Backpacking Sleep System (Sleeping Bag + Liner and Sleeping Pad)

Description

What's a Sleep System? 

Enjoying a well rested night's sleep is paramount to making the most of your time outdoors! Feeling rested and energetic for the trails ahead starts with building a comfy, cozy sleep system that includes a sleeping bag, sleeping liner, and sleeping pad that best meet your needs throughout any season. 

Things to consider when selecting your sleep system gear:

Sleeping Bags

Sleeping bags are your primary source of insulation. The type of insulation (e.g., down or synthetic) contributes to the warmth, weight, and water resistant preformance of the bag. Some things to consider when selecting a sleeping bag for your trip are:

  • Down filled sleeping bags and quilts have a high warmth to weight ratio and are easily compressible. Ideal for backpacking trip! While synthetic sleeping bags are heavier and bulkier, they preform better when wet and are great for car camping! 
  • Choosing the right size of sleeping bag is important! Insulating material is dispersed throughout the bag in targeted areas (top and sides) to protect against heat loss at vital areas such as the feet, hips, and chest. Oversized sleeping bags won't be as effective in trapping heat near critical areas and take longer to warm up while bags that are too small constrict movement while sleeping. 
  • Quilts are often ultralight weight, a wonderful option for folks who move around in their sleep or in warmer seasons where maximum insulation is not desirable. 

Sleeping Liners

Sleeping bag liners not only extend the longevity of the sleeping bags; preventing dirt and odor transfer from breaking down the bag materials but also are a great way of increasing warmth without adding a ton of weight to your pack! 

Sleeping Pads

The R-value of a sleeping pad measures its thermal resistance which translates to how well the sleeping pad resists heat loss to the ground. Sleeping pads with higher R-values indicate greater insulation, reducing heat lost to the ground at night. While these pads may be heavier, they are ideal for cooler temperature nights!

Conversely, sleeping pads with lower R-values allow for better heat diffusion, allowing for heat transfer and are great for warm weather camping!  

Reccomended R-values by the Season

  • Summer-only backpacking/camping: R-value of 1 to 3
  • 3-season backpacking/camping: R-value of 3 to 5
  • Winter/4-season use: R-value of 5+

More details on R-values found here: https://www.switchbacktravel.com/info/sleeping-pad-r-value#r-value