Youth and beauty 

Which means the temperature of comfort in a sleeping bag. How to choose a sleeping bag? How is the protective effect achieved?

We have already talked about that. And in this article, among other things, it was said that you need to choose a sleeping bag based on its temperature regime. The temperature regime is indicated on the sleeping bags in the form of three values, for example - (+10, comfort -2, extreme -18). As it turned out, some people do not quite correctly understand what the temperature regime of a sleeping bag is and what the values ​​indicated on the sleeping bag mean. Since the main purpose of the sleeping bag is to maintain the thermal balance of a person, in order to understand what exactly the values ​​of the temperature regime on the sleeping bag determine, we need to first understand what the thermal balance of a person is. Heat balance of a person is a state of a person in which the amount of heat that his body produces is equal to the amount of heat that the body loses as a result of air circulation, breathing, evaporation of moisture from the surface of the body, and so on. That is, if we simplify, then the heat balance is when a person is warm, due to the fact that he loses as much heat as he generates. It should be borne in mind that heat exchange can depend on a person's complexion, gender and age. For example, studies show that women are, on average, more thermophilic than men, and for them it is better to set the temperature of the sleeping bag by 5 degrees lower. The same applies to young people under 18 years old (for the reason that at a young age, heat exchange is higher than in a mature one). So what exactly do the temperature values ​​of the sleeping bag mean? Based on our example (+10, comfort -2, extreme -18), let's first consider the average value. Comfort temperature- (in our case, -2) is the temperature at which a person can sleep without feeling any discomfort all night long. That is, the heat balance in the human body will be maintained throughout the night. The value - comfort -2 means the lower limit of the comfort temperature in this sleeping bag, the upper one in our case is the first value that is indicated in the temperature mode of our sleeping bag, that is - (+10). The upper value of the comfort temperature means the temperature at which a person can sleep in this sleeping bag without excessive sweating. Extreme temperature(extreme -18) - this parameter indicates the temperature when the sleeping bag provides sufficient warming to protect against hypothermia, but does not maintain a full thermal balance. That is, in our example, sleeping in a sleeping bag at a temperature of -2 to -18 degrees will be cold and uncomfortable, but this will not lead to severe hypothermia (dangerous for the body) of the body and limbs. But as already mentioned that the heat resistance of the body is quite individual for each person, the values ​​of the temperature regime cannot be considered absolute. Usually, to test the temperature regime of sleeping bags, people are invited who are connected in some way with extreme conditions, for example, the military or climbers. Their lifestyle usually determines that such people are more cold-resistant than people who spend most of their time in warm rooms. It follows from this that if you are unsure of your cold resistance, then it will not be superfluous to buy a warmer sleeping bag.

Sleeping bag- an item of equipment that is used for sleeping and resting in parking lots. There are different types of sleeping bags that can be classified according to various factors.

Sleeping bag shape

  • Blanket- rectangular shape, with or without a headrest, with a zipper that can be fully or partially unfastened. This form is the most comfortable and familiar, as it resembles an ordinary blanket. The disadvantage is weight. These sleeping bags are usually used on light hikes or car trips. There are modifications with a hood.
  • Cocoon- is an "Egyptian sarcophagus", this shape allows you to greatly save in weight and volume, the most popular type of sleeping bag.
  • "Grave"- a multi-bed sleeping bag, used on expeditions, where great savings in weight and space are required. It's warmer this way. Often they sew themselves.

Temperature

Sleeping bags are made with the expectation of certain temperature conditions (according to the season):

  • Summer, designed for high enough night temperatures.
  • Off-season, when comfortable temperatures drop below 0 ° C.
  • AND winter, providing sleep in temperatures far below minus. In the warmest, you can sleep at temperatures down to -60 ° C.

Marking

Usually, 1-3 temperatures are indicated on a sleeping bag, by which one can judge its applicability for specific conditions. They are usually called:

  • maxium- the maximum temperature at which it is comfortable to sleep (this is a fairly relative value, because at high temperatures you can open a sleeping bag);
  • comfort- the minimum temperature at which you can sleep without discomfort;
  • extreme- the temperature at which during the night you can survive in a sleeping bag (the possibility of hypothermia is not excluded).

Typically, these values ​​are given for the average person who sleeps naked or in thermal underwear on a rug. These temperatures are determined by testing in humans using sleeping bags professionally (military, mountaineering instructors, etc.).

Each manufacturer understands the meaning of these characteristics in its own way, so it makes no sense to compare sleeping bags from different manufacturers by them, the range of temperatures can be quite large. The standard DIN EN ISO 23537 (formerly EN 13537) is intended to remedy this situation.

DIN EN ISO 23537 standard (formerly EN 13537)

In April 2002, the European Committee for Standardization (Comité Européen de Normalization, CEN) approved a new standard with the official name "EN 13537: 2002 Requirements for sleeping bags". This standard entered into force on January 1, 2005. The purpose of this standard is to create metrics by which sleeping bags from different manufacturers can be compared.

The latest revision of EN 13537 was published in 2012 and was applied to the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Denmark, Ireland, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands , Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Finland, France, Czech Republic, Croatia, Switzerland, Sweden, Estonia.

