We’re outdoor enthusiasts ourselves and understand how a sleeping bag can make or break a trip. A quality sleeping bag is a must to ensure a comfortable night's rest so you wake up feeling refreshed and invigorated, ready to discover the previously unexplored.
When choosing the right sleeping bag for you there are a few things to take into consideration. Will you be camping during a specific season or all year round? Would you prefer down or synthetic? What features are you wanting? For example, are you looking for a lightweight sleeping bag?
If you’ve stumbled upon this blog because you are in fact looking for a lightweight sleeping bag then you’re in the right place, we’re about to take a deep dive into some of the best in the industry.
We stock both down and synthetic sleeping bags. Down is known to be more lightweight, so we’ll be focusing on our range of down sleeping bags here. However, we thought it would be beneficial to explain the crucial difference first.
Down Sleeping Bags
These are lighter and known to have warmer insulation than synthetic bags, they’re best for cold-dry weather conditions. Whilst down is known to be very resilient and can last up to 10 years if looked after correctly. They do take longer to dry than synthetic sleeping bags and do not insulate when they’re wet.
Synthetic Sleeping Bags
These sleeping bags absorb less moisture than down and are known to dry faster. They are heavier than down and only last 3-4 years. Nevertheless, they’re a great option if you’re camping in wet conditions and the synthetic insulation will keep you warm.
As you can see there are pros and cons to both types. However, if you’re an ultralight backpacker or you’re just looking to have a lighter load when you’re off on your next camping trip, down sleeping bags are the way to go.
The Sierra Designs Cloud 20/800 Fill Zipperless Sleeping Bag is so light and comfortable you’ll feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud. Keeping you cosy in weather conditions as low as -3C.
It bridges the gap between quilt and sleeping bag with the innovative zipperless design. Perfect for sleeping on your side, sleeping on your stomach, or in the foetal position. The integrated sleeve feature helps to keep your mat secure. We also love that Sierra Designs has a fantastic traceability policy.
All their sleeping bags that contain down have a tag which can tell you where the down was sourced from as well as their policy on responsible sourcing outlined in great detail. Perfect for those who care about the environment, which we hope is everyone.
This sleeping bag also comes in a long option for people up to 6 foot 6 inches, if you’re tall this is something you’ll be very grateful for as we know how difficult it can be to find a sleeping bag that doesn't leave you with leg cramps.
The Therm-a-rest Questar 20 Sleeping Bag has been designed with backpackers in mind. This three-season comfort sleeping bag with 650 fill Nikwax hydrophobic down hosts a plethora of features.
The SynergyLink Connectors keep your bag securely on your sleeping pad whilst allowing the zoned insulation to work where it’s most needed. Therma-a-rest has an onsite cold chamber that helps them to design and manufacture the warmest and highest quality sleeping bags.
Their W.A.R.M fit allows room for you to move into multiple natural sleeping positions without compromising on the thermal efficiency of the sleeping bag. The compression sack and storage sack makes the bag a similar size to a 1-litre water bottle so it can easily fit into your backpack with minimum added weight.
Whilst Down sleeping bags are not known for their ability to dry quickly or keep their insulating properties when wet, this sleeping bag boasts a 3x faster drying time and 90% less water absorption than other Down sleeping bags of the same calibre.
One of our personal favourite features is the Toe-asis foot warmer pocket. This baffled pocket of insulation helps to rapidly warm cold feet after a day of hiking, meaning you can fall asleep happy.
Last but by no means least, we were compelled to focus on a women's sleeping bag. Yes, a sleeping bag that is specifically designed with a woman's body in mind. The Big Agnes Women’s Torchlight UL 20 (Downtek) Sleeping Bag has a -5C comfort limit making it ideal to use during the colder months.
Best of all it weighs only 1190g which is ideal for those gram-counting backpackers who’re searching for the lightest gear without wanting to compromise on comfort. The expandable panels can extend the bag by up to 10 inches, making it perfect for varying body types and sleep positions. This feature allows you to customise your sleep experience.
This bag is designed to contour to a woman's body for added thermal efficiency. Available in both petite and regular sizes. If you’re petite it can be annoying to have lots of sleeping bag material left below your feet and it’s not the most effective at keeping you warm.
The 850 fill DownTek defies what people say about Down sleeping bags by being water resistant whilst maintaining its insulating abilities.
Before heading out on your next expedition or setting up camp, we recommend packing the following items too. Stuff sacks can be used to compactly store clothes and protect them against adverse weather conditions. A filter system is exceptionally important for summer camping when you need to stay hydrated in the heat.
A pillow, if you've taken the time to select the perfect sleeping bag you want to ensure you have the best sleeping experience.
We pride ourselves on knowing our stuff when it comes to what you need to explore the great outdoors. As a team, we have more than 40 years of experience in the camping and backpacking industry, as well as enjoying doing it ourselves.
That’s why if you have any further questions with regards to lightweight sleeping bags or camping equipment in general you can email a friendly expert member of our team at support@valleyandpeak.co.uk.
