Going bush? If you don’t know what you need to survive out there, start with the right sleeping bag. Here we explain everything you need to know about buying the right sleeping bag for the Australian winter!
Whilst camping has always been a much-loved Aussie getaway, this activity has seen a huge resurgence in popularity thanks to the travel restrictions brought on by the pandemic. But with doing anything new, comes the need to get the new equipment to go with it.
Before even thinking of purchasing a new sleeping bag, there are a few things to be aware of if you want to make the best decision possible. First off, consider how you prefer to camp, where you like to camp, and the type of weather you’ll be camping in.
With this information and the below pointers in mind, check out Ozbackcountry sleeping bags – you’ll be guaranteed to find the perfect one to meet your needs.
Temperature Rating
To know how warm a sleeping bag will keep you at a certain outside temperature, you’ll find a temperature rating on the bag itself. When the temperature drops below 5 degrees, a bag rated at 5 degrees Celsius should theoretically keep you warm.
The question is whether it will keep you warm in reality. Bear in mind that the temperature rating has not been tested by the manufacturer, and a number of other factors should be taken into account when determining how effective that bag will be.
For instance, what clothing you’re wearing in your bag, your sleeping mat, whether you prefer it warm or cold, the shelter you’re in at night, and so on, will all play into your experience in the bag.
In terms of a rating, what do you look for?
Think about the lowest temperature you expect to camp in with this sleeping bag. Then, deduct 10 degrees from the temperature and choose a sleeping bag that is rated for the lower temperature.
You’re better to be too hot than too cold. If your sleeping bag is too warm, simply unzipping it will help you chill down fast. By contrast, not having enough warmth in a sleeping bag will be super uncomfortable and contribute to a bad night’s sleep which won’t help you hike up that mountain tomorrow, will it?
Sleeping bag ratings
Sleeping bags are labelled with three levels of comfort ratings based on the EN 13537 standard, which is the European Union’s official standard for sleeping bag labelling.
Comfort – A typical night’s sleep for a standard woman would be described as comfortable, as women, statistically prefer more warmth than men to sleep soundly at night.
Limit of comfort – This is the lowest temperature that a “typical” man would require to have a pleasant night’s sleep. This is known as the comfort limit.
Extreme – This is the coldest temperature which you can tolerate in this particular bag without succumbing to hypothermia and passing out from lack of oxygen. Now, according to the standard EN13537 that is used to rate sleeping bags, they categorise this “extreme” classification as follows: an intense feeling of cold is to be anticipated, and there is a risk of health harm due to hypothermia.
In summary
Investing in a sleeping bag is pretty much essential whenever you plan to spend a night in the outdoors – these beauties can keep you warm in temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit and they’ll shield you from the weather.
When shopping for a bag, take into consideration its size, shape, capacity for heat, and durability. Keep the grading system and other characteristics front of mind and you’ll come home with the best sleeping bag for your next getaway.
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