The sleeping bag guide - What you need to consider when choosing a sleeping bag

In addition to the suitable sleeping mat, you need the ideal sleeping bag to ensure a comfortable night's sleep when camping. However, you should pay attention to a few important things such as the size of your sleeping bag, the right material and the comfort range when choosing your sleeping bag. We explain what this means and what different sleeping bags are available in our sleeping bag guide!

When choosing the right sleeping bag, pay particular attention to the information on the comfort, limit and extreme ranges. Think in advance about where you are travelling to next and what the local temperatures will be like. It is often colder at night than during the day - this also applies to summer destinations. Here it is important that your sleeping bag provides you with sufficient warmth. The sleeping bag should also not be too warm. Sweating at night is at least as unpleasant.

The comfort range of the sleeping bag indicates the temperature at which you are comfortable in the sleeping bag without freezing - measured against the "standard woman". Women tend to freeze faster than men. The limit range therefore indicates the temperature at which the "standard man" sleeps in his sleeping bag without freezing. The extreme range, on the other hand, defines the temperature at which it is still just about bearable in the sleeping bag - measured against the standard woman. Note, however, that this is usually too cold and you could become hypothermic.

At best, orientate yourself to the comfort range. Of course, every person has an individual sensation of warmth and cold, but you can use these values as a rough guide. If you tend to get cold more quickly, it is better to choose a sleeping bag with a lower comfort range that is suitable for colder temperatures.

Sleeping bags can be divided into three different categories according to the season: summer and winter sleeping bags and three-season sleeping bags. Summer sleeping bags are only lightly insulated and therefore perfect for warm summer nights or the next summer festival. Winter sleeping bags, on the other hand, are cold-proof due to their heavy insulation and are therefore more expensive.

Three-season sleeping bags are suitable for spring to autumn and are therefore an ideal all-rounder for several seasons. They are only unsuitable for winter - they have too little insulation and only provide limited protection against the cold.

To provide you with sufficient warmth, it is important to make sure your sleeping bag is the right size. It should be as wide as necessary and as narrow as possible. This rule applies especially in cooler temperatures. This is because a sleeping bag that fits a little tighter provides more warmth. Too much space is unfavourable, as the open space has to be filled with more warm air. However, you should still be able to move around enough to sleep comfortably. Sleeping bags that are too tight restrict your movement space. This can lead to hypothermia**. In addition, a sleeping bag that is too tight will compress the filling, which disturbs the heat flow.

Make sure that the end of your sleeping bag - the foot section - is long enough so that you can still stretch out your feet and not bump into the end. Otherwise heat will be lost. Allow *about 20 cm free space at the bottom*. There are also extra long and wide sleeping bags for taller and heavier people or sleeping bags for children. These are then adapted to the body size and shape to offer maximum comfort.

Especially at low temperatures, your sleeping bag should be equipped with a *hood* that you pull tightly together to protect your body from heat loss at the head.

Three-season sleeping bags are suitable for spring to autumn and are therefore an ideal all-rounder for several seasons. They are only unsuitable for winter - they are not insulated enough and only provide limited protection against the cold.

Most sleeping bags are filled with either down or plastic fibres such as hollow fibres. A down sleeping bag is particularly lightweight and provides excellent insulation. However, down sleeping bags are more expensive and take longer to dry. Synthetic fillings are heavier but much easier to care for. These sleeping bags can even be put in the washing machine and dry very quickly. This is practical if the sleeping bag gets wet or damp when camping. This filling ensures cosy, warm nights in the tent. A sleeping bag with a synthetic fibre filling is the better choice, especially in tropical areas with high humidity or when there is morning dew.

The inner material of your sleeping bag in particular should be soft and cosy. The outer material, on the other hand, should ideally be made of water-repellent materials such as polyester. The outer layer serves to further insulate your body.

'The inner material used is mainly polyester or cotton. Cotton** is particularly soft and pleasant on the skin. Cotton also offers good ventilation, making these sleeping bags particularly breathable. However, cotton is heavier and takes longer to dry. Polyester sleeping bags are particularly lightweight, moisture and dirt repellent and dry quickly. However, sleeping bags made of polyester are not very breathable and do not feel as cosy and soft on the skin as cotton.

'Often a blend of cotton and polyester is used - called polycotton - which combines the two positive properties of cotton and polyester. These sleeping bags are breathable, lighter than cotton sleeping bags and dry faster. They are also dirt-repellent.

Mummy sleeping bags are modelled on the shape of the human body and therefore offer ideal insulation. They are wider at the top than at the bottom. They also impress with their smaller pack size and lower weight than other sleeping bags. The fact that they fit closer to the body makes them ideal for colder regions. However, bear in mind that you have less freedom of movement. Mummy sleeping bags are often equipped with a hood to keep you nice and warm.

In contrast to the mummy sleeping bag, the blanket sleeping bag is more angular - it is the same width at the top and bottom. Many campers enjoy the advantage of great freedom of movement. This increases sleeping comfort many times over.

This type of sleeping bag is more suitable for warmer areas and summer holidays or as a guest blanket for your own four walls. Another advantage: you can open these sleeping bags completely if you get too warm.

To make it extra cosy for two**, there are double sleeping bags that are suitable for two people. This makes it easier to snuggle up when camping. After all, body heat is an important source of warmth. With **connectable sleeping bags, you have the option of making one sleeping bag out of two. However, make sure you buy one with a zip on the left and right, otherwise they are not compatible.

Firstly, think about the regions you want to use your sleeping bag for and find out about the night-time temperatures. In this way, you can narrow down your search to the right comfort range and for the right season. The temperatures also play a decisive role in the shape of the sleeping bag and the material. This way you are sure to find the right sleeping bag for you - without freezing at night while camping!