Are You Searching for a Lightweight Sleeping Bag to Keep Warm While Backcountry Hut-Tripping or Hiking the World’s Highest Mountains? Look no further than Feathered Friends Flicker 40 UL’s Lofty Goose Down for warmth in varying environments! Using lofty 900-Fill Goose Down fill, it provides unsurpassed warmth in all situations.

Temperature Ratings

Temperature ratings are an essential component when searching for a sleeping bag. Based on testing and assumptions, temperature ratings allow shoppers to easily compare warmth-to-weight ratio of various bags.

An EN 13537 standard rating uses a heated manikin in a climate-controlled room on an industry standard sleeping pad to measure the power required to keep him warm, and determine its thermal resistance rating, which then translates into comfort and lower limit temperature ratings for individual bags.

Comfort rating refers to the temperature at which an average female should not experience chills during a relaxed posture, often promoted in advertising campaigns by brands.

Lower Limit Temperature – To achieve comfort on a typical warm sleeping temperature, some brands use this number in their name; though often times brands round up or down for simplicity. It does affect the fill weight so if comparing two bags with similar test ratings make sure you also consider their fill weights when making your decision.

Fill Weight

Sleeping bags vary in terms of both their weight and warmth depending on how much insulation is included inside them. As more fill power (FP or CUIN) increases, so will warmth as well as price – the warmer a bag becomes, but more expensive it becomes too.

Consider what kind of climate you will be backpacking in before selecting insulation. Down bags are best suited to dry climates as they allow for ultralight packing, are typically cheaper than synthetic alternatives and offer ultrafast insulation properties.

However, natural fiber insulation may be less breathable and retain heat better in damp conditions than synthetic insulation. Therefore, synthetic sleeping bags may be the better option when looking to save money or wanting an outdoor sleeping bag that will hold up in wet weather. Look out for bags labeled RDS (Responsible Down Standard), to ensure no animals were hurt during production of this insulation. One good choice for thru-hikers would be Marmot Trestles filled with recycled synthetic down and packed down quite small – plus it comes equipped with features like hood, protective face gasket and no-snag zipper – no animal harm!

Shape

Sleeping bag shapes have an impactful influence on their warmth and weight. Mummy bags, which trap air for insulation and take up less space than rectangular ones, are the go-to choice among backpackers; however, some individuals find the slim design restrictive or uncomfortable.

Mummy-shaped sleeping bags use less fabric and down than their rectangular counterparts, saving weight on your next camping trip. But if you toss and turn during the night or prefer more space to move about during your sleeping hours, consider an adjustable spoon-shaped model like the Nemo Disco 15.

Lightweight sleeping bags typically comprised of down and made with lightweight shell materials such as nylon or polyester are often lightweight options that come equipped with water repellent coating to keep moisture at bay from seeping through and dampening down inside. In contrast, synthetic materials provide an alternative for those sensitive to animal products or those who dislike its weight.

Additional Features

Some of the top backpacking sleeping bags feature innovative features that cater to diverse camping needs, like glow-in-the-dark zipper pulls and contoured footboxes that offer comfort when sleeping on either your side or stomach, while Enlightened Equipment’s Revelation Quilt 20 uses a pad attachment system that lets you tighten it around your sleeping pad. Meanwhile, NEMO’s Disco 15 Endless Promise and Feathered Friends Swallow YF 20 offer large draft tubes to lock in warmth as well as zippered vents that allow custom ventilation when damp conditions arise.

Manufacturers reduce weight from sleeping bags and quilts by using thinner shell fabrics, high-fill-power down, narrower profiles and strap or string attachment systems, rather than zippers to attach their quilt. Some models even forgo hoods entirely in favor of strap or string systems that save fabric and insulation. We look for ultralight mummy bags with full-length zippers for easier ventilation on warm nights while considering whether their insulation will hold heat when wet.