How to Buy the Best Sleeping Bag
- Find expert tips to help you get a good night’s sleep
- Picking the right sleeping pad, bag liner, pillow or cot
- How to minimize smelly sleeping bag odor
To get a good night’s sleep in the cold, bring a tent suited for potential weather conditions, including winds or snow load. Pack an insulated sleeping pad or two, and bring a sleeping bag that will keep you warm.
KNOW YOUR BODY
If you are always wearing a T-shirt in camp when others are wearing a fleece — and you’re not cold — get a bag rated about 10 degrees lower than the lowest temperatures you encounter on trips. If you’re one of the first people to put on an insulated jacket while hanging around camp, get a bag rated 20-25 degrees lower than the coldest nights you anticipate.
KNOW YOUR BUDGET
Prices vary depending on factors like type and quality of insulation, as well as materials used. For instance, a bag rated to zero degrees uses much more insulation than a 30-degree bag.
TEMPERATURE RATINGS
Sleeping bag temperature ratings aren’t usually accurate, says Steve Lutz, a designer for Alps Mountaineering and a Scouter who has taken Scouting America’s cold-weather leader training.
“If it’s zero degrees when you camp, you won’t suffer harm in a zero-degree bag, but you’ll likely be a lot more comfortable in a negative-20-degree bag,” says Lutz.
Most sleeping bags are rated for the extreme temperature you can use them in. Some also list a comfort rating. Get a bag rated for colder temperatures than you expect. And whatever bag you choose, always travel with extra layers you can sleep in if you’re cold, including a down jacket and fleece or insulated pants.
SYNTHETIC VS. DOWN INSULATION
Winter sleeping bags are insulated with either goose down or a polyester synthetic. Both trap air warmed by your body and form a protective insulating envelope around you. Down is warmer by weight, packs smaller than synthetic and is almost always more expensive. Some down is treated to repel moisture, but in general, when down gets wet, it loses its air pockets and ability to insulate.
Synthetic insulation is warm even if it gets damp, but many people think it doesn’t feel as good to sleep in as down. Most synthetic insulated bags are more affordable than down ones. When temperature ratings are equal, higher-quality insulation is always lighter.
WEIGHT
This matters when you’re backpacking, but less so when car camping.
Lighter, higher-quality insulation costs more, but you can also reduce weight and bulk by not buying a 15-degree bag when you need only a 30-degree bag.
MUMMY VS. RECTANGULAR SHAPE
The snugger a sleeping bag fits, the less air you have to heat, and the warmer you’ll be. A mummy-shaped bag is often trimmer. But if you’re a side sleeper or you flip-flop during the night, a mummy may feel restrictive. More affordable bags are often cut large unless they’re specifically for youth.
SLEEPING BAG FEATURES
When you’re camping in cold weather, a draft collar around the hood of your sleeping bag and a draft tube along the inside zipper will keep your body heat inside. If your sleeping bag doesn’t have a hood, wear a warm hat or fleecy buff, and cinch the top of the bag to stay warm.
An easy-to-reach internal or external pocket is a great place to store a headlamp. Two way zippers or vents make a cold-weather bag more versatile because they allow you to adjust your temperature.
Whichever sleeping bag you buy, consider upgrading the compression stuff sack to one that’s lighter and easier to compress than the one the bag came with.
GEAR GUY’S ADVICE?
Get what you can afford. With an inexpensive bag, you can still get outdoors, which is what’s most important, right? If and when you have the dough for a nicer bag, it will make your wilderness adventures a little more luxurious.
CARING FOR YOUR BAG
Properly cared for, a sleeping bag can last 10-20 years. Body oils can compromise insulation, so to prolong your bag’s life, you should sleep in clean base layers. Air out your bag after each night of camping, but don’t leave it exposed to sunlight for long periods.
Post-trip, hang the bag to dry for a day or two, and then place it in a big storage sack or an old pillowcase. Be sure to store it in a dry place. If your bag gets really dirty or starts losing loft, follow the manufacturer instructions for washing it.
WINTER HACKS FOR STAYING WARM
Here are a few winter hacks for staying warm:
Always use an insulated sleeping pad. Fill a Nalgene bottle with boiled water right before bed. Slide the bottle inside a sock, and put it inside your sleeping bag. That kick-starts the warming process when you first climb into your bag. Lutz also recommends changing into clean, dry clothing before zipping up for the night.
“As you hike, your clothes absorb moisture,” Lutz says. “If you get in your sleeping bag without changing, you risk making your bag damp, which is uncomfortable. Hang your dirty clothes and boots in a tent vestibule to dry.”
idon’t like mummy bags at all
Personally i prefer a Wiggys , Made in USA Used by U.S. Army , check out their site i have a Wiggy’s Ultra Light , Weighs 3 pounds and does +20 degrees , but their worth it , their heaviest bag is 7 pounds and goes to -60 but is extremely expensive , Ultra Light Costs 200$ but is worth it , i reccomend them for tents gloves knives sleeping bags clothing and anything else , their worth their price
Marmot Zion 0 bag, pure heaven.
terranova gear laser bag,only 12 oz
i have a field and stream bag rated to +20 degrees and its only 4 lbs and compresses well only about $45
Only four pounds!!!
That’s really heavy. I have a 30 degree bag that is less than a pound and a 0 degree bag that is a pound and a half.
You have to tell me where you got a bag that’s rated 0 and weighs only 1 1/2 lbs!
Runnerdude11, Where in the heck did you get an awesome bag like that? Was it under 20$?
The canadian military bags are great for cold weather and will beat most of the bags out there for a fraction of the price. Goose down fill. -60C (-76F) temperature rating. You can find them at army surplus stores. They will be used a bit but fully functional and ready to go. Check out anything used good before buying.
thanks! i have been looking for a warmer sleeping bag for a few months. THANKS!!!!!
i hate mummy bags i go with a sgaure
WOW! Why do you not like them? They keep you super warm and are comfy.
you can buy a $20 wal-mart coleman steeping bag and a $10 polar fleece sleeping bag and use them together for a sub zero sleeping bag for a fraction of the price.
lol I do the same thing, only with a coleman (a smaller one) and a big mummy bag. Its really comfortable
That is an awesome idea!
i have a down kelty trekker($90) its rated to 20 degrees and it weighs only like 2 pounds
a colman is warm and only cost about$20.
you obviously don’t trek very far from your car. We are talking hiking here