A woman in a sleeping bag inside her trekking tent

How to Choose the Right Sleeping Bag?

How cold will it be? How long will you be carrying it for? How much comfort do you need? We can answer all your questions to pick your favourite sleeping bag.

A man and woman tucked in, sleeping in their sleeping bags

KEY POINTS TO CONSIDER

When you’re ready to choose your sleeping bag, keep three things at the front of your mind: the temperature of your sleeping environment, the material of your sleeping bag, the outside temperature will also have a part to play in and finally, the weight of your sleeping bag, as this will also affect how you plan to transport your camping gear and ultimately the level of comfort you can afford to pack. i.e. for week-long trips, you’ll want it to be comfier than if you only have to spend one night in it, and if you are sleeping in a bed or on a mattress, it won’t need to be as cushioned or as heavy.

CHOOSING THE BEST SLEEPING BAG DEPENDING ON:

Sleeping bags are designed with specific features in mind, the main one being temperatures. If you’re camping in winter, you’ll need a sleeping bag that can keep you warm and – and this may come as a surprise – if you’re pitching up in summer, you’ll need a sleeping bag to keep you cool. Remember, even if you think it’s mild outside, temperatures can drop significantly at night, so do your research ahead of your trip.

man and woman sat eating by their campsite the woman wears a sleeping bag for warmth

THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE

Whether you’re sleeping in a house, in a tent in the summer in the south of France or in a tent in the mountains, your choice will be totally different.

There are different temperature levels:

- from 0°C to 10°C: ideal for the extreme cold or the mountains
- from 10°C to 20°C: ideal for summer nights
- more than 20°C: ideal for the home

It’s up to you to choose your sleeping bag depending on the temperature of your chosen location/environment you’re sleeping in. If, for example, you plan to buy a sleeping bag for sleeping indoors in a house, a bag rated above 20°C is ideal.

WHAT IS THE COMFORT TEMPERATURE?

The comfort temperature may be supplemented by a limited temperature. If the temperature of the place where you’re sleeping is lower than the temperature limit indicated on your bag, you may feel cold in your sleeping bag, even when curled up. These temperatures also depend on other elements: your resistance to the cold (which may be influenced by your build or fatigue level), your equipment (if you have a good mattress that insulates you from the ground), your clothing and the climatic conditions (if there is humidity or wind for example).

THE MATERIAL

When it comes to choosing the material for your sleeping bag, you'll, of course, need to consider the weather, climate and temperature of your outdoor adventures. This will give you an idea of the kind of features you need the material to possess, whether that's breathability for hotter climates, insulation and more heat-trapping materials for colder climates or water-proof or water-repellent materials if you're expecting some rain or exploring amongst the snow.

Sleeping bags for bivouacking are either filled:
-feathers or polyester

Sleeping bags for camping are made of either:
-cotton or polyester.

Quick tip: If you know you're likely to get messy and muddy or are planning on camping with kids, then polyester is a material that is easy to care for and clean.

close up of a compact sleeping bag in its bag

THE WEIGHT AND EASE OF TRANSPORT

We determine ease of transport by the weight and compactness of a sleeping bag. If you’re on a trekking holiday, you’ll probably be carrying your own sleeping bag – as well as provisions, spare clothes, maybe the tent and other essentials – so ideally, you don’t want it to take up lots of space or slow you down. You can afford to have a heavier sleeping bag for hikes where you return to your camp each night. So, in a nutshell:

For trekking, choose a lighter and less compact sleeping bag to reduce fatigue while carrying it and take up less space during your trip.

For hiking, opt for a more comfortable and potentially heavier sleeping bag that’s compact.

Sleeping bag or duvet for camping:

If you are setting up camp in a fixed location, we advise you to focus on the comfort of your sleeping bag. As a result, this bag will be larger and heavier.

"Sarcophagus" sleeping bags for bivouacking, hiking or trekking:

If you are going on a bivouac with your tent and sleeping bag, we advise you to choose a light and compact model. They usually come in the form of a "sarcophagus sleeping bag."

A family of three relaxing inside a tent smiling

COMFORT

Comfort will always take precedence when it comes to camping. Look out for thick filling, an elasticated hood and plenty of room.

You’ll need something thinner when trekking, so go for a lightweight yet warm option.
But as with any choice, you'll need to weigh up your options and requirements to find the middle ground between your sleeping bag being practically appropriate for your trip and comfortable enough to get the rest you need.

Boy lays up on a sleeping bag reading a book with a camp light next to him

SLEEPING BAGS FOR KIDS...

With so much emphasis on choosing the right size for your sleeping bag, we of course had to include a special range for smaller campers.
Within our selection of junior sleeping bags, you’ll find products designed for children to experience camping or bivouacking in comfort.

These sleeping bags have a volume and size specifically adapted to their small build. Some models are even expandable and can adapt as children grow. For example, the cover can also be used as a toy pouch or as storage for a headlamp.

One thing not to forget when choosing is your child’s height. The larger the volume of air to be warmed, the more energy the body expends and the more likely it is to cool down during the night. It is, therefore, important to always choose a sleeping bag adapted to your child's size.

A chart showing camping sleeping bag comparison chart

A chart showing trekking sleeping bag comparison chart

Decathlon UK: How to choose your camping sleeping bag

PICK YOUR SLEEPING BAG