WHAT SLEEPING BAG FOR WINTER?

True outdoor enthusiasts engage in their hobby regardless of the season. For many of them, winter is the perfect time for mountain hikes, as they can enjoy beautiful views in silence and away from crowds. However, the quickly setting dusk often requires several days to cover longer distances. Therefore, overnight stays in the field become necessary, along with meticulous preparations, including the purchase of a good winter sleeping bag. Are you wondering which one will be suitable and if you really need the warmest sleeping bag in the store? Be sure to read our article!

WINTER SLEEPING BAG - SYNTHETIC OR DOWN?

The first question that arises when choosing a winter sleeping bag concerns the insulation. Which insulation will perform better in low temperatures - natural down or synthetic? It turns out that despite tremendous technological advances, no material has been created yet that matches the thermal insulation properties of what nature has provided. A synthetic insulation with similar parameters will be two to three times heavier and significantly larger than a down winter sleeping bag. And yet, anyone who has hiked in the mountains with a backpack knows that the size and weight of equipment are crucial! Of course, not all down is the same, so it's worth paying attention to a fundamental parameter, which is loft. For high-quality products, it should be at least 700 fill power (cuin).

Essentially, down sleeping bags have only one drawback. When they get wet, they temporarily lose their insulating properties, but there are proven ways to protect them from this. Besides, we focus on sleeping bags for extreme cold, and in such conditions, high humidity is not a concern. Some people consider the higher price compared to synthetics as another downside, but in life, quality comes at a price. However, it's worth mentioning that a good down sleeping bag is an investment for many years - we're talking about 10 or even 20 seasons!

WINTER SLEEPING BAG TEMPERATURE RANGES

As you can easily guess, the sleeping bag should be chosen based on the expected temperature at the camping location. To facilitate the decision, manufacturers typically provide three values:

• Lower limit temperature (T-limit) indicates the lowest external temperature at which a standard-built man can sleep comfortably.
• Comfort temperature (T-comfort) provides the corresponding information for standard-built women.
• Extreme temperature (T-extreme) is the lowest temperature at which a standard-built man sleeping in a curled position will wake up feeling cold after 6 hours, and a woman will start shivering.

Before making a purchase, it's important to check whether the provided values are the result of laboratory tests conducted in accordance with the EN 13537/ISO 23537 standard. Only this ensures objectivity! When choosing a sleeping bag for extreme cold, you can't rely on the manufacturer's subjective estimations.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CHOOSING A WINTER SLEEPING BAG

In addition to the forecasted temperatures, there are a few additional factors to consider when choosing a winter sleeping bag. The temperature in the mountains drops by almost 1°C every 100 meters of elevation, and it is also influenced by wind and air humidity. Cold is much more bothersome for people who are tired and hungry, which is not uncommon during a long trek. Individual predispositions are also important – some people are more sensitive to cold, while others are always warm. It's worth carefully considering the purchase of a sleeping bag for extreme cold. Neglecting this aspect can result in a sleepless night, which will effectively spoil the pleasure of trekking and, in extreme situations, pose a threat to life! It's also important to remember that a night in a sleeping bag that is too warm will be just as uncomfortable as one in a sleeping bag that is too cold. In this case, buying with a "safety margin" may mean that we won't sleep well at night.

Another important aspect is the shape of the sleeping bag. In winter, a mummy-shaped bag will perform better than a rectangular "envelope." It is more fitted to the body shape, so it warms up faster and minimizes heat loss. A winter sleeping bag should also have a drawstring in the hood and a thermal collar to prevent cold air from entering. It should also be made of tear-resistant material – after all, we won't be spreading it on a shelter bed!

RECOMMENDED MODELS OF WINTER SLEEPING BAGS

You don't have to look far for high-quality winter sleeping bags, as products appreciated worldwide are made in Poland. The Bielsko-based brand Pajak has created the warmest sleeping bag in the world – Radical H16, with a T-limit of -43°C! We mention this as an interesting fact because, as you can easily imagine, it is not equipment that the average winter trekking enthusiast in Poland would need.

In addition to products for professional mountaineers and climbers, Pajak offers winter sleeping bags tailored to the temperatures prevailing in our mountains during winter. It's worth taking a closer look at the Core 950 model, which weighs less than 1.5 kg with a T-comfort of -10°C and T-limit of -18°C, as well as the Radical 10Z (1.1 kg, T-comfort -6°C and T-limit -13°C). On the other hand, the Core 550 is a winter down sleeping bag for people embarking on a trek with minimal frost. All the mentioned sleeping bags are available on the pajaksport.pl website.

Photo source: pajaksport.pl