Sleeping bags come in so many categories and styles that it's often hard to pick the right one. Let's try to help.
Tips before you buy
- 01 Down: warmer, lighter and always more expensive.
- 02 For most of the year in Israel, you don't need down.
- 03 Only invest in a premium bag when you actually need one.
- 04 Maximum sleeping bag weight: 1.2 kg.
- 05 Every bag has 3 temperature ratings. Ignore Comfort and use Limit (the middle one) as your starting point.
- 06 Bought a bag? Take it out of its stuff sack and store it loose until you use it.
Which bag for which season in Israel?
- 01 Summer: nights are warm across most of the country. A silk liner or light quilt is enough, and even the desert rarely drops below 15°C.
- 02 Spring and autumn: look for a bag with a Limit around 5°C. Valleys and craters get colder at night than midday suggests.
- 03 Winter in the Negev, the Jerusalem hills, the Upper Galilee and the Golan: it can drop to zero and below. Here a down bag with a Limit of 0 to −5°C is worth every shekel.
- 04 Mind the wind: camping on an exposed ridge will be several degrees colder than a sheltered wadi.
Sleeping bag styles
Synthetic bag
Cheap and heavier, but ideal for 2–3 day rides in mild weather. Easy to clean, and a great bag if you don't want to spend much.
Down bag
Lighter and warmer than synthetic, and if you look after it, you'll pass it down to your grandkids. Packs very small: one of the best ways to cut weight.
Mummy bag
Usually warmer than a regular bag, which becomes a minus on warm nights. Fully seals the head, lighter but snug inside. Less recommended for first rides.
Quilt
Somewhere between a sleeping bag and a duvet. Lighter thanks to less material and no zipper, and a quality quilt usually costs less than a quality bag.
Down: what do the numbers mean?
- 01 Fill power (e.g. 650, 800, 900) measures how much space the down fills. The higher it is, the less down you need for the same warmth, so the bag is lighter and packs smaller.
- 02 Down-to-feather ratio (e.g. 90/10): more down and fewer feathers means a warmer, lighter bag.
- 03 Hydrophobic down keeps its warmth better in humidity and morning dew, a big plus when sleeping outside.
- 04 Look for RDS or a similar standard, which ensures the down was responsibly sourced.
How to sleep warmer
- 01 Your pad matters as much as your bag: the cold comes from the ground. In winter, look for a pad with an R-value of 3 or more.
- 02 Don't get into your bag in sweaty riding clothes. Change into a dry layer, socks and a hat.
- 03 Eat something warm and fatty before bed. Your body makes heat while it digests.
- 04 A bottle of hot water (tightly closed!) inside the bag is a little heater for the whole night.
- 05 A silk liner adds a few degrees and keeps the bag clean over time.
- 06 Cinch the hood around your face. A lot of heat escapes through your head.
How to wash a down sleeping bag
At your own risk.
- 01 Fill half a bathtub with lukewarm water.
- 02 Add laundry detergent, about one capful.
- 03 Soak the bag for about half an hour, making sure it's fully submerged.
- 04 Rinse and squeeze gently, without force, so the down stays intact.
- 05 Tumble dry with two dryer balls (or tennis balls) to help separate the down.
- 06 When the down no longer clumps, you're done. Time to prep for the next trip.
