SLEEPING BAG advice

SLEEPING BAG advice

Everything you need to know about how to choose, materials & temperature ranges

There’s nothing better than sleeping outdoors, gazing up at the stars. As long as you’ve got the right sleeping bag to keep you warm and cozy. Whether you’re on a trek in Norway or passing through the Himalayas on a round-the-world trip, where you go and what you do – like climatic conditions or what activity – are deciding factors in choosing which sleeping bag to take. This advice page on sleeping bags will help you find the best sleeping bag for your next outdoor adventure.

Choosing the right sleeping bag

Useful questions to ask yourself

Our sleeping bag guide will help you answer questions you've probably been asking yourself:

What do you want to use your sleeping bag for? These four factors will influence the selection of your sleeping bag.
Synthetic or down sleeping bag? The advantages and disadvantages of these two sleeping bag fill materials.
What kinds of sleeping bags are there? At deuter, sleeping bags can be selected according to material, type of use and length.
What kinds of temperatures should a sleeping bag be able to handle? deuter labels its sleeping bags with the relevant data; but just how warm your sleeping bag needs to keep you also depends on your own constitution.
After buying your sleeping bag: top tips for a restful night’s sleep

What do you want to use your sleeping bag for?

Finding the right sleeping bag is actually pretty simple if you know what you’ll be using it for. The following questions will help you figure out whether you should choose a down sleeping bag or a synthetic fill sleeping bag.

Climate: Do you often travel to rainy environments? Or usually hike from hut to hut in the mountains? What kind of climate do you expect to encounter?
Activity: How will you be moving about? Will you be carrying your sleeping bag or staying in one place?
Space: Wide quilt-style or snug mummy shape? Getting the correct size is important. The narrower the fit, the quicker it will warm up the air inside the bag. But too narrow is not good either.
Durability: The more you move about, the more mechanical strain your bag will be put through through all the packing and unpacking.

Comparing materials: down vs. synthetic

Types	Down sleepping bag	Synthetic sleeping bag
Advantages	unmatched warmth to weight ratio compressible excellent wicking performance long lifespan with correct care warms up instantly	still up to 70% insulation performance when damp easy-care minimal moisture absorption quick-drying
Disadvantages	ineffective when damp not easy-care absorbs moisture dries slowly	heavier than down less compressible less effective at wicking shorter lifespan than down slightly longer to warm up

Find out more about deuter sleeping bag materials

Aside from shape, weight and temperature range, the materials a sleeping bag is made from play a key role in its comfort and performance. Find out more about deuter’s high-quality lining materials, shell fabrics, down, and Thermo ProLoft® performance fill.

Find out about materials

Our top tip: Whichever sleeping bag you choose, if you look after it correctly it will accompany you on many years of mountain and trekking adventures. Find out how to wash a sleeping bag correctly and how to pack it and what to beware of with storage.

Uses and recommendations for down and synthetic sleeping bags

down: low weight and compressible – good sleeping bag for:

Mountaineering
Trekking in regions with normal to low humidity
Bike touring with minimal luggage

Explore down sleeping bags

Synthetic fiber: easy-care all-rounder - sleeeping bags for:

All types of sleeping bag use, especially as a summer sleeping bag
Canoeing
Winter hiking
Off-grid in Scandinavia
Bike touring with minimal luggage
Hut-to-hut hiking

explore synthetic sleeping bags

Understanding sleeping bag temperature ratings and insulation

What kind of temperatures your sleeping bag needs to cope with

The temperature range specified in our sleeping bag guide is based on the European EN 13537 standard, which establishes a comparable standard and serves as a basic guideline for the insulation performance of our sleeping bags.

How they are tested: Using a calibrated, ‘adult’ thermal dummy, the sleeping bag to be tested is placed in a climate chamber under controlled conditions. Sensors then record the temperature difference between the inner and outer surfaces over several hours as heat is emitted from the dummy’s heat zones. The results are then used to calculate the temperature range.