In 2013, the EN 13537 standard is replaced by the new DIN EN ISO 23537 standard, which is a continuation and further development of the EN 13537 standard. Thus, the standard concerning the characteristics of sleeping bags now applies not only to Europe, but also to almost the whole world - in In 2017, 162 countries were members of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as their national standards organizations.

The main indicators that the standard normalizes are:

  • temperature characteristics;
  • weight - the weight should be indicated without the packing bag, the value is rounded to the nearest 50 g;
  • Internal dimensions - internal length with an accuracy of ± 3 cm, maximum internal width with an accuracy of ± 2 cm, internal width at the level of the feet with an accuracy of ± 2 cm.

The new standard does not cover children's and military sleeping bags, as well as sleeping bags designed for use at extreme temperatures (the temperature of the "comfort zone" is below –20 ° C).

The standard provides for the presence of 4 temperature indicators:

  • Tmax;
  • Tcomfort;
  • Tlimit;
  • Textreme.

Of which the last 3 must be indicated on the sleeping bag product label; the first indicator ( Tmax) may be absent. In cases where only one temperature indicator is indicated (for example, in catalogs), this indicator should be Tlimit... On the sleeping bag product label, in addition to the temperature chart, there must be a standard designation confirming that the sleeping bag has passed the temperature test, or the "CE" logo, confirming that the sleeping bag has passed the complete test according to DIN EN ISO 23537 (formerly EN 13537) - that is, temperature test plus compliance of the sleeping bag materials with specific textile standards. The CE logo may be missing due to the recommendatory nature of DIN EN ISO 23537 (formerly EN 13537). Below the temperature diagram there should be a text warning about the "nature" of the temperature zones (comfort zone, transition zone, risk zone). Each of the 4 temperature indicators corresponds to either an “average” man or an “average” woman.

Let's look at an example
  • + 22 ° C is the maximum temperature at which the "average" man can sleep comfortably all night without excessive sweating.
  • +4 ° C is the minimum temperature at which an “average” woman can sleep comfortably all night.
  • -1 ° C is the minimum temperature at which the "average" man can sleep comfortably all night
  • –18 ° C is the minimum temperature at which an “average” woman can survive in a sleeping bag. Strong cold sensations are to be expected at this temperature; hypothermia is possible, which will be harmful to health.

When choosing a sleeping bag for normal use, you should focus on Tcomfort and Tlimit.

Insulation

The principle of operation of any insulation is based on the isolation of a person from the cold. The insulator is the air enclosed in the insulation, the more of it, the better the insulating properties.

There are two main classes of insulation:

  • synthetic;
  • natural.

All variations synthetic fillers are a system of hollow fibers, the secret of the difference in their properties lies in the different shape of the cavity (circle, triangle), the number of cavities and the way of packing the fibers. Main advantage synthetic insulation materials excellent ratio price - efficiency. Also, unlike natural ones, they retain their characteristics to some extent even when wet. The drying time for sleeping bags with such insulation is much shorter than for sleeping bags with natural insulation.

Types of synthetic insulation:

  • Sintepon- one of the first synthetic fillers.
  • HollowFiber.
  • Thermofibre.
  • Thinsulate- manufactured by 3M. It is a non-woven insulation consisting of super thin fibers, similar in appearance to down, consisting of 75% lavsan and 25% polypropylene. Several types of insulation are produced, differing in different specific gravity.
  • Hollofil, Hollofil II, Hollofil 808, Quallofil- manufactured by DuPont. They are lavsan fiber with cavities inside from one Hollofil to seven Quallofil.
  • Polarguard 3D, Polarguard Δ, Polarguard X200- manufactured by The Lessinger Group, Inc. They are a lavsan fiber with a triangular cavity inside. They differ in efficiency: 3D is the oldest of them, X200 is the newest.

From natural Currently, only down is used for insulation in sleeping bags. Its main advantage is the unsurpassed ratio between thermal insulation, weight and compressibility. Down sleeping bags have the best weight-to-heat ratio, which is why the warmest sleeping bags are made from down. (For example, the Deuter Moonshine 550 sleeping bag with a comfort temperature of -5 ° C (according to DIN EN ISO 23537 / EN 13537)) weighs 1200 g, while the Deuter Orbit 500 synthetic insulated sleeping bag, which weighs 1100 g, has a temperature comfort +6 ° C.) But the big drawback is the impossibility of drying the product in field conditions. Therefore, they are mainly used in dry and cold conditions. Another disadvantage is the high cost of down sleeping bags.

Insulation laying methods

First, the insulation in the sleeping bag is laid in layers. The number of layers in different sleeping bags is different. Its comfort temperature depends on this, both in terms of the amount of insulation and the presence of cold seams. It is necessary to clarify that the insulation is evenly stitched with a thread to attach the insulation to the base (fabric) and ensure its constant location, at the seam the layer thickness is minimal here and a gap appears through which cold penetrates into the sleeping bag. If the sleeping bag is single-layer, then the seams are not protected in any way, two layers allow you to overlap the joints, with an increase in the number of layers (up to 4), the thermal insulation properties increase.

Secondly, the way the layers are placed. One of them is discussed above. Also, layers of insulation can be superimposed on each other with a certain overlap ratio.

Laying down requires a special approach; special pockets of various shapes are created for it at the base of the sleeping bag.

