Sleeping Bags & Liners

Sleeping bags come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and the range (and price range) can be very confusing. So when trying to choose what sleeping bag to buy, it's worth starting from basics, and asking yourself what temperature range you want it to cover.

A very rough guide to the approximate use you might expect from a sleeping bag is given by the use of season ratings. These indicate the temperatures at which a sleeping bag should keep you comfortable if camping outside using a tent or bivibag and a reasonable mat for the conditions.

Season Rating UK Seasons Temperature
1 Season Summer only ca +5ºC and above
2 Season Mid Spring to Mid Autumn ca 0ºC
3 Season Spring and Autumn ca -5ºC
4 Season Winter ca -10ºC
5 Season Expedition use only ca -15ºC and below

Having worked out the temperature rating of the bag you want you then need to choose between down and artificial fibre filling. The latter is cheaper and can be dried out easily if it gets wet. However it is heavier and bulkier for the equivalent level of warmth. Good quality down will last twice as long as artificial fibre if it is looked after properly and remains the main choice for most serious mountaineering use (though not for multiday aid routes in Yosemite where violent storms can mean down bags becoming soaked and useless very rapidly).

1 Season Bags

Summer and mountain marathon sleeping Bags designed for temperatures down to +5ºC approximately.

2 Season Bags

Late Spring, Summer and early Autumn sleeping Bags designed for temperatures from +5ºC down to 0ºC approximately.

3 Season Bags

Spring, Summer and Autumn sleeping Bags designed for temperatures from 0ºC down to -5ºC approximately - you may be a bit warm in one of these in the middle of Summer.

4 Season Bags

All year round sleeping Bags designed for temperatures from -5ºC down to -10ºC approximately - you will roast in one of these in much of Summer.

5 Season Bags

Expedition sleeping Bags designed for temperatures below -10ºC. Generally these will be too warm for UK use, though some may be applicable for Scotland in winter.

Sleeping Bag Accessories

Sleeping Bag Liners, Pillows, Vapour Barriers and Compression Sacks.