The process of selecting the correct sleeping bag to meet your requirements can be tricky. Let the BCF’ing experts help you to find a winner, with our range of quality sleeping bags from popular brands such as Wanderer and Coleman.
Why do I need a sleeping bag?
The benefits of getting a good night sleep cannot be overstated and the addition of a comfortable sleeping bag can make or break your camping experience. Retaining your physical condition and ensuring you wake up in the correct mental state to target the day ahead, these are just some of the benefits of a good night sleep. The primary use of a sleeping bag is to provide warmth and thermal insulation, while also providing cushioning to an otherwise uncomfortable experience sleeping on the ground. Some models come with specific purposes such as hiking sleeping bags which are normally water-resistant and filled with premium goose down. Designed for use in the coldest of climates, with a snug hood for retaining warmth. There are also plenty of options when shopping for the littlies, with kids sleeping bags coming in handy for sleep overs and overnight family outings. Using high performance polyester to provide optimal warmth ensures durability night after night, with premium, kid friendly zips, easy pull tabs and anti-snag zipper protection.
What must I consider when purchasing a new sleeping bag?
Temperature
The first question you must ask yourself is how cold will it be at your camping site? It is extremely important that you remain comfortable and warm, this will help to prevent illness such as hypothermia. Each sleeping bag is manufactured with a specific temperature rating in degrees Celsius. This will give you a much better idea of how the sleeping bag will stack up against the elements. “Always base your selection on the coldest temperature expected during your camping trip”. A handy tip, it is much easier to cool yourself down by unzipping the bag than it is to warm yourself up.
Shape
There are three main shapes used when designing a sleeping bag, Rectangular, Tapered and Mummy. Each shape has its own benefits and unique characteristics.
- Rectangular sleeping bags are a perfect option for camping in hot, balmy climates. They are considered the most spacious and provide added room for people who move around a lot in their sleep, or larger adults. Unzipped they create an awesome makeshift doona and are quite cost effective.
- Tapered sleeping bags are probably the most popular. The narrowed shape reduces bulk and allows them to pack down small. Available in both hooded and hoodless design, although most would select the hooded as it retains warmth and adds extra comfort.
- Mummy sleeping bags are the first choice for hikers and experienced mountaineers, fittingly named for their unique shape. Up to 80% of heat can be lost through the head, mummy sleeping bags come equip with a hood that can be pulled tight to retain warmth. Extremely compact and normally come with an added shell protection against the elements.
Filling
Synthetic or down are your choices when selecting a filling.
- Down is an all-natural fibre created from goose feathers. Incredibly resilient and far superior in insulation qualities. Down filled sleeping bags will provide you many years of enjoyment, while not being the cheapest, the warmth to weight ratio is unmatched and make for easy stowing and transportation. Down is recommended for campers who are short on storage or will be carrying the sleeping bag on their person whether hiking, cycling or snow trekking.
- Synthetic fibres are the most commonly used and purchased. Much cheaper than its feathered counterpart, synthetic fills also handle moisture and water absorption much better and are quick to dry. This makes the process of cleaning and maintaining much easier. Recommended as a more general purpose alternative, ideal when storage and weight is not an issue. Also a great option for campers who may experience water and moisture in their travels, such as rainforest walkers, fisherman and kayakers.
Hooded Sleeping Bag
Extra material around the head of the sleeping back to keep users warm in lower temperatures.
A hooded sleeping bag is essential if you will be sleeping in colder climates, they keep warm air from escaping through your head and can make a dramatic difference in retaining heat. Hoods are most commonly found on bags with a lower temperature rating and can be beneficial for a comfortable night sleep. They are also used for keeping your head off the ground and provide a dry area to store a pillow.
Note: if your sleeping bag has a snug fitting hood it will keep you much warmer.
What sleeping bag accessories can I purchase from BCF?
Head into your local BCF store and let our friendly and knowledgeable team of experts take you through our extensive range of sleeping bags and sleeping bag accessories. A sleeping bag liner is the perfect purchase for any camper needing that little bit of extra warmth. Great for adding comfort and extending the life of your product, it is capable of adding up to 15 degrees of warmth to any sleeping bag. In some cases, a liner is all you need to sleep in, particularly if you’re in super warm climates! A Blackwolf self inflating pillow is another camping extra that many swear by. With the new soft touch poly/cotton fabric, compact and comfortable design, with a lifetime warranty ensuring you have an enjoyable night sleep for many years to come.
What’s new to BCF?
When the new Wanderer GRAND sleeping bag range hits stores soon, you’ll notice our temperature rating is different. We’ll now be testing our sleeping bags to EN ISO standards.
So, what is EN ISO 23537-1:2016 Testing and why test to it? (the quickest version possible…) the ISO 23537-1:2016 specifies the requirements and test methods as well as provisions for labelling of adult sized sleeping bags for use in sports and leisure time activities – basically temperature testing. The ISO (the International Standardisation Organisation – very fun to say out loud!) is a worldwide federation of national standards that work towards a global testing standard for (in this case) sleeping bags. The reason we are testing to this standard is to be consistent with global standards and leading brands while giving our customers expert advice when purchasing their sleeping bags.
What do the comfort levels mean?
Comfort Rating – The temperature at which a standard Woman can expect to sleep comfortably
Limit Rating – The temperature at which a standard Man can expect to sleep comfortably
Extreme Rating – The temperature at which a standard Woman can expect to survive the night