If you're new to hiking, the world of sleeping bags can seem overwhelming, with different types, weights, warmth levels and prices to choose from.
This comprehensive guide will help you get to know the kingdom of sleeping bags, telling about history, innovation and comfort, which will allow you to make an informed decision in purchasing the most suitable sleeping bag for you.
History of sleeping bags: Ajungilak, Mammut and the search for comfort
Imagine that you are an Arctic explorer in the 19th century. You are wrapped in animal skins and woolen clothes. Yes, maybe warm, but quite heavy. The history of modern sleeping bags begins right here - with Arctic explorers who were looking for warmth and protection from harsh weather.
In 1855, one of the pioneers who started producing sleeping bags as we know them today was founded - the Norwegian brand Ajungilak. Ajungilak began to innovate and develop advanced sleeping bags that used down and synthetic materials.
Successfully operating in the production of sleeping bags and setting standards for sleeping bags in the market, Ajungilak operates until today and has been part of Mammut since 2001.
Together, Ajungilak and Mammut continue to push the boundaries of sleeping bag design, developing lightweight, ultra-compact and luxurious warm sleeping bag models that meet the needs of hiking enthusiasts, mountaineers and other nature lovers around the world.
Temperature rating of sleeping bags: EN and ISO standards
Temperature indications of sleeping bags - what do they really mean and what temperature indicator should you choose?
Before 2005, freezing in a sleeping bag was a common thing, because each manufacturer could indicate the temperature that came to his mind on the sleeping bag.
In order to prevent this, the European EN 13537 standard was introduced in 2005, which stipulated that the heat resistance of the sleeping bag is independently tested according to a uniform protocol and comfort and limit temperatures are indicated.
In April 2017, a new international standard ISO 23537-1:2016 was introduced. The new ISO standard will serve as the protocol for all sleeping bags manufactured in the future, but the testing methods for both EN and ISO standards are practically the same. So, if you see one of these standards on a sleeping bag, you can be sure that the numbers indicated on the sleeping bag are not invented out of thin air and that its manufacturer is serious, quality, good reputation and your well-being are important to him.
How is sleeping bag testing done?
When testing sleeping bags, it is necessary to determine several unimaginably specific indicators! But in simple words - in the cold chamber, a heated mannequin, dressed in a sleeping bag and thermal underwear, is placed on a foam mattress, to which many sensors are attached.
By lowering the temperature in the cold chamber, appropriate measurements are made on the dummy, with the help of which the comfort, comfort limit and extreme temperatures are determined.
It is important to note that the EN/ISO standard temperatures are given in ranges rather than exact numbers because the feeling of heat is a very subjective indicator , influenced by many factors. Some of them are the sleeper's body structure, gender, food, water intake, fatigue, clothing, how well the sleeping bag fits, etc.
Similarly, the surrounding environment also affects the feeling of warmth - how warm is the mattress, whether it is windy, humid, whether the sleeper is sweaty, whether the sleeper is born from sleeping outside, etc.
However, despite all the variables, EN/ISO standards are the most objective basic output indicator to guide you when buying a sleeping bag.
What do the numbers on the sleeping bag really mean?
COMFORT (comfort) - speaking in the language of EN/ISO standards, this is the temperature at which a "standard" woman feels comfortable, she "doesn't feel cold" and she sleeps in a "relaxed position".
LIMIT (comfort limit) - here a "standard" man is "struggling with the cold, curled up in a sleeping bag, but has found thermal balance and is not shivering".
EXTREME (extreme range) - a strong feeling of cold, there is a risk of hypothermia and health damage, use of a sleeping bag in this range only in case of emergency.
Quotation marks (" ") indicate notations used during testing.
Women and men are separated. This is because women are leaner and need a sleeping bag about 5 degrees warmer than men. So, if the sleeping bag is not specifically indicated as certified for women , then the sleeping bag should be chosen according to comfort, not limit temperature. But if the woman is particularly cold, then it is safer to take an even warmer one to have a margin.
How to choose a sleeping bag?
Differences between down and synthetic sleeping bags
Weight and volume
In terms of the ratio of warmth to weight, no artificial material has yet been invented that can beat down. To ensure the same temperature insulation performance, a synthetic sleeping bag is on average 3 times larger in volume and about 2 times heavier than a down sleeping bag.
It should be noted that the quality of down also varies. It is measured in units of cuin. The higher the cuin, the higher the quality of the down with less feather admixture, thus less weight and volume, at the same time with a greater possibility of expansion (therefore thermal insulation) and compression.
The price
Down sleeping bags cannot be cheap, as both their acquisition and preparation require considerable resources. If you see a suspiciously cheap down sleeping bag for sale, it is likely that the down is not of good quality and has not been cleaned. High-quality down is carefully cleaned during the production process so that pathogens and bacteria do not multiply in it and it lasts a long time.
Synthetic sleeping bags are cheaper than down sleeping bags. However, the quality of synthetic fibers also varies . How long will it last, will it tighten, will it warm due to the fiber's ability to insulate warm air, or will it still sweat because the material around the insulation does not breathe? Does the suspiciously cheap synthetic sleeping bag meet EN or ISO standards? All these factors should be kept in mind and you should choose sleeping bags from recognized manufacturers that invest in technology and research to make your outdoor sleeping experience as comfortable and safe as possible.