TEMPERATURE RANGES

T-COM: The Comfort temperature rating indicates the lowest temperature at which an average woman (25 yrs / 60 kg / 160 cm) can spend a comfortable night’s sleep. This is also the temperature range that an inexperienced user will feel comfortable.
T-LIM: The Limit temperature rating indicates the lowest temperature at which an average man (25 yrs / 70 kg / 173 cm) can spend a comfortable night’s sleep. To stay warm at this temperature, the user will also need to adjust clothing and behavior.
T-EXT: The Extreme temperature rating indicates the lowest temperature at which an average woman can survive for 6 hours in extreme conditions. Sleep is not in question here. This is where there is a risk to health such as hypothermia.

Other temperature factors to consider when buying a sleeping bag:

These standardized values are simply laboratory test results. They are designed to provide a good basis from which to compare products from different manufacturers. But because everybody is unique, and everyone responds to situations differently, the temperature ratings should only be used as a guide when buying a sleeping bag. Other factors you should also consider include:

People are affected by more determinants of warmth than a ‘mannequin’ in a climate chamber. For example, men and women perceive temperatures differently; and then there is also age, physical condition, and experience. Plus, how tired someone is (exhausted or well rested); how much they have eaten, or whether they’ve drunk alcohol (alcohol makes you feel the cold faster) which all contribute to warmth.
Environmental factors, that are regulated or ‘normalized’ in the climate chamber, play an important role in real-world situations. And affect how effectively the insulation can be.
A good base underneath insulates the sleeper from the ground.
Technical baselayers, that are dry and wick moisture to the outside (beanie hat!) and finding a sheltered sleeping spot are important – wind and dampness can severely impact your recovery sleep.
The temperature data is taken in a climate chamber. Remember that conditions can be entirely different on multi-day trips or in challenging natural environments, and you should therefore adapt to these.

Top tips for getting a good night’s sleep in your sleeping bag

Having the right sleeping bag is just half the story. What you sleep on, where you and just how you go about it are also important.

Sleep mat: Even with the best sleeping bag in the world, sleeping on a cold floor or with air circulating around you will draw heat away from your body. A well-insulated sleeping pad or mat will stop some of this heat transfer.
Wind protection: Wind cools you down! At an ambient temperature of +5 °C, a light breeze (25 km/h) will result in windchill making it feel like it's 0°C. A tent, bivouac sack, or even a rock can help shield you from cooling airflow. So, pick a place to sleep that's sheltered from the wind.
Technical baselayers: You can increase the warmth of your sleeping bag by simply wearing socks and baselayers or long underwear made from technical, insulating fibers. Putting any dry extra layers of clothing in the foot of your sleeping bag can also add extra insulation.
Hat: Your head and face are the only body parts that are exposed to the outside world when you’re sleeping in a sleeping bag. And if your head is cold, it affects the rest of your body. Wearing a hat / beanie or even a balaclava is therefore an effective means of protecting against the cold.
Sufficient food: When you’re hiking, mountaineering, cycling etc. your body burns through calories. If you don’t replenish your energy reserves, then you cannot generate enough body heat to stay warm, which will mean you feel cold quicker.
Fluids: Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day to stay hydrated. If you’re dehydrated, you cannot generate enough heat. Before hitting the sack, a hot chocolate or tea is a great way to stay hydrated and warm at the same time.
Avoid alcohol: In cold conditions, avoid excessive alcohol. Although alcohol can initially make you feel warm, once that wears off, you will be left feeling the cold more acutely.
Stay dry: If your clothing or sleeping bag (in particular one with down fill) gets wet or damp, it will be less effective at insulating. Through the evaporation process, those ‘warm’ socks you’re still wearing from the day quickly become cold. So do not get into your sleeping bag in sweaty clothes you wore during the day. Packing your spare clothing in waterproof packing bags or pack sacks will keep them dry. And where possible, try to air out your sleeping bag by draping it on your tent, for example.