“GREAT THINGS ARE EXPERIENCED WHEN MEN, MOUNTAINS, AND A WILDERNESS MEET”.
UNKNOWN
CHOOSING A HIKING
SLEEPING BAG
SLEEPING BAG
Choosing the right sleeping bag is a crucial part of hiking. And it very much depends on the circumstances you want to use it in. In most situations, a three-season bag will do the job. These are designed for use in spring, summer, and autumn. For hiking at altitude or in winter, then you may need a four-season bag.
The most expensive, lightweight, and compact bag use high quality down. Synthetic fillings give cheaper but heavier and more bulkier bags.
If you want to save weight when hiking, choose a three-season down bag. These are not cheap, so it’s best to get one that’s suitable for a wide temperature range. A comfort temperature rating of -5 degree Celsius should mean the bag is warm enough for most days in the Drakensberg Wilderness. In summer you will have to open the zips to remain comfy, while on colder nights simply slip into your base layers before getting into the bag.
Your sleeping bag needs to keep you warm and comfortable, but still be light enough to carry any distance.
Down is so efficient you don’t need much of it to keep you warm, so a down bag will be compact and low in weight, meaning you can stow it easily in a backpack.
Weight
It’s also worth noting that box construction methods produce a lighter bag than other, more elaborate designs; but other methods hold the down in place better for a more even distribution of insulation.
It’s also worth noting that box construction methods produce a lighter bag than other, more elaborate designs; but other methods hold the down in place better for a more even distribution of insulation.
Fill weight
The better the down, in terms of fill power, the less of it you will need to stay warm – so a lower fill weight is required if the best down is used. By comparing the fill weight of bags with identical fill power, you can judge how warm they will be. But construction methods will also affect warmth, particularly over a period of time.
The better the down, in terms of fill power, the less of it you will need to stay warm – so a lower fill weight is required if the best down is used. By comparing the fill weight of bags with identical fill power, you can judge how warm they will be. But construction methods will also affect warmth, particularly over a period of time.
Lining material
Fast-wicking, breathable fabrics are needed to keep you dry inside a sleeping bag, but they must also prevent the down from escaping. Lower priced bags use poly-cotton, but this can feel clammy over time as it is relatively slow-drying.
Fast-wicking, breathable fabrics are needed to keep you dry inside a sleeping bag, but they must also prevent the down from escaping. Lower priced bags use poly-cotton, but this can feel clammy over time as it is relatively slow-drying.
Fill power
This gives a gauge of how efficient the filling is at trapping air (and therefore keeping you warm.) The higher the number, the better – and a fill power of 750 is the best generally available. However, different test methods can be used to determine fill power, so a 750 fill power down-tested in Europe may rate as 800 or 900 when tested in the US, for exactly the same product.
This gives a gauge of how efficient the filling is at trapping air (and therefore keeping you warm.) The higher the number, the better – and a fill power of 750 is the best generally available. However, different test methods can be used to determine fill power, so a 750 fill power down-tested in Europe may rate as 800 or 900 when tested in the US, for exactly the same product.
Temperature ratings
These are only useful as a guide: how warm you feel inside a sleeping bag depends not just on the bag itself but also on your gender, metabolic rate, food intake, exertion levels, and environmental conditions such as wind and humidity. Ratings also assume a sleeping mat is used. A season rating may be provided, such as three seasons, on cheaper bags. Better bags come with a comfort rating and an extreme (low) temperature rating.
These are only useful as a guide: how warm you feel inside a sleeping bag depends not just on the bag itself but also on your gender, metabolic rate, food intake, exertion levels, and environmental conditions such as wind and humidity. Ratings also assume a sleeping mat is used. A season rating may be provided, such as three seasons, on cheaper bags. Better bags come with a comfort rating and an extreme (low) temperature rating.
Shoulder baffle
Sleeping bags work by trapping air next to the body, and a shoulder or neck baffle helps to keep that warm air inside the bag.
Sleeping bags work by trapping air next to the body, and a shoulder or neck baffle helps to keep that warm air inside the bag.
Side zip
Side zips that extend the whole length of the bag are provided so you can get into your bag easily and have a degree of temperature control. Two-way zips are often used so that you can open them at the bottom to allow your feet to cool down. Half-length side zips make a bag lighter and less expensive, but this may render the bag too hot to use in mild weather. The side zip should always have a substantial baffle to prevent draughts and cold spots, while an anti-snag design is essential to prevent the zip from jamming when operated.
Side zips that extend the whole length of the bag are provided so you can get into your bag easily and have a degree of temperature control. Two-way zips are often used so that you can open them at the bottom to allow your feet to cool down. Half-length side zips make a bag lighter and less expensive, but this may render the bag too hot to use in mild weather. The side zip should always have a substantial baffle to prevent draughts and cold spots, while an anti-snag design is essential to prevent the zip from jamming when operated.
Filling
Eider duck down is the best, but it’s also the most expensive, because it has to be hand-picked from the nests as eider ducks are a protected species. Goose down is almost as good, while duck down is a cheaper alternative. The amount of feathers that are mixed with the down affects performance, because feathers don’t provide as much insulation as down. The quality of down is therefore given in terms of how much down and feathers it contains. The best possible down is 96/4 percent, but the feathers have to be removed by hand to achieve this ratio. So usually a 90/10 mixture is used on the best bags, with 70/30 being common on lower-priced bags. Quite simply, the better the down, the more expensive, but also the more effective it will be – so you’ll need less to stay warm.
Eider duck down is the best, but it’s also the most expensive, because it has to be hand-picked from the nests as eider ducks are a protected species. Goose down is almost as good, while duck down is a cheaper alternative. The amount of feathers that are mixed with the down affects performance, because feathers don’t provide as much insulation as down. The quality of down is therefore given in terms of how much down and feathers it contains. The best possible down is 96/4 percent, but the feathers have to be removed by hand to achieve this ratio. So usually a 90/10 mixture is used on the best bags, with 70/30 being common on lower-priced bags. Quite simply, the better the down, the more expensive, but also the more effective it will be – so you’ll need less to stay warm.
Shell material
The shell has to be breathable to allow condensation out, and yet the holes must be small enough to keep the down trapped inside. Ideally it should also be water-resistant, as down is a poor insulator when wet, so the latest bags use a highly water-resistant shell to combat the damp environment of a tent in winter.
The shell has to be breathable to allow condensation out, and yet the holes must be small enough to keep the down trapped inside. Ideally it should also be water-resistant, as down is a poor insulator when wet, so the latest bags use a highly water-resistant shell to combat the damp environment of a tent in winter.
Size
The measurements are taken across the largest ‘footprint’ made by the bag, with a measurement at the shoulders as well as from the head to toe.
Construction
The long-term performance of a sleeping bag is dictated by the construction method used. Basically, the better the construction method, the less opportunity there is for the down to ‘migrate’ and leave cold spots. A system of fabric baffles inside the bag is designed to trap the down where it is most needed, and the best bags use a number of construction methods to optimize long-term performance.
We as hikers, explorers, and
adventurers have the absolute duty to respect and protect our Wildernesses.
Nobody else will do it for us. Take ownership!
The End.
Safe Hiking.
References and Acknowledgements
From the book – The Ultimate Hiking Skills Manual –
A Hinkes / C Bagshaw
Photos – Willem Pelser
Compiled by Willem Pelser
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