Materials (edit)

To protect against moisture, the outer layer is made of synthetic fabrics Poly Taffeta, Nylon Taffeta, etc. The inner layer is sometimes made from natural materials (cotton). Natural fabrics are softer, more pleasant to the touch and do not cause allergic reactions, but at the same time they weigh more and dry more slowly.

What distinguishes a simple sleeping bag from a super sleeping bag?

The sleeping bag has not been bypassed by human invention. The number of various improvements is growing from year to year, here are the traditional ones:

  • possibility zipping two sleeping bags, now implemented by almost all manufacturers. To do this, you must have two sleeping bags - left and right (zippers are located on one side or the other), preferably from one company, since zippers may not fit;
  • lightning jamming protection (6);
  • heat insulation valve, covering the zipper from the inside, preventing the cold from penetrating through the zipper (7);
  • Velcro (2);
  • adjustment of the hood tightening, the better the adjustment, the less cold air will enter the heated space (3);
  • fleece inserts in the forearm area for additional insulation (4);
  • heat reflective materials;
  • additional insulation in the area of ​​the legs (8);
  • the shape of the sleeping bag in the leg area, rectangular cut allows you to expand the space and thereby store heat and create additional comfort (8);
  • longitudinal elastic inserts for free increase in the internal volume of the sleeping bag;
  • pocket for a pillow in the headrest where you can put, for example, your jacket (1);
  • various inside pockets for documents (5);
  • liners made of cotton or silk.

Specified parameters

I usually specify the following parameters:

  • the size;
  • height (many manufacturers release 2 versions of the same model with different lengths, usually, depending on the length, the word is added to the model name "Regular"[regular] or "Long"[long])
  • temperature regime;
  • inner and outer fabrics;
  • insulation weight.

Everyone who bought a sleeping bag faced a choice problem. There are many indicators, different prices and it is not entirely clear what to believe, but now you can find out in detail how to choose a sleeping bag, what aspects to pay attention to and why exactly on them.

Navigation through the article:

In almost any trip that involves at least one overnight stay without the usual hotels, shelters and guesthouses, the traveler will need a sleeping bag. This is one of the key pieces of equipment. It will come in handy not only on a camping trip, but also wherever you are not sure about a comfortable overnight stay - in a Nepalese loggia, a Carpathian hut, in a Moroccan mountain shelter, and even just when you are stuck at a transfer at the airport or at the railway station.

Knowing how to choose the right sleeping bag for your environment is very important. Why? It would seem, what is so difficult about a sleeping bag? But now there is a huge number of sleeping bags, very different in operating temperature of use, materials used, weight, design, price. If you go to any good travel store, you will see dozens of different options to choose from. Eyes run up. Which one to buy? Of course, you will ask a consultant for help. But what to ask? Will he have the opportunity to spend at least half an hour with you? It is better to come to the store as prepared as possible.

How to choose a sleeping bag

Let's first figure out what a modern sleeping bag is, what designs exist, what selection criteria are the most important.

Here are the main points, which are convenient to navigate, and which you will come across in the catalogs of sellers and manufacturers. Let's try to figure out what they mean.

Seasonality of using a sleeping bag

Typically, this refers to the seasons of the Central European climate suitable for the use of this model. Usually, they mean summer, winter and off-season. If the description says about a "three-season" option, it means "spring, summer, autumn." In my opinion, this is the most uninformative division for a beginner. Seasons are a conditional thing, everything is very blurry, there is a minimum of specifics. Even in the middle latitudes, there are places with a "non-standard" climate, large temperature fluctuations. And then there are the mountains! If you go to the mountains, then forget about the flat seasons. In summer, in the area of ​​a classic overnight stay at 4100, it can easily be -10-15 degrees.

So seasonality is a very approximate characteristic.

Temperature Range. Test EN 13537

This is the most objective characteristic. Why? The fact is that most of the major manufacturers in the Old and New Worlds not so long ago (since 2005) began to test products according to the single standard EN 13537. What does this mean for the consumer? You can be sure that the comparison of the operating temperatures indicated on the product will be fairly objective. Previously, there were many tests, and it hardly made sense to compare all these numbers on sleeping bags from different manufacturers. Binding to this test also obliges the manufacturer to indicate some mandatory parameters on their products. These are the weight without packing bag, internal dimensions and packing dimensions.

In terms of temperature, there should be 3 main numbers on the sleeping bag .

  • Comfort temperature. This is the temperature at which a healthy 25-year-old woman dressed in long thermal underwear and socks in a fully buttoned sleeping bag and wearing a hood sleeps for 8 hours in a relaxed position without discomfort.
  • Comfort limit. This is the temperature at which a 25-year-old healthy man, dressed in long thermal underwear and socks in a fully buttoned sleeping bag and wearing a hood, sleeps in an energy-saving position (embryo) for 8 hours without experiencing any particular discomfort. This is the main temperature characteristic of a sleeping bag.
  • Extreme use temperature. It is better for beginners not to look at it at all. Relatively speaking, this is the temperature at which a still healthy 25-year-old woman in a sleeping bag will not receive lethal hypothermia within 6 hours. At the same time, this can be called a dream only conditionally, since moderate hypothermia (hypothermia) and multiple awakenings due to the feeling of cold are allowed.
  • Upper comfort temperature. It is optional within the test and not indicated by all manufacturers. This is the highest temperature at which normal sleep is possible in an unbuttoned sleeping bag.



