Sleeping bags come with either a synthetic filling or down filling and in different seasons for different climates and uses. It is important to match the right sleeping bag for the job you want it for.

Down Bags

The benefits of having a down bag are: warmer, lighter and more compressible than synthetic, which makes traveling on expeditions a lot easier.

Ratio of down to feathers is important, as it is the down that provides insulation. The higher the percentage of down to feathers will mean that it is a higher quality and it will be warmer.

Down bags are measured in fill power, that is how 'fluffy' the down is, the higher the fill power the better the insulation will be, the best down come from geese; it is better than duck down as they are bigger birds, so have a lot more of it and will have larger clusters.

Fill power is the ability the down has to resist compression; in Europe this is measured by measuring 30g of down, this then is put into a vertical cylinder and is compressed with a weighted plunger and then released. A reading is then taken in millimeters of height after it has sprung up, measuring its' loftiness. Fill power in a decent sleeping bag will range from around 500+ anything over 750+ is excellent.
(The U.S measurements will appear higher then the European measures, as there is not a universal test, the U.S measure down in cubic inches per ounce of down.)

Down bags usually come with a water resistant outer shell made of such materials as Pertex Microlite which is highly breathable, this is to protect the bags from getting damp and thus losing its thermal properties.

Just like a duvet, the down inside can move around quite easily so to counteract this, manufacturers create little compartments to hold the down in place. There are different types of construction:

Construction:

Stitch Through
The lightest and simplest construction, it holds the down in place, although creates cold spots in between the compartments, though this maybe useful in Summer.

Box Wall
This construction is made up of box baffles, which allows the heat to pass through the walls without letting the down move around the bag. As the down can reach the edges of the baffles, the down covers more of the body and no cold spots are created.

Slant Box Wall
As the name suggests the baffles are at a slant like a 'V' shape which again allows the heat to be passed through efficiently with keeping the down in place. A more costly construction and only featured on the top line bags.

Trapezoid
The trapezoid construction is made up of adjacent trapezoid-shaped baffles that are positioned with their parallel sides opposite each other.   


 Synthetic Bags

Synthetic-filled insulation is made using poly-fibres. These fibers act the same as the natural down clusters to retain heat. Sleeping bags made with synthetic fibers will be heavier but they are able to retain heat even if the bag got wet. They will also dry out quicker, if they do get wet, a lot quicker then down bags.

Being man made synthetics bags are hypoallergenic, so is recommended if you are sensitive to down and feathers. Although they will not last as long as a down bag, synthetic bags are cheaper and easier to maintain.

Like the down bags, synthetic bags are made up of different constructions to hold the synthetic insulation in place and to help retain heat:

Synthetic Construction:

Stitch Through
Again this construction will hold the insulation in place and is featured in more 'family camping' sleeping bags but still it creates cold spots, which maybe useful in Summer.

Welded Layer
This simple construction patented to Mountain Hardware enhances loft and eliminates cold spots. One sheet of outer fabric is welded across the insulation layer making it light and warmer.


Different Temperature Ratings:

To buy the right season bag for you, you need to think about:

 Where are you going? Is it in wet conditions down might not be that practical, although if you are alpine climbing a nice warm down bag would be useful.
What season is it? If you were going camping in Winter your sleeping bag that you use when staying over at a friends or camping in Summer would not be sufficient.
Do you feel the cold quite easily? Are you male or female? (Females feel the cold more so) What you wear to bed? The less layers you wear whilst sleeping the better, your body heat needs to be able to escape into the bag for it to work properly, if you are already layered up then your heat will be trapped in between those layers and will not feel the benefit. Have you eaten properly? You need to make sure that you have eaten something hot before you go to sleep, this raises your body temperature and your sleeping bag will trap this heat and use it to keep you warm.

Using different type of mats will make a difference to your warmth as well as comfort. Blow up beds are comfy but not practical for lightweight travelling but is fine if you are driving and camping in summer. The warmest sleeping mats are the self-inflating mats or the traditional roll mats; this is because they are close to the ground and close to your body. If you are using a camp bed and are feeling the cold that would be because all the air underneath you will be cold, so a roll mat is recommended.

Roll mats can range from very cheap £5-£6 to the higher end of the market self-inflating mats made by Thermarest which can be rolled away very compact and light, ideal for traveling and expeditions. Cheaper versions made by Outwell and Vango are available but can be heavier and less compact, which is fine for general camping if you have access to a car.
 http://www.tauntonleisure.com/categories/mats---airbeds/119/1

Also if you are using a sleeping bag liner, this will add warmth to your sleeping bag.

Different manufacturers used to rate their bags differently but a European Standard is now in place, click on the link below if you would like to read more:

http://www.europeanoutdoorgroup.com/downloads/sleeping-bags/EN13537%20Information%20For%20Retailers%20Jan%2005.pdf

Kids Sleeping Bags:

Kids grow up quickly so you will not find a very technical bag in the kids range. Few companies produce down bags for children partly due to the fact that as we all know small children can be messy and down bags are hard and expensive to clean. Some though will come with a terry cotton or flannel lining for extra comfort.

Alternatively if you child is growing just a bit too fast, you can buy bags that are longer and tie the end by their feet so the heat is retained around their body.


Maintenance:

To maintain a healthy life span and to keep it cleaner that bit longer, it is recommended that you use a sleeping bag liner. These just slip inside your bag and are easier to take out and clean. 

Down bags are a lot harder to clean then synthetic bags, you can get special down washes (DO NOT use liquid soap or detergent) but we do not recommended you do it yourself as it is time consuming and easy to get wrong. It is recommended you send it off to professional cleaners: www.franklinsgroup.co.uk