For a comfortable sleep and rest on a hike, you need two components - a sleeping bag and a hiking mat. No matter what type of recreation you prefer - challenging mountain trekking or relaxing by the campfire - you will need a comfortable sleeping bag at night. In hiking conditions, it replaces your favorite blanket, prevents freezing, thanks to it you rest before another day of adventure.
Why do you need sleeping bags?
A sleeping bag is the key to quality sleep, and quality sleep is the basis of any rest. On a hike, camping, and even in the country, a sleeping bag performs the same functions.
Its main task is to create comfortable temperature conditions for sleep. Its shape and dimensions are calculated to preserve the heat produced by our body, and the structure and tailoring minimize the loss of warm air.
A comfortable microclimate inside the sleeping bag is supported by materials and filler. The lining material is soft and pleasant to the body, it wicks away sweat and guarantees a feeling of dryness. The insulation keeps the heat, if necessary, removes moisture outside. The outer material protects against moisture from the outside (condensation in the tent), ensures the breathing of the sleeping bag. To prevent overheating and excessive sweating, manufacturers use technological materials that release excess heat to the outside. One such material is Clima Control Shield (CCS) from Pinguin.
Another function of a sleeping bag is protection against drafts. There is no guarantee that the room will be dry and warm during your vacation at a campsite, in a cabin in the Carpathians or in a chalet in the highlands. This is one of the reasons why synthetic materials are used for the manufacture of the top layer of the sleeping bag, they have wind-resistant properties.
What are sleeping bags?
The modern outdoor market offers various sleeping bags depending on the criteria: comfort temperature, shape, filler, season of use, size and many others. This affects the conditions of use, price, comfort.
Comfort temperature
The most important criterion for sleeping bags. Rest directly depends on how warm a sleeping bag you use: a very warm one can be hot, and in the morning you will feel as if you slept in a sauna, a lighter one can be cool at night. Therefore, it is important to choose a bag according to the season and conditions of use.
For greater comfort when choosing a bag, manufacturers indicate the temperature indicators of each model. In order for these indicators from different manufacturers to correspond to each other, the international standard ISO EN 23537 was developed. According to it, all sleeping bags are tested for compliance with the declared temperature data. The standard also specifies requirements for fabrics and insulating materials.
Manufacturers of 162 countries have signed an agreement on testing sleeping bags in accordance with the above standard. Thanks to this, it is possible to compare sleeping bags from different companies and compare them with each other in terms of thermal insulation and other characteristics.
Temperature indicators consist of several numbers:
T max is the upper indicator of the comfortable temperature for sleep of an adult "average" man. Allows sleeping in an unbuttoned sleeping bag and light sweating. It is not a mandatory indicator.
T komfort - this indicator corresponds to the temperature at which a woman in a thermal underwear will sleep comfortably. It is aimed at those who often get cold. It is also called the temperature of female comfort.
T min is an admissibly low temperature at which a person will not get serious hypothermia, sleep will be fragmentary, of poor quality.
The shape of the sleeping bag
Determines weight, dimensions in folded form. It also affects the internal volume, which will have to be "warmed up" with your body. The most popular options in terms of form:
The blankets have a rectangular shape with a zipper on the side. If desired, it can be unbuttoned and used as a blanket. They provide freedom of movement inside, suitable for those who turn over a lot in their sleep. They are available with or without a hood. Most often used for camping and short hikes.
Cocoons have a more anatomical cut, they are wide in the shoulder area and narrow to the bottom. They are also often called mummies. Keeps heat well. This is the most popular option for trekking, hiking, climbing. When comparing cocoons and blankets from the same manufacturer, anatomical sleeping bags have an advantage - they are lighter and more compact at the same comfort temperature.
The quilt’s shape resembles a blanket tucked under a caremat. This is a sleeping bag without a back, here its function is performed by a travel mat. In order to avoid heat loss, special straps and fasteners are used to fix the quilt on the mat so that it does not move during sleep. They are suitable for those who sleep soundly and do not return, or who want to save as much as possible on the total weight of the equipment.
Filler
Insulating materials are used to keep the sleeping bag warm. Not only the thermal insulation, but also the weight and dimensions of the bag in the package will depend on the type of filler and its quantity used. For insulation use:
Natural down of waterfowl. It is an ideal heat insulator. Down sleeping bags are the warmest and most durable. The down does not clump, does not deform, keeps its initial volume well even after 5 years of use.
Previously, fluff was considered not a practical enough material, because it took a long time to dry when wet. But the developers of the companies solved this problem. And today, leading manufacturers such as Pinguin and Sea to Summit use down with additional processing. Silicone, which covers each individual fluff, protects against moisture and extends the service life. Siliconization technology does not 100% protect down from getting wet. But the insulation retains up to 80% of heat in a wet state.
