Sleeping well in bivouac is the key to not being in bad bear mode the next day. We have all experienced it: it is complicated to go through days of walking without good restorative sleep. This is why this guide will prove essential to guarantee you a good experience in nature!
To properly equip yourself with a sleeping bag , there are several criteria that must be taken into account which we will detail next. The challenge is to master these different criteria in order to understand the differences between the products to determine the product that corresponds to the use we want to make.
Sea To Summit sleeping bag
At Muule , we like to guide our customers on the choice of temperature by saying “ not to be afraid of being hot but to be afraid of being cold” , we could also quote the famous saying: “who can best , can the least”.
We always advise you to choose a sleeping bag designed for temperatures a little lower than you expect during your trip, if temperatures rise there is nothing stopping you from opening your bag to get some fresh air.
The temperature rating of a sleeping bag indicates the minimum temperature at which an average person can sleep comfortably without feeling cold. Before your trip, find out the expected temperatures in order to choose the appropriate sleeping bag. Generally, there are three temperature categories for sleeping bags:
Table of sleeping bag types according to temperature
Characteristic that The filling of your duvet is the guarantee of your thermal insulation, it is the first criterion to take into account once the temperature has been determined. Synthetic or natural insulation each have their advantages and disadvantages. Regardless of the type of insulation chosen for your sleeping bag, the distribution of insulation varies between models. Down bags have dispersed fill, while synthetic bags use overlapping layers. The goal is to provide uniform insulation around the body to avoid cold spots.
Table of advantages and disadvantages of Down and Synthetic
Down is generally always more expensive than synthetic. The main strengths of this material are weight savings and compressibility. The feather also retains heat more permanently than a synthetic down.
“ Cuin ” swelling power :
Downs vary in quality, measured by “fill power.” A higher number means that the down is more insulating relative to its weight. The most expensive down sleeping bags, intended for very cold conditions or ultralight trekking, have a high fill power, around 800 cuin.
Water-resistant down “DWR treatment” :
To preserve the insulating capacity of down even when wet, the majority of sleeping bags use down treated to be water repellent (DWR).
Responsible down:
Usually, down is a by-product of the meat industry. Sleeping bag manufacturers are committed to ensuring ethical treatment of ducks and geese, in accordance with the Responsible Down Standard (RDS ) and Global Traceable Down Standard (TDS), two key certifications to check.
Down sleeping bag
Insulation and shape are crucial to the weight of a sleeping bag. High-quality insulation, like advanced synthetics and high-fill power down, provides more warmth with less weight. Compare the weight of bags with the same temperature rating.
The total weight of the bag is crucial for transport, while the weight of the filling only indicates the mass of the insulation. However, the warmth of the bag is determined by its temperature rating, not the weight of the insulation.
The shape also influences the weight: a narrow, fitted bag retains heat better and will be lighter than a wide, roomy model.
To remember in your Muule heads : feather filling is more effective when the climate is dry while a synthetic sleeping bag is preferred in humid conditions.
Article written by Colin de Muule on March 12, 2024.
