How to Buy a Sleeping Bag
A sleeping bag is one of the most important pieces of equipment a scout can have. It is an important purchase. This page has advice on how to select a bag.
Considerations
Temperature Rating - Every sleeping bag has a minimum temperature rating, which indicates the lowest temperature at which it can be comfortably used. These ratings are a good starting point but are not exact - some people sleep colder, and some sleep warmer. For spring/summer/fall use, a bag rated to about 20° is generally a good choice For winter use, you should have a bag rated to 0° to -20°. The range of a bag can be extended by adding a sleeping bag liner. Or for winter, you can use two bags, one inside the other.
Material - Bags are filled with either down or synthetic. Down is lighter, more compressible, and generally more expensive. In the past, down was not effective if it got wet, but many bags now have water resistant down. Synthetics will keep you warm even if they get wet, but are a bit heavier and less compressible than down.
Size and Weight - For car camping, size and weight don't matter. For backpacking, you should try to keep the weight under three pounds, and get a bag that stuffs down to approximately 9" x 18" or smaller. It is good to have a compression stuff sack for a backpacking bag in order to compress it as much as possible to fit in a pack.
Shape - Bags can range in shape from rectangular to mummy shaped. The more the bags are shaped, the lighter they are, but some people are not comfortable in tight bags. It is a good idea to try a variety of bags before you buy to get a feel for this. You can do this at REI.
Hood - Many bags have a integrated hood and draft collar. This is a great feature for extending the range of the bag, as it adds a lot of warmth.
Options
Given the considerations above, it is impossible to select a single bag that is good for all conditions. A bag that is appropriate for three-season backpacking will not be warm enough for winter camping, and a winter bag will be too heavy and bulky for backpacking. Here are a couple options:
3 Season Bag - Get a sleeping bag with synthetic or water-resistant down, a temperature rating of 15° - 30°, and a weight under three pounds. This will be ideal for spring/summer/fall car camping and backpacking trips. For winter camping, you will need to either add a bag liner, use a second bag inside the first one, or borrow a winter bag. Some examples of bags like this are:
Army system bag - This is a sleeping system that includes a warmer sleeping bag, a cooler sleeping bag, and a bivy sac. You can use each bag on it's own, use both bags together for cold weather, and use both bags and the bivy sac for very cold weather. This system provides a lot of versatility for car camping in all conditions.. However, the system is heavy and bulky, so it doesn't work well for backpacking. An example of this system is here: http://www.armynavysales.com/products/5-part-military-modular-sleeping-bag-system-acu-digital/
Where to Buy - Local
Where to Buy - Online
Considerations
Temperature Rating - Every sleeping bag has a minimum temperature rating, which indicates the lowest temperature at which it can be comfortably used. These ratings are a good starting point but are not exact - some people sleep colder, and some sleep warmer. For spring/summer/fall use, a bag rated to about 20° is generally a good choice For winter use, you should have a bag rated to 0° to -20°. The range of a bag can be extended by adding a sleeping bag liner. Or for winter, you can use two bags, one inside the other.
Material - Bags are filled with either down or synthetic. Down is lighter, more compressible, and generally more expensive. In the past, down was not effective if it got wet, but many bags now have water resistant down. Synthetics will keep you warm even if they get wet, but are a bit heavier and less compressible than down.
Size and Weight - For car camping, size and weight don't matter. For backpacking, you should try to keep the weight under three pounds, and get a bag that stuffs down to approximately 9" x 18" or smaller. It is good to have a compression stuff sack for a backpacking bag in order to compress it as much as possible to fit in a pack.
Shape - Bags can range in shape from rectangular to mummy shaped. The more the bags are shaped, the lighter they are, but some people are not comfortable in tight bags. It is a good idea to try a variety of bags before you buy to get a feel for this. You can do this at REI.
Hood - Many bags have a integrated hood and draft collar. This is a great feature for extending the range of the bag, as it adds a lot of warmth.
Options
Given the considerations above, it is impossible to select a single bag that is good for all conditions. A bag that is appropriate for three-season backpacking will not be warm enough for winter camping, and a winter bag will be too heavy and bulky for backpacking. Here are a couple options:
3 Season Bag - Get a sleeping bag with synthetic or water-resistant down, a temperature rating of 15° - 30°, and a weight under three pounds. This will be ideal for spring/summer/fall car camping and backpacking trips. For winter camping, you will need to either add a bag liner, use a second bag inside the first one, or borrow a winter bag. Some examples of bags like this are:
- North Face Cat's Meow
- Sierra Designs Zissou 3S Plus
- REI Lumen
- REI Radient
- Mountain Hardware Lamina Z Flame
- Kelty Cosmic Down 20
Army system bag - This is a sleeping system that includes a warmer sleeping bag, a cooler sleeping bag, and a bivy sac. You can use each bag on it's own, use both bags together for cold weather, and use both bags and the bivy sac for very cold weather. This system provides a lot of versatility for car camping in all conditions.. However, the system is heavy and bulky, so it doesn't work well for backpacking. An example of this system is here: http://www.armynavysales.com/products/5-part-military-modular-sleeping-bag-system-acu-digital/
Where to Buy - Local
- REI www.rei.com
- Eastern Mountain Sports www.ems.com/
- LL Bean www.llbean.com/
Where to Buy - Online
- Sierra Trading Post www.sierratradingpost.com/
- Campmor www.campmor.com/
- Alps Hiker Direct - This is a program that offers discounts on Alps Mountaineering equipment to scouts. You'll need to register and wait for a return email to access the site, but it offers some great deals. www.hikerdirect.com/hd/register