Is comfort your bag? Then pick a bag that’s comfortable for YOU.

When it’s time to choose a sleeping bag, what do you need to know to make an informed decision? It’s not difficult to buy sleeping bags, but it’s common for people to be disappointed once they get into the backcountry. Here are a few key points you need to consider when you choose a sleeping bag:

• Warmth to weight ratio
• Dry or wet conditions?
• Down or synthetic insulation
• Fit and style
• Face fabric

HOW WARM do you want to be?

Manufacturers’ comfort ratings are your starting point. The rating usually tells you the lowest air temperature at which an “average” user will find the bag warm enough. But are YOU average? Some folks like to “sleep hot,” and others to “sleep cool.” Adjust accordingly. Unsure? We suggest you choose a sleeping bag that’s warmer rather than cooler.

INSULATION – Goose Down Sleeping Bags vs. Synthetic Sleeping Bags?

Many swear by the classic goose down sleeping bag. Goose down is the lightest, most efficient, most compressible insulation in the world. When it’s well cared for, it lasts longer—a frugal buy, despite higher initial cost. But if you get a goose down sleeping bag wet, it could mean trouble. Wet goose down takes forEVER to dry. Worse, wet down gets heavy. Its weight can tear your bag’s inner baffles. Check the down rating you’ll see on some bags—500 to 600 is good, 700 very good, 800+ is superb.

One wet goose down sleeping bag might talk you into a synthetic bag next time you choose a sleeping bag. That said, keeping a down bag dry is not too difficult and there has never been something better to sleep in.

Synthetic sleeping bags are initially more economical, they dry faster, and they insulate even when they are damp. On the downside, synthetic sleeping bags weigh more than down and synthetic insulation, while easier to clean, often won’t last as long as it loses its loft faster than goose down. Expect your synthetic bag to be bulkier and heavier than down, too.

MUMMY Sleeping Bags? Or daddy?

Mummy sleeping bags—narrow at the feet, widening to the shoulders, tapering to an insulated hood—do offer advantages. Their slim cut saves material, saving you weight and space. The hood will keep your head warm—smart, since major heat loss takes place through your head. The disadvantage? It’s that very mummy shape. Stay-still, cozy sleepers LOVE the mummy sleeping bag. If you’re an “active” sleeper, or if you’re just a big person, go a little bigger or even rectangular in picking your bag.

Even there, there are options when you choose a sleeping bag. Semi-rectangular sleeping bags grant a bit more room than mummies, less than a full rectangular sleeping bag. You’ll pay a price in weight. So-called “barrel” bags offer a shape that offers a compromise between the classic mummy and a rectangular sleeping bag. Barrels don’t have a hood. As valued as a hood may be for warmth, some folks find them constricting and hard to sleep in. Always, it’s YOUR comfort, YOUR style that counts. Most bags come in Reg. and Long—so adjust accordingly.

Few backpackers carry full rectangular sleeping bags. These are mostly for casual, warm-weather use, and offer nowhere near the heat retention of leaner, more efficient designs. They’re GREAT for car-camping, though. And if you’re a thrasher—you’ve gotta have one!

CONSIDER the outside, too.

Your bag’s insulation – goose down or synthetic - protects YOU. But what protects your insulation? A polyester shell repels water better than nylon and microfibre fabrics offer light weight. Their tight weave repels water while still letting your bag “breathe.” If you think you might be getting wet, choose a sleeping bag with sealed seems and DWR treated fabric.

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it!

Hood – choose a sleeping bag with a built-in hood—warmer and more convenient than a hat.

Neck collar - This gasket-like addition traps heat at shoulder height, cutting heat loss through the head opening.

Zipper draft tubes - No more cold leaking in through your zipper! An insulated tube running alongside the main zipper is a real boon when you choose a sleeping bag for cool or cold weather use.