The price of a down sleeping bag will depend not only on the technologies used in processing, but also on the quality of the down inside. The main criterion here is the Fill Power indicator. It characterizes the ability of down to restore the original volume after compression. Measured by the ratio of cubic inches to ounces of weight. Different mixtures of down and fine feathers of the same weight will have different volumes. And the larger the volume of fluff inside the sleeping bag, the warmer it is, accordingly. A high Fill Power indicator (from 700) means that the finished product will have a low weight, compactness and excellent thermal insulation. For example, the Spark SpIV sleeping bag from the Australian manufacturer Sea to Summit with a comfort temperature for men of -15C weighs only 800 g and occupies a volume of 6.5 liters.
The Pinguin company, in addition to siliconization, also uses external materials with DWR impregnation to protect the down from moisture. It provides moisture-repellent properties, water drops simply roll off the surface and are not absorbed by the material.
Synthetic fillers are practical and affordable. Synthetics, unlike down, do not absorb moisture, thanks to this, they dry quickly when wet, warm even when wet. Synthetic sleeping bags are an excellent solution for traveling in a tropical climate, rafting, water hiking.
Depending on the structure of synthetic fibers, heaters are distinguished:
- With hollow fibers. Such a fiber consists of longitudinal channels in which warm air is stored. An example of such a fiber is Thermicfibre, which is used by the Pinguin company in its budget line.
- From microfibers. During development, engineers tried to repeat the fibers of natural down as much as possible. Such insulation is quite light and retains heat well. It is used for three-season sleeping bags. This includes the BHB-micro fiber developed by Pinguin engineers.
To ensure optimal heat preservation, the manufacturer can use synthetic insulation in several layers. The Micra sleeping bag, one of the most popular of the Pinguin brand, is made of three layers of BHB Micro insulating material with a density of 120 g.
Sleeping bag size and zoning
In order for a person to sleep comfortably in a bag, and the filler fulfills its task of keeping warm, the sleeping bag must correspond to the size of the body. Otherwise, it will be tight inside, and the insulation layer will be compressed and stretched, in this condition it will not be able to retain heat in overcrowded areas. The second scenario is when the sleeping bag is very large and body heat is not enough to warm the entire internal volume of the bag. It can be chilly in these situations.
The physique and anatomy of the body of men and women is different. Therefore, many manufacturers have developed women's and men's versions of sleeping bags. They differ in physical size, sometimes in general shape. Women's are shorter, they are made wider in the hips, and can be slightly narrowed in the legs. This allows girls and short men to sleep comfortably and not carry extra weight of equipment.
Manufacturer Sea to Summit went further and developed a zonal arrangement of insulation. In men's models, the insulation layer is located evenly throughout the sleeping bag. And women have warmer zones - the area of the feet and lower legs, lower back.
In addition, manufacturers offer children's sleeping bags for various conditions of use. They differ in size and amount of insulation. And the Pinguin company also took into account the characteristics of small children's hands and used smaller fasteners in sleeping bags.
Seasonality of the sleeping bag
It directly depends on the comfort temperature of a certain model. There is an unspoken gradation of sleeping bags according to temperature indicators. According to it, the following are distinguished:
Summer ones are the lightest, have compact sizes. Suitable for use at ambient temperatures above +10С +12С. If previously only synthetics were used for summer bags, then down summer sleeping bags have been gaining popularity in recent years. Thanks to technological fluff and lightweight materials, they are very light and compact. Sea to Summit's Spark SpI sleeping bag weighs only 340g and takes up less space than a 1.5L bottle.
Three-season or demi-season is the most popular category. They are used at temperatures from -10C to +10C. Thanks to this, they are taken both for summer hikes and for outings in warm winter.
Winters are one of the warmest. This category includes models with a comfort temperature below -10C. They have a good stuffing with a filler.
For extremely low temperatures below -22-24C. The warmest of all variety. For their insulation, only high-quality down with a Fill Power index of at least 700 is used. They are used for mountaineering, expeditions, winter hikes, climbing.
Additional buns for comfort
To increase the level of comfort when using a sleeping bag, manufacturers offer various technological and functional solutions.
- Footbox is an increased space in the leg area. Most sleeping bags do not consider that additional volume is needed for a comfortable position of the feet in the bag. Due to this, the sleeping bag is stretched and the insulation is compressed. Sea to Summit uses a footbox to solve this problem.
- An insulated bar is located along the zipper and protects against the cold that can pass through the fastener.
- Insulated collar prevents the migration of warm air, provides comfort and warmth.
- Two-way zippers allow you to fasten the sleeping bag from the outside and from the inside.
- Ability to combine two in one. Today, more and more manufacturers offer models that connect to each other. For this, when buying, choose models with zippers from different sides.
- The inner pocket serves to store small things, and this is where the phone is hidden at night. And in the cold period, it is used for batteries that quickly discharge in the cold.
When choosing a sleeping bag, it is worth considering not only temperature indicators and conditions of use. The location of the zippers, the construction of the hood, and the specific features of sleep are also important.
The wholesale company SMG offers sleeping bags and equipment for travel and tourism of such brands as Pinguin, Sea to Summit, Marmot, Rab.