 Is there a sleeping bag suitable for all conditions? Surely not.
Choosing a sleeping bag for an overseas adventure is a great opportunity for working up a ferocious case of gear anxiety. On a single overseas trek you could find yourself facing campsite conditions that range from sticky tropical sweatboxes to mind-numbing deep freezers and all levels in-between. So, short of taking the advice of inbred gear freaks and packing half a dozen different sleeping bags for a trek up Kili, or through the Himalaya, just which single bag should you pack?
Why you need a sleeping bag?
A bit obvious, I know, but if you’re sleeping outdoors or overnighting in lodges or refuges a sleeping bag is an essential piece of travel kit for warmth and comfort. Next to your tent, it’s one of the most important and bulky items you’ll be packing and a potential life saver in an emergency.
What’s the right one for me?
Overdose on all the technical stuff and choosing a sleeping bag can be confusing, though it needn’t be. You need to cut through all the technical fluff, decide which features you can’t live without, and then make a short list of bags rated to the lowest temperatures you’d expect to encounter on your adventure. Next, it’s simply a compromise between weight, pack size and price though for longer treks durability is an issue.
Temperature/Seasonal ratings
All sleeping bags are marketed with temperature ratings, which are at best a guide to performance and not an absolute measure. We reckon that some manufacturers claims are a little overcooked and others understated, both of which you’ll find impossible to evaluate in a gear store unless they’ve an overnight cold room for you to crash in.
Basically there is no consistency in temperature grading and a sleeping bag comfort level is dependent on many changeable factors such as the type of climate (cold and dry or cold and wet), wind strength, altitude and the thermal qualities of your overnight accommodation.
Until there is consistent and independent testing these figures will provide nothing more than a rough guide and always remember that the lowest temperature printed on the swing tag is usually a couple of degrees below the level at which the bag will be comfortable.
Sleeping bags may also be classified by seasonal usage and, curiously, the industry has managed to find a 5th season. Here’s what the seasonal ratings mean:
One Season – Lightweight bag for balmy summer nights only.
Two Season – Warm enough for chilly late spring and early autumn campsites.
Three Season – Will keep you snug on frosty spring and autumn adventures.
Four Season – Suitable for cold winter nights.
Five Season – High Altitude and polar expeditions
Do you sleep hot or cold?
There’s nothing scientific in our findings but we’ve consistently found that women sleep colder than men and some people are just more susceptible to the cold than others. On a recent trip two of us used identical bags and wore similar clothing with one ending up snug and comfortable and the other experiencing a cold and unpleasant night. If you feel the cold more than most, go for a bag with a lower temperature rating than the conditions expected. Other factors that can affect your overnight comfort include personal fitness, dehydration, metabolism, diet, the clothing you wear and fatigue.
Summary
In practical terms if you’re planning a climb up Kili or going on a trek in the Himalaya and crossing some high, cold passes then a Four Season bag will do just fine. At the start of the trek, in the hot steaming foot hills, you’ll probably just sleep on top of it and as you climb higher and the conditions get colder you could use it as a throw over (duvet style) before eventually sliding in and battening down the hatches when you’re sleeping with the glaciers.
What Next?
I’ll be posting up details of all the important sleeping bag features and explaining what they mean for you over the next couple of days. Keep tuned in. zzzzzzzzzz.
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