Sleeping bag in winter: These 3 criteria are crucial

Cool camping
Down vs. synthetic fiber: What a sleeping bag has to be able to do in winter

Camping in winter is not for everyone. If you still want to go trekking in ice and snow, you should pay attention to your equipment. Particularly important: a sleeping bag for winter temperatures. These are the crucial purchasing criteria.

There are people who have absolutely no desire for stylishly furnished hotel rooms (with no matter how many stars), cozy guesthouses or holiday homes with a sauna and fireplace. Even a motorhome or caravan is still too comfortable for them. Real campers travel with a tent. And the really tough ones don’t let winter spoil their outdoor fun. Because you can also make yourself really cozy when camping in the snow. Provided the equipment is suitable. Of course, the bobble hat and warm thoughts alone are not enough when temperatures are around freezing point. The right sleeping bag is essential for cool campers.

Sleeping bag in winter: What the sleeping bag has to be able to do for cold nights

It should be clear that at temperatures around or below zero degrees it will hardly be comfortably warm in a light sleeping bag. A thicker sleeping bag is needed for cold nights. For backpackers, it should be as light as possible and not too bulky. Does that even work? But weight alone is not the key to finding the perfect sleeping bag for winter camping. The article reveals which three criteria are crucial.

Criterion 1: The filling

In winter temperatures, a sleeping bag should do one thing above all: keep body heat from escaping. As with a normal duvet, what matters is what the sleeping bag is filled with. These are mostly synthetic fibers. For a not inconsiderable surcharge, outdoor fans can snuggle up in a sleeping bag filled with down. Alternatively, wool is said to regulate the temperature in a sleeping bag. All three fillings have advantages and disadvantages.

Conclusion: If you only occasionally go camping in the cold season or just want to try it out first, you should choose a sleeping bag with synthetic fiber filling (e.g. from Bessport) grab. Outdoor campers who don’t have to carry their luggage on their back also “drive” better with the synthetic and slightly heavier version. People with allergies should avoid down for health reasons. Synthetic fiber is also the only option for vegans. For experienced campers who spend several days outdoors with all their gear, it’s worth investing in a down sleeping bag. Down shows its strengths especially at very low temperatures. For year-round campers, (sheep) wool is an alternative to down and synthetic fibers. Because it has the ingenious property of cooling in summer and warming in winter. However, it is relatively heavy and can hardly be compressed.

Criterion 2: The cut

In addition to the filling, the cut of the sleeping bag is also important for spending the night in cool weather. Because most of the body heat is released through the head, this is exactly what should be given special protection in a winter sleeping bag. Regardless of whether the interior is made of synthetic fiber or down. A so-called thermal collar is mandatory for sleeping bags for the winter. This is a type of tube scarf that is sewn into the inside of the sleeping bag and can be pulled tight around the neck like a collar. This means even less body heat can escape from the bag. And because double is usually better, you also pull the hood over your head.

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Cold feet are one of the most unpleasant things about sleeping. Manufacturers of winter or 4-season sleeping bags have a solution here too. If your feet get cold easily, you should choose a sleeping bag that has extra padding in the foot area.

And another tip about the right size: Because the body relaxes while sleeping and therefore requires a little more space, it makes sense that the sleeping bag you choose is a little longer than you are tall. A 1.70 meter tall woman should ideally choose a 180 centimeter long sleeping bag. Manufacturers usually offer their mobile bunks in three different versions.

Criterion 3: Ventilation

The filling mentioned above is not the only thing responsible for ensuring a pleasant sleeping environment and therefore the most restful sleep possible. It is also important that the sleeping bag has a sophisticated ventilation system. This applies to all seasons. Smart, for example, is a circular zipper that can be opened and closed on both sides. This means that the sleeping bag can not only be ventilated more cheaply from above. If you get hot feet, you can open the bottom of the sleeping bag a little and place your legs comfortably on the bag. This was solved well, for example, with this one, which is lined with sheep’s wool Grüezi Bag mummy sleeping bag. When purchasing, make sure that the sleeping bag can be easily opened in the foot area. Because nothing is more problematic with a sleeping bag than accumulated heat or even moisture.

Sleeping bag for the winter: This accessory is useful

If you don’t sleep on the mattress at home, the bed should be at least nearly as comfortable. A small Travel pillowwhich fits into the headboard of the sleeping bag, as well as a thin, insulating pad like this one, which weighs 700 grams Sleeping mat from Therm-a-Rest, noticeably increase the quality of sleep.

Source: walking-wild.net

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