Sleeping bag. Choosing a sleeping bag Extreme temperatures for user comfort

Thermal balance when choosing a sleeping bag
The main task of a sleeping bag is to keep warm, and the main source of heat is a person. How much heat do I generate? It depends primarily on metabolism or metabolism. Here's what to consider when choosing a sleeping bag:

1) Body type: obese people have a reduced metabolism. More precisely, they absorb more than they produce. People of normal build have a balanced metabolism; they absorb as much as they produce. When hiking, it often happens that a person receives fewer calories than usual. This is most evident in circumpolar, polar and high-mountain expeditions. Under such conditions, the body uses its own resources to restore metabolic processes. Accordingly, plumper people will restore heat and energy balance faster than thinner ones.

3) Age: Metabolism also changes with age. Older people produce less heat than younger people. Young people are characterized by increased heat exchange, so their comfort temperature may well be 5°C lower than that of a mature person. However, children, especially infants, do not possess this property to a sufficient extent. Their metabolic processes are unbalanced and gradually slow down with age, so it is very difficult to determine the average temperature regime for them.

Almost all research in the field of heat transfer is carried out on people whose lifestyle increases resistance to cold: climbers, travelers, military personnel. As a rule, these are men aged 18 to 40 years, spending most of their lives outdoors. They will most likely be unconditionally “suited” to the thermal temperatures indicated on the sleeping bag, which will be discussed below.

You need to borrow money to choose a sleeping bag
Different sleeping bags are designed for different temperature conditions. To distinguish them, sleeping bags usually indicate “comfort temperature” and “extreme temperature.” This is the temperature that will be “outside” - i.e. in a tent or outdoors.

Comfort temperature is the temperature range at which a person can sleep without feeling cold all night. This range has an upper and lower limit. The upper limit of comfort temperature is the highest temperature at which you can sleep in a sleeping bag without excessive sweating (usually calculated when testing with the sleeping bag unzipped and the hood pulled back). The lower limit of comfort temperature is the lowest temperature that provides a person with 8 hours of continuous sleep.

Extreme temperature is the lowest temperature at which a sleeping bag protects a person from hypothermia (hypothermia). Typically, this temperature should provide 6 hours of uncomfortable sleep, but without reducing body temperature to dangerous levels. It is these data that are currently regulated by state and international standards for sleeping bags, including the European EN13537.

The temperature standard EN13537 was developed by the European Outdoor Products Group and adopted in 2002. On January 1, 2005, its new edition came into force, which provides for testing sleeping bags in laboratory conditions. All sleeping bags marketed after 1 January 2005 must comply with EN13537. Having received test results that meet the requirements, the manufacturer has the right to place the CE mark on its products.

The standard is applied in European countries, and among Russian companies producing sleeping bags, so far only BASK can afford certification according to the European standard EN13537.

The main difference between the standard and the previous ones is the presence of a temperature scale on the product description provided by the testing laboratory. It looks like this.

Let's look at an example.

The average woman can sleep comfortably in this sleeping bag at air temperatures from +22OC to +4OC, and the average man - at temperatures from +22OC to -1OC. Accordingly, the product catalog will indicate the maximum comfort limit, in this case -1OC. This sleeping bag must retain enough heat to prevent hypothermia (hypothermia) at temperatures down to -18°C. But at temperatures from -1OC to -18OC there is already a health risk.

To choose a sleeping bag you need to understand the temperature scale
T max – the maximum ambient temperature at which a person in a sleeping bag feels comfortable
Comfort T – the lower limit of comfort for the average woman
T limit - the lower limit of comfort for the average man
T extreme – risk zone for hypothermia

How to choose a sleeping bag filler
Down sleeping bags are the warmest and most expensive. Even the “coolest” synthetics have not yet caught up with down in its properties and are unlikely to catch up in the coming years - it is light, compresses well and after that completely restores its volume, it is also the best heat insulator. The down must be from waterfowl, since it has a natural lubricant that largely prevents the absorption of moisture - otherwise it will begin to rot. Eiderdown is an ideal sleeping bag filling, but it will cost you many hundreds of dollars. The more common type of down for sleeping bags is goose. It is important to take into account the climate in which the birds whose down is in your sleeping bag were raised. For example, down collected in Russia (a country with a cold climate) is better than Chinese or from some Western country.

A filler such as down has two characteristics that are important for subsequent use. The first is the down/feather ratio. The feather prevents premature caking of the down, but worsens the heat-saving properties. The warmest down sleeping bags contain no more than 10-20% feathers. A characteristic such as FP (fill power) shows how elastic the fluff is and is able to return to its original volume after being compressed. FP is measured in units corresponding to the volume in cubic inches to which 1 ounce of pre-compressed fluff is recovered. High-quality down has an FP above 600 units. Sleeping bags from all reputable companies use down with an f.p. not lower than 550. The best down that exists today has an f.p. equal to 800.

