Winter Sleeping Bags

Choosing a winter sleeping bag always starts by thinking about the toughest conditions you may end up having to handle with them: even when going from cabin to cabin it is necessary to have the capability to sleep outside without trouble. It is also good to remember the meaning of the extreme temperature rating of sleeping bags. In that temperature you are protected from severe hypothermia, but far from enjoying a refreshing night of sleep.

Some winter bags have a membrane, giving protection from external moisture and wind. This is useful when sleeping in conditions where wind can try to change the air inside the loft of your sleeping bag. For the rest of us, it is convenient to have the weight and packability advantage of a non-membrane bag.

Down is an expensive fill material, but it is unbeatable in its warmth to weight and warmth to packing size ratio. Winter sleeping bags show this exceptionally clearly: it can take up to one kilogram more synthetic filling material to achieve the warmth of a down sleeping bag. With its lower price and less sensitive moisture characteristics, synthetics have their fans.

It is advisable to store your sleeping bag outside its bag at home. This will keep the insulating material warm and fluffy from one year to the next!