Seasonality
The season for which the sleeping bag was originally intended. Note that many models are designed for more than one season —
winter and
spring / autumn or spring / autumn and
summer ; there are even all-season products. However, anyway, when buying, it is worth clarifying not only this nuance, but also the specific temperature characteristics of the selected model (see below).
In general, the assignment of a sleeping bag to one or another seasonality largely depends on how the manufacturer positions this model. However, in each category there are some common features, here they are:
— Winter. Sleeping bags suitable for winter usually meet the following minimum requirements: at least the temperature of the comfort limit in them should be below zero, and if it is higher, then the extreme temperature should be low enough (-20 °C or less). Also, a sleeping bag is definitely considered winter if its comfort temperature is below -5 °C.
—
Spring/Autumn. Sleeping bags designed for the off-season should be comfortable enough both in warm weather and in case of sudden frosts. Therefore, the comfort temperature in them can be quite low — up to -5 °C inclusive. On the other hand, there are also combined "off-season-summer" models, where the extreme temperature is as much as +10 °C. So the specific characteristics of such a
...sleeping bag should be specified especially carefully.
— Summer. A summer sleeping bag should provide comfort at high temperatures, so many models from this category have a comfort t ° of the order of +15 °C, or even higher. At the same time, summer seasonality can also be indicated for models with lower comfort temperatures (even below zero). In such cases, the manufacturer proceeds from the fact that if it is hot in the sleeping bag, you can open up or undress (recall, the temperature regimes are indicated for a person in thermal underwear).Weight
Since a sleeping bag is a travel outfit, its weight can be one of the key characteristics. Two points should be taken into account here: firstly, more insulation usually requires more material and increases weight, and secondly, warm models with low weight are much more expensive than heavier options with the same temperature characteristics.
Also, when choosing a sleeping bag, you should decide what exactly you are buying it for. If we are talking about picnics, festivals and other simple trips to nature without long walks, or if you plan to carry equipment by car, you can not pay much attention to weight, focus on other characteristics. If you plan to go on long hiking or cycling trips, you should choose a model with a minimum weight.
As for specific numbers, most modern sleeping bags are in the range of
1.1 – 1.5 kg or
1.6 – 2 kg, although there are quite a few ultra-light models —
1 kg or less. An indicator of
2.1 – 2.5 kg is already considered quite significant, and a weight of
2.6 – 3 kg or
more is found mainly in two types of sleeping bags: separate expeditionary models with a high degree of insulation, as well as double products.
comfort t° (for men)
The comfort limit temperature of this sleeping bag.
Some manufacturers use their own criteria for specifying this temperature, but EN13537 is considered the generally accepted standard. According to him, t of the comfort limit is the lowest ambient temperature at which a man in thermal underwear can comfortably sleep in a sleeping bag all night (at least 8 hours) in a heat-saving position (curling up) without waking up from the cold. Such criteria are used taking into account the fact that men are less likely to get cold during sleep than women, and the acceptable temperature for them is slightly lower. Of course, in each individual case, comfort will also depend on the characteristics of the body and the preparation of the tourist. However, in general, the general rule is: if the sleeping bag is used by a man, then the minimum temperature at the place of lodging should ideally be between comfort t and comfort limit t; for a woman, a few degrees must be added to the comfort limit t, and it is best to focus on comfort t (see above).
This indicator is quite closely related to seasonality. So, for winter use, t of the comfort limit should be
less than -4 ... 0 °C ; in the warmest models, it can be very low,
-15 °C and below. In purely summer and even spring/autumn models, there are values of
+10 °C and even higher, however, if you are afraid of sudden col
...d snaps at night, it is advisable to choose sleeping bags with indicators of at least +6..10 °С, and preferably +1...5 °C(especially for the off-season).Equipment
In addition to the standard design elements of a sleeping bag in the form of
a hood(can also be
removable),
a headrest,
an inner pocket,
bite protection,
a thermal zipper roller,
a drying loop and
the possibility of fastening, there may also be
a removable lining,
a light-accumulating loop,
a compartment under the pillow,
a thermal collar,
leg closure,
mosquito net,
compression bag.
- Hood. A classic hood that covers the head of a person in a sleeping bag. Such a detail provides additional thermal insulation: firstly, due to the fact that it covers the neck, the back of the head and most of the head from the cold, and secondly, by reducing the space through which heat can escape from the sleeping bag.
