WHAT SLEEPING BAG FOR SPRING? COMFORTABLE SLEEP IN THE MOUNTAINS AND BY THE LAKE

After spring in our climate, you can expect just about anything. One day, we are surprised by tropical temperatures, and another day, it's cold with snow or heavy rain. The recent years have been known for extraordinary weather fluctuations, with the weather changing almost daily. Especially in the mountains, spring weather can be capricious. So how do you choose a sleeping bag that can meet the challenges of this time of year and enable safe and comfortable camping in the field?

SPRING SLEEPING BAG: DOWN OR SYNTHETIC?

The eternal question for beginner outdoor enthusiasts: which is better for trekking, a sleeping bag with natural or synthetic insulation? Which one will better retain heat, resist moisture, and not take up too much space in your equipment?

The answer is simple: a down sleeping bag is more suitable for longer trips, as it guarantees thermal comfort, and its lightweight and compressible insulation perfectly meet the needs of mountain hiking enthusiasts. Generally speaking, it's no secret that no synthetic down produced by humans so far can match the performance of the original natural down.

Some argue that a synthetic-filled sleeping bag performs better than one with hygroscopic natural down insulation during heavy rainfall and in areas with high humidity. However, the truth is quite the opposite: once a synthetic sleeping bag gets wet, it will not only be difficult to dry but also less comfortable to sleep in. Meanwhile, a down sleeping bag only needs to be properly protected to avoid getting wet, and drying it simply involves sitting inside it. We have also written about protecting a down sleeping bag from getting wet during overnight stays outdoors in the following article: How to protect a down sleeping bag from getting wet during overnight stays outdoors?

HOW TO CHOOSE A DOWN SLEEPING BAG FOR SPRING?

During spring expeditions with camping under the stars, both in a tent and under a tarp, the key role is played by the level of thermal insulation provided by the sleeping bag. Manufacturers indicate temperature ranges on the label, specifying up to three (sometimes even four) boundary points. What do they mean, and which ones should you consider when choosing a sleeping bag for spring trekking?

COMFORT TEMPERATURE (T-COMFORT)

The comfort temperature is determined in laboratory tests conducted on a mannequin that simulates a female body. It represents the conditions in which a woman with a typical body structure (25 years old, 165 cm tall, normal weight) should not feel cold. It's not discrimination, but pure biology: the female body is more sensitive to cold and requires a temperature about 5 degrees higher than the male body to sleep safely and comfortably through the night. In temperatures indicated as T-comfort, men will feel just right or quite warm, while women won't feel cold. This parameter is the best to consider when choosing a sleeping bag for spring.

LIMIT TEMPERATURE (T-LIMIT)

T-limit is determined for men with a typical body structure (25 years old, 185 cm tall, normal weight). In such temperatures, men should be able to sleep soundly throughout the night. Women can treat this parameter as the lower limit below which it would be dangerous for their health and even life.

EXTREME TEMPERATURE (T-EXTREME)

T-extreme is the lowest temperature at which a man can spend the night without harm to health. This indication is more relevant for travelers and mountaineers. When choosing a sleeping bag for spring trekking, it's not the primary threshold to consider.

Some manufacturers (although it must be admitted they belong to the minority) also provide T-max, which represents the upper comfort limit temperature - the temperature above which an average man would prefer to sleep without a sleeping bag. Frankly, when looking for equipment for unpredictable spring weather, this parameter becomes less important.

SLEEPING BAG FOR LONGER TREKKING WITH A TENT

In spring, nighttime temperatures usually hover around 5 degrees and often drop to 0, especially close to the ground. In mountainous areas and near bodies of water, where the cold can be felt from the water, it can be cold at night until the beginning of summer. Therefore, when heading to such places, it's worth looking for a sleeping bag with a comfort temperature below 0. Pajak sleeping bags are designed to ensure comfort during such nights under the stars. At the same time, thanks to their high-quality down insulation, they are lightweight and take up little space in a backpack.

CORE 250 ‘19

Among the sleeping bags perfect for year-round camping, the CORE and CORE’19 lines are highly recommended. The CORE 400 and CORE 550 sleeping bags are well-suited for spring in the mountains, where nighttime temperatures around 0 degrees are common. Their weight of approximately 500 g is also a significant advantage.

We can bet that if you are planning a camping trip during the long May weekend, you will love the CORE 250 ‘19 - a spring-summer sleeping bag weighing 250 g. It's designed for truly spring conditions: if it's warm, it's perfect. But if unexpected snowfall occurs, you will still survive because its declared temperature range is 9/5/-8.

Pajak sleeping bags are designed for various types of activities and travel, so you can take them on a bike trip or kayaking expedition just as well. Just remember to protect the equipment from moisture because down tends to absorb water.

COMFORTABLE SLEEP IN A MOUNTAIN HUT

Do you prefer staying in a mountain hut or cottage? In that case, you don't need to worry as much about temperatures and search for 900+ fill power down mummy sleeping bags with extreme ratings of -20 degrees. The weight and functionality will be much more important. In a warm base, a lightweight envelope-style sleeping bag without a hood, which you can easily carry to the summit and completely unzip to use as a blanket, will be suitable. However, it's still advisable not to choose the thinnest sleeping bag available – mountain huts are not luxurious hotels, and the microclimate in them differs somewhat from the subtropical zone, so there may be nightly temperature drops or drafts. The QUEST BLANKET with a comfort temperature of 12 degrees sounds reasonable, doesn't it? The best part is that the QUEST BLANKET easily adapts to a double-sized quilt role and can also be compressed into a soft pillow. We love these kinds of versatile solutions!

Another great sleeping bag for warmer nights, suitable for staying in a mountain hut during spring and camping in a tent during summer, is the SWITCH (t-comf 15 degrees). Why will you love it? For its additional features! For example, you don't have to leave it to perform typical camping activities: to free your hands for playing the guitar or preparing dinner, simply slide them out through the side openings. Want to take a few steps? Unzip the bottom zipper. The SWITCH is wide in the shoulders, so it will provide comfort even for restless sleepers.

Pajak Sport is the only Polish manufacturer that tests the temperature ranges of its sleeping bags in strict laboratory and field tests, following the European standard EN 13 537 (and its international equivalent, ISO 23 537). Buy a down sleeping bag from pajaksport.pl and experience the meaning of reliable quality, born out of true love for the outdoors.