As with rain gear, sleeping bags can make or break your camping trip
I remember the first time I went camping in the shoulder season. I think it was a cycle tour in late October or early November on the PPJ trail in Quebec. I had a sleeping bag rated to 0°C and I was miserable. The nightly howling winds had me shivering in my bag the whole (short) trip. When we returned, I promptly drove into Ottawa in search of a warmer bag.
Maybe you sleep warmer than I do and you don’t need as low a temperature rating for your sleeping bag. Or maybe you need some room in your bag to sleep comfortably. How do you decide on the right sleeping bag for you?
Qualities / Features You May Be Looking For:
- Down or synthetic fill
- Mummy-style, barrel-, or rectangular-shaped
- Temperature rating (for both sleeping bags and mats)
- Length
- Specific to women or not (hey let’s face it, most of us have hips and most of us have really cold feet)
- Other sleep accessories to maximize comfort while camping
We’ve accumulated a bunch of resources to help you determine the right sleep system for your maximum comfort and camping style.
Three of Our Favorite Articles on Sleeping Bags:
- How to choose a sleeping bag from MEC (including what sleep accessories you might want along with your bag)
- Sleeping bag buying guide from Backpacker Magazine (with some great tips on washing your sleeping bag)
- How to Choose a Women’s Sleeping Bag from Outdoor Gear Lab (includes a thorough look at why women typically sleep colder than men)
Do you have more questions about sleeping bags? E-mail us! If you love falling asleep to the call of loons or perhaps even howling winds, book a trip with us. We look forward to slowing down with you.