Sleeping Bag Form Factor

This is a basic design feature that is usually easy to recognize upon visual inspection.

Multi-seat (group) sleeping bags. Not serially produced, sewn to order and are limitedly used by cavers and for difficult winter (ski) trips. They allow you to significantly save the weight of group equipment, but are impractical in conditions of normal, unsportsmanlike use.

Insulation material and the sleeping bag itself

How your sleeping bag will keep you warm, how much it will weigh and how much space it will take up when folded in a backpack, as well as how long it can last, depends on the materials. First of all, from the insulation material. There are two main types - down and synthetic insulation.

Synthetic sleeping bags

There are many materials and many manufacturers here. Most of them position their product as "the best synthetic analogue of down", while it is hardly possible to say that one material is significantly better than another. Of course, this refers to the leading players in the market. Let's take a quick look at what depends on insulation quality. Fiber thickness a good material should be different - thin fibers provide good thermal insulation, thick ones - volume restoration, crease resistance. Hollow channels in fibers... A large number of them (usually from 1 to 7) provides weight loss and improves protective properties. Fiber elasticity also helps to maintain the volumetric shape of the product. Siliconization fibers allows you to repel moisture. I will list some brands of insulation that are worthy of your trust. Cheaper - HolloFiber, ThermoFill, QualoFil, Warm-Loft. Expensive ones are Primaloft, Thinsulate (made from very thin fibers and because of this it quickly crumples), Polarguard, Thermolight Extreme.

The main advantages of sleeping bags on synthetic insulation are ease of use at high humidity (they dry well, warm in a wet state), ease of repair and maintenance (easy to wash, when it breaks, the insulation remains inside), a relatively low price.

Down sleeping bags

Despite all the efforts of the modern chemical and textile industry, there are still probably no serial samples of synthetic insulation that can compare with good down in two main characteristics - thermal conductivity and compressibility in the folded position (affects the size of the compression bag in which it transported). The down of waterfowl still has an unsurpassed set of consumer characteristics, but also its disadvantages. The best in terms of its characteristics in mass production is considered to be high-quality goose down. Duck - somewhere in second place. What is the main characteristic when choosing a down sleeping bag? In addition to the weight and temperature range of use, the quality will be indicated by such a characteristic as Fill Power, or abbreviated FP... It is measured in units and usually looks like FP 650, FP 800+ and so on on the product. This figure gives an idea of ​​how many cubic inches one ounce of fluff can take. Accordingly, the higher this indicator, the better the fluff. The 650th down is already considered to be of quite high quality and is used, as a rule, in city clothes and budgetary equipment series. Down with FP 800 and more units (currently up to 900-950) is used in products of the premium segment and cost accordingly. It hardly makes sense to purchase a sleeping bag made of uncertified down. It is better then to pay attention to synthetic insulation.

Down also has unrivaled compression characteristics. In the folded position, a down bag takes up almost half the space than a bag with similar characteristics, but with a different type of insulation. And what kind of fluff limitations? There are at least two of them. Subjective: price. A good downy sleeping bag costs hundreds of dollars. Not everyone can afford it. If the equipment is bought for one trip or for occasional rare use, such a waste of money is definitely not suitable for everyone. Objective: afraid of moisture. When the fluff gets wet, it turns from a stunning insulation into sticky lumps of organic matter that are practically not useable. Drying a sleeping bag made of down (which is completely wet) in field conditions is extremely difficult, if not impossible. Fortunately, manufacturers do not stand still and in recent years down products with waterproof treatment have been available for purchase. This significantly reduces the water sensitivity of the material. Sleeping bags made of membrane and water-repellent treatment (DWR) are also available. You can also protect the down with a bivy bag. Another disadvantage of down sleeping bags can be considered the complexity of care, first of all, cleaning. It is necessary to use special products, special washing modes, or use specialized dry cleaners.

The materials of the sleeping bag itself

Most of the trekking structures these days are made from 100% synthetic materials. The upper is usually made of thin synthetics, in more expensive models the fabric has a Rip Stop weave, which restrains the spread of the holes formed. Especially important for down sleeping bags. One of the best sleeping bag materials available today is Pertex Quantum.

Many hikers who started hiking for a long time are still looking for sleeping bags with natural cotton lining. It is worth knowing that modern materials used for the inner part of the bag, for example Taffeta, have hypoallergenic properties, are pleasant to the body, and do not electrify. Moreover, they are hygroscopic, do not stretch, strong and lightweight. When choosing a sleeping bag, you should also pay attention to high-quality fittings... YKK zippers will not only be more reliable than most others, but also indicate the "seriousness" of the manufacturer.

What kind of sleeping bag material to take

If you are traveling in very humid conditions, take a closer look at sleeping bags made of good synthetic materials, if in very cold ones - for downy ones (at the same weight, it is much warmer, and moisture at sub-zero temperatures is not so terrible, however, remember about condensation). In other cases, the choice is not so obvious. If you vote with your money - the advantage is for synthetics, if you are chasing low weight and minimal equipment - choose fluff.

Exotic insulation. In the last century, some sleeping bags were made with insulation, which can now be classified as exotic. Fur bags. They are still used sometimes in the north. If you don't need to carry around often, this might be a good option. Most of the other heaters - the notorious "sintepon", batting, felt and so on are now hardly worth considering as an alternative to the above.

