HOW TO CHOOSE A SLEEPING BAG

1.

WHAT TO AIM FOR

Very often, the conversation about choosing a sleeping bag begins with a question about warmth. As if it was the only element essential for our comfort. The comfort, ergonomics or functionality of a sleeping bag are rarely mentioned. These are issues that we naturally raise when talking about clothing. When choosing a jacket, we are interested not only in whether it will be warm, but also whether it will be comfortable during certain activities. It is obvious to us that a loose fit will be better for some, and a close fit for others. Sometimes it is better to have a modeled hood, and sometimes - the less adjustments the better. Therefore, when choosing a sleeping bag, we propose a similar, in-depth approach, in which warmth is one of the elements that make up comfort. First you need to ask yourself how you want your equipment. Are you planning to reach for universal solutions, or are we looking for a sleeping bag best suited for the conditions in which you will use it? Secondly - what kind of activity will it serve you for? Finally, under what conditions will you use it. All these elements really contribute to our comfort.

2.

COLLECT

The most common strategy when choosing a sleeping bag is to take a good quality down sleeping bag for the coldest conditions and cheap synthetic for the summer. As a result, most of the year we are either too cold or too warm. It is best to start with the purchase of two sleeping bags that will provide comfort for most of the year. One for summer conditions. The second is for spring and autumn conditions. Their combination of two will allow for a comfortable camping in winter. With such a system, it is worth paying attention to ventilation, matching the shape of sleeping bags and moisture management. These two sleeping bags should be as versatile as possible. For most users, this is the optimal solution that allows you to significantly improve the comfort of camping. Once we have the base, we can either settle or, over time, expand the range with specialized sleeping bags that will be dedicated to specific conditions. However, what is very important, buying a sleeping bag is worth making sure that it is a choice that allows you to easily expand the range of functionalities. We build our offer in such a way that the sleeping bags complement each other with their use. Some of them are also immediately dedicated to connect into modular systems.

2.

COLLECT

3.

CONSTRUCTION

The answer to the question of what the sleeping bag will be used for, contrary to appearances, is not warmth. Basically, by slightly modifying the structure, we can prepare every version in different weights, using different fillings and different fabrics. It is the shape and additional functionalities that determine whether the sleeping bag will be suitable for camping. Therefore, it is worth choosing the right structure to suit your needs. Basically, there are two types of sleeping bags. A mummy narrowing from the shoulders to the feet and a quilt that is a rectangular-shaped sleeping bag. We found this division insufficient. We distinguished three features that make the shape of the sleeping bag: an outline describing the shape of the sleeping bag from above, a profile indicating the type of cross-section of the sleeping bag and a fit that determines the proportions. Additional functions are also important in the construction, such as ventilation, the possibility of stretching out your hands or a hole for a daisy chain. A detailed description of each of these elements can be found in the Technologies tab. Here we will try to describe how the choice of shape translates into comfort while camping.

4.

OUTLINE AND FIT

The shape of the sleeping bag is one of the most important elements that determine comfort during a camping trip. The shape consists of an outline and a fit. The outline is related to the sleeping position and thus the space inside. The less comfortable the conditions, the more fitted structure will work. The anatomical outline that most imitates our shape, or the outline of the trapezoid that simplifies it a little, will provide a feeling of being well isolated and a very good weight-to-warmth ratio. People who prefer sleeping in different positions will also like these outlines. It is easy to change position with the sleeping bag, in those outlines. An oval is an intermediate outline. Thanks to its simplified form, integrating the hood with the outline, it offers more space in the upper part without significantly increasing the weight of the sleeping bag. On the other hand, a rectangle will provide a much larger space inside. It is important that each of these outlines, apart from its specificity, can be more or less adjusted. Each outline can have wider or narrower proportions. Therefore, following the division of the structure between the mummy and the quilt will not allow you to judge which of the sleeping bags will be the looser and which will be the fitted one. The shape of the sleeping bag primarily affects the choice between the space inside and the weight. The wider the sleeping bag, the more weight we need to ensure comparable comfort.

4.

OUTLINE AND FIT

5.

PROFILE

Separately constructed sides improve comfort. Both in terms of ergonomics and warmth. Thanks to them, the structure gets spacious, and thus it thermically secures the edges. What's more, the sides fit better along the body. However, the box construction is much more complicated and therefore more expensive to manufacture, and secondly it increases the weight.

6.

ZIPPERS

The location, size and type of the main zipper are of great importance for our comfort. We offer three locations: central, side and overhead. Central zipper is a very universal solution. It allows easy entry, it is as convenient for right-handed as for left-handed and organizes the internal space in a manner similar to clothing. A long one will provide complete freedom during any type of camping. Users of hammocks will especially appreciate it. A short one will allow you to pull out a daisy chain, no matter which side it has to be clipped in. The side zipper has become a classic among sleeping bags. It allows you to easily zip the collar and strips. The long side zipper allows you to fasten two sleeping bags and the L-shaped opening to form a quilt. An overhead zip is a unique solution that is the most thermally efficient. It also allows you to stretch out your hands with the use of a main zipper. However, such a solution can only be adapted to a narrow group of structures.

6.

ZIPPERS

7.

CONDITIONS

When we have chosen the right structure, it remains to decide on the type of filling, fabric and thermic properties. The choice of the latter is quite simple, because each sleeping bag has exactly described comfort. What you have to choose now are weight, volume and protection against moisture. At the moment, there is no better insulator in terms of warmth and compressibility to weight ratio than down. The higher the fill power of down, the more lightweight and more compressible the product will be at the same warmth. It doesn't matter what is the origin of down. Cuin is a measure of fill power and it is the only thing that determines the quality of down. When it comes to moisture, unfortunately, there is no single answer to how to deal with it. There are several solutions, but each way to protect against moisture reduces other types of comfort. Synthetics, unlike down, will not lose their properties when in contact with water. However, they are heavier, less compressible and less durable. The membrane fabrics will reduce the possibility of the down getting wet, but will increase its weight and reduce breathability. The hydrophobic down will reduce water absorption, but it has a shorter life.