3-SEASON SLEEPING BAGS
There is little to beat waking up refreshed after a good night’s sleep and opening the tent on a mountain view. Equally, there are few things worse than a restless, damp and cold night out camping.
Being warm and dry at night is the key to camping comfort. From late spring to early autumn in the UK, a 3-season sleeping bag is recommended. In general terms, the 3-season rating should cover lower overnight temperatures of 0C to -5C. Some of the bags we’ve tested pledge comfort ratings as low as -12C.
As well as considering the outside night-time temperature on a camping trip, it’s important to take into account your personal comfort levels. We’re all different and some of us are ‘cold sleepers’. Women are more likely than men to sleep colder at night, largely explained by physiological differences, including, on average, lower muscle mass. Hormonal fluctuations will also affect women’s core body temperature at different times of the month and through the menopause. Age makes a difference, too. Both men and women are likely to suffer a decrease in the body’s circulation capacity as we age, as the walls of our blood vessels lose their elasticity. When blood moves more slowly through the body, our extremities tend to feel the cold more quickly.
So, it’s worth paying close attention to the lower end temperature ratings – sometimes called the ‘comfort limit’ – as a rough guide to temperature performance. Look for zoned areas of warmth, too – in particular the foot box, hips, and hoods with baffles around the shoulder, neck and face.
Conversely, it’s worth also noting options to spill heat if things warm up– do you prefer to pop a leg out; and do you sleep on your back, or your left or right side? These factors will determine what to look for in terms of zips and closures. Consider the length and width of the bag, depending on your height and size. Some brands offer women specific bags, providing a tailored fit and more warmth around the hips and feet.
Down insulation is warmer for its weight and tends to pack down smaller than synthetics, but it can suffer in the damp, particularly in the UK’s autumn and winter climate, where condensation can build up inside shelters and insulation over a few days. Some down is treated to manage this, and
