Step 1: The Temperatures

When you look at a sleeping bag, the first thing you should check is the temperatures listed. Branded sleeping bags always show three values. Forget the advertisements and see what they actually mean:

• Comfort Temperature: This is the only number you should care about! It is the lowest temperature at which a person who gets cold relatively easily (usually an average woman) can sleep comfortably without shivering.

• Limit Temperature: This is the temperature at which a person who can withstand the cold (usually an average man) can sleep curled up without waking up from the cold.

• Extreme Temperature: Stay away from this! This number shows the survival limit. It means that at these degrees you won't get hypothermia for a few hours, but you will be extremely cold and won't get any sleep. Never buy a sleeping bag based on this value.

Simply put: If you know that where you are going the night will be 10°C, look for a sleeping bag with a Comfort rating around 10°C or a bit lower (e.g. 5°C) to be sure.

Step 2: For which season do you want it?

Sleeping bags are divided into categories depending on when and where you will use them:

• Summer (Comfort from 12°C and above): Thin, lightweight, and inexpensive. Ideal for camping on Greek islands or beaches in July and August.

• 2-Season (Comfort from 2°C to 12°C): The most versatile. Ideal for Spring and Summer, especially if you go to the mountains (e.g. Pelion, Olympus) where the nights are cool.

• 3-Season (Comfort from -4°C to 2°C): For the more experienced. Suitable for Spring, Autumn, and mild winter excursions.

• Winter (Comfort from -5°C and below): Very thick and warm. If you don't plan to sleep in the snow or in a mountain refuge during harsh winter conditions, you don't need them.

Step 3: Which shape should you choose?

Here things are clear and there are two main options

Step 4: Down or Synthetic? (What's Inside?)

The material that fills the sleeping bag determines its price, weight, and resistance to moisture.

• Synthetic (e.g. Hollow Fiber):

  • The good: It's affordable, can be easily washed in the washing machine, and most importantly: if it gets wet or damp, it still keeps you warm.

  • The bad: It's heavier and takes up quite a bit of space when packed.

  • Ideal for: Beginners, summer camping, the beach, and budget holidays.

• Down:

  • The good: It's ultra-light and compresses into a tiny size, so it fits everywhere. It offers the best and coziest warmth.

  • The bad: It's expensive and if it gets wet, it loses all its properties and you'll get cold. It requires special washing and care.

  • Ideal for: Hikers who walk for hours with a backpack and want the lowest possible weight.

Step 5: Don't forget the size!

A common mistake is to pick any size at random. The rule is simple: The sleeping bag should be 10 to 15 centimeters longer than your height.

• If you are 1.80m tall, you need a sleeping bag with a length of around 1.95m to 2.00m.

• Why? If it's too small, your feet will press against the filling at the end, the material will get thinner, and you'll feel cold. If it's too big, your body will struggle to warm up all that extra empty air inside the sleeping bag.

The Secret: The Sleeping Pad

Not many beginners know this: No matter how good or expensive your sleeping bag is, if you sleep directly on the ground, you will get cold!

The weight of your body presses down and compresses the filling of the sleeping bag underneath you. As a result, the cold from the ground passes straight to your back. You always need a good camping sleeping pad (foam or inflatable) to insulate you from the dirt or rocks.

The Beginner's List (Summary)

To avoid getting confused in the store or while searching online, follow these steps:

1. Find out what the temperature will be where you are going.

2. Look only at the Comfort Temperature.

3. If you want comfort and space, choose a Rectangular one. If you want warmth in the mountains and low weight, choose a Mummy one.

4. If you are just starting out, prefer Synthetic material, which is cheap and durable.

5. Add 15 centimeters to your height to find the right length.

6. Definitely add a sleeping pad to your cart!