How to make sure a sleeping bag will keep you warm

These days sleeping bags have an array of numbers on the cover demonstrating their warmth rating.

But what do these numbers really mean?

Technical editor Graham Thompson shows us the ways different companies present this information, so next time you shop for a sleeping bag you can crack the codes and buy one that's warm enough for you.
www.livefortheoutdoors.com

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[GrahamThompson99]

@TIGDIF Over time all bags become less efficient, so it is best to start off with a slightly warmer bag. Also while you can add clothes to make a bag feel warmer, this can be uncomfortable and potentially it can reduce the efficiency of the bag because you may find that you have so many clothes on that you square the insulation in the sleeping bag and hence the bag is less able to keep you warm. If in doubt choose a warmer bag than you need and open the side zips when you overheat.

[TIGDIF]

Hi, great vid and has narrowed my decision on a new sleeping bag to 2 of the same name (terra nova) but different ratings. The problem is this - one bag has a rating of 10 to 3 degrees (£197) and the other is 0 to -7 degrees (£325), I want to use it all year round really but will I get too hot in the more expensive one on warmer nights? or should I buy the cheaper one and just put more cloths on or use a cheap silver emergency safety blanket to put over the bag if the UK winter gets really cold?

[chitown1966]

trail magazine has some wonderful videos. thanks for sharing.

[cdipaolo1996]

"women tend to feel cold more than men" :)

[MrNishi]

helpful vid. thanks for sharing

[seanmulhall]

Great informative video. Thanks for sharing.