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Guide
Sleeping Bags
The coldest night of your trip decides which sleeping bag you need. Choose by the comfort temperature on the label, not the extreme temperature. Down packs smaller; synthetic fill copes better with damp.
Key points
- Choose by comfort temperature, not extreme temperature.
- Down packs small; synthetic is less sensitive to moisture.
- Store it loose at home; use the stuff sack only on the go.
Which sleeping bag for which night?
| Use | Choice | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Trekking, mountain trips, cold and dry nights | ChoiceDown sleeping bag (mummy) | LimitMoisture compresses the down, and then it warms less. |
| Camping, canoeing, cycle touring, wet weather | ChoiceSynthetic sleeping bag | LimitHeavier and bulkier than down for the same warmth |
| Summer, campsites, guest beds | ChoiceRectangular sleeping bag | LimitMore air inside. Too open for cold nights. |
| Mountain huts, hostels, inside your sleeping bag | ChoiceSleeping bag liner | LimitBarely warm on its own. No substitute for a sleeping bag in a tent. |
Types compared
Down sleeping bag (Mummy shape)
For trekking, mountain trips, cold dry nights.
- Advantage: Lots of warmth for little weight
- Drawback: Loses warmth when damp
Synthetic sleeping bag (Synthetic fill)
For camping, canoe trips and wet weather.
- Advantage: Stays warm when damp
- Drawback: Heavier and bulkier when packed
Rectangular sleeping bag (Blanket shape)
For summer nights, campsites and guest beds.
- Advantage: Plenty of legroom
- Drawback: More air for you to warm up
What to check before you buy
| Question | In short | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Which temperature on the label counts? | In shortComfort temperature | WhyDown to this value, a standard woman sleeps relaxed under EN ISO 23537-1. The limit temperature applies to a man curled up; the extreme temperature is for survival only. |
| Down or synthetic? | In shortDry nights: down | WhyDown is warmer for its weight and packs smaller. When damp it clumps and loses warmth. Synthetic fill stays lofty even when wet and keeps you warm. |
| What does fill power tell you? | In shortValue in cuin | WhyFill power in cuin (cubic inches) shows how much space 1 ounce of down, about 28 g, takes up. The higher the value, the more warmth each gram of fill gives. |
| How long does the bag need to be? | In shortUp to your height | WhyMakers give a maximum body height: at Deuter, Regular fits up to 185 cm, the narrower women's SL version up to 175 cm. If you have big feet, Deuter advises adding 5 cm. |
Frequently asked questions
What does the extreme temperature mean?
It is purely a survival value. Between the limit and extreme temperature, expect to feel very cold and risk hypothermia. Never plan a trip around this value.
What if the label says EN 13537?
EN 13537 is the predecessor standard. Today EN ISO 23537-1 applies, revised in 2022.
Why am I cold despite the right comfort temperature?
Usually the insulation underneath is missing. Put a sleeping pad with a suitable R-value under your bag: for nights around 0 °C, REI gives an R-value of 2 to 3.9.
How do I find out the night-time temperature?
From the weather forecast for the place and altitude. In the standard atmosphere, the air gets 0.65 °C colder for every 100 m you climb.
Last updated: October 2026
Where do you sleep?
Campsite
On a campsite in summer, a synthetic sleeping bag that copes with dew and condensation will do. If you expect 8 °C at night, choose a comfort temperature of 8 °C or lower.
- Synthetic fill
- Comfort below the night low
- Rectangular or mummy
Trekking
When you carry everything, every gram counts: a mummy-shaped down bag gives lots of warmth for little weight. Compare fill power in cuin and pack it in a waterproof sack.
- Down
- Mummy shape
- Fill power in cuin
- Keep it dry when packed
Mountain hut
Where the hut provides blankets, a liner sits between you and the blanket. Check the hut’s rules first. Cotton blends and microfibre differ in weight, feel and drying time.
- Check hut rules
- Compare weight
- A liner, not insulation
Cold
In frost, your sleeping pad matters too: for nights around -7 °C, REI gives an R-value of 4 to 5.4. Choose your sleeping bag by comfort temperature, never by the extreme value.
- Pad from R 4
- Comfort temperature
- Hood, draught collar
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Brands we carry
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- Bergans
- Big Agnes
- Bridgedale
- Carinthia
- Dale of Norway
- DB Journey
- Deuter
- Eagle Creek
- Edelrid
- Exped
- Ferrino
- Fjällräven
- Grand Canyon
- Grüezi Bag
- Haglöfs
- Helinox
- Jack Wolfskin
- Kelty
- Kohla
- Liewood
- Marmot
- Millet
- Montura
- Mountain Hardwear
- MSR
- Nemo
- Nordisk
- Osprey
- Outdoor Research
- Outwell
- Pajak
- Pinewood
- Rab
- Robens
- Salewa
- Sea to Summit
- Sierra Designs
- Tatonka
- Ternua
- The North Face
- Therm-A-Rest
- Trespass
- VAUDE
- Whistler
- Witeblaze
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