Nothing makes a camping trip more successful than a great nights sleep in your warm and comfy sleeping bag. Awakening fully rested and recharged can really allow you to take on the day’s activities. But this is tough if your camping sleeping bag fails to do a good job of keeping you comfortable. And if you’re a parent camping with kids who are cold at night, it’s likely you’ll be up as well.
Choosing the best sleeping bag for kids or adults is not too tough. All that’s needed is a little research and insight to make you an expert before going shopping. Learning how a sleeping bag is made, temperature ratings, sizes and shapes plus a few helpful tips can go a long way in helping choose the best one for you.
Components of a Camping Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bags have one purpose – to keep you warm. Their construction is simple, but highly engineered. Some are made for mild weather, some for freezing arctic temperatures. And most fall somewhere in between. All sleeping bags function by trapping a thin layer of air between you and the outside, of which your body can easily warm. This is done by combining various natural and man-made materials. Let’s take a look at those components.
Outer Shell Fabric – The least expensive sleeping bags for camping are constructed mostly from cotton, including the outer shell. They are designed for mild summer weather camping or backyard sleep-overs. More expensive sleeping bags use nylon or polyester taffeta for the outer shell fabric, whereas top-of-the-line bags use ripstop nylon or polyester to increase strength and prevent rips from spreading. The outer shell of high quality down bags and some synthetic-fill bags are treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) finish. DWR is an invisible barrier which causes water to bead up rather than soak through the fabric.
Insulation Materials – The fill or insulation material is what separates the men from the boys. This component, more than any other, is what determines how warm you will stay in the bag, and to a large degree, the price of it. Manufacturers use a myriad of catchy marketing names to promote their products. “Pure goose down”, “Polarguard Delta”, “Quallofil”, “Hollofil II”, and “Thermolite” are a few of the most well known.
There are three types of fill materials found in sleeping bags – Cotton fill, Down fill and Synthetic fill. They each have advantages and disadvantages:
Cotton fill is found in the least expensive sleeping bags. It tends to be heavy and bulky and will absorb moisture rather than repel it. It has the poorest ability to insulate against the cold and is found in summer and warm weather bags only.
Down fill comes from our feathered waterfowl friends – geese and ducks. Down feathers are a high-insulation undercoat found on all birds, especially waterfowl and young birds. Goose down is considered the best quality because of its greater loft and therefore insulation factor. In the U.S., products labeled as “Goose Down” must contain at least 90% goose feathers. The quality of down is directly related to its lofting characteristic and is expressed as fill power. The greater the loft, the greater its ability to insulate. Fill power is the number of vertical cubic inches displaced by 1 ounce of down. Sleeping bags containing goose down range in qualities from 400 – 800 fill power.
Advantages of down fill:
- The lightest weight insulation fill available – great for backpacking sleeping bags
- Best insulation-to-weight ratio – keeps you warm while remaining lightweight
- More durable and long lasting than synthetic fills
- Is a highly compressible material with a superior ability to return to its original loft after compression
Disadvantages of down fill:
- Generally more expensive, especially on high quality sleeping bags
- looses most of its insulation qualities if it becomes wet and takes a very long time to dry out
- Difficult to clean, cannot be machine washed
- Not 100% hypo-allergenic
Synthetic fill is a man-made product essentially made from polyester material. Manufactures use a combination of thicker strands (to maintain loft) and thinner strands (to fill voids and insulate better) to mimic the insulation quality found in natural goose down. Advancements in this industry have produced fills that nearly rival down, however they still lackboth its durability and lightweight characteristics.
Advantages of synthetic fill:
- Less expensive than down
- Available in a wider variety of sleeping bag types, sizes and prices
- Maintains most of its insulation properties even when wet
- Considered 100% hypo-allergenic
- Easy to care for, can be machine washed, dries out quickly
Disadvantages of synthetic fill:
- Heavier than down fill, requires more fill to equal the same warmth as down
- Does not compress as well as down and is bulkier to pack
- Not as durable, looses loft each time it is compressed
Baffles – To prevent the fill from bunching up in one area and thinning out in another causing cold spots, manufacturers incorporate baffles into sleeping bag design. Down fill is especially prone to thinning out, so all down and most synthetic bags use some sort of baffle system. Baffles used in high quality down bags are often created by forming box-shaped tubes and then filling them with down. Lower priced down bags often just sew the outer shell to the inner lining at repeated intervals forming hollow chambers which are filled with down. Synthetic fill bags usually have overlapping or layered strips of fill sewn between the shell and inner lining to provide even an distribution of insulation.