- Detachable hood. A kind of hood (see above) with the ability to remove it at the request of the user. This makes the sleeping bag more versatile: in warm weather, you can remove the hood so that it does not interfere, and when it gets cold, you can fasten it back
..., providing maximum protection from the cold.
- Headrest. Lining without the possibility of tightening around the head, used for more comfortable placement in a sleeping place and reducing heat loss through the head on cool nights. It is used in sleeping bags like blankets. Sleeping bag headrests are often rectangular and have an integrated pillow.
- Removable lining. Lining - inner insulation layer - having a removable design. This feature expands the possibilities for using a sleeping bag: in warm weather, you can unfasten the insulation so that it is not so hot in the bag, besides, the removed lining can also be used separately, as a bedspread.
- Mosquito net. Protective mesh covering the face of a person lying in a sleeping bag. Such a mesh traps mosquitoes and other annoying insects, at the same time, air passes through it freely.
- Clasp in the legs. Separate fastener located in the leg area. In warm weather, such a fastener can be unfastened without opening the whole bag - thus, the legs will not sweat in the sleeping bag, and the rest of the body will remain covered. The role of the fastener can be performed by both a zipper and a tie. Moreover, the zipper is often made with two runners, thereby allowing you to create a ventilation hole for the legs in any part of the lower segment of the sleeping bag.
— Possibility of fastening. The ability to connect a sleeping bag with another bag (s), forming a sleeping place for several people (usually for two, but in some models more is possible). Such a function will be useful in case of a cold snap: it can be difficult to warm up alone in a sleeping bag, but several people in one bag additionally warm each other. When choosing, it should be borne in mind that sleeping bags from different manufacturers (and even different models from the same manufacturer) may vary in design and size of zippers. So if you are going to use this feature, you should pay special attention to compatibility.
- Light-accumulating loop. A loop on a zipper pawl with an insert made of light-accumulating material. This material "charges" during daylight hours, and in the dark - glows itself. Thus, the fastener can be found even in complete darkness; this provides not only comfort, but also additional protection in case you need to urgently get out of the sleeping bag.
- Inner pocket. Pocket located on the inside of the sleeping bag. It is convenient to store documents and other small but valuable things in such a compartment: it is not easy to steal them from an inner pocket, and the probability of losing the contents during sleep is reduced to almost zero.
- Pillow compartment. A special compartment in which you can place a pillow or its substitute (for example, a change of clothes bag) without fear of damaging or stretching the sleeping bag itself.
- Lightning bite protection. A device that reduces the likelihood of biting the fabric of the sleeping bag between the dog and the teeth of the zipper. Usually it looks like a tape made of dense material, additionally covering the zipper from the inside. Note that bite protection is not only about convenience - in extreme situations (like a fire or an avalanche), the ability to quickly unzip a sleeping bag can be a matter of life and death. Therefore, this function is very common in modern sleeping bags, and for expeditionary models (see "In the direction") it is actually mandatory.
- Thermal collar. An additional collar that tightly covers the neck of a person in a sleeping bag. This provides additional sealing and maximally blocks the access of outside air to the body and legs. In addition, the collar helps the head and neck warm up faster.
- Thermal zipper roller. A system of zipper insulation, usually in the form of a heat-insulating roller or strip along the entire fastener. The zipper is one of the weakest points of the sleeping bag in terms of thermal insulation, and therefore, when choosing a sleeping bag for low temperatures (especially an expeditionary one, see "Intended use"), you should pay attention to the presence of a thermal roller that prevents heat loss.
- Loops for drying. Special loops that allow you to hang the sleeping bag to dry - on a rope or even on tree branches. Note that experienced tourists recommend “ventilating” the sleeping bag every morning, as moisture inevitably accumulates in it during the night; well, in any case, in a suspended state, a wet sleeping bag dries out much faster than lying on the ground.
- Compression bag. Bag-case for storing and carrying a sleeping bag, equipped with compression straps. Such ties allow you to strongly compress the cover with the sleeping bag packed into it, “squeeze out” the air from the inside as much as possible and thus reduce the size of the package - this greatly simplifies transportation. However, we note that it is impossible to keep the sleeping bag compressed all the time; for long-term storage, the ties must be loosened.Dimensions (folded)
The dimensions of the sleeping bag when folded, when packed in a complete cover; if this cover is made in the form of a
compression bag(see "Equipment"), then the dimensions are indicated with the compression straps tightened to the maximum.
Other things being equal, the smaller the size of the sleeping bag, the more convenient it is in storage and transportation. At the same time, more compact models are usually more expensive.
