Sleep System

Getting a good nights sleep whether on camp or on expedition is fundamental to having a good time. But there are a bewildering array of products on the market, so how do you pick the right equipement for you?

A sleep system consists of more than just a sleeping bag. You should consider all the items that separate you from the elements. Sleeping under a tarp for example is colder than sleeping in a small tent.

  • Clothing
  • Sleeping mat
  • Pillow
  • Sleeping bag
  • Shelter - a tent, tarp or bivi bag

Clothing

The right clothing can easily add or remove a season from the effective warmth. Having a dedicated set of clothes for night time is important. The clothes you wear during the day get damp from sweat, if you wear them at night that sweat cools, and makes you cold as it evaporates. Fleece night clothes or a set of thermals makes for a much more comfortable night. Thermals have the advantage of wicking sweat away. Adding warm socks and a hat can have a big impact in the cold weather. An extra layer of clothing can always be added to increase the warmth.

Sleeping Mats

A good mat between you and the ground is critical. Where your sleeping bag is compressed between you and the ground the insulation value is reduced dramtically. To counter this you need a good sleeping mat that remains effective even when you are lying on it.

  • Foam Mat - These are cheap, light and robust, check the thickness and look for one at least 10mm/1cm thick. These are a good option for Scout activities. Note: these are different from yoga mats which are designed for padding and tend to be heavier.
  • Self-inflating mats - pack down smaller but are typically heavier and more expensive. They come in a range of thicknesses and can offer greater insulation and comfort. They also need more careful looking after, if they get a puncture they are useless!
  • Air beds - much larger, typically need a pump and are not suitable for young people on Scout activities.

Pillow

A pillow may sound like a luxury but depending on your normal sleeping position it can make the difference to getting a good nights sleep and not having a sore neck in the morning. Rolled up cloths can be used, but an inflatable camping pillow is often more comfortable.

Sleeping Bags

When buying a sleeping bag there are a few things to consider:

How cold is it going to be?

Sleeping bags come rated in seasons and comfort temperatures. For most uses in the UK a 3 season bag is a good place to start, these typically have comfort ratings down to about -5C. In the height of summer you can unzip a bit to stay cooler. Unzipping from the feet end is a great way to regulate temperature in a sleep bag.

Do I feel the cold?

Young people can find this an odd question. But different people get and feel cold differently. Some of us just run hotter or colder than others. This should be taken into consideration when thinking about the type of sleeping bag you need. Females typically need slightly warmer bags than males.

Are you going to be carrying it on expedition, or just used at camp?

What you are going to be using it for is going to make a difference to what qualities are important. For a bag that is going to be carried on expeditions the weight and pack size are going to be more important, but come at a price.

Price?

Sleeping bags ary a lot in price. Typically the more you spend the smaller the bag will pack down and the lighter it will be.

Down vs Synthetic stuffing

Down bags are very warm, light, small, and expensive. They are also pretty much useless if they get wet and take a long time to dry. Down bags require special washing and care. Synthetic bags are normally a good choice for anything but extreme specialist expeditions.

Liners

Fleece liners are a great way to add warmth to your sleeping system and create a flexible sleep system that can be used year round. They can even be used on their own on really hot sticky nights.

Cotton or silk liners can help regulate temperature in summer and also reduce how frequency you need to wash you sleeping bag.

Terminology

  • Seasons - approximate temperature range the bag is designed for 1-season is for summer only, 4 season can be used year round, but may be a bit warm in the summer. 5-season and above are for when you start sleeping in the snow.
  • Shape - most good quality bags are "mummy" shaped. That is they thin towards the feet, this makes them warmer and lighter/smaller to carry. They can feel restictive so some people prefer rectangular bags, these are obviously heavier and larger to pack.
  • Compression Stuff Sack - a bag to store the sleeping bag in with straps to compress it down for carrying. (Bags should be stored un-compressed)
  • Pack Size - this is the size that the manufacturer belives it can be compressed down, they tend to be optimistic
  • Size - the overall size of the bag. Not normally a problem for the young people, but anyone over 190cm might want to think about some of the extra length bags available.
  • Hood - Most bags have a hood area for your head. This can often be drawn in to increase warmth. Keeping your head warm will help a lot with a good nights sleep.
  • Expansion Section - Some maufacturers offer zip-in expansion sections for those that prefer a bit more space in their sleeping bag
  • Left/Right Zip - Sleeping bags have a zip down the side, if you prefer sleeping on one side you may prefer a bag with the zip on a particular side.

Ratings - EN13537 / ISO23537

  • Comfort - the temperature at which an adult female can have a comfortable nights sleep in a relaxed position.
  • Transition - The lowest temperature at which an adult male, curled up for warmth is not shivering.
  • Extreme - A survival rating, feeling cold, risk of hyperthermia.

Season Ratings

The season ratings vary from manuafacturer to manufacturer, temperature ratings often give a more useful indication. These are the ranges I have observed for the different season comfort ratings.

  • 1-season => rated 15C to 5C
  • 2-season => rated 10C to 0C
  • 3-season => rated 5C to -5C
  • 4-season => rated 0C to -10C

Recommendations for the UK

These are recommendations, they are not must-haves. Where cost is a barrier, especially when starting out, kit can sometimes be borrowed. If you have any question please discuss with your leaders. Prices are approximate indications of what you can expect to need to spend as of 2023.

General Scout Camping

  • 3-season sleeping bag (£40-60) rated to at least 5C comfort, with a fleece liner (£20) for use during the coldest winter camps.
  • Foam sleeping mat of at least 10mm thickness (£20)
  • Thermals or fleece night wear

Expeditions

If you are looking to go on from your Chief Scout Gold Expedition to DofE and further Chief Scout Award and King Scout Award expeditions then a good sleeping bag is a sound investment. I have a SnugPak Softie 9 which I got for a Scout Expedition in 1996 and it's still going strong.

  • Good 3-season sleeping bag rated down to at least 0C comfort, weighing c.1.5kg with pack size of around 20cm x 20cm
  • Foam sleeping mat of at least 10mm tickness
  • Merino wool thermals - pack small, are very warm, and dry quickly