What else to look for when choosing a sleeping bag

Length and internal volume. Most manufacturers do not indulge us with a large number of sizes and therefore it is unlikely that it will be possible to choose a “fit” sleeping bag as clothes. However, if you are a basketball-sized man, then the usual size is unlikely to suit you. Conversely, if you are a small fragile girl, then buying a regular-sized bag will carry a lot of excess material, and the excess internal volume will slightly lower the comfort temperature. As a rule, manufacturers produce bags of a standard size, it is usually called Regular and an elongated version is Long. At the same time, there are no common standards, and different companies use different patterns for sewing their sleeping bags. So be careful when choosing. If your sizes are far from general standards, then you will have to look for manufacturers that produce an extended size range, for example, short (female) models exist from the well-known company Marmot, models for very overweight people are available from Alexika. The Sivera company produces bags in many sizes, almost like clothes. Sleeping bags for children are also produced by many well-known manufacturers. Tall and large tourists should better take a closer look at the products of the American market. Output: if desired, almost every tourist will be able to pick up a bag of the right size in order not to carry too much and not sleep in a cramped or short sleeping bag.

Non-slip coating. When you sleep on an uneven surface, and even on a slippery rug, serious discomfort is possible due to the constant rolling and sliding. Convenient when the bottom of your sleeping bag is covered with non-slip elements. Unfortunately, so far only a few models, for example, from Montane, can boast of such design features.

Right / left zipper. Which one to choose is a matter of taste. You will quickly get used to any option. Consider only that two bags can be zipped together if they have different zippers - one has the right, the other has the left. Not all sleeping bags zip together. Clarify this point. If you choose a second bag, take the one you already have with you. Perhaps you will find a "pair" for him. There are also bags with a central zipper. They don't zip. There are manufacturers in which all sleeping bags within the line are zipped together, regardless of which side the zipper is on. A striking example is the Spanish manufacturer Griffon.


If you are not a military man or a hunter, or you do not need to hide in the forests from secret agents, choose brighter equipment - it is more difficult to lose it, and in case of loss (a bag may be blown away during drying, for example) to find it. Also, with the help of bright things, you will make it easier for rescuers to find themselves in emergency situations.


Operation and care. Life hacks for sleeping bag owners

Packaging and storage. When you, having bought your sleeping bag, take it out of the packing bag for the first time, you see how neatly it was folded there. Many would-be tourists doom themselves to constant torment later, trying to fold it just as beautifully every time on a hike. Girls are especially vulnerable)). This should never be done. Just "stuff" the sleeping bag into the packing bag "at random" - it is not only convenient, but also useful for him. What to do if the compression bag is lost? No problem, just pack your sleeping bag in a loosely packed backpack, taking up all the free space between other things. If you "fill your hand", then your sleeping bag will not take much more space in this form than in a compression case. Keep your sleeping bag uncompressed at home, this is very important! Sometimes manufacturers complete their products with a special large storage bag, along with a compression bag.

Washing and care. When buying, be sure to clarify how to properly wash your sleeping bag and whether it requires additional care. The bag can be made from a membrane fabric that requires special care, or it can be treated with a water-repellent DWR compound that will need to be reconditioned over time. You need to be especially careful with sleeping bags made of down.

Getting wet. Protect your sleeping bag from moisture during use! Try to pack it in your backpack so that even if everything else gets wet there, the bag will remain dry. Even with synthetic insulation, moisture causes a sharp decrease in thermal insulation properties. Choose a dry place to spend the night, if you sleep in a tent near the wall, you should beware of condensation. You can protect the fabric of the bag from contact with the wet tent wall by placing a membrane jacket or backpack.

IPhone and sleeping bag. Most sleeping bags have an internal zippered pocket for valuables. Remember this, especially if you are spending the night in places where valuable things can disappear and hide them inside. Delicate electronic devices at low temperatures should spend the night with you. Also, in difficult conditions, use your sleeping bag to dry wet socks, gloves, and boot liners at night. Sometimes gas cylinders sleep in the bag. Inconvenient, but necessary.

Pillow... In some models, the hood is equipped with a special pocket for a pillow. If there is no special inflatable pillow, you can put soft things that are not used at night.

Additional ways to keep warm in a sleeping bag - rug

If you find yourself in an environment that is too cold for your sleeping bag, remember - there are additional ways to keep warm. Make the most of your clothes, but remember that it is not the clothes that warm you, but the air gap in them. Sometimes a tourist warms himself up in a sleeping bag, having taken off some of his clothes, which squeezed him and prevented the formation of warm air layers. Don't overdo your dressing! Putting a jar of warm water heated on a stove or campfire in your sleeping bag will help with the initial warming and you will fall asleep in the warmth. Use chemical body warmers in the right places. Do not neglect the hood, protect your head in every possible way - this is an extensive channel of heat loss. The feet are almost always the first to freeze. To avoid this, wrap them up. If you have an extra jacket or fleece, zip it up and wrap your legs in the resulting cocoon, and then go to your sleeping bag. For extra warmth and moisture isolation, tuck a sleeping bag into your backpack after taking out your belongings. Remember! Even the warmest sleeping bag without a mat won't keep you warm! You can use the potential of your bag effectively only in combination with a properly selected rug. If you have problems with this, use all available properties to isolate yourself from the ground - put under you clothes folded several times, a backpack, a rope, a space blanket. Use dry grass, spruce branches. A real tourist must be resourceful and resourceful.

