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Camping in the winter can be a really rewarding experience. It is generally quieter for a start, which means you get the best pitches, whether staying on a campsite or wild camping in the hills.
But how do you make sure you don’t get too cold at night? The answer is to get yourself a high-quality winter sleeping bag.
In this guide, I will discuss what to look for when choosing a sleeping bag and also share with you what I believe are the 10 best winter sleeping bags available to buy in the UK.
Recommended Winter Sleeping Bag
How To Choose A Sleeping Bag For Winter
Insulation Type
When it comes to choosing your perfect sleeping bag, you need to consider the type of insulation it is made with as this can have a significant impact on the warmth inside your sleeping bag.
There are two main types of insulation inside sleeping bags, down and synthetic insulation.
Down Insulation
Feather down insulation is lightweight insulation that is designed to keep you warm by trapping your body heat inside tiny air pockets.
Trapping the heat given off by your body, whilst keeping out the cold air makes these sleeping bags very effective at keeping you warm in very cold conditions.
One of the main advantages of down insulations compared to synthetic is that it packs down much smaller, so if you need to carry your sleeping bag with you in a backpack, a down sleeping bag will mean you have more space inside your backpack.
The downside to these sleeping bags is that they tend to be more expensive than synthetic insulation, due to the high cost of getting the down material.
You must also make sure you avoid them getting wet as the feather down inside the sleeping bag is very hard to dry out and when it doesn’t dry it can lose its fluffiness, reducing their heat retaining properties.
Synthetic Insulation
Synthetic insulation makes use of man-made materials to provide warmth.
These sleeping bags are generally cheaper than feather down insulated sleeping bags because it is much easier to source the materials you need to make them.
They are also easier to clean compared to a feather down sleeping bag as they absorbed less water, meaning they will dry out quicker. They also don’t lose their insulating abilities when washed, unlike down sleeping bags.
The disadvantage with these sleeping bags is that they down provide the same level of warmth compacted to a down sleeping bag unless you fill them with more insulation. This means there is a trade-off between, weight, warmth and pack size that the manufacturers are trying to strike to make a comparable product to a down sleeping bag.
Season Rating
Season Rating | Use |
Season 1 | Summer Camping |
Season 2 | Late Spring Camping |
Season 3 | Late Autumn/Early Winter Camping |
Season 4 | Cold, Frosty Nights Camping |
Temperature Rating
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a winter sleeping bag is the temperature rating.
In the winter in the UK, temperatures can drop a lot lower than you might think. For instance, in 2020, the lowest temperature in Scotland was -23°C, which was the lowest in the UK.
If you plan on camping in the winter, it is worth checking what the temperature will be when you go to its lowest point.
Sleeping bag manufacturers often provide 3 temperature rating types for their sleeping bags: comfort, limit and extreme.
- Comfort Rating – The comfort rating is the lowest temperature you could sleep at comfortably whilst layout straight and without feeling shivery.
- Limit Rating – This limit rating is the lowest temperature that your sleeping bag could be used when you are curled in the fetal position where you won’t be too cold during the night.
- Extreme Rating – The extreme rating is based around the lowest temperatue that you could survive at should you get stuck in extereme cold. You won’t get a comfortable nights sleep, but you will live to see the morning!
Ideally, you will buy a sleeping bag that has a lower comfort rating than the temperature you are likely to encounter. As we know, we can’t 100% predict how low the temperature will fall overnight when camping, so giving yourself a few extra degrees is always a good idea.
Shape
Sleeping bags come in a number of shapes, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The main 3 sleeping bag shapes are Mummy, Square and Pod.
Mummy
Mummy shaped sleeping bags are shaped to wrap around your body tightly. A bit like an Egyptian mummy! The start wider at the top for your shoulders and taper down to a narrower point at the end for your feet.
The main advantage to these sleeping bags is that they can be easily pulled tight against your body, reducing the amount of air that can get into the sleeping bag and that is circulating inside it. The air inside your sleeping bag will make you colder during the night and therefore having as little as possible inside your sleeping bag is a good idea.
These sleeping bags are also lighter than other shapes as they use less material.
The downside with mummy sleeping bags is that they can be very restrictive when sleeping, so if you like to spread out to sleep then these might not be right for you.
Square
Square sleeping bags (which are actually rectangular) are probably what most people picture when imagining a sleeping bag.
They are rectangular and generally have a zip running along the side and down across the bottom so that they can be turned into a duvet.
Compared to a mummy shaped sleeping bag, there is a lot more room inside a square sleeping bag, making it much easier for you to stretch and move a bit more inside the sleeping bag.
However, as there is more space inside the sleeping bag, this means that there is more air inside. More air inside your sleeping bag will make it more difficult for the inside of your sleeping bag to stay warm, therefore you are more likely to get cold during the night.
Pod
Pod shape sleeping bags are a fairly new concept. These sleeping bags are oval-shaped and are designed to give the user more room to spread out inside the sleeping bag.
Whilst they do provide more room, the compromise with these sleeping bags is that they have worse heat retention than mummy sleeping bags. They are also bulkier and heavier than both mummy and square sleeping bags.
Weight
Depending on where you will be using your sleeping bag, weight is another factor you should consider.
If you are wild camping or you need to carry your sleeping bag in a rucksack over a long distance to your camping spot, you should try and choose a sleeping bag that is as light as possible (unless you are going to save weight on other pieces of gear of course.
Most winter sleeping bags will weigh between 1.2kg – 1.7kg, however, there are some that weigh as little as 1.07kg and others up to 3.5kg.
Pack Size
Understanding the size of the sleeping bag when packed down is also something to consider, particularly if you will be carrying your sleeping bag in a rucksack.