Inner Lining – Affordable, cotton sleeping bags almost always use a soft cotton or flannel inner lining. Better quality bags will use nylon or polyester taffeta, a very fine, smooth weave – great for resting against your skin. Some very expensive bags use a silk inner lining for the most pampered sleep available. Breath-ability is the most important characteristic of the inner lining. This is so that our natural perspiration can escape as we sleep. If not, you will eventually become cold as the moisture remains trapped on your body – not good. Because of this, the durable water repellent (DWR) finish, common on the outer shell, is NOT used on the inner lining.
Hood – All mummy bags, and some semi-rectangular bags, have an insulated head portion called the hood. It’s one of the primary reasons quality bags keep you so warm. Much of our heat loss occurs through our heads, so having a sleeping bag with an insulated and close-able hood (by pulling a drawstring) can really make a difference on those especially cold nights.
Zippers – Most zippers used on sleeping bags are size #5 or #8. Many higher end sleeping bags have a built in Draft tube, which is an insulated tube that runs alongside the bag’s zipper. It’s designed to keep warmth from escaping between the zipper coils. Most will also incorporate a zipper guard that runs the entire length of the draft tube to prevent fabric from getting caught in the zipper. I highly recommend a bag with zipper guards. My wife and I have spent way too much time untangling sleeping bag zippers when camping.
If you have two bags with the same zipper size, they can usually be zipped together to form one large couples bag. This is even possible on mummy bags as long as one bag has a right-handed zipper and the other has a left-handed one. Rectangular bags can be completely opened up flat and then zipped together, leaving just a small opening in the middle at the foot where there is usually no more zipper. My wife and I use this configuration often. Be aware, it will take longer to warm up the greater air volume created by joining the two bags.
Pad loops – Many campers toss and turn when sleeping and end up sliding off their sleeping pad or mattress. So, many manufactures incorporate built-in loops around the outside of the bag to provide an attachment point for the pad. And some bags, without pad loops, forgo the bottom insulation altogether and instead have a built-in pocket sleeve to hold a sleeping pad – especially good for squirmy kids.
Sleeping Bag Liner – Though technically not a sleeping bag component, sleeping bag liners are a great way to increase warmth and keep dirt and sweat from soiling the inside lining of your bag. Liners are especially helpful on down fill bags, as cleaning them is not easy. They come in a variety of fabric materials from inexpensive cotton to moderately priced fleece and synthetics to pricey silk and thermally insulated products. Designed to completely surround your body – like a cocoon – many liners come with close-able hoods. Some campers use just the liner for warm weather camping and combine it with a sleeping bag for cooler outings.
Stuff sack – To minimize pack space, many sleeping bags either come with a stuff sack, or one can be purchased separately. While these are a great way to transport your bag when camping or backpacking, you should not store the bag for long periods in a stuff sack. According to REI, you can prolong the life of any sleeping bag by hanging it in your garage or storing it loosely in a cotton storage sack.
How are Sleeping Bags rated for Warmth?
When it comes to choosing a sleeping based on its temperature rating, be aware that most manufactures have their own guidelines based on their own set of parameters. Add to this the fact that people “feel” coldness differently and this varies with age and gender, and it becomes clear that manufacturer “comfort” ratings are approximations at best. Still, a guideline is better than nothing at all. So, the following is a commonly used set of guidelines to help decide on how warm a sleeping bag to buy – for an average sleeper. As a general rule, choose a bag that is rated slightly lower than the lowest temperature you think you need. So for example, if you anticipate temperatures going down to +40°F, choose a bag rated down to +30°F. You can always open up the bag if you are too warm, but it’s often more difficult to get warm in an under-rated bag. Also, if sleeping inside a tent, the temperature is typically 8-10° F warmer.
Sleeping bag Type/Use Temperature Rating (°F)
Summer - mild weather +35 ° or higher
3 Season - Spring through Fall +10 ° to +35 °
Winter - cold weather -10 ° to +10 °
Polar/Alpine - extreme cold -10 ° and lower
Earlier I said manufacturer temperature ratings are approximations at best. And while this is true, a recent development has come to the sleeping bag industry from Europe. The European Norm (EN) 13537 rating system attempts to standardize sleeping bag temperature ratings by using a highly controlled test environment. The testing system takes into account the scientifically verified differences between men and women sleepers, so a sleeping bag with an EN rated Tag will display both a man and woman temperature rating. Also know that EN ratings are based on a sleeper wearing one layer of long underwear and a hat, and using an insulating sleeping pad under the bag.
So is the EN 13537 rating system perfect? Not exactly. Although the testing is consistent from sleeping bag to sleeping bag, people’s body physiology is not. People just feel coldness differently based on many human factors. And while you can be sure one manufacturers EN rated bag will be consistent to another with the same rating, there is no guarantee you will stay warm and comfy through the night. But, this is an industry improvement and, for the first time, standardizes testing methods used by manufactures. No doubt, more and more U.S. manufacturers will adopt the EN rating system in the future – good for consumers.
