Temperature Ratings for Sleeping Bags

Sleeping Bag Temperature RatingAre you planning to camp in the summer or in the winter? When choosing a sleeping bag, decide what the lowest temperature you are likely to encounter will be. Choose a bag that will perform to this temperature.

Temperature Rating Chart for Sleeping Bags

Most sleeping bags have a temperature rating that lets you know what temperatures they are designed to withstand:

Season/Climate Degrees C Degrees F
Summer 2 to 10 ℃ 35 to 50 ℉
Spring and Fall -1 to -10 ℃ 15 to 30 ℉
Winter -18 to -35 ℃ -30 to 0 ℉
Mountaineering, Arctic -25 to -50 ℃ -60 to -10 ℉

Sleeping Bag Temperature Tips:

  • Bags that are designed to wrap tightly around your body tend to retain more heat throughout the night.
  • Buy camping sleeping bags for the coldest temperature you might face.
  • 2–3 lbs of fill is suitable for the summer months.
  • For colder weather, choose a sleeping bag with 4–6 lbs of fill.
  • If you tend to get cold, purchase a sleeping bag with rated for 5 to 10 degrees colder temperatures than you think you might need.

Sleeping bag temperature ratings are approximated observations. To ensure your comfort and safety, opt for a bag that can handle weather even a few degrees cooler than you expect to encounter.

Author: Kirsten
(The CampTrip Team)

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