Blog
Sleeping bags and temperature ratings
A sleeping bag's rating tells you the lowest temperature it should keep you warm at, not where you'll feel cosy. Most bags list two numbers: a comfort rating and a lower limit. The gap between them matters more than people think.
For a weekend in the Cederberg or Drakensberg in winter, choose a bag rated well below the forecast low, not right at it.
Rating basics
The comfort rating is the temperature at which an average sleeper stays warm through the night. The lower limit is the point where you survive, shivering, not sleeping well.
Buy for the comfort rating, not the lower limit, and add a liner for extra warmth on the coldest nights without buying a second bag.
Keeping warm
A good mat matters as much as the bag itself. The ground pulls heat from your body all night, no matter how warm your bag is rated. Keep your bag dry in its stuff sack, since a damp bag loses warmth fast, and let it fluff up fully before you climb in.
Down fill packs small and feels warm for its weight, which suits backpacking, but it loses warmth if it gets wet. Synthetic fill weighs more but still keeps you warm when damp, which makes it the safer choice for a rainy trip to the coast.
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