Choosing the Right Sleeping Bag for Comfort

During our recent road trip to Amado, Arizona for an OzTent show my wife and I experienced some interesting weather traveling from March to April. We decided to take the southern route from IL through Missouri into Oklahoma to visit our Son and his new bride of 6 mos. they also introduced us to our "grand dogger", an italian miniature greyhound.

As we entered Albuquerque, NM we experienced temps overnight down to 18 degrees, in a camping tent! Needless to say my wife was not a happy camper, unless you are prepared for the elements it could be a dangerous situation if your body temp drops and is not able to warm up could lead to hypothermia.
Choosing a sleeping bag is critical when it comes to comfort and a restful night sleep, a sleeping bag's temperature rating identifies the lowest temperature at which a bag will keep the average sleeper warm. When you hear a bag described as a "20 degree bag," it means that most users should remain comfortable if the air temperature drops no lower than 20°F. These ratings assume that the sleeper is wearing a layer of long underwear and using a sleeping pad under the bag. The other key element in choosing the right temp rating is the metabolism of the person, which can vary from one person to the next, for example my wife & I were both set up on camping cots using + 25 degree bags with a micro fibre fill, which for me was good but in order to provide the needed additional warmth for her we added a fleece blanket for underneath her body with a wool blanket as a liner inside the sleeping bag for added insulation.
Here is a Tip for choosing a sleeping bag:
Select a bag with a temperature rating a bit lower than the lowest temperature you expect to encounter. If you're headed for near-freezing temperatures, then choose a 20°F bag instead of a 35°F bag. If temperatures climb higher than expected, you can easily vent the bag to provide more circulation on warmer nights.
Here is a general rule of thumb when choosing a sleeping bag:
Bag Type Temperature Rating (°F)
Summer Season +35° and higher
3-Season Bag +10° to +35°
Cold Weather -10° to +10°
Winter/Extreme -10° and lower

You will find that sleeping bag temperature ratings vary from one manufacturer to the next. Use these ratings as a guide only, not a guarantee. However, I have found that the newer fibres, oversized and also bags for sleeping 2 have made a huge difference in a restful and comfortable nights rest. you can find them on-line at lots of camping locations including Family Tent Camping