Shapes and Sizes of Sleeping Bags
Sleeping bags come in four basic shapes: rectangular, semi-rectangular, mummy, and double.
- Rectangular bags are designed for warm, mild weather use only and are often the least expensive. These affordable bags are great for car campers who are not concerned about weight or size as they tend to be heavy and bulky. If you move around during sleep or are claustrophobic, rectangular bags provide maximum unrestricted movement and they easily zip together to form a large couples bag.
- Semi-rectangular bags share characteristics of both mummy and rectangular styles. This shape is wider at the shoulder and hips, but tapers in the head and foot regions. A great choice for 3-season campers who like some room for moving around, but need to withstand cooler weather. Some are light enough to be a good option for backpackers.
- Mummy bags have become the most popular choice for backpackers because they are lightweight and have superior insulation qualities. Their tight-fitting body shape traps a minimal amount of air between you and the outside making it easy to warm up quickly. Often made from the highest quality materials, mummy bags are usually the most expensive, but the best choice if camping at temperatures below °10 F.
- Double bags are available in all of the above shapes. They generally are rated for Summer or 3-season temperatures. You won’t find cold winter double bags as their larger size and greater internal air space make them poor candidates for harsh environments. Although they may appear to be a little pricey, remember you are getting two bags in one.
The majority of sleeping bags are non-gender specific. However, many come in sizes that are built more for men, and some more for women, and some more for kids. It’s especially important to choose the correct size when buying a mummy bag. This is because minimizing the air volume inside the bag is essential for keeping warm, so finding one that fits your body size matters a lot.
- Men’s sleeping bags are found in sizes ranging from Short (up to 66in), Regular (up to 72in) , and Long (up to 78in). Typically the shoulder and hip girth increases slightly as the length increases.
- Women’s sleeping bags are also available in different lengths and are often referred to as Petite, Regular, and Long size. But, the real difference is that Woman’s sleeping bags are shorter and narrower at the shoulders while offering more room in the hips. And because women often need more warmth to sleep, they usually have extra insulation in the upper body and foot area.
- Kids sleeping bags typically come in sizes designed to fit a child up to 60 inches. They often come in bright colors and have kid friendly names. I recommend looking for an inexpensive synthetic fill bag because of its ability to dry out quickly in case of accidental drinking spills. Kids are often squirmy and like to play around in their bag before nodding off, so look for a bag with these kid-friendly features:
- A built-in sleeve for holding a sleeping pad. This way the bag and the pad stay together no matter how much moving around occurs.
- Pillow pockets allow you to stuff a jacket or small pillow into the hood area. My daughters always like using a pillow when camping. Some adult bags have this feature as well.
- Exterior pockets so kids can put all of their essential goodies like combs, chapstick, gum and souvenirs in a safe place at night.
10 Tips for a Successful Nights Sleep (when camping)
- Always use a sleeping pad or air mattress under your sleeping bag. The insulation fill used in sleeping bags provides little insulation on the bottom. This is because once we are in the bag, our weight decreases the loft of the fill making it a poor insulator. A sleeping pad or mattress is what really keeps us insulated from the ground, not the sleeping bag.
- What you wear inside the bag can make a difference. Long underwear and clean socks help insulate you. However, none of these things help if they become wet from sweating. Only wear clothing that breathes and wicks moisture away from your body. Otherwise, you are better off sleeping in the buff.
- Use the hood if your bag came with it. If not, consider wearing a hat or beanie. We loose much of our body heat through our head.
- If you use your bag frequently, consider using a liner inside the bag. You will stay a little warmer and a liner is much easier to keep clean.
- Staying hydrated increases your likelihood of sleeping warm. A small, warm drink before bed is a popular tip.
- Use a tent. Temperatures are warmer inside the tent because cold wind is blocked. I learned this the hard way when camping at 8,000+ feet using only a lean-to and low quality sleeping bag. It was the coldest, most miserable night of my life!
- You should open up your bag immediately after setting up your tent to fully restore its loft by bedtime for the greatest warmth, especially if it has down fill.
- Go to the bathroom before going to bed. Anything in your bladder will have to be kept warm by your body as you sleep.
- Choose a bag that is rated slightly below the lowest temperature you are likely to encounter. Better safe than sorry.
- Keep your sleeping bag dry. Cotton and down sleeping bags are nearly useless when wet and synthetics loose some of their warmth.
Well there you have it – all the necessary information to go out and choose the best sleeping bag for your next camping trip. Fortunately, we have many great choices for both kids and adults sleeping bags. And advancements in this industry continually improve, especially with synthetic products. That’s a good thing because a sleeping bag is probably the single most important piece of gear you will own when venturing into the great outdoors. So take your time. Try out as many as you can. You may even want to try renting several first. Choosing the the best camping sleeping bag for your needs will make for a great night’s sleep – happy dreams!