I hope that the information received will help you choose your future reliable assistant in your travels - a sleeping bag. Travel and enjoy life!

Personal experience

Club "Couloir" guide Nikolay Sakovich

During my tourist life I had to spend the night in a variety of sleeping bags, under different conditions and temperatures.
My first trip was in the Crimea in winter. I don't remember where I got the sleeping bag, but I remember the model - Terra Incognita Pharaon 400. In those days, Terra's "Pharaohs" were the hit of the season! Cheap and cheerful. At a temperature outside of -10 ..- 15, sleeping in the "four hundred" was just fine, especially if there was a living "battery" nearby in the form of your friends-hikers :)
In the photo there is a "fur seal rookery" in one of the Crimean caves, not far from the Dzhur-Dzhur waterfall. Mountain hike across the Crimea, winter 2009.


The green ones are the very "Pharaohs".
Of the pluses, it's cheap. Of the minuses - to lighten the weight, we often took two sleeping bags for three, making a stitching out of them. As a result, lightning quickly deteriorated. Terra Incognita still has this model, as well as the more modern Siesta line.

The next sleeping bag I had was a Czech Pinguin Comfort (t ° limit -7 °, t ° extreme -24 °):


An excellent synthetic sleeping bag with an optimal price / quality ratio. Despite the temperature regime of the sleeping bag, I managed to walk with it. When it was cold, I put on all my clothes and climbed into my backpack up to my waist.
Of course, this is the wrong approach, but in which case it is one of the options for survival. The beauty he saw and a great desire to go to the mountains covered all the inconveniences then.

Dawn at the top of Petros, (2020m, Carpathians, Montenegrin ridge, December 2009):


Overnight at the top of Hoverla, May 2010 There is already a sleeping bag Pinguin Comfort is optimal.


Nothing lasts forever, and after several years of intensive use, the sleeping bag has worn out. Since it justified itself by all 200%, it didn't take long to think about choosing the next one - it was a slightly warmer Pinguin Spirit (t ° limit -12 °):

I still use this sleeping bag, it is great for the autumn-spring Carpathians, and was taken to large mountains - to the Caucasus. In the Carpathians, I actively use it from early October to mid-May. Only positive impressions.
In the Caucasus, it was hot in the green valleys - then it either opened completely, or simply covered it from above like a blanket. Above, in the zone of snow and glaciers, I slept in it just fine!
With this sleeping bag:
Overnight on the slope of Sofia, Western Caucasus, July 2013


Overnight at the top of Grofa, Carpathians, May 2014.

Summer sleeping bag.
In summer, when hiking in Ukraine, I use Deuter Dream Lite 250 ... (Weight - 1.1kg, t ° limit + 5 °). Excellent sleeping bag, versatile and durable. It has been serving for more than five years, of course it's worn out, but at the same time - no problems with the zipper (YKK).
With this sleeping bag:

Carpathians, Svidovets ridge, July 2012, Carpathians, overnight under the summit of Strymba, July 2014.

In the summer he visited both the Southern Urals and Eastern Siberia (Sayany, Krasnoyarsk Territory).

In order to save weight Deuter Dream Lite 250 last July I took on a mountain hike in the Georgian Caucasus (Lake Megrelia + Svaneti). It was very comfortable in the valleys, but it was cool for overnight stays near mountain lakes and especially on the glacier. I had to additionally warm myself, on the glacier - to lay the ropes under the tent, and all clothes and a backpack - under the rug. Therefore, if you are going to hike on the lakes in June-July - it's better to take something like Pinguin Comfort.

Overnight at Lake Toba, Samegrelo, July 2016:


Overnight at Chaalat glacier, Svaneti, July 2016:


Winter sleeping bag

I don't have it :) Why? After all, I have a penguin “demi-season” and a summer douter. And in combination, they give excellent temperature performance. At minus thirty - at least something! Of course, this "nesting doll" is, in the end, quite heavy (3kg) and less convenient to use, but from which side to look. After all, the outer, summer sleeping bag acts as a condensate, the dew point is in it, respectively, all the moisture - also - either in it or on its surface. The inner warmer sleeping bag always stays dry. And the thin outer dries quickly. It is better, of course, to use a similar condensate tank for several people (tent), but this requires either self-sewing or stitching from two summer sleeping bags-blankets (for three people).

Summing up: in order to enjoy the hiking landscapes every day, to the maximum, one must not forget about a good rest after a busy day of walking. And the key to a good, sweet sleep is a good dinner, the right place to spend the night and carefully selected equipment. After all, a dry, warm sleeping bag in the evening is a separate pleasure;)
I wish everyone comfortable overnight stays and gorgeous views from the tent! :)

Thermal balance when choosing a sleeping bag
The main task of a sleeping bag is to keep warm, and the main source of heat is a person. How much heat do I generate? It depends primarily on metabolism or metabolism. Here are some things to consider when choosing a sleeping bag:

1) Completion: obese people have a reduced metabolism. More precisely, they absorb more than they produce. In people of normal constitution, the metabolism is balanced, they absorb as much as they produce. In hiking conditions, it often happens that a person gets fewer calories than usual. This is manifested most of all in circumpolar, polar and high-altitude expeditions. In such conditions, the body uses its own resources to restore metabolic processes. Accordingly, more fat people will restore heat and energy balance faster than thinner people.

