There are a number of factors you need to consider when reviewing a sleeping bag, the most important one by far is whether the bag's temperature rating is sufficient for your needs. Here's what to look for.
What's your sleeping bag rating?
Sleeping bags usually have two types of rating - season or temperature. There are three options for the season rating: two season, three season and four season. This is intended to give you a broad idea of when the bag should be used. For more information you need to look at the temperature figures. The most important temperature figure is the comfort temperature or lower comfort temperature depending on how the manufacturers have displayed their data. Often the sleeping bag has a comfort range, the minimum temperature is the lowest the temperature can get down to before you start feeling cold. Other manufacturers show the information has three figures: Comfort/Limit/Extreme. 'Extreme' is the absolutely lowest temperature the bag should be used at. 'Limit' is when you will begin to feel very cold. 'Comfort' is the ideal working temperature for the bag.
Work out the nightly temperatures
Once you know the comfort figure of the sleeping bag, you then need to work out the night time temperatures of the area you will be camping in. In the UK in January the average night time temperature is 1.3 degrees C. In July it's 11.7 degrees C. In Oregon, USA the average January temperature is -5.2 degrees C and in July it's 7.9 degrees C. Buy your sleeping bag in accordance with what time of year you're travelling and what temperatures your camping destination gets down to. If you're camping in January or at altitude it might be a good idea to look at the extreme rating of the sleeping bag and compare that to the extreme low temperatures in the region. The record low for Oregon in January is -32 degrees C.
Do you sleep warm or cold?
There are other factors that you might like to consider, like whether you sleep cold or warm. In summer, at home, if you still sleep under several sheets and a duvet, I think you might just be a cold sleeper. If this is the case then you might want to consider reducing the rating numbers a little and getting a warmer rated bag. Women in general are colder sleepers and need a sleeping bag that is about 5 degrees lower than a man's. Older people should also upgrade. Another point to consider is this: the manufacturers make the assumption that you are wearing PJs or baselayers in the sleeping bag. If you wear your full wardrobe or go naked this will affect your comfort rating.
Down or Synthetic?
You only need to get into the 'down' or 'synthetic' debate if you're actually going to be carrying your sleeping bag further than the car and back. Down is light and packs really small, so it has a good warmth to weight ratio, but it's expensive. Don't bother with down sleeping bag if you're a family camper. Synthetic filled sleeping bags are reasonably priced, they'll keep you warm if you buy the correct one (see above) and they'll last a long time.
Sleeping mats and other things
What you are sleeping on will affect your warmth and your sleep. A lot of heat is lost into the ground so make sure your mat is insulated. Also make sure the sleeping bag fits, so have a look at the dimension before you buy. Mummy shaped sleeping bags fit more snuggly and will therefore keep you warmer. Square or Envelope sleeping bags aren't quite as warm but they give you more room to kick your legs about.
What's your sleeping bag rating?
Sleeping bags usually have two types of rating - season or temperature. There are three options for the season rating: two season, three season and four season. This is intended to give you a broad idea of when the bag should be used. For more information you need to look at the temperature figures. The most important temperature figure is the comfort temperature or lower comfort temperature depending on how the manufacturers have displayed their data. Often the sleeping bag has a comfort range, the minimum temperature is the lowest the temperature can get down to before you start feeling cold. Other manufacturers show the information has three figures: Comfort/Limit/Extreme. 'Extreme' is the absolutely lowest temperature the bag should be used at. 'Limit' is when you will begin to feel very cold. 'Comfort' is the ideal working temperature for the bag.
Work out the nightly temperatures
Once you know the comfort figure of the sleeping bag, you then need to work out the night time temperatures of the area you will be camping in. In the UK in January the average night time temperature is 1.3 degrees C. In July it's 11.7 degrees C. In Oregon, USA the average January temperature is -5.2 degrees C and in July it's 7.9 degrees C. Buy your sleeping bag in accordance with what time of year you're travelling and what temperatures your camping destination gets down to. If you're camping in January or at altitude it might be a good idea to look at the extreme rating of the sleeping bag and compare that to the extreme low temperatures in the region. The record low for Oregon in January is -32 degrees C.
Do you sleep warm or cold?
There are other factors that you might like to consider, like whether you sleep cold or warm. In summer, at home, if you still sleep under several sheets and a duvet, I think you might just be a cold sleeper. If this is the case then you might want to consider reducing the rating numbers a little and getting a warmer rated bag. Women in general are colder sleepers and need a sleeping bag that is about 5 degrees lower than a man's. Older people should also upgrade. Another point to consider is this: the manufacturers make the assumption that you are wearing PJs or baselayers in the sleeping bag. If you wear your full wardrobe or go naked this will affect your comfort rating.
Down or Synthetic?
You only need to get into the 'down' or 'synthetic' debate if you're actually going to be carrying your sleeping bag further than the car and back. Down is light and packs really small, so it has a good warmth to weight ratio, but it's expensive. Don't bother with down sleeping bag if you're a family camper. Synthetic filled sleeping bags are reasonably priced, they'll keep you warm if you buy the correct one (see above) and they'll last a long time.
Sleeping mats and other things
What you are sleeping on will affect your warmth and your sleep. A lot of heat is lost into the ground so make sure your mat is insulated. Also make sure the sleeping bag fits, so have a look at the dimension before you buy. Mummy shaped sleeping bags fit more snuggly and will therefore keep you warmer. Square or Envelope sleeping bags aren't quite as warm but they give you more room to kick your legs about.
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