Choosing a sleeping bag
A 3-season down bag will keep you cosy on UK hill-trips from spring through to autumn.
Featured product: Blacks Octane 2
1. Temperature Rating
Sleeping bags that are comfortable down to -5 deg C are generally accepted as being good for spring, summer and autumn use. These ratings are only a rough guide, as how warm you feel will depend on metabolic rate, body fat, food intake, exertion levels and environmental conditions such as wind and humidity. Women feel the cold more and so should choose a bag that is around 6 degrees warmer.
2. Insulation
Down is the most efficient insulating material and produces light and compact bags. To compare bags, look at the quality of the down used. This is given in terms of how much down and feathers it contains. The best possible ratio is 96/4 (96%down, 4% feathers), but usually 90/10 is used in the best bags, with 70/30 common in lower priced bags. The better the down, the more efficient it is - so you'll need less of it to stay warm. Result: a lighter bag!
Fill power gives a gauge of how efficient the down is at trapping air and so keeping you warm. The higher the number, the better (750 is generally the best available). Be aware that there are different test methods, so a 750 fill powerdown tested in Europe may rate as 800 when tested in the US. Fill weight tells you how much down there is in a bag. The better the down
(in terms of fill power), the less you will need - so look at the fill weight and fill power figures together.
3. Side Zips
To enable you to get into your bag easily and have a degree of temperature control, side zips are provided that extend the whole length of the bag. These are often two-way zips so that you can open them at the bottom to allow your feet to cool down. Half-length side zips are also available. These make a bag lighter and less expensive, but may make the bag too hot to use in mild weather. Look for a substantial baffle to prevent draughts and cold spots.
4. Shoulder Baffle
Sleeping bags work by trapping air next to the body. A shoulder or neck baffle helps to keep that warm air inside the bag and around your chest.
5. Pack Size
For backpacking, your bag must pack down as small as possible. The smallest packed sizes come from bags offering minimal insulation, so take the temperature rating into account.
6. Materials
Nylon is the standard fabric used for the shell and lining of sleeping bags as it is durable, fast drying, breathable and reasonably comfortable. On higher-performance bags, Pertexis used as it is very lightweight and exceptionally breathable. Some bags are now made with waterproof shell materials and use welding techniques so that there are no seams to leak. These bags may be a bit more clammy than a highly breathable bag though.
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