Sleeping Bag Temperatures
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN ISO 23537-1:2022
Each sleeping bag undergoes rigorous testing by an independent textile research institute, following the EN 13537-1:2016 and EN ISO 23537-1:2022 standards. This ensures that the final product meets the highest safety and performance standards.
HOW THE TEST IS PERFORMED
To test the thermal performance of sleeping bags, we use a sensor-equipped mannequin that simulates the human body and allows us to identify optimal operating temperatures based on environmental conditions. The mannequin is dressed in a two-piece suit made of cotton or a cotton-polyester blend, with a thermal resistance between 0.040 and 0.060 m² K/W, as specified by the ISO 11092 standard.
Each test is carried out by placing the sleeping bag on a foam mattress with a thermal resistance of Rct = 0.85, positioned on a 2 cm wooden slab that simulates an artificial floor with air passage, as indicated by the ISO 11092 standard.
DEFINITION OF COMFORT AND EXTREME VALUES
- Comfort temperature: this is the temperature value (referring to a standard woman) that allows her to sleep for a full night in a relaxed position.
- Lower comfort limit: defines the minimum temperature (referred to a standard adult man) at which it is possible to sleep in a curled up position for eight hours without waking up.
- Extreme temperature: This is the minimum temperature at which the sleeping bag protects the user (standard adult) from hypothermia.
allows you to get six hours of uncomfortable sleep without your internal temperature dropping to dangerous levels.
When choosing your sleeping bag, we recommend that you take into account the comfort and intermediate temperatures, also based on your level of athletic preparation.
The sensations of hot and cold are due to the fact that our body is producing more or less heat than we are losing to the surrounding environment.
THE MAIN PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE FEELING OF HOT/COLD
- Metabolism: While sleeping, a person generates 75/100 Watts of heat, depending on various factors such as age, sex, weight, habits and psychophysical conditions.
- Weight: An overweight person usually has a slower metabolism.
He usually eats more than he consumes.
When we undertake a mountaineering undertaking we often consume fewer calories than we burn.
Overweight people will be able to draw energy from their fat reserves and also have better natural insulation than thin people.
- Age: Metabolism is related to age. An older person generates less heat and therefore feels cold earlier than a younger person.
Gender: Women generally feel the cold more than men, so much so that the standard comfort value for women is 5°C higher than that for men.
- Habit: A large portion of Westerners live in homes with central heating, work in air-conditioned offices, and travel only in air-conditioned cars. This lifestyle reduces the body's ability to tolerate the cold.
- Experience: Experience and familiarity with the equipment you'll be sleeping with outdoors help you get the most out of it. A beginner will generally experience greater discomfort and colder temperatures than an experienced person.
- Physical fitness: If we lead a sedentary lifestyle and embark on a strenuous hike, we'll immediately feel fatigued. Exhaustion reduces heat production, which leads to a feeling of cold.
OTHER USEFUL TIPS
Choose a sleeping bag based on the activities you plan to carry out, taking into account the temperature , humidity conditions, size and weight of the sleeping bag.
- Invest in a good mattress: in addition to making you sleep more comfortably, it will also provide adequate insulation from the ground.
- Equip yourself with a good tent that will protect you from the elements. Sleeping in direct wind and/or particularly humid conditions significantly increases heat loss through convection.
Always check long-term weather conditions , which can change rapidly. If the weather worsens, the product and equipment you chose when you set out may prove inadequate.
- Bring extra clothing that can be worn under your regular clothing in cold weather and can also be used at night. If you expect temperatures to drop below freezing, bring a balaclava and bivouac socks.
- Eat properly otherwise your body will produce less heat resulting in greater sensitivity to the cold.
Drinking is also very important and dehydration reduces the body's ability to produce heat.
Avoid alcohol, which only provides an initial sensation of warmth; once it wears off, you will feel colder than before.
- Keep your gear dry as wet sleeping bags (especially down ones) offer less insulation than dry ones.
In any case, as soon as you can, let your sleeping bag air dry, for example, on top of your tent during the day. Ventilate your tent whenever possible, maintaining optimal air exchange to reduce condensation problems.