How to choose a sleeping bag
Temperature ratings, shapes and fillings explained simply.
Read the comfort rating
Most bags list comfort, limit and extreme temperatures. Plan around the comfort figure — the limit is what a warm sleeper survives, not what feels pleasant.
Shape
Mummy bags are warmer and pack smaller because there is less air to heat. Rectangular bags give more room to move and can often zip together for couples.
Filling
Down is lighter and packs smaller but loses warmth when wet. Synthetic filling is heavier but keeps insulating when damp and dries faster — a sensible choice for beach and humid trips.
Desert nights
Deserts can drop sharply after sunset, especially in winter. A bag rated around 5–10°C plus a warm layer covers most cool-season desert nights in the Gulf.
Don't forget the pad
A sleeping bag only insulates the top of you — your weight crushes the filling underneath. Pair it with a pad or air mattress to stop the ground pulling heat away.
Care
Store the bag loose at home, not compressed in its stuff sack, so the filling keeps its loft for years.