Which sleeping bag to choose? - summer and winter suggestions
A comfortable and restful sleep is very important for the health and overall condition of the body. It's worth taking care of it, whether you're on a camping trip in the Masuria region, on a winter trek in the mountains or on a survival expedition. To ensure a good night's sleep away from your own comfortable bedroom, you'll need to equip yourself with the right sleeping bag for the conditions in which you'll be spending the night. The choice can be overwhelming, so in this guide we will try to answer the question of which sleeping bag to choose, depending on the purpose or season, and hint at what aspects you should pay special attention to when buying a sleeping bag.
How to choose a sleeping bag according to the temperature?
Temperature range is one of the basic parameters you should pay attention to when buying a sleeping bag. This is important because you will need a different sleeping bag for summer outings and a completely different one for mountain winter expeditions. Three temperature ranges are most often listed on sleeping bags, which tell you how to choose a sleeping bag for the temperature: T-comfort, T-limit and T-extreme. Sometimes T-max is also included.
These values should correspond to the European standard EN 13537 or the newer PN-EN ISO 23437. The standards are established on the basis of laboratory tests carried out using a special measuring dummy equipped with heaters and temperature sensors, through which the insulating value of a given sleeping bag is determined. The standards apply to an average man and an average woman of standard height and weight.
In the newer version, the indicated temperatures have been raised by an average of 4°C.
Sleeping bag manufacturers perform tests of their products. Here's how to read these indicators:
- Comfort temperature (T-Comfort): the temperature at which the average woman will sleep comfortably and in a relaxed position in a sleeping bag all night.
- Lower comfort limit temperature (T-Limit): the temperature at which the average man will sleep in a curled-up position all night without feeling cold.
- Extreme temperature (T-Extreme):otherwise known as the Survival Index, this is the temperature at which the average woman can survive for 6 hours without going into hypothermia. This indicator should by no means be taken into account when choosing a sleeping bag.
Although a new temperature range has been introduced, sleeping bags made according to the previous standard are not designed badly and can still be found on the market. On the sleeping bag's label, the manufacturer should indicate according to which standard the temperature types are specified.
Naturally, it is important to remember that the perceived temperature varies depending on various factors, such as the insulation from the ground, the type of tent, our clothing and what we ate before bed.
Knowing what the values indicated on sleeping bags mean, you already have the first criterion relevant to your purchase. Now you need to consider in what weather conditions and at what time of year you will use it most often. Which sleeping bag for winter? This, of course, depends on what country you are traveling to and where you plan to spend the night in a tent. It's worth considering whether you'll be sleeping in a hostel or in the open air, as well as whether you're going to the mountains or lowland areas. One thing is certain - a winter sleeping bag must, above all, be warm. Poland records negative night temperatures for five months of the year, in addition, it should be remembered that the temperature drops by about 1°C for every 100 meters of altitude, so when planning an overnight stay in the high mountains you need to take this into account. If you're getting ready to spend the winter night in a tent, also keep in mind variables such as wind strength and humidity, which lower the perceived temperature.
How to choose a sleeping bag according to its purpose?
Before buying a sleeping bag, it is worth considering its purpose. Are you looking for summer sleeping bag, a winter sleeping bag, or maybe a year-round one? We have already hinted at what to follow when looking for a winter sleeping bag. Now it's time to answer the questions what kind of sleeping bag for summer, and what kind of three-season sleeping bag? A summer sleeping bag should be lightweight but provide thermal comfort. For men, we recommend sleeping bags with a temperature limit of +5°C, while for women with a comfort temperature of +5°C. It is also worth bearing in mind that it should take up as little space in our backpack as possible. A more difficult choice is faced by campers looking for a three-season sleeping bag. It should be remembered that this one will serve us from spring until autumn. Average daily temperatures in Poland for these seasons range from 8°C in spring, through 19°C in summer to 10°C in autumn. The occurrence of frosts should also be kept in mind. Therefore, we suggest choosing sleeping bags with a temperature limit of 0°C for men and sleeping bags with a comfort temperature of 0°C for women. It's a good idea to choose a sleeping bag that has a drawstring hood, batting and a thermal collar for cold nights.
Down or synthetic sleeping bag?
An extremely important parameter of a sleeping bag is the material from which the filling is made. In the table below you can check the comparison of a down sleeping bag and a synthetic sleeping bag.
| Down sleeping bag | Synthetic sleeping bag | |
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It is impossible to say unequivocally which type of sleeping bag is better. It depends on the conditions we face. During expeditions to areas where the temperature drops really low, it is worth equipping yourself with a down sleeping bag. When rain or high humidity may surprise you while camping, a synthetic sleeping bag is definitely a better choice.
How to choose the size and shape of a sleeping bag?
When choosing a sleeping bag size, it is important to choose a sleeping bag according to the height of the person who will use it. It is very important not to choose a sleeping bag that is too short, and it is worth leaving about 5-10 cm of space. During sleep, we change positions or bend and straighten our legs, so extra space is so important.
Among the most popular sleeping bag shapes are the mummy, rectangular and semi-rectangular sleeping bag. The mummy allows for easier packing and is also a fairly lightweight sleeping bag. An additional advantage is the conical shape, which makes the area inside to be heated, smaller, but can restrict movement. The rectangular sleeping bag is less efficient in terms of heating but allows freedom of movement while sleeping. It is a good choice during warm summer nights. The semi-rectangular sleeping bag is a combination of the mummy and rectangular sleeping bag. It provides more comfort than a rectangular one and does not restrict movement like a mummy, but it cannot, however, be said to be the middle ground. It all depends on the conditions in which you want to use the sleeping bag.
Sleeping bag offer at MILITARY.EU
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Choose a sleeping bag to suit your needs, for any season. Going on a multi-day bicycle trip and planning to sleep in the open air? Choose a sleeping bag from our cycling and trekking range. We also have thermal and down sleeping bags for enthusiasts of high altitude tours in harsh conditions.