How do i choose my sleeping bag?

Your sleeping bag is your best partner for a good night's sleep when camping or bivouacking. With so many models available, it’s not always easy to make a choice. Several criteria can help you, such as lightness, comfort or resistance to cold. Here you can find all our tips for choosing the right sleeping bag for you.

Summary

1 1- The outside temperature
2 2 - Usage: weight
3 3 - The size of the sleeping bag
4 4 - What materials should you choose for your sleeping bag

Purchasing a sleeping bag is based on 4 main criteria: Usage (weight) Outside temperature, size and material.

A few tips before getting into your sleeping bag

If you want to sleep comfortably in your sleeping bag and get a good night's sleep like in a real bed, here are some tips to follow before you turn off the lights!

- Dress simply. In general, a single layer of clothing should suffice.

- Warm your extremities by wearing a hat, gloves, socks or using heaters if necessary. A bottle of hot water can be used to warm up (if there is no risk it might open, of course!)

- Did you know that 70% of the energy consumed is transformed into heat? By contracting your muscles, you can then create a nice source of warmth before you fall asleep!

- You can also use a bag sheet, ideally made of silk, to maximise the warmth inside your sleeping bag

- And for the same comfort as you’d get at home, don't forget a small pillow!

1 - Which sleeping bag should i choose depending on the outside temperature?

Another factore to help you with your choice is the outside temperature. Whether you’re sleeping in a house, in a tent in the summer in the south of France or in a tent in the mountains, your choice will be totally different.

There are different temperature levels:

- from 0°C to 10°C: ideal for the extreme cold or the mountains
- from 10°C to 20°C: ideal for summer nights
- more than 20°C: ideal for the home

It’s up to you to choose your sleeping bag depending on the temperature you’re sleeping in. If, for example, you plan to buy a sleeping bag for sleeping indoors in a house, a bag rated above 20°C is ideal.

In the tropics?

See sleeping bags rated at over 20°c
In a temperate environment?

See sleeping bags rated between 10 and 20°c
Headed into the cold?

See sleeping bags rated between 0 and 10°c

2- How will you use your sleeping bag? : weight

The weight of your sleeping bag will depend on its usage.

Sleeping bag or duvet for camping:

If you are setting up camp in a fixed location, we advise you to focus on the comfort of your sleeping bag. As a result, this bag will be larger and heavier. The bags are rectangular and offer more space to easily turn around and move.
You can opt for models with softer materials such as cotton and a wider bed width. That way, you’ll get the same comfort as a real bed!

"Sarcophagus" sleeping bags for bivouacking, hiking or trekking:

If you are going on a bivouac with your tent and sleeping bag, we advise you to choose a light and compact model. They usually come in the form of a "sarcophagus sleeping bag."
It will be easier to slip into your backpack and less heavy to carry. Lightweight models are usually cut in a sarcophagus style for greater resistance to cold. These bags often weigh less than 1 kg and the compression sack reduces their volume for easy transport.

Discover our selection of sleeping bags (winter, summer, all-weather):

Camping sleeping bag

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Lightweight sleeping bag

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What is the temperature limit of a sleeping bag?

The comfort temperature may be supplemented by a limit temperature. If the temperature of the place where you’re sleeping is lower than the temperature limit indicated on your bag, you may feel cold in your bag, even when curled up. These temperatures also depend on other elements: your resistance to the cold (which may be influenced by your build or fatigue level), your equipment (if you have a good mattress that insulates you from the ground), your clothing and the climatic conditions (if there is humidity or wind for example).

Did you know ...?

A sleeping bag does not produce heat but traps the heat produced by the body. If you are tired and cold and you slip inside a cold, damp sleeping bag, it is very likely that you will feel cold no matter how good your sleeping bag is.

So don't hesitate to follow our tips above to sleep comfortably!

3- How do i choose my sleeping bag?

Did you know ? There are different sizes of sleeping bags to fit your body.

Choosing the right sleeping bag for your size will optimise your thermal protection.

4- What material should you choose for your bag?

For both camping and bivouac sleeping bags, there are different fillings such as cotton, polyester or feathers.

Sleeping bags for bivouacking are either filled with feathers or polyester. Sleeping bags for camping are made of either cotton or polyester.

For your information: Polyester is a material that is easy to care for.

What material should you choose for your sleeping bag?

What is the comfort temperature of a sleeping bag?

And for the kids...

Our designers have not forgotten the young ones! With junior sleeping bags, you’ll find products designed for children who are experiencing their first nights on the camping or bivouac.

These sleeping bags have a volume and size specifically adapted to the youngest ones. Some models are even expandable and can adapt as children grow. The cover can also be used as a toy pouch or as storage for a headlamp, for example.

One thing not to forget when choosing is your child’s height. The larger the volume of air to be warmed, the more energy the body expends and the more likely it is to cool down during the night. It is therefore important to always choose a sleeping bag adapted to the size of your child.

For a 2-in-1

The family of sleeping bags has recently grown and new solutions have been designed to give you a good night's sleep!

If you want to buy a mattress and sleeping bag, Sleepin Beds allow you to have both in one. They consist of a self-inflating mattress and a sleeping bag. This is a comfortable option that can be installed in a few moments. You no longer need to carry two different bags for your mattress and sleeping bag! Sleepin Beds can be paired together: this is the ideal solution if you're going away for a weekend together ;)

Unfold, sleep! Our designers developed this extremely comfortable 2-in-1 sleeping solution in record time and with minimum bulk.

Cloé

Hiking lover at Quechua

We also recommend the following:

How to maintain a sleeping bag?

Follow our advice to prolong the lifespan of your sleeping bag and enjoy better nights.

5 tips to ensure you're never cold in your sleeping bag

The "comfort" temperatures shown on Quechua sleeping bag covers are defined by standardised European tests. However, sensitivity to cold varies greatly depending on the individual and the weather conditions.