. The lines in the form of squares will hold the fluff longer than a bag stitched in parallel, so the smaller the squares, the better and longer it will last.
How to use it correctly?
How to choose a good option for a great sleep in the mountains or other places of your trip, we already know and have learned how to choose the most suitable sleeping bag for different weather conditions and seasons. Now let's consider the question “how to use a sleeping bag correctly”. To do this, we will give some tips for beginner tourists.
The first step on a camping trip is to find a place to sleep, for this the best option would be the place that will allow you to hide from the wind, such protection is given to you by an ordinary forest. Do not forget, be sure to go to bed only dry, without outerwear and shoes, thermal underwear will only benefit.
We choose our option for traveling so that you feel comfortable and there is no extra space, otherwise it will blow on the sides. Silicone sleeping bags will fit you even in Antarctica, they fit the body well, are lightweight and do not freeze throughout. For hot weather, we advise you to take a closer look at the choice of an attribute from a good padding polyester or fluff.
And finally, do not try to sleep on cold ground, be sure to put a tourist rug, such rugs weigh a little and will keep your health for many years of your life. Well, that's all, the question of how to choose a sleeping bag for a tourist is exhausted. In order to be always aware of useful information, we advise you to subscribe to our newsletter in the form below.
