Traveller Down Sleeping Bag 7C|45F - Long | Sea to Summit (2024)

FAQs

How do you know what size sleeping bag to get? ›

Sizing your sleeping bag

The length of sleeping bag you need is based on your height, and it's important to not get one that's too short or too long. If your sleeping bag is too short, your feet and head will press against the ends of your bag, compressing the insulation there making it less effective.

Most 3-season down sleeping bags for backpacking are in the 2-pound range or less. As with most types of backpacking gear, there are tradeoffs to going ultralight. Premium bags from brands like Western Mountaineering and Feathered Friends are among the most expensive on the market.

If you want to slim down your kit, consider an ultralight sleeping bag. These bags weigh about 2 pounds or lighter and compress down to miniscule size in a stuff sack, so they won't sit like a rock at the bottom of your backpack.

Sleeping bags are sized by their length, and though this may seem obvious, the correct length for your bag should correlate with your height. For example, if you're 6 feet tall, you should be sleeping in roughly the same length bag. However, don't think that a 6-foot sleeping bag should fit like a latex glove.

Is a 3lb sleeping bag too heavy for backpacking? In short, no. As you shop for the backpacking sleeping bag right for you, you'll note that the average weight of one for three-season use will range anywhere between 2.5 and 4 pounds.

To speak broadly, the two mains types of insulation used today in sleeping bags are either natural down insulation or synthetic insulation. In truth, both have their pros and cons. Down is lighter in weight and weight-for-weight warmer than synthetic insulation.

Down sleeping bags

You will often see descriptors associated with down bags such as 'loft' or 'fill power' and this describes the quality of the down material. The higher the loft, the warmer and lighter the bag but also the more expensive. The best quality bags have 850+ loft, which will be reflected in the price.

Each season has a scale of temperatures/conditions, they are as follows: 1 Season – Ideal for warmer summer nights where temperatures above +5°C. 2 Season – Bags designed for cooler nights in the summer or spring with a temperature range of 0 to +5°C. 3 Season – Designed for colder nights without frost (0 to -5°C).

Sleep Systems: What Sleeping Pad and Sleeping Bag Rating Should I Get? For the temperature rating of your bag, use its "lower limit" rating if you are a warm sleeper; use its "comfort" rating if you are a cold sleeper.

Below, we've listed five of the most common types of sleeping bags: rectangular, semi-rectangular, mummy, double and kid-sized.

Is it better to roll or stuff a sleeping bag? ›

Stuff, don't roll

There's a reason they're called stuff sacks – most sleeping bags are designed to be stuffed, not rolled, back into the sack they came with. Whether your sleeping bag contains down or synthetic fill, stuffing it instead of rolling it will usually remove more air and allow for a smaller packed size.

Pad loops - Some sleeping bags have pad loops on the sides that are meant to connect to your sleeping bag and keep it in place as you sleep.

The key test is this: When you get inside the sleeping bag, and fully snug up the hood around your head, are your feet pushing against the end of the bag and thus compressing the insulation? If so, the bag is too short and will be less warm due to the insulation being compressed.

The capacity of the stuff sack is equal to the mildly compressed volume of the sleeping bag. If no volume is quoted for the stuff sack: Measure the radius of the circular base and the height of the stuff sack in inches. Multiply 3.2 x the radius x the radius x the height.

Adult sleeping bags: Most bags come in regular and long sizes. Some also come in a short size. If your height is close to the upper end of a size's "fits up to" spec, try both that bag and the next size up to see which you prefer.

Measure the length, height, and depth of your bag, including handles and wheels. Add those three measurements together. The total is your linear measurement, in either centimeters or inches. Measure from the wheels to the top of the handle for height.