When temperatures dip down low and you find yourself in the bitter conditions of arctic areas, what you need is an arctic sleeping bag. Temperatures are often low even in the day in these regions, and even in the warmer months it can be bitterly cold, necessitating the kind of sleeping bag that might only be used on the coldest days of the year in warmer climates. Investing in a good arctic sleeping bag for such conditions is critical, because the last thing you want to have to do is shiver through an arctic night, rather than sleep through it.
Arctic Sleeping Bag
Features to look for when shopping for arctic sleeping bags.- Minimum Temperature – Do your research and find out what the approximate minimum temperature is likely to be in the arctic regions that you will be spending time in. When dealing with such low temperatures the cold can be dangerous, and the last thing you want to do is go to such a region unprepared for the conditions.
- Sleeping Pad – This isn’t actually a feature of your sleeping bag, but it’s an important thing to mention. Sleeping bags insulate on the principle of loft, but when you’re laying on a sleeping bag all the loft is crushed down. So what you’re sleeping on matters, and a winter sleeping pad will reflect a lot of body heat back up at you, whereas a less insulated sleeping pad will let all that heat seep out. Do yourself a favor and invest in a winter sleeping pad.
Best Arctic Sleeping Bag
Some of the better arctic sleeping bags on the market.- Mont Bell U.L. Super Spiral Down Hugger - With a minimum temperature rating of -20 this is an ideal sleeping bag for arctic conditions. It uses 800+ fill down and a water repellent shell, so that you don't have to worry too much about the down getting wet and losing insulating power. It also has fairly standard cold weather features, like a draft collar, zipper insulation and a drawcord on the hood. It also has Mont Bell's signature 45 degree cut, which coils around you for added warmth. It weighs 3 pounds 7 ounces, or 1.55 kilograms.
- Western Mountaineering Puma Gore WS - Another arctic sleeping bag with a slightly lower temperature rating of -25. This is another sleeping bag with a water repellent outer, and uses the slightly higher quality 850+ fill down, for extra warmth without extra weight. You get all the necessary extras to stay warm at night, like a draft collar. And it has a very respectable weight of 3 pounds 10 ounces, or 1.64 kilograms.
- Marmot CWM EQ - For when things get truly cold there is something like the CWM, with a minimum temperature rating of -40. It uses 800+ fill down, and has a fully waterproof exterior, so that you don't have to worry about your down getting wet and you getting very cold at night. And of course it has all the necessary extras, like a draft collar and drawcord on the hood to make sure no hot air escapes at night. It weighs 4 pounds 10 ounces, or 2.09 kilograms.
