Sleeping Bag

• Comfort rating

• Insulation (down or synthetic fill)
• Weight
• Size when compacted
• Shape
• Personal sleeping tendencies (are you, for example, a "cold sleeper"?)

You can choose from sleeping bags in three shapes:

Mummies
These narrow, close-fitting sleeping bags are designed to save weight and maximize heat retention. They start narrow at the feet, get wider toward the shoulder, then taper to an insulated, fitted hood. Nearly all sleeping bags are mummy-shaped.

• Positives: The slim cut increases efficiency and saves space and weight. Hoods retain a lot of warmth.
• Negatives: The narrow shape can feel restrictive to some people and inhibit sleep.

Semi-Rectangular sleeping bags
These models are narrow at the feet, broad at the hips and shoulders. You get more space than a mummy supplies, but also more weight and bulk. Some offer hoods.

• Positives: Good heat retention and a little more room to maneuver.
• Negatives: More room means your body has more space to keep warm; some thrashers still find them restrictive.

Rectangular
These are warm-weather sleeping bags built to be roomy. As a result, they let a lot of body heat escape. Many rectangular bags can be unzipped and used as comforters. Few have hoods.

• Positives: Lots of interior wiggle room; great for car camping.
• Negatives: They're inefficient sleeping bags insulators, too heavy/bulky for most weight-conscious backpackers.

Which is Right for You?
For backpacking, mummies are the way to go. They might appear snug as you ponder them in a warm house or store, but in the backcountry you want to conserve every bit of warmth your body can produce. You won't mind "sleeping tight" on those nights, and a mummy bag is the right tool for the job. For family camping, let your personal sleeping bag comfort standards be your guide.

Lengths: Regular and Long
Here's the general rule: If you are no taller than 6 feet, choose a regular length bag. If you are up to 6-feet-6, you want a long bag.

If you are right on the border, maybe right at 6 feet or maybe half an inch taller, it's a judgment call on your part. If you choose a bag that's too short, you might tend to stretch a bag to make it cover you. Doing so flattens the bag (and its insulation) in spots, reducing its effectiveness. Sleeping in a bag that's too long means your feet have lots of space to heat up. Solution: Buy the longer bag and tie off the extra length of the bag with some cord.