Choose the right sleeping bag

Choosing the right sleeping bag depends on how and where you plan to use it. These factors determine the requirements for the bag's material and design, along with its shape, filling and temperature range.

Before you book your sleeping bag, you should think about exactly what you will use it for. For example, if you are going to hike in the mountains, you need one that is light & not too bulky. For winter rides, you need one that is warm. Or maybe you need one that is particularly robust and easy to care for? A sleeping bag's packing volume and weight are also decisive factors. We have different models to be able to fulfill your specific needs.

Temperature grading

Choosing the right sleeping bag depends a lot on which climate zone you will use it in and how you intend to use it. Depending on whether it's cold, damp, dry, whether you're going to wear it or pull it on. All these factors weigh in when choosing a sleeping bag model.

The European EN 13537 standard ensures uniform regulation of temperature ratings for sleeping bags. This makes it easier for you to compare different products. A distinction is made between three temperature ranges under normal conditions: Comfort, Limit and Extreme. These ratings are determined on the condition that the subject uses a sleeping pad, a tent and wears an undergarment.

Comfort

This rating is the lowest temperature at which a person fully encased in their sleeping bag can get a comfortable night's sleep in a relaxed position. This rating is based on a 25-year-old "standard woman" who weighs 60 kg and is 1.60 m tall.

Limit

This rating is the lowest temperature at which a person fully ensconced in their sleeping bag can expect a comfortable night's sleep in the fetal position or tightly curled up. This rating is based on a 25-year-old "standard man", who weighs 70 kg and is 1.73 m tall.

Extreme

At this temperature, the sleeping bag provides some protection against the cold, but there is a risk of hypothermia with prolonged exposure to these temperatures. It is assumed that a "standard woman" in a tightly coiled position can withstand the temperature for 6 hours.

Thermal balance

The thermal balance of the sleeping bag is dependent on various physical influencing factors, which should be taken into account accordingly when choosing a sleeping bag.

Tip: Sleeping bag and clothes are closely related. Functional textiles such as a down jacket can significantly increase the thermal performance of a lightweight sleeping bag while keeping the overall weight of the equipment down.

Physiology

Of course, a sleeping bag does not generate heat in itself, but only retains the heat generated by the person inside. How warm you actually feel in your sleeping bag is greatly influenced by a variety of physiological factors: Important factors include body weight and height, but also gender and age and your current physical condition.

People with greater fat reserves and those with more muscle mass cool down more slowly than leaner individuals. Because of the insulating layer of fat or the heat generated during muscle activity, these individuals are less likely to feel cold. Women tend to feel cold faster and more often than men because their body fat is distributed differently and their blood pressure is lower and therefore their blood circulation is slower.

You should also remember that people's metabolism and muscle mass tend to decrease with age, which means they produce less heat.

People who are physically fit and often outdoors are less susceptible to cold. Also, a rested person produces more heat than an exhausted one. If you have eaten also tends to affect how well you handle the cold.

Heat conduction

Most of the body heat lost in a sleeping bag is due to heat conduction, or heat transfer caused by physical contact with the ground below. The weight of the person compresses the sleeping bag underneath and thus significantly reduces the thermal efficiency of the bag. A well-insulated sleeping pad is very important to reduce this heat loss.

This image has an alt attribute that is empty. Its file name is Schlafsa%CC%88cke-Isomatten-Help_HeatLoss-Boden-1024x768.png

Convection

Air is always in motion. Warm air rises due to its lower density, while cold air is heavier and sinks to the ground. This results in changes in air pressure that lead to new air inflow. The greater the available space in the sleeping bag, the greater the convection. In sleeping bags with a larger volume, more energy is needed to heat them.

This image has an alt attribute that is empty. Its file name is Schlafsa%CC%88cke-Isomatten-Help_HeatLoss-Konvektion-1024x768.pngWind Chill – The cooling effect of the wind

With every breath you take, your body releases moisture and heat into the air. This effect increases at cold temperatures and wind increases this effect many times over. It affects the microclimate in your tent or around your sleeping bag, increasing the loss of body heat and causing you to get cold faster. Therefore, you should always choose a place as protected as possible from the wind to sleep when it is cold outside.

Evaporation

Sweating is a natural process to optimize body temperature the tour. Materials with a breathing function ensure that the moisture created by this process does not remain in the sleeping bag but is transported outside. This maintains the sleeping bag's thermal performance and prevents you from starting to feel cold and damp inside it.

Seasons

One of the most important factors in choosing a sleeping bag is the time of year you will be using it. Here is an overview of the different seasons, which gives a clear overview of which models are suitable for summer, winter and transitional seasons from spring to autumn.

Summer

Summer sleeping bags are intended for the warmest time of the year. They are characterized by optimal breathability. Both down filling and synthetic fibers are used as insulation, as these quickly transport moisture away from the body.
Down is more sensitive to moisture, but usually weighs less than synthetic and takes up less space in the pack. While a synthetic-filled sleeping bag is less sensitive to moisture (the synthetic lining warms even when it's damp, unlike the down that just clumps together), but takes up more space and usually weighs more than the down.

3-season

Sleeping bags in this category can be used in spring, summer and autumn and offer high thermal comfort even during cool nights in transitional seasons. Both down and synthetic fillings are used in these products.
Down is more sensitive to moisture, but usually weighs less than synthetic and takes up less space in the pack. While a synthetic-filled sleeping bag is less sensitive to moisture (the synthetic lining warms even when it's damp, unlike the down that just clumps together), but takes up more space and usually weighs more than the down.

Winter

For use in the cold seasons, down is more often used to fill the sleeping bag, as it has the highest warmth rating at a lower weight (keyword: warmth-to-weight ratio). So you will still be in your comfort zone even at sub-zero temperatures.