A down sleeping bag is very afraid of moisture; when wet, it completely loses its volume, and therefore all its thermal insulation. And, unfortunately, it takes a very long time to dry even under normal conditions, so it needs additional protection.

Sintepons and holofibers are the cheapest, designed for temperatures down to -5 degrees (limit -10 degrees), weigh from 1100 to 2300 g and are most widespread in our country. In principle, such sleeping bags are suitable for fishing in Karelia or on Akhtuba in the summer, for hunting roars or leks, provided that you live in tents (not to mention a winter hut or a village hut). They are quite compact, lightweight, and, most importantly, dry quickly even in the cold if you get it wet. The latter property makes them indispensable on water trips.

The main disadvantage is fairly rapid caking, accompanied by a progressive loss of heat-saving properties.

Sintepon
2cl - up to +5 degrees
3cl - up to -10 degrees
4cl - up to -20 degrees

It is worth highlighting a group of high-quality fillers in the mid-price range. With a sleeping bag weighing about 2 kg, it can retain heat at temperatures down to -25°C. Sometimes, in terms of basic properties, such fillers are not inferior to the most expensive ones, but most often they have a larger volume in the packaged state and a shorter service life. Main manufacturers: Holofill, QualoFill, Thermoloft, Warmloft, Powerfill Soft and others.

The most expensive and high-quality fillings allow you to feel comfortable in a sleeping bag with a total weight of 2 kg at temperatures down to -35°C.

Such fillers are created from silicone fibers, which constantly contain air in the longitudinal cavity, providing heat-saving properties. Fillers from different companies differ in the density and thickness of the fibers, and in the number of internal holes in each fiber. Due to the elasticity of the material, such a filler does not lose its properties even after 5-6 seasons of active use. Sleeping bags with silicone fibers are closest to down - light (from 900 g), warm, easy to wash, dry very quickly and almost do not absorb moisture. The most well-known and high-quality brands of fillers are Hollofil, Thermolite, Aerofiber from Dupont and Thinsulate from 3M.

Materials for the outer and inner surfaces of the sleeping bag
Various modifications of nylon are most often used as the outer material in the production of sleeping bags.

An exception is down sleeping bags; special fabrics have been created for them that optimally “hold” down, such as Pertex, Ultrex and others. These fabrics are windproof, water resistant and extremely breathable. A special membrane is sometimes applied to the outer fabric of down and, less commonly, synthetic sleeping bags, which protects it from moisture penetration inside and at the same time allows the fabric to “breathe,” that is, to remove moisture from the body to the outside. This type of fabric is called Dry-Loft. Some manufacturers use cotton for the inner surface of the sleeping bag.

It is recommended to use sleeping bags with a face or back made of waterproof fabric. Down and thinsulate sleeping bags are made: cheap - from nylon with PU (polyurethane) impregnation. This is a complete flaw, not fabric for sleeping bags. It does not allow moisture to pass through well (it sweats), it becomes sticky in the cold, the impregnation collapses after 2 years and the product begins to “etch” the fluff on the surface. More expensive - made from Pertex, Ultrex, Neilon tafet-ta SIRO fabrics (the latter is an analogue of our calender, but of better quality)

How to choose a sleeping bag taking into account body size and personal characteristics
The standard length of a sleeping bag is 220-235 cm, including the hood. If you are 185 cm or taller, you should consider purchasing an XL size sleeping bag. And if you are also extremely broad in the shoulders or not in the shoulders, it’s worth trying out a sleeping bag for your figure, or better yet, if the seller allows you to do this, get into the sleeping bag right in the store and try it on. Climb inside your chosen sleeping bag, fully zip and lock, and tighten the hood, leaving the smallest possible opening. This is the only way to check whether the sleeping bag is the right length. The fabric should not be stretched either on the hood or at the legs, so that “cold spots” do not appear. There should be enough space left around the hands. The best option is if, with slightly bent legs, the side walls do not stretch too much. To further determine the width and length, consider whether you will sleep in just underwear or wear additional clothing, or if you plan to turn around in your sleep with or inside the sleeping bag.

Children's - 71 x 145 cm. The total area is reduced in order to warm up faster with minimal heat loss. Available in bright, cheerful colors.
Teenage - 73 x 167 cm. Narrower or shorter sleeping bags for teenagers or short adults.
Standard - 84 x 190 cm. Standard sleeping bags for adults of average height.