You should check the size of your rucksack to see how much room there will be for your sleeping bag and choose your sleeping bag accordingly.
Sleeping Bag Features
There are other features that you may want to consider when buying a sleeping bag, which I haven’t gone into in the below guide. These are:
- Baffles – The compartments that hold the insulation in the sleeping bag
- Inner Lining – The material used inside the sleeping bag. You should look for a breathable material here to stop you from getting too hot and sweaty in your sleep
- Outer Fabric – The material used on the outside of the sleeping bag. Something water-resistant and durable would make a good choice here.
- Two Way Zip – A two-way zip allows you to open the sleeping bag from the top or bottom and can improve the ventilation fo the sleeping bag
- Zip Baffle – This is insulation behind the zip, reducing the heat loss through the zip area
- Zip Cover – This is a piece of fabric used to stop the zip from moving when zipped up
- Hood – The area of the sleeping bag that goes over your head to reduce heat loss from your head
- Draft Collar – This is the part of the sleeping bag that can be tied around the neck area to reduce the amount of heat escaping up through the top of the sleeping bag
- Inner Pocket – Pockets inside the sleeping bag for storing items, such as phones and money
- Stuff Sack – This is a bag for storing the sleeping bag. Mummy sleeping bags don’t tend to fold into a bag and are just stuffed inside theirs. Much easier for packing away and compressing the sleeping bag.
Best Winter Sleeping Bags UK
Marmot Sawtooth Sleeping Bag – My Favourite Winter Sleeping Bag
If you are looking for a sleeping bag that strikes the balance between price, temperature rating and weight, then I believe the Marmot Sawtooth Sleeping Bag is a perfect choice.
This down-filled sleeping bag has a comfort rating of -6°C and a limit rating of -13°C, which is warmer than the average compared to other sleeping bags in this list, however, this will be suitable for most conditions for winter camping.
At a pack size of 41cm x Ø19cm, this sleeping bag should fit into your rucksack comfortably.
Priced at £239.99, this sleeping bag is way below the average for a sleeping bag within the 4 season rating bracket.
A great choice for those who want a high-quality sleeping bag for the winter without breaking the bank!
Mountain Equipment Helium 600 – Lightest Winter Sleeping Bag
If you are heading out wild camping or on a winter expedition and you’re going to be carrying everything you need on your back for the next week or so, you’re probably going to want to buy the lightest winter sleeping bag you can.
If this sounds like you, then you will probably want to get the Mountain Equipment Helium 600 sleeping bag.
Weighing just 1,070g, this is the lightest 4 season sleeping bag that you will find.
Priced at £280, this is also one of the cheaper sleeping bags on the list.
One of the main compromises with this extra light sleeping bag is the comfort rating, which is the warmest on the list at -1°C. The limit rating is also not as good as others at -8°C.
A good choice for those who need a light sleeping bag, but not the best for very cold conditions.
Robens Couloir 750 – Smallest Pack Size Winter Sleeping Bag
If you are only carrying a small rucksack or simply don’t have much space in your rucksack, you might need a sleeping bag that packs down very small.
The Robens Couloir 750 will be a great choice for you, packing down to just 30cm x Ø22cm, which is very small compared to other sleeping bags on the list.
In spite of the small pack size, the comfort and limit rating are still quite low, a -10°C and -15°C respectively.
Weighing 1,235g, this sleeping bag is below average compared to others on the list, which is also great for carrying on your back in addition to the small pack size.
The main sticking point with this sleeping bag is the price, which is £435, making it one of the most expensive on the list.
This is a great choice for those who are willing to pay more to get a sleeping bag that ticks pretty much all the boxes for a warm winter sleeping bag.
Mountain Equipment Aurora VI – Lowest Limit Rated Winter Sleeping Bag
If you’re going to be sleeping outdoors in the coldest conditions then you are going to need a sleeping bag with a low-temperature rating.
The Mountain Equipment Aurora VI comes with a very low comfort rating of -18°C, which will be suitable for most of the winter conditions you are likely to encounter in the UK. The limit rating is also very low at -35°C, the lowest on this list.
This low temperature doesn’t come without compromise. The weight of this sleeping bag is 3,450g, which is much heavier than any of the other sleeping bags on the list.
The price of £420 is also much higher than the majority of sleeping bags in the 4 season range,
A great choice for those whose top priority is having a low-temperature rating, regardless of cost and weight.
Vango Latitude Pro 400 – Lowest Priced Winter Sleeping Bag
If you are in the market for a cheap, 4 season sleeping bag, the Vango Latitude Pro 400 would be a great choice.
For just £80, you get a mummy shaped 4 season sleeping bag that has surprisingly few compromises compared to its more expensive counterparts.
With a comfort rating of -4°C and a limit rating of -11°C, this sleeping bag has surprising low ratings given that it uses synthetic insulation as opposed to down insulation.
It also packs down fairly small at 29 x ø24cm, which is compatible with other sleeping bags on the list.
One compromise is the weight, which at 2,100g is high compared to other sleeping bags you could get.
A strong contender for those who need a winter sleeping bag, but don’t have a large budget.
Best Of The Rest Winter Sleeping Bags
Mountain Equipment Snowline
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Deuter Astro Pro 800
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Rab Andes 1000
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OEX Fathom EV 400 Sleeping Bag
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Rab Ascent 1100
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Summary
Hopefully from this guide, you have been able to find the perfect winter sleeping bag for you.
My personal choice is the Marmot Sawtooth Sleeping Bag as I feel it strikes the best balance between all the different factors you need to consider when buying a sleeping bag.
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