How to Buy the Optimal Sleeping Bag

For many people, crawling into a snuggly sleeping bag is the best (and perhaps only) reason to go camping. Getting a bag that best fits your body means you don't carry excess weight or spend a lot of time trying to heat up one that's too big for you. Know your options before heading for the hills.

Instructions

    • 1

      Consider your insulation. Down is the most efficient insulator available, with the highest warmth-to-weight ratio. Cared for properly, it will last a lifetime. Down does not perform well when wet but is perfect for very cold climates where moisture is less of a concern, and anytime weight concerns are paramount. Not all down is the same: The higher the fill power, the warmer it is. Two bags rated for 20 degrees F (-7 C), one with 650 fill and the other with 850, will keep you equally warm. The key is that it takes less 850 fill down to reach that degree rating, making it a lighter, more compressible bag than the 650. On the other hand, synthetic insulation is cheaper than down but slightly heavier for the same warmth rating. They retain their warmth when wet because they dry better, retaining their loft. Polarguard, Hollowfill and Thinsulate are popular brands.

    • 2

      Examine the outer material. Most bags use polyester or nylon fabric for both the shell and lining. The shell is coated with a lightweight durable water repellent to allow small amounts of water to bead up but not penetrate to the insulation. Higher-priced bags are made with waterproof, breathable laminates that allow body vapor to escape to the surface of the bag while prohibiting moisture from coming in. These bags are used exclusively in high-altitude mountaineering.

    • 3

      Check the stitching: If it runs directly through the inner and outer layers of the bag, it's a low-quality bag good only for temperatures above 45 degrees F (7 C).This quilted construction creates cold spots along the seams. High-quality baffled construction has inner and outer stitches that do not meet.

    • 4

      Fine the right shape for you type of camping and body. Bags come in either rectangular or mummy shapes. The reduced volume of a mummy means it insulates better and compresses to a smaller size. Rectangular bags are bulkier and heavier but can open flat to act as a comforter. Some models are made in large or tall sizes for people over 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, or in short sizes for children. Better-quality bags are offered in men's and women's versions, wider at the shoulders or hips, respectively, and insulated in different patterns, which take into account anatomical and sleep differences.

    • 5

      Check the temperature rating. Most bags list the lowest temperature at which the bag will be comfortable. An average backpacking bag, for example, might be rated for 20 degrees F (-7 C).These ratings are a handy way to compare bags, but they don't mean you'll always be comfortable at that temperature--you still need a secure tent, an insulated sleeping pad and proper clothing.

    • 6

      If you're into cold-weather camping, get a bag with a hood. Cold-weather performance requires a hooded bag. Climb into the bag to test the hood; you should be able to seal it snugly around your face. Make sure your feet don't push against the bottom of the bag when the hood is fastened.