How to choose a sleeping bag

8th October, 2021

When you’re out hiking or camping in the wilderness, you’re not only going to need a backpacking tent but also a trusty sleeping bag. The best lightweight sleeping bag for hiking in Australia offers the ideal warmth-to-weight ratio; it’s not just capable of keeping you warm at night but it’s also easy to carry.

Here’s what to consider when choosing a sleeping bag for your next outdoor adventure. 

Shape

Sleeping bags come in three basic shapes:

• Rectangular: Straight and clear-cut, this shape provides ample room for your limbs to stretch out. Some rectangular sleeping bags can be completely unzipped and can therefore double as blankets.
• Semi-rectangular: Also called barrel shape or modified mummy, this features a slight rectangular shape that tapers towards the top. With this shape, there’s more room for movement around the shoulders while still providing snug warmth in the lower part.
• Mummy: The mummy shape is a snug fit all over, boosting the warmth provided. With this shape, you roll over with the bag instead of within it. 

Insulation type

The distribution of insulation is a huge factor to keep in mind when choosing your sleeping bag design. An even distribution is ideal to keep your body as warm and comfortable as possible and minimise cold spots. 

• Synthetic insulation: Affordable and dries fast, it continues to insulate even when damp, making it ideal for damper climates.
• Down insulation: Lighter, more compressible and thus easier to carry, it retains warmth for many years. It is ideal for cold dry weather.

Fabric

The shell fabric and the lining fabric help protect the insulation of your sleeping bag. The fabric, as the actual part of the sleeping bag that comes in contact with your body, should be comfortable and breathable. Durability is also a factor as easily ripped fabrics could impact the effectiveness of your sleeping bag. 

Temperature rating

You can always unzip a sleeping bag if it gets too hot in the middle of the night. That’s why it’s better to choose a sleeping bag that has a temperature rating lower than the lowest outside temperature you can expect at your campsite.   

Here at Explore Planet Earth, we offer sleeping bags for both warm and cool weather conditions. For warmer nights, we have the Travel X Lite and Comas Camper models, perfect for +5°C weather. You won’t be waking up in a sweat in the middle of the night! For cooler climes, the Comas Highlander model, and the Comas Camper Pro are perfect as they can deal with the coldest of temperatures, suitable for -5℃ and  0℃ respectively. 

Get the best sleeping bag from Explore Planet Earth!

Explore Planet Earth is a trusted source of the best hiking gear in Australia. From lightweight hiking tents to the best family sleeping bag, we’ve got you covered. 

Make camping and hiking more fun with Explore Planet Earth! Send us an enquiry here or call us on 1300 174 876 for more info today.