What is a sleeping bag rating? - Camping, Backpacking & Hiking

Sleeping bags are usually rated for seasons of use, ie, summer or winter. Generally the heavier the weight of the sleeping bag the warmer it will be, the shape or style will also matter with mummy shaped ones being warmer

You should try to avoid this for several reasons. First, it will make your sleeping bag stink and potentially become moldy, as well as the inside of the compression sack. Next, it may reduce the warmth rating of your sleeping bag because moisture will become trapped inside the fabric. Finally, it defeats the purpose of having a waterproof sack if you put something wet inside of it. If your sleeping bag is caught in the rain and you don't have time to hang it out before hitting the trail, try to take it out within a few hours and get it dry. You can also flip the compression sack inside out and let it dry, it will dry very quickly.

You will need to find a sleeping bag with the right temperature rating for the weather you will be expecting. Here are some for you to look through -

http://www.leisuregear.com.au/sleeping-bags/rated-minus-5-degrees/view-all-products.html?m=12&s=756

http://www.myshopping.com.au/ZM--539810456_Camping_Outdoor_Activity

http://www.mbstores.com/bagodo5mi5de.html

Depends on how cold the place where you will be camping gets to at night. Mummy bags tend to be rated for colder weather than other types.

Some people feel the cold more than others, if this applies to you then remove about 5 Celsius from the lower comfort temperature. For example, a bag with a comfort rating of 0 Celsius might be better, if you are susceptible to the cold, than a bag that has a comfort rating of 5 Celsius.

This is very important so pay attention. When manufacturers tell you a bag is rated for -10 Celsius, they mean that it will keep you alive at a temperature down to -10 Celsius. They don't mean you'll be comfortable. You'll freeze but you'll survive to tell about it. For comfort, you need a sleeping bag rated about 20 Celsius to 25 Celsius colder than the expected nighttime temperature on your camping trip. For example if you are expecting zero degree nights, then buy a -20 Celsius to -25 Celsius sleeping bag.

If you arebuying a sleeping bag for your kids to use at sleepovers etc, you don't need tospend a fortune on fancy equipment, places like Target http://www.target.com/s/sleeping+bagsand Walmart http://www.walmart.com/cp/Sleeping-Bags/133173sell sleeping bags for around $20.

When choosing a sleeping bag, you should choose one rated for the lowest temperature you expect to be exposed to.

Interestingly, it's been scientifically proven that women (on average) sleep colder than men. As a result, most sleeping bag manufacturers have adopted the European Norm (EN) 13537 as the standard for temperature ratings. This is a 3 part spectrum rating (a rating for women, men, and a survival extreme).

You can find more information below or by clicking here

Yes you can patch itup - however it may affect the temperature rating of it.

There are three basic types of sleeping bags:

• Rectangle - the sleeping bag we were probably all raised with. This is a basic rectangle and rolls up to about the size of a small car. Only use these in the summer, and only if you can drive directly to your camping site. The upside of these bags is they provide lots of room for your feet, and can be zipped together for Mom and Pop sleeping. They are often thick too, which will help to cushion you from the hard ground.

• Barrel - The barrel sleeping bag is slightly oval shaped, which provides more body warmth. It is roomier than a mummy bag, but does not usually come with a hood like the mummy.

• Mummy - The mummy sleeping bag is what you need when camping in cold weather. It tapers as it goes down toward your feet, providing a close fit and therefore trapping body heat. It has a hood that wraps around your head and neck, keeping your body heat inside the bag. The mummy has draft tubes, which are filled fabric strips sewn along the zipper, keeping your bag draft free. The downside is only for those who have claustrophobia and may feel trapped inside this tighter fitting bag.

• Boy Scout uses a malleable mummy sleeping bag, rated at 0 degrees. He is toasty warm at the freeze-o-ree, and can open the bag in the summer to cool off. This large bag easily scrunches in to a small stuff sack which is carried on his backpack. The $140 was well worth the quality, warmth and compatibility.