Outdoor Sleeping bags
How do I choose a sleeping bag?
It is wise to think carefully in advance about what you will be using the sleeping bag for. Is it for a sleepover where you are looking for a cozy blanket in a warm house, are you going hiking for a few days where you sleep in a tent on top of a mountain, or are you going camping for a week in your own country? You choose a sleeping bag based on a number of factors, and one of those factors is the temperatures you will be facing. The descriptions of the sleeping bags specify exactly for which temperature the sleeping bag is suitable!
Envelope vs. mummy
The standard sleeping bag, also known as the blanket or envelope model, is as wide at shoulder height as it is at the feet. The advantage of this model is that you have plenty of room in the sleeping bag to move around and do not feel cramped. A sleeping bag that is wider at shoulder height than at the feet is also called a mummy sleeping bag. Because these sleeping bags run close to the body at all points, less heat is lost. In addition, the mummy sleeping bag has a hood, so you also lose little heat through the opening. A mummy sleeping bag is generally lighter than a blanket sleeping bag. Are you going camping outdoors in a cold period? Then choose a mummy sleeping bag!
Material
Heat is created in a sleeping bag by your own body, so it is important that the sleeping bag is filled with a material that can retain this heat. This material is often a synthetic fabric, but sometimes down is also used. Synthetic sleeping bags are generally cheaper and last slightly less long than down sleeping bags. Synthetic sleeping bags still insulate well in damp conditions and are easy to wash. Down sleeping bags are slightly more expensive but insulate very well in any situation. In addition, they are lighter than synthetic variants.
Not only the material of the filling is important, but also the material of the 'shell', the bag in which the filling is located, can be decisive for your choice. The shell is the part that comes into direct contact with the body, so it is important that it feels comfortable. You have the choice of cotton, synthetic, and polyester. Cotton feels very pleasant, but becomes heavy quickly when wet and dries slowly. Synthetic material is light and dries quickly. However, this material feels less pleasant and does not breathe. Polyester is a bit between cotton and synthetic material, it breathes reasonably well, is light, and dries quickly.
Tips
Are you backpacking and will you have to carry the sleeping bag often? Then choose a lightweight sleeping bag!
Pay attention to the length of the sleeping bag! It would be a shame if the sleeping bag is too short and you still get cold.