Double (Sparky) - Sleeping bags, with the possibility of pairing. After a simple connection procedure (with standard zippers), you get a two- or three-person sleeping bag. It is always much warmer in such a sleeping bag. Larger or longer than standard - for tall people, or wider - for overweight people or those who like to sleep freely. From 84 x 198 cm to 96 x 205 cm

How to choose a sleeping bag and check the quality
How to check the quality of a product? The zipper should be large, open and close without jamming, but with some difficulty. The filler should be distributed evenly, without lumps. It is advisable that the sleeping bag be additionally quilted in several places so that the filling does not bunch up. If you plan to zip together several sleeping bags, remember that in addition to the fact that the zipper must be detachable, in such models a sleeping bag with a left zipper is often attached to a sleeping bag with a right zipper.

A good branded sleeping bag features:
- absence of “cold” seams, those quilted through and through;
- in expensive models there is a strip closing the zipper;
- in expensive models there are cuffs that cover the entrance to the sleeping bag;
- a special fastener near the hood (hook or button) that prevents the zipper from spontaneously unfastening during sleep;
- a special protective tape sewn to the inside of the zipper prevents the fabric from being bitten, damaging the zipper and the protective coating on the fabric;
- in expensive models and in cocoons there is a zipper in the bottom of the sleeping bag so that it can be turned inside out (inside out) and dried faster (one layer of insulation dries faster than two!);
- dark outer fabric - it heats up faster, which is an advantage when drying a sleeping bag in camping conditions;
- absence of crooked stitches and visible traces of sealing, technological holes.

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Based on materials from the article "How to choose a sleeping bag"
Original URL http://extreme.nnov.ru

A sleeping bag is an essential element of field equipment for any military personnel. Military sleeping bags are used to ensure normal rest in almost any weather. Modern materials used in tailoring affect the lower weight of accessories and their compactness. And these indicators are the most important for the military, who have to carry all the equipment on themselves.

Some nuances

Military sleeping bags are designed in such a way that they can be used in any conditions. But before buying models, you should think about some of their features:

• Military bags are not divided into winter and summer. Their main difference is the maximum temperature at which they can be comfortably used. Army sleeping bags are marked with two numbers: the first indicates comfortable conditions, the second indicates maximum permissible conditions.
• Military sleeping bags are complemented by fasteners that are positioned as conveniently as possible for the user.
• A sleeping bag is an accessory that is created using a water- and windproof upper shell, insulation and a membrane-based lining located between the layers. Such a composition is a guarantee that fumes will be removed from the body most effectively.

Modern high-tech fabrics are used to sew products. At the same time, each country develops its own standards for creating such accessories.

Is it possible to replace it with tourist ones?

Many people believe that any tourist sleeping bags can be used as army sleeping bags. In fact, in simple models, although they are comfortable, there is no fire-resistant impregnation. But products intended for use by the military must be treated with special preparations. Their task is to block the spread of fire. You can climb into military sleeping bags with your feet in shoes, since easily washable material is used to cover the inside of the accessory.

But if you buy a sleeping bag just for going out into nature, you can get by with simple camping equipment. These models come with or without insulation, so you should pay attention to the temperature at which you plan to use them. Experienced users say that it is not worth saving on a good sleeping bag, especially if it will be used in harsh conditions.

Design features

Military sleeping bags look like ordinary products that are used for hiking and active outdoor activities. But designers of accessories for the military think through each element separately. Thus, equipment of this type and purpose has the following features:

• Part of the sleeping bag is the mat. To create it, durable camouflage with a high degree of resistance to moisture is used. Polyurethane foam is used as filling. This composition is a guarantee that a serviceman will not freeze, even if he sleeps in a sleeping bag on the bare ground and in the cold. By the way, there is enough polyurethane foam in the mat to use it as a life preserver. This indicator and the affordable price of an army-style sleeping bag make them popular among hunters and fishermen.
• An army bag has an individual structure depending on what military unit it is intended for. For example, for first responders, it is more important for accessories to be without fasteners. In them, the insulation is distributed unevenly; wind protection strips are used to strengthen the side parts, and the top is treated with materials with ventilation holes.

How is the protective effect achieved?

Experts say that there is no such thing as a winter army sleeping bag. Each model is built on a modular principle and can be used in both winter and summer. This is achieved by the multi-layer structure of the accessory, when each layer can be unfastened. If we talk about the summer type, then this sleeping bag is lightweight and thin. A layer of fleece can be placed on top of it. When it gets cold, it can be covered with a membrane layer. That is, the fabric structure of the sleeping bag can be disassembled into its components, and it is possible to choose an option for a specific time of year or weather.

Important functional details

The price of a sleeping bag of this type is not much different from its tourist or camping counterparts (from 1,500 rubles), which makes it popular not only among the military, but also among ordinary tourists. It is very convenient to use - by opening the zipper, you can make a cozy and warm blanket. A distinctive feature of the accessories is their camouflage coloring, although it is optional. Many brands produce military gear in shades of green and brown.