3) Age: metabolism changes with age. Older people generate less heat than younger people. Young people are distinguished by increased heat exchange, so for them the comfort temperature may well be 5 ° C lower than that of a person of mature age. At the same time, children, especially infants, do not possess this property to a sufficient extent. Their metabolic processes are unbalanced and gradually slow down with age, so it is very difficult to determine the average temperature regime for them.

Nearly all research on heat transfer is carried out on people whose lifestyles increase their resistance to cold: climbers, travelers, the military. As a rule, these are men between the ages of 18 and 40, who spend most of their lives in the open air. They are most likely to be unconditionally "suitable" for the temperatures of the thermal regimes indicated on the sleeping bag, which are discussed below.

You need to know to choose a sleeping bag
Different sleeping bags are designed for different temperature conditions. To distinguish them, sleeping bags are usually marked with "comfort temperature" and "extreme temperature". This is the temperature that will be "outside" - i.e. in a tent or outdoors.

Comfort temperature is the temperature range at which a person can sleep without feeling cold all night long. This range has an upper and lower limit. The upper limit of the comfort temperature is the highest temperature at which it is possible to sleep in a sleeping bag without excessive perspiration (usually calculated when testing with an open sleeping bag and with the hood open). The lower limit of the comfort temperature is the lowest temperature that provides a person with 8 hours of continuous sleep.

Extreme temperature is the lowest temperature at which a sleeping bag protects a person from hypothermia (hypothermia). Typically, this temperature should provide 6 hours of uncomfortable sleep, but without dropping the body temperature to dangerous levels. It is these data that are currently regulated by state and international standards for sleeping bags, including the European EN13537.

The temperature standard EN13537 was developed by the European group of outdoor manufacturers and adopted in 2002. On January 1, 2005, its new edition came into force, which provides for testing sleeping bags in laboratory conditions. All sleeping bags sold after January 1, 2005 must comply with the EN13537 standard. After receiving the test results that meet the requirements, the manufacturer has the right to place the CE mark on his products.

The standard is applied in European countries, and among the Russian companies that produce sleeping bags, so far only BASK can afford certification according to the European standard EN13537.

The main difference between the standard and the previous ones is the presence of a temperature scale on the product description provided by the testing laboratory. It looks like this.

Let's look at an example.

An average woman can sleep comfortably in this sleeping bag at an air temperature of + 22 ° C to + 4 ° C, and an average man - at a temperature of + 22 ° C to -1 ° C. Accordingly, the maximum comfort limit will be indicated in the product catalog, in this case -1OC. The sleeping bag must be kept warm enough to prevent hypothermia (hypothermia) down to -18 ° C. But at temperatures from -1OC to -18OC, there is already a health risk.

To choose a sleeping bag you need to understand the temperature scale
T max is the maximum ambient temperature at which a person in a sleeping bag feels comfortable
T of comfort - the lower limit of comfort for the average woman
T limit - the lower limit of comfort for the average man
T extreme - a risk zone for hypothermia

How to choose a sleeping bag filler
Down sleeping bags are the warmest and most expensive ones. Even the "coolest" synthetics have not yet caught up with their properties and are unlikely to catch up in the coming years - it is light, shrinks well and then completely restores its volume, it is also the best heat insulator. The down must be from a waterfowl, as it has a natural lubricant that largely prevents moisture absorption - otherwise it will start to rot. Eiderdown is an ideal sleeping bag filler, but it will cost you hundreds of dollars. The more common type of sleeping bag down is goose down. It is important to take into account the climate in which the birds were raised, whose down is in your sleeping bag. For example, fluff collected in Russia (a country with a cold climate) is better than Chinese or from some western country.

A filler such as down has two characteristics that are important for subsequent operation. The first is the down / feather ratio. Feather prevents premature caking of down, but reduces heat saving properties. In the warmest down sleeping bags, feathers are not more than 10-20%. A characteristic such as FP (fill power) shows how elastic the fluff is and is able to return to its original volume after being squeezed. FP is measured in units corresponding to the volume in cubic inches to which a previously compressed 1 ounce of fluff is reconstituted. Quality down has a FP of over 600 units. All reputable sleeping bags use f.p. down. not lower than 550. The best of the existing downs has f.p. equal to 800.

A downy sleeping bag is very afraid of moisture; when it gets wet, it completely loses its volume, and therefore all its thermal insulation. And, unfortunately, it dries for a very long time even under normal conditions, so it needs additional protection.

Sintepons and holofiber are the cheapest, designed for temperatures up to -5 degrees (limit -10 degrees), weigh from 1100 to 2300 g and are most common in our country. In principle, such sleeping bags are suitable for fishing in Karelia or Akhtuba in summer, for roaring hunting or on currents, provided that they live in tents (not to mention a winter hut or a village hut). They are compact enough, lightweight, and, most importantly, dry quickly even in frost, if you soak it. The latter property makes them indispensable in water trips.

The main disadvantage is a rather fast caking, accompanied by a progressive loss of heat-saving properties.

Sintepon
2sl - up to +5 degrees
3sl - up to -10 degrees
4sl - up to -20 degrees

A group of high-quality fillers of the middle price range should be highlighted. With a sleeping bag weighing about 2 kg, it can keep warm at temperatures down to -25 ° C. Sometimes, in terms of basic properties, such fillers are not inferior to the most expensive ones, but most often they have a larger volume in a packed state and a shorter service life. Major manufacturers: Holofill, QualoFill, Thermoloft, Warmloft, Powerfill Soft and others.

The most expensive and high-quality fillers allow, with a total weight of a sleeping bag of 2 kg, to feel comfortable in it at temperatures down to -35 ° C.

Such fillers are created from silicone fibers, which constantly contain air in the longitudinal cavity, which provides heat-saving properties. Fillers of different companies differ in density and thickness of fibers, in the number of internal holes in each fiber. Due to the elasticity of the material, such a filler does not lose its properties after 5-6 seasons of active use. Sleeping bags with silicone fibers are the closest to fluff - light (from 900 g), warm, easy to wash, dry very quickly and hardly absorb moisture. The most famous and high-quality brands of fillers are Hollofil, Thermolite, Aerofiber from Dupont and Thinsulate from 3M.

Materials for the outer and inner surfaces of the sleeping bag
Various modifications of nylon are most often used as the outer material in the production of sleeping bags.

The exception is down sleeping bags, for which special fabrics were created that optimally "hold" down, such as Pertex, Ultrex and others. These fabrics are windproof, waterproof and extremely breathable. A special membrane is sometimes applied to the outer fabric of down and, less often, synthetic sleeping bags, which protects it from moisture penetration inside and at the same time allows the fabric to "breathe", that is, remove moisture from the body to the outside. This type of fabric is called Dry-Loft. Some manufacturers use cotton for the interior of the sleeping bag.

It is recommended to use sleeping bags with a face or a seamy side made of waterproof fabric. Down and thinsulate sleeping bags are made: cheap - from nylon with PU (polyurethane) impregnation. This is a solid flaw, not a sleeping bag fabric. Poorly passes moisture (sweats) in the frost becomes a stake, the impregnation collapses after 2 years and the product begins to "etch" the fluff on the surface. More expensive - from fabrics "Pertex", "Ultrex", Neilon tafet-ta SIRO (the latter is an analogue of our calender, but of higher quality)

How to choose a sleeping bag taking into account body size and personal characteristics
The standard sleeping bag length is 220-235 cm including the hood. If you are 185 and taller, consider purchasing an XL size sleeping bag. And if at the same time you are also extremely wide in the shoulders or not in the shoulders, you should estimate the sleeping bag on your figure, or better, if the seller allows you to do this, climb into the sleeping bag right in the store - try it on. Climb inside your chosen sleeping bag, fully zip and secure the zipper, tighten the hood, leaving the smallest opening possible. This is the only way to check whether the sleeping bag fits in length. The fabric should not be stretched neither on the hood nor in the legs, so that "cold spots" do not appear. At the same time, there should be enough space in the area of ​​\ u200b \ u200bthe hands. The best option if, with slightly bent legs, the side walls do not stretch too much. To further determine the width and length, think about whether you will sleep in the same underwear or put on additional clothes, plan to turn with the sleeping bag or inside it in a dream.

Children - 71 x 145 cm. The total area is reduced to keep warm faster with minimal heat loss. Available in bright, fun colors.
Teenagers - 73 x 167 cm. Narrower or shorter sleeping bags for teenagers or small adults.
Standard - 84 x 190 cm. Standard sleeping bags for adults of average height.

Double (Sparky) - Sleeping beds, with the possibility of pairing. A simple connection procedure (with standard zippers) results in a two-, three-seater sleeping bag. It is always much warmer in such a sleeping bag. Bigger or longer than standard for tall, or wider for fat or those who like to sleep freely. From 84 x 198 cm to 96 x 205 cm

How to choose a sleeping bag and check the quality
How to check the quality of the product? The zipper should be large, open and close without jamming, but with some difficulty. The filler must be evenly distributed without lumps. It is advisable that the sleeping bag be additionally quilted in several places so that the filler does not get lost. If you plan to zip up several sleeping bags, remember, in addition to the fact that the zipper should be detachable, in such models, a sleeping bag with a left zipper is often attached to a sleeping bag with a right zipper.

A good branded sleeping bag features:
- the absence of "cold", those quilted through, seams;
- in expensive models, a strap covering the zipper;
- in expensive models, cuffs that close the entrance to the sleeping bag;
- a special fastener near the hood (hook or button), preventing spontaneous opening of the zipper in a dream;
- a special protective tape sewn to the zipper from the inside prevents biting of the fabric, damage to the zipper and the protective coating on the fabric;
- in expensive models and in cocoons, there is a zipper in the bottom of the sleeping bag so that it could be turned inside out (with the inner side) and dried faster (one layer of insulation dries faster than two!);
- dark outer fabric - it heats up faster, which is an advantage when drying a sleeping bag in field conditions;
- absence of crooked lines and visible traces of embedding, technological holes.

Add to blog:

Based on the article "How to choose a sleeping bag"
Original URL http://extreme.nnov.ru