Ashwin Lewis
Women's sleeping bags are designed to reflect the differences in women's bodies compared to men's. Women's bags are built with narrower shoulders, wider hips, and extra insulation in the upper body and foot box. They are also rated based on the average female having a comfortable night's sleep, which is about 10-15 degrees colder than the average male. This means that women's bags use more insulation to achieve the same temperature ratings as men's bags. The EN 13537 rating system, created in Europe in 2005, has helped to standardize temperature ratings across brands, although adoption in the United States has been slow. The Feathered Friends Egret YF 20 Women's Sleeping Bag, for example, is constructed with 900-plus fill-power down and is one of the lightest and most compressible bags on the market. While women's sleeping bags can be expensive, they are a worthy investment for those seeking a comfortable and warm night's sleep during their outdoor adventures.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperature ratings | Women's sleeping bags have different temperature ratings than men's sleeping bags. Women's bags are designed to provide a comfortable night's sleep for the average female, taking into account that women tend to sleep colder than men. |
| Sizing and fit | Women's sleeping bags are typically designed with narrower shoulders and wider hips, and accommodations for heights up to 5'6" to 6'0". |
| Insulation | Women's bags use more insulation to achieve the same temperature ratings as men's bags. This extra insulation is often found in the upper body and foot box areas. |
| Weight | Women's bags may weigh a few ounces more than men's bags of similar dimensions due to the additional insulation. |
| Price | Women's sleeping bags can vary in price depending on the brand and features. Some bags are expensive, while others offer more affordable options. |
| Durability | Some women's sleeping bags are designed to last a lifetime with proper care. |
| Additional features | Features like stash pockets, draft collars, soft liner materials, and water-resistant coatings can enhance the functionality and comfort of women's sleeping bags. |
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What You'll Learn
- Women's sleeping bags are designed for narrower shoulders, wider hips, and extra insulation in the upper body and foot box
- They are rated based on the average female having a comfortable night's sleep
- They are more expensive but can last a lifetime
- They are ideal for serious backpackers who sleep cold and are shorter than 5-foot-9
- Women's sleeping bags are tested to the EN13537 standard to determine their temperature rating
Women's sleeping bags are designed for narrower shoulders, wider hips, and extra insulation in the upper body and foot box
Women's sleeping bags are designed with a few key differences compared to their male counterparts. Firstly, they take into account the anatomical differences between men and women, featuring narrower shoulders and wider hips. This ensures a better fit for the average woman, improving comfort and heat retention.
Secondly, women's sleeping bags provide extra insulation in the upper body and foot box. This is because women tend to sleep colder than men, with their bodies reaching temperatures 10-15 degrees colder than the average male during sleep. The extra insulation helps ensure that women can achieve a comfortable night's sleep without feeling cold. This is reflected in the temperature ratings of women's sleeping bags, which are based on the average female's comfort level.
The Comfort rating, for example, indicates the lowest air temperature at which a woman can sleep in the bag without feeling cold. Meanwhile, the extreme rating represents the minimum temperature at which a woman could survive in the bag for six hours without dying from hypothermia. These ratings provide valuable guidance for women when choosing a sleeping bag suitable for their needs.
The design of women's sleeping bags also considers other factors such as length, with specific bags catering to women of different heights. Additionally, some bags offer features like stash pockets, draft collars, and soft liner materials, enhancing the user experience. The bags are also constructed with high-quality materials, ensuring durability and warmth retention.
Investing in a women's sleeping bag can significantly impact a woman's backpacking experience. A well-designed sleeping bag that considers the unique needs of women can provide comfort, warmth, and a good night's sleep, making it a worthwhile purchase for any woman who enjoys outdoor adventures.
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They are rated based on the average female having a comfortable night's sleep
Women's sleeping bags are designed to reflect the differences in anatomy and body temperature regulation between men and women. Women's bags are built with narrower shoulders and wider hips, and they include extra insulation in the upper body and foot box.
The ratings for women's sleeping bags are based on ensuring the average female has a comfortable night's sleep. This is called the T-comfort rating. The T-comfort rating for women's sleeping bags is significantly higher than the equivalent rating for men, as women tend to lower their internal body temperature more than men during sleep. Women also tend to have better body temperature regulation and conserve heat more effectively than men due to having more evenly distributed body fat. This means that women's sleeping bags require more insulation to achieve the same temperature ratings as men's bags.