Down does not warm when wet
Down sleeping bags must be carefully protected from getting wet, because the down collapses when wet and cannot provide warmth. Synthetic sleeping bags will keep you warm even when wet and are easier to dry.
Mammut offers a series of down sleeping bags that are treated with a water-repellent treatment and will protect, for example, from condensation in the tent or light rain, but these sleeping bags are not completely waterproof either.
Grooming
A down sleeping bag requires more careful care. Washing (even if done very correctly and with suitable means ) can flatten the down and reduce the volume of the down sleeping bag, thus the warmth. Washing a down sleeping bag requires a large-capacity washing machine and dryer. The down should be dried as soon as possible so that it does not remain compressed for a long time. Best with a blow dryer and a couple of tennis balls.
A down sleeping bag should not be washed, because body oils and sweat soak into the down, it collapses and even then the sleeping bag heats worse. Therefore, you should try not to get the sleeping bag excessively dirty and it is highly recommended to use an inner liner.
Suitable products should also be used for washing synthetic sleeping bags, however, they can be washed with a smaller washing machine and without a dryer, as synthetic fibers dry faster and easily restore their shape.
Allergy
If you know that you are allergic to dust mites, then consider buying a synthetic sleeping bag, because synthetic materials are easier to wash and less dust mites breed in them.
If you decide to use down for a sleeping bag, you should definitely use an inner lining so that the down does not get soaked with sweat and body fat and does not become a dust mite on the festive table.
Animal use and sustainability
RDS (Responsible Down Standard) means that the manufacturer only uses down that is obtained in a way that minimizes animal suffering. Plucking and force-feeding of live birds is prohibited.
However, if you avoid animal products, a down sleeping bag will not be suitable for you.
On the other hand, synthetic sleeping bags will, on average, last less than down sleeping bags, which have been properly cared for and stored, because synthetic fibers have acquired their shape artificially and sooner or later will not be able to restore it anymore, will lose volume, and therefore also the ability to keep warm.
In terms of environmental impact and sustainability, down sleeping bags will be winners, as down decomposes in nature and also leaves a smaller CO2 footprint.
SLEEPING BAG SIZE
Does the size of the sleeping bag matter? Maybe you should take the biggest one to fit all occasions?
LENGTH
Contrary to popular myth, sleeping bags are made in different lengths, not only so that tall sleepers can stretch their legs and short ones have less to carry, but because it affects warmth. The sleeping bag works as a thermal chamber, which we warm with our own body heat . Accordingly, if this chamber is large, the body has to spend more time and energy to warm it up and sleep is colder.
Therefore, if you still have to sleep in a sleeping bag that is too long, it is recommended to put clothes in the leg so that the heated area is smaller.
On the other hand, if the sleeping bag is too small, it will not only be uncomfortable, but also cold , because cold pockets form in the places where the body compresses the filling of the sleeping bag. This is because the sleeping bag filling retains heat due to the fact that warm air accumulates in its expanded fibers . If these fibers are compressed, there is no room for the warm air and it does not heat up.
It is for this reason that it is important to use a heat-insulating mattress , because we lose heat in places where the sleeping bag compresses.
If your height is 180 cm, then look for a sleeping bag with a length of 180 - 200 cm, but in no case take a smaller one.
Sleeping bag designers also take into account that our spine and feet stretch when we sleep, so if the maximum length of the sleeping bag is stated to be 180 cm, then in reality the bag has a margin of 20 cm and there is no need to worry that it will be too short for a 180 cm tall person.
It should be mentioned that some manufacturers also offer wide versions of sleeping bags suitable for larger sleepers! Before buying a sleeping bag, it is recommended to measure your body contours and compare with the indicated dimensions.
IN SHAPE
The shape of the sleeping bag should correspond to the conditions in which you will use it. The three most common shapes of sleeping bags are: mummy, square and tapered square.
Mummy form
The most popular form of sleeping bags designed to fit the contours of the body and is quite narrowed in the legs, thus reducing the amount of heated area and making mummies the warmest sleeping bags that will be most suitable for sleeping in the cold.
Also, the effective shape of the mummy allows you to save weight and volume , making this sleeping bag the best choice for technical adventures and long hikes, where every gram counts.
Minus - freedom of movement. The mummy form is the most restrictive of all.
Square
As the name suggests, the sleeping bag is not designed according to the shape of the body, so it will be more difficult to warm it up , but there is more room in it and it is easier to move around, sleep on the side with knees drawn, etc.
Many square-shaped sleeping bags have a zip all the way around, allowing them to be fully opened and used as a regular blanket , making them more versatile, allowing you to adjust for warmer nights, sleeping as a couple, etc.
If you plan to sleep in warm weather, your priority is not lightness, but freedom of movement , then choose this sleeping bag!
Narrow square
This sleeping bag has a light square shape with tapered legs.
If warmth is important, but you are ready to carry a little more weight for convenience, then this will be an optimal choice.
In summary
Down sleeping bag | Synthetic sleeper |
Better heat-to-weight ratio | Heavier and bulkier |
More expensive | Cheaper |
Longer service life | Shorter service life |
Does not heat when wet | Will maintain conditional comfort even when wet |
It dries for a long time | Dries faster |
Use of animals | No animals are used |
Proper care is important | Easier care |
Do you already have a reliable sleeping bag? Have you ever suffered cold nights? Share the story of your coldest night! Why do you think it froze? Was it the sleeping bag or other factors?