The army sleeping bag receives good reviews from users. In particular, buyers respond positively to the presence of many design elements. So, some models are complemented by a zipper at the bottom - it is needed to turn a sleeping bag into an elongated coat. Winter models have sleeves that are hidden under fabric inserts and are tightly fixed. For use in winter, you can choose equipment with a visor with an elastic band - it is needed to tightly cover the face.

Composition and equipment

In their reviews, buyers are urged to pay attention to the composition of sleeping bags. Most manufacturers offer sleeping bag models made of polyester - the outer layer is made from it. The inner one is made of viscose and polyamide. The filling, depending on the model, may be different, but the most budget-friendly and at the same time warm option is holofiber. Leading manufacturers (for example, SNUGPAK) create sleeping bags from a special wind and waterproof material, Paratex Steelplate, which, while thin, has a high degree of strength. For this purpose, materials that are treated with resins are used.

How much does an army sleeping bag weigh, taking into account its main components? On average, weight varies from 2 to 2.8 kg. A complete sleeping bag package may include:

• external protective cover that prevents dirt and rain from getting inside the sleeping bag and provides additional thermal insulation;
• hygiene bag in the form of an insert;
• zipper bag;
• compression bag.

About technical parameters

What characteristics of an army sleeping bag play the most important role? As a rule, the manufacturer indicates the following parameters on its products:

• operating temperature;
• model (cocoon, mummy);
• length;
• folded dimensions;
• presence of lightning;
• external and internal materials;
• Can be used as a blanket;
• the ability to combine two bags into one;
• presence of a hood;
• degree of bottom reinforcement.

Important parameters are the materials used, season and temperature of use.

We have already talked about this earlier. And in this article, among other things, it was said that you need to choose a sleeping bag based on its temperature conditions. The temperature regime is indicated on sleeping bags in the form of three values, for example – (+10, comfort -2, extreme -18). As it turned out, some people do not quite correctly understand what the temperature regime of a sleeping bag is and what the values ​​​​indicated on the sleeping bag mean. Since the main purpose of a sleeping bag is to maintain a person’s thermal balance, in order to understand what exactly the temperature values ​​​​on a sleeping bag determine, we need to first understand what a person’s thermal balance is. Human heat balance is a state of a person in which the amount of heat that his body produces is equal to the amount of heat that the body loses as a result of air circulation, breathing, evaporation of moisture from the surface of the body, and other things. That is, to simplify, heat balance is when a person is warm, due to the fact that he loses as much heat as he produces. It must be taken into account that heat transfer can depend on a person’s build, gender and age. For example, studies show that women, on average, are more thermophilic than men and for them it is better to select a sleeping bag temperature 5 degrees lower. The same applies to young people under 18 years of age (for the reason that at a young age the heat exchange is higher than at an adult age). So what do the temperature values ​​of a sleeping bag really mean? Starting from our example (+10, comfort -2, extreme -18), let’s first consider the average value. Comfort temperature– (in our case -2) this is the temperature at which a person can sleep without feeling discomfort all night. That is, the thermal balance in the human body will be maintained throughout the night. The value - comfort -2 means the lower limit of the comfort temperature in this sleeping bag, the upper limit in our case is the first value indicated on the temperature regime of our sleeping bag, that is - (+10). The upper comfort temperature value means the temperature at which a person can sleep in a given sleeping bag without excessive sweating. Extreme temperature(extreme -18) – this parameter indicates the temperature at which the sleeping bag provides sufficient warmth to protect against hypothermia but does not ensure the maintenance of full thermal balance. That is, in our example, sleeping in a sleeping bag at a temperature from -2 to -18 degrees will be cold and uncomfortable, but this will not lead to severe hypothermia (dangerous for the body) of the body and limbs. But as already mentioned, the body’s heat resistance is quite individual; for each person, the temperature values ​​cannot be considered absolute. Usually, people involved in some way with extreme conditions, for example the military or climbers, are invited to test the temperature conditions of sleeping bags. Their lifestyle usually means that such people are more cold-resistant than people who spend most of their time in warm rooms. It follows from this that if you are unsure of your cold resistance, then it would be a good idea to buy a warmer sleeping bag.

RUB 10,699

Vaude VauDe Sioux 1000 SYN 12124.334L (blue)

Filler - synthetic. Type - cocoon. Extreme temperature -20..-25 °C. External fabric - polyester. With the possibility of fastening. Rolled length 35 cm. . Height when folded 20 cm. Width when folded 20 cm. Weight with packaging 1.8 kg. Leg width 55 cm. Lining - polyester. Number of layers of filler - 1. Width at the shoulders 80 cm. Purpose - three-season. With anatomical hood. Length: 220 cm.