For example, the Disco™ Men's 15° sleeping bag has a T-limit rating of 13.5° and a T-comfort rating of 24°, while the Disco™ Women's 15° sleeping bag has a T-limit rating of 5° and a T-comfort rating of 15.4°. The women's bag uses more insulation to achieve these warmer temperature ratings, resulting in a slightly larger compressed volume.
The Marmot Women's Teton 15° Sleeping Bag is another example of a highly-rated women's sleeping bag. It is warmer and slimmer than comparable bags, and it features a compression zipper in the footbox that allows for more room. The bag is rated to 15 °F, and testers found this to be accurate.
The Feathered Friends Egret YF 20 Women's Sleeping Bag is another highly-rated option for women who are serious backpackers and sleep cold. It is constructed with 900-plus fill-power down, making it one of the lightest and most compressible bags on the market. However, it is quite expensive, and the narrow cut may not be suitable for everyone.
In conclusion, women's sleeping bags are worth investing in as they are designed and rated to ensure that women have a comfortable and warm night's sleep. These bags take into account the unique needs of women, including their anatomy and body temperature regulation, to provide a better outdoor sleeping experience.
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They are more expensive but can last a lifetime
Women's sleeping bags are more expensive than their unisex or men's counterparts. However, they can be a worthwhile investment, as they are designed to last a lifetime.
The higher price tag is due to the increased amount of insulation required to keep women warm during sleep. Women tend to feel colder more often than men, especially when sleeping outdoors, and their bodies can lower their internal temperature by about 10-15 degrees colder than men's during the night. This means that women's sleeping bags need more insulation to achieve the same temperature ratings as men's bags. Additionally, women's bags are designed with narrower shoulders, wider hips, and extra insulation in the upper body and foot box to accommodate the different anatomies of women.
The Feathered Friends Egret YF 20 Women's Sleeping Bag, for example, is constructed with 900-plus fill-power down, making it extremely light and compressible. It also comes with a lifetime warranty, ensuring that you won't need to purchase another sleeping bag unless you want to. The Marmot Women's Teton 15° Sleeping Bag is another example of a high-quality women's sleeping bag that comes with a lifetime warranty. It is among the softest and warmest bags on the market, with fluffy, water-resistant down insulation.
If you're looking for a sleeping bag that will last for many years of camping and travelling, then a women's sleeping bag could be a good investment. While the initial cost may be higher, the durability and longevity of these bags mean that you won't need to replace them, saving you money in the long run.
It's worth noting that there are some affordable options available as well. For example, the NEMO Tempo 20 Synthetic bag is a heavier and more affordable option that is easy to pack due to its highly effective compression sack. The Sierra Designs Get Down 20 is another entry-level down option that offers a good balance between price and performance.
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$169.99
They are ideal for serious backpackers who sleep cold and are shorter than 5-foot-9
If you're a serious backpacker who sleeps cold and is shorter than 5-foot-9, a women's sleeping bag could be ideal for you.
Firstly, women's sleeping bags are designed for those who sleep cold. Women tend to feel colder than men, especially when sleeping outdoors, and women's sleeping bags are built to reflect that difference. They have extra insulation in the upper body and foot box, and are designed with narrower shoulders and wider hips. This extra insulation means that women's sleeping bags are also a good fit for any narrow-bodied person who gets cold at night.
Secondly, women's sleeping bags are designed for shorter people. The women's Disco™ Regular fits heights up to 5'6", while the Long fits heights up to 6'0". For comparison, the men's Disco™ Regular fits heights up to 6'0", and the Long fits heights up to 6'6".
Thirdly, women's sleeping bags are an essential part of your overnight backpacking system. They are one of the "Big Four" items that will have the greatest impact on your backpacking experience, affecting the weight of your pack and the quality of your sleep.
Finally, if you're planning to do a lot of camping or travelling, a women's sleeping bag could be a good investment. While they can be expensive, they tend to be warmer, lighter, and more durable than synthetic bags, and can last a lifetime.
Therefore, if you're a serious backpacker who is shorter than 5-foot-9 and tends to sleep cold, a women's sleeping bag could be the ideal choice for you.
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Women's sleeping bags are tested to the EN13537 standard to determine their temperature rating
Women's sleeping bags are specifically designed to cater to the anatomy of a woman. They are built with narrower shoulders, wider hips, and extra insulation in the upper body and foot box. They are also designed for women who sleep colder than men.
The EN13537 standard was created in Europe in 2005 to standardize temperature ratings across brands on three-season, hooded sleeping bags. The EN13