{"id":11689,"date":"2021-11-30T11:30:59","date_gmt":"2021-11-30T16:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sail.ca\/blog\/how-to-choose-the-right-sleeping-bag-for-winter\/"},"modified":"2024-01-24T08:31:58","modified_gmt":"2024-01-24T13:31:58","slug":"how-to-choose-the-right-sleeping-bag-for-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sail.ca\/blog\/how-to-choose-the-right-sleeping-bag-for-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Choose the Right Sleeping Bag for Winter Camping"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":7303,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[194,199],"tags":[439,717,718,719,722,891,894,896],"class_list":["post-11689","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camping","category-sleeping-bags-mats","tag-winter","tag-mummy-sleeping-bag","tag-rectangular-sleeping-bag","tag-side-sleeping-bag","tag-camping-sleeping-pad","tag-sleeping-bag","tag-sleeping-bags","tag-winter-sleeping-bag"],"acf":{"post_flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text_content","content_anchor":false,"anchor_link_text":"","text_content":"You dream of sleeping under the stars and admiring the northern lights, but you don't have all the equipment you need for winter camping? Here's a must for any camping<\/a> trip when the temperature is low: a good winter sleeping bag<\/a> with sufficient warmth, insulation and coverage to ensure you can recover from a long day's hiking and get a good night's sleep without losing body heat. Discover our tips for choosing the right sleeping bag to protect you from the cold. Thinking of going camping in winter? Check out our Winter Camping Guide<\/a> for our tips on buying a winter camping tent, sleeping pad and more.<\/strong>\r\n\r\n "},{"acf_fc_layout":"content_anchors_list","anchors_section_title":"n this article, you will learn how to choose the right sleeping bag for winter camping:"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_content","content_anchor":false,"anchor_link_text":"","text_content":"

[stag_button url=\" https:\/\/www.sail.ca\/en\/camping\/sleeping-bags-mats\/mummy-sleeping-bags\" style=\"black\" size=\"medium\" type=\"normal\" target=\"_blank\" icon=\"\" icon_order=\u201dbefore\u201d]Mummy sleeping bags[\/stag_button] <\/span>[stag_button url=\" https:\/\/www.sail.ca\/en\/camping\/sleeping-bags-mats\/rectangular-sleeping-bags\" style=\"black\" size=\"medium\" type=\"normal\" target=\"_blank\" icon=\"\" icon_order=\u201dbefore\u201d]Rectangular sleeping bags[\/stag_button]<\/span><\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_content","content_anchor":true,"anchor_link_text":"How to choose the right sleeping bag for the weather?","text_content":"

How to choose the right sleeping bag for the weather?<\/h2>\r\nChoosing the right sleeping bag for the right temperatures means that you don\u2019t have to wear layer upon layer upon layer! However, it\u2019s important not to sleep with the same clothes you wore during the day as you\u2019ll be bringing the humidity into your sleeping bag with you."},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_content","content_anchor":true,"anchor_link_text":"What's the best material for a winter sleeping bag: down or synthetic fibres?","text_content":"

What's the best material for a winter sleeping bag: down or synthetic fibres?<\/h2>\r\nIn winter, a comfortable night's sleep under the tent depends largely on your sleeping bag's ability to preserve body heat. Your sleep quality depends on several factors (tiredness, nutrition\u2026), but the bag's temperature rating is crucial. By the way, it's worth noting that these ratings provided by companies like The North Face<\/a>, Marmot<\/a>, or Mountain Hardwear<\/a> are based on the assumption that you will also be using a camping mat and wearing long underwear.\r\nEvery sleeping bag has its own rating, which depends mostly on the type of insulation: down or synthetic fibres.\r\n

Down winter sleeping bags<\/h3>\r\nDown insulation offers unrivalled comfort and warmth. Insulation from goose or duck feathers and down has excellent fill power and is perfect for the driest cold. It keeps body heat in and is also breathable, which means you won't sweat too much when you're all bundled up.\r\nIf your expedition involves covering long distances over several days, a down sleeping bag is the most practical option, as it is highly compressible. It takes up very little space and folds easily into a backpack.<\/a> This means more space for the rest of your equipment.\r\nWhile they lose some of their thermal properties when wet, most down sleeping bags for winter are treated with a coating that makes them waterproof and water-resistant.\r\nNaturally, there's no such thing as perfection, and a down sleeping bag does come with its own set of drawbacks. The more you compress it (by folding it or rolling it into a ball, for instance), the more likely it is to lose some of its fill power. It also requires more careful maintenance than a synthetic insulation sleeping bag, and it usually comes with a higher price tag.\r\n

Synthetic fibre winter sleeping bags<\/h3>\r\nIn very cold weather, synthetic fibre insulation is generally less effective than natural down. But that doesn't mean you should shy away from synthetic insulation sleeping bags! They do have their qualities and are quite versatile, although it's true that they are less suited to low (or very low) temperatures.\r\nWhen it comes to warmth, nothing compares to down. Synthetic fibres are not as effective at retaining heat due to their lower fill power. For the same warmth level, they are also less compressible than down. On the other hand, they are more resistant to moisture and dry faster - a good option, then, if you're out on an adventure in wet but not too cold conditions.\r\nA sleeping bag with synthetic insulation also requires less maintenance and is easier to clean than one made from goose or duck down.\r\nToday, an increasing number of outdoor brands are making sleeping bags filled with recycled insulation (often 100% post-consumer recycled polyester) but mind you, this is not the case for all models. If choosing a sleeping bag with recycled materials is important to you, be sure to check the label before making your purchase.\r\n

Down vs. synthetic insulation: pros and cons<\/h3>\r\nFor your winter trips<\/a>, it's best to opt for a down sleeping bag. But that doesn't mean you should stick to down insulation for all camping trips, destinations, and weather conditions. To help you make the best choice for your needs, let's have a look at the strengths and weaknesses of each type of insulation."},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_content","content_anchor":false,"anchor_link_text":"Winter sleeping bags: mummy or rectangular?","text_content":"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/th>\r\nPros<\/th>\r\nCons<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Down<\/td>\r\n\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • Warmth<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Lightness<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Compressibility<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Durability<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n
\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • Loses thermal properties when wet<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Price<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Harder maintenance<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Synthetics<\/td>\r\n\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • Maintain thermal properties better when wet<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Easy maintenance<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Price<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n
\r\n