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How to choose the right sleeping bag

After a long day of hiking a good nights’ sleep is essential to help your body recover and reenergise, and the quality of it will be largely dependent on your sleeping bag – does it keep you warm/cool enough, is it comfortable, and, before you even consider those factors, is it easy to move from A to B? Here’s how to choose the right one for you.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SLEEPING BAG

When you’re ready to choose your sleeping bag, keep three things at the front of your mind: the temperature of your sleeping environment, the level of comfort you need i.e. for week-long trips you’ll want it to be comfier than if you only have to spend one night in it, and if you’ll be sleeping in a bed or on a mattress it won’t need to be as cushioned as if you’re destined for the tent floor, and lastly, ease of transport.

Temperature

Sleeping bags are designed with specific temperatures in mind. If you’re camping in winter, you’ll need a sleeping bag that can keep you warm and – and this may come as a surprise – if you’re pitching up in summer, you’ll need a sleeping bag to keep you cool. Remember, even if you think it’s mild outside, temperatures can drop significantly at night, so do your research ahead of your trip.

Today, there are three main temperature categories which we’ve called out all our product pages:

- Warm, which is above 20°

- Mild, which is between 10 and 20°

- Cold, which is between 10 and 0°

Ease of transport

We determine ease of transport by the weight and compactness of a sleeping bag. If you’re on a trekking holiday, you’ll probably be carrying your own sleeping bag – as well as provisions, spare clothes, maybe the tent and other essentials – so ideally, you don’t want it take up lots of space or slow you down. For hikes where you return to your camp each night, you can afford to have a heavier sleeping bag. So in a nutshell:

For trekking, choose a lighter and less compact sleeping bag in order to reduce the fatigue while carrying it and for it to take less space during your trip.

For hiking, opt for a more comfortable and potentially heavier sleeping bag that’s compact.

Comfort

Comfort will always take precedence when it comes to camping. Look out for thick filling, an elasticated hood and plenty of room.

When trekking, you’ll need something thinner so go for a lightweight yet warm option.

Peter

Product manager quechua

Remember there’s a 5 to 10 year warranty on all our sleeping bags!