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One of the questions we get from our guests before any backpacking trip is what type of sleeping bag they should use. That’s a great question, especially considering all the different options out there! Sleeping bags have different shapes, materials, and ratings – and it can be quite overwhelming to figure out what type you need. Here are some guidelines to consider the next time you’re shopping for a sleeping bag!
SHAPE:
Mummy
Tight-fitting and contouring your body shape, these bags offer the most lightweight shape, since they are smaller overall. They achieve warmth by limiting the volume of space around your body that needs to be heated throughout the night. Their light weight and smaller size make them the best option for backpacking, as long as you’re ok with less room to spread out at night.
Semi-rectangular
These are slightly roomier than mummy bags (imagine a crossover between a mummy bag and a rectangular bag), so they’re great for people who don’t mind adding a little weight for a more spacious and comfortable night’s sleep. These bags are great for rafting or basecamp hiking trips where weight and compressibility aren’t as critical.
Rectangular
The comfort-driven shape of sleeping bags, these are great for car camping, where you’re not carrying the bag more than a few yards from the car. Enveloping lots of space around your body with their rectangular shape, these sleeping bags are often thicker and heavier (to keep the same temperature rating as a mummy bag) because of the extra volume and insulation – and your body has more air inside the sleeping bag to keep warm!
FILL:
Down
Known for its light weight and high compressibility, down insulation is great under cold but dry conditions. Look for a bag with high “fill power” – down that has a high loft – for better warmth, but be sure to take extra care to keep your sleeping bag dry. Down loses its insulating capability when it gets wet, so down sleeping bags require a little more maintenance and protection in the field.
Synthetic
Known to be heavier than down, but still insulating when wet, synthetic is very durable and often at a lower price point. It’s great for people with allergies – who may find themselves allergic to a down sleeping bag. It’s also a lower-stress bag in the field, as you don’t have to be quite as committed to keeping it perfectly dry.
RATING:
Summer
Typically for temperatures 30F and higher, these bags should cover summer backpacking throughout the Lower 48. They’re lighter weight (because they have less insulation) and often can pack down smaller.
3-Season
For midrange temps (15F to 30F), these bags are slightly heavier and more insulated. This is a good rating for a summer backpacking trip in the Wrangells of Alaska, just be sure to combine it with a good, high R Value, sleeping pad if you’ll be sleeping on a glacier.
Winter
For winter backpacking or mountaineering trips, these are the warmest bags. Covering temperatures down to 15F and lower. They’re often quite tight-fitting (to limit the amount of interstitial space), and can be much bulkier and heavier than a summer sleeping bag (but well worth it when you’re sleeping on snow!) These can be overkill for a backpacking trips, so it may be best to leave it behind and use a 3-Season bag and good sleeping pad instead.
This article is an edited copy of "Tech Tip - How to Choose a Sleeping Bag"
Written by: St. Elias Alpine Guides of Alaska