Sleeping bags: selection criteria 
T that period that you love mountains eventually end up sleeping in it, and therefore buying a sleeping bag. When that time comes assail us lots of questions like: what kind of bag I need?, "with a -5 ° C is sufficient or I roast a chicken?, what are the differences between feather and fiber?, what's that" 600 cuin?, etc. .
To clarify these questions and explain what are the criteria to consider when choosing a sleeping bag. Use
sleeping bag
Like any other material to choose from, the first thing to consider is the use we give it: Camping, Trekking, Low Mountain, High Mountain ... Consider the main types of bags:
- sleeping bag Camping: are ideal for temperatures around 15 º C, and for use in tent. And most of the interior lining is flannel, which gives a nice feeling. Rectangular shaped and have an adjustable hood in the header. They are usually large in size and weight exceeding 2 kg since the person who goes camping charge does not care a bit more weight.
- Sleeping bag for Trekking: these bags cover the temperature range between -5 º C and 10 º C, it is important that they are of small size and weight, as in Trekking effort should be optimized. Type are generally mum and having no corners is minimized heat loss. They also have adjustable hoods to protect from the cold.
- Mountain sleeping bag: cover temperature ranges below -5 º C, reaching some sleeping bags down to -40 º C. As Trekking bags, these are of a mummy. The difference is that they have greater weight and volume than the previous ones, because they must cover more extreme temperature ranges. We recommend synthetic fiber bags for dry and humid feather filled bags are recommended only for dry (when wet it loses the feather insulation and in the mountains the atmosphere is usually quite wet.)
A crucial aspect to consider during the election based on the use we give the bag is the weight and volume. We can not go trekking with a 2kg bag and occupying half 15L backpack.
Materials The materials that the bag is made are the ones to determine their ability to retain heat, so it's the most important aspect to consider when choosing a bag. Of them also depend on the price.
1. Fillers
Its function is to store the heat from the body and keep it trapped. As for the filling are 2 types:
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Pen: is a natural product of unquestionable performance. The advantages are that it is very light, is small in size and has great ability to keep warm. The disadvantages with the price (the bags are more expensive) than under isothermal moisture capacity is seriously undermined and it takes long to dry. The quality of the pen is expressed in the mixture of the amount of% and% down feather. A co sa sleeping with down 90/10 is better than 80/20. The amount of filler is a key factor to determine the temperature mine that will support the bag, this is expressed in cuin (cubic inches) and There are 3 ranges of bags: about 400 cuin, around 500-600 and above 700.
- Synthetic Fiber: on wet fiber offers significant advantages over the pen, it works equally well in dry environments that also dries quickly and is much cheaper. The Contras are the weight and volume of transport. As with the feathers on these bags must be taken into account the amount of padding, remember that any bag less than 1Kg fiber is a summer bag for use in tent or shelter, whatever they say vendors and / or catalogs.
If you want a sleeping bag for general use is more recommended a synthetic fiber, it applies to both wet and dry climates . But if you're looking for a good coat, warm and comfortable sleep above all, the best is a feathered.
2. tissue materials
This aspect is often left forgotten when choosing a jacket, but is one of the points that must be considered. A finely woven is obviously lighter, but it is too fine feathers crossed it also be a tissue much more delicate and less resistant (although it is your responsibility as a user care well, and if you do properly, the fact de que el tejido sea muy fino no debe suponer un inconveniente). Además una tela fina suele ser poco resistente a la humedad, aunque permite un secado más rápido y una mejor evacuación de nuestra transpiración.
Dimensiones Las medidas del saco es uno de puntos a tener en cuenta, no solo para dormir cómodo, sino porque un 30% de la capacidad isotérmica del saco depende de ello.
El espacio libre que quede dentro del saco será aire que actuará como aislante; este aire ayudará a mantener la temperatura en el interior del saco igual que hace el aire que hay entre las plumas o fibras del relleno.
is important that the bag is neither too broad nor too narrow, but lost much of their property. If it is too wide will not be able to heat the air dead space is too tight and if we do not air that insulate us from the outside. It must have some freedom in movement within the bag . Zippers: is important that open in both directions (above and below) to air their feet when it gets too hot at night. zippers should not constitute a weak point in the isolation of a bag, so be coated co No protective bands more or less benefits and services according to the claims of each bag. bags normally used the same brand like zippers, and may unite with each other.
insulating collar: For sleeping bags designed for temperatures below -5 º C, an insulating collar is essential to prevent heat loss by convection, especially the back. It is appropriate that can be closed by a cord or some other means. 
Hood: If the bag is for the summer no matter what the hood is wide and great, but if is for low temperatures (below 0 ° c) should be adjusted and to be preformed. Recall that the head is lost by a large percentage of body heat.
much money do you have? If money does not reach you in a sleeping bag that meets all your requirements, decide which is the most important: Do not be cold, be comfortable, using little space, carry little weight.
Here are some examples to understand the differences:
bags for the same temperature 10 º C:
- Saco Fiber (Vaude Kiowa Ultralight 235): price 100 €, weight 1.200gr, volume 5L , temperature 10 º C
- Pen bag (Marmot Arete regular) price € 179, 680gr weight, volume 3L, temperature 10 º C
bags with the same weight 1.300gr
- Fiber Saco ( Mountain Hardwear Ultralamina 15): 199 €, 1.300gr weight, volume 9L, temperature 0 º C
- Pen bag (Diamir Uli Bayo): 295 €, weight 1.300gr , volume 5L, temperature -7 ° C
Tips
When you place an outdoor activity sleep quality will be a critical element that will determine your performance, the energy you have throughout the day and mood with which it will face. Therefore the choice of sleeping bag should ponder carefully and spare no expense, there are people who for one night on the mountain you regret not having spent a little more or had not taken "that other bag." Before
buying a bag, no expense spared. Sleep is holy!
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