Choosing the right sleeping bag can make or break an adventure. Whether you’re heading into the mountains, camping under the stars, or tackling a multi-day trek, your sleep system plays a crucial role in comfort, recovery, and overall experience. But with so many options available, making the right choice isn’t always straightforward.
How to choose?
- Decide the temperature rating you need.
- In most scenarios, a comfort of 0 to 5 deg will be ideal.
- Importantly, do you sleep cold or warm? This will influence your choice.
- Think about layers to add warmth – wearing vase layers top and bottom and adding a beanie increase warmth considerably.
- Some brands offer sleeping bags in different sizes and widths and also, male or female options exist. You can therefore be specific and get a size/ width suitable for you.
- Down or synthetic? Down is lighter, packs smaller and if treated, also can resist wet conditions – In most scenarios, down is the best choice.
- Construction and features are important – Ripstop fabric, DWR coatings, sewn through construction, and box wall construction are all features that improve a sleeping bag. Choose wisely.
- Zips add weight, so, decide if you need a zip, if you do, maybe a half-zip will be preferable to a full zip.
- Baffles and hood – key features that ensure comfort and warmth when needed.
- Sleeping mat – a good sleeping mat with applicable R rating makes a sleeping bag more efficient and warmer – an essential piece of kit.
Recommended sleeping mats
Rab Ultrasphere 345g HERE and Sea to Summit Ultralight Air 345g HERE
Sleeping Bags to consider:
Light Warmth
MDS (Wilsa) Ultra Light Bag – 440g – 10 deg HERE
Sea to Summit Spark 7C – 363g – 7 deg HERE
Mid Warmth
PHD also make the Desert X – 375g – 4 deg HERE
Western Mountaineering Flylite Down – 408g – 2 deg
Mont Adventure Equipment Zero Superlight – 425g – 2 deg HERE
Rab Mythic Ultra 180 – 450g – 2 deg HERE (This product is now discontinued but still available)
Western Mountaineering Highlite – 455g – 2 deg HERE
Warm
Thermarest Hyperion 32 UL Down – 462g – 0 deg HERE
Pajak Radical 1Z Down – 466g – 0 deg HERE
Extra Warm
Sea to Summit Spark -1C – 498g – 1 deg HERE
Rab Mythic 0C – 519g – 0 deg HERE
Custom Made
UK brand, PHD, custom make sleeping bags. They offer different sizes, different widths, zip or no zip and so on.
Personally, I use the Desert Race Halfbag – 240g – 3 deg combined with a PHD Ultra Down K series jacket at 200g. It’s the perfect option that also provides a down jacket for when in bivouac. HERE and Ultra Down Jacket HERE
By thinking through these factors carefully, you can choose a sleeping bag that not only suits your adventure but helps you rest well and wake ready for whatever comes next.
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IAN CORLESS 