WHICH SLEEPING BAG WILL WORK BEST IN A TENT?

A sleeping bag is one of the most important pieces of camping equipment. It largely determines whether you will get a good night's sleep and, consequently, whether you will have the energy for another day of hiking. But which one is the best choice? What should you consider? We know which sleeping bag will work best for camping in a tent.

As an old proverb says, "You will sleep as you make your bed." This saying applies literally during camping in a tent because your good sleep depends primarily on the sleeping bag. A well-rested night leads to a more successful hike the next day. To consider sleep valuable, you shouldn't wake up from cold every hour. Therefore, you need a sleeping bag that will provide you with thermal comfort for at least 6-8 hours. Keep in mind that in the mountains or by the lake, the temperature drops significantly after sunset, especially on clear nights.

THERMAL COMFORT IN A SLEEPING BAG

When it comes to choosing a sleeping bag for camping in a tent, the conditions in which you plan to camp are crucial. The weather and temperature specific to the season and terrain require using equipment with specific heating capabilities.

For convenience, sleeping bags are divided into three categories: summer, three-season, and winter. As you can easily guess, a summer sleeping bag is the thinnest and lightest option, suitable for sleeping only in truly warm nights or well-heated shelters. You can take such a sleeping bag to a summer camp, but even in August, the temperature can drop below 10 degrees Celsius at night. The three-season sleeping bags include, for example, CORE 400 and CORE 550, which work great for spring hammocking as well as autumn kayaking trips. Experienced hikers also use them during milder winters. Sleeping bags suitable for sleeping under the stars in truly winter conditions are expedition models. Even the warmest models from the RADICAL line can be too hot for some people and in the Himalayas.

HOW TO DETERMINE THE PURPOSE OF A SLEEPING BAG?

To determine whether you won't freeze during your planned camping trip, the information provided by the manufacturer about the temperature range of the sleeping bag can be helpful. Each model is characterized by specific thermal parameters, regulated within the European standard EN13537 and international standard ISO23537. These ranges are tested in rigorous laboratory tests. The standard is based on the average values of healthy, well-nourished women (25 years old, 160 cm, 60 kg) and men (25 years old, 173 cm, 70 kg). Based on this, three thresholds are distinguished:

• T-comfort, which is the temperature at which a woman with a standard body build can sleep comfortably throughout the night in a straight position, lying on her back;
• T-limit, which is the lower limit of thermal comfort; at this temperature, a man lying on his back should be able to sleep for 8 hours;
• T-extreme, which specifies the temperature below which the overnight stay would be dangerous due to the risk of hypothermia. After 6 hours of sleep in such conditions, a man will wake up feeling cold, while a woman may experience shivering.

A quick note: these standards are not mandatory, and unfortunately, some manufacturers do not adhere to them.

THE SHAPE OF THE SLEEPING BAG AFFECTS THERMAL PERFORMANCE

During a night in a tent, even in summer, it's important to take care of your head. Although it's difficult to say exactly how much heat escapes through the head, it's certain that along with the feet and hands, it is one of the key thermal points of the body. That's why you should choose a mummy-shaped sleeping bag with a hood and a tapered shape towards the bottom. Such a design significantly reduces heat loss. Moreover, winter models have additional features to protect against cold, such as a special foot zone and 3D collars around the neck.

Regardless, make sure to have a hat, socks, and thermal underwear. When camping in a tent, a good "pyjama" is just as important as the right sleeping bag!

SLEEPING BAG FOR CARRYING

If you're going camping by car, the weight and size of your sleeping bag probably don't matter. What matters is that it keeps you warm at night and is comfortable. In this case, you can choose a slightly more spacious model with lower compression parameters, which will surprise you with additional conveniences. For example, QUEST 4TWO is one of the first double sleeping bags in Europe, and QUEST SWITCH has a "walking and guitar-playing" option, which means additional arm and leg outlets designed to reduce heat loss in the body area.

However, any camping preceded by a longer backpacking trip requires advanced weight-saving solutions. Depending on where you plan to go, you can choose the versatile CORE line or the technologically advanced RADICAL collection.

In the CORE line, you will find top-quality insulation made of Polish Goose Down. With a loft of 700 cuin and ultralight Toray Airtastic fabric, specially developed for the Pajak brand, CORE sleeping bags compress to a volume of 4 to 10 liters. With a weight not exceeding 1.5 kilograms, they are the perfect product for hiking, cycling, or kayaking. The strongest model in the CORE series, the 950, can be used in temperatures as low as -39 degrees.

The RADICAL line was created with extreme conditions in mind during high-altitude expeditions. These are sleeping bags with a unique design, filled with the highly regarded Polish White Goose Down widely recognized in the outdoor industry worldwide. With a loft of 900 cuin and a covering made of GELANOTS Ultra Light Rip Stop fabric, RADICAL sleeping bags are probably the lightest, most compressible, and warmest sleeping bags in the world. The lightest model weighs 190g, and the most advanced one ensures survival in temperatures as low as -73 degrees. It has even been tested in the Arctic with a tent!

But how is it possible that Pajaksport sleeping bags are both warm and lightweight? It's all thanks to the down insulation.

THE MAGIC OF NATURAL DOWN

Natural down is unrivaled when it comes to thermal properties. In popular products, goose down occupies the leading position, followed closely by duck down. This is because warm air heated by the body gets trapped between the small, spatial fibers of down. In this way, down becomes an insulator against the cold. The more resilient the insulation, the more warm air it can hold, making the sleeping bag warmer. Resilience is measured in cuin, which stands for cubic inches per ounce. The same parameter also matters for the compression and packability of the sleeping bag and, ultimately, its weight.

Although scientists have been trying to develop synthetic insulation that matches the thermal efficiency of natural down, they have not yet succeeded in creating insulation with the same effectiveness at such a low weight. Even the oft-repeated claim by advocates of synthetic materials about the exceptional moisture resistance of goose and duck down takes a back seat in this context. Especially when we realize that there are effective and simple ways to protect a down sleeping bag from moisture and that natural down can be dried much faster and easier than synthetic insulation, even in camping conditions. So if you're heading out into the tent, choose a reliable down sleeping bag from Pajak and enjoy comfort always and everywhere!

Learn more about protecting down sleeping bags from moisture: How to Protect a Down Sleeping Bag from Getting Wet During Outdoor Overnight Stay?

Image source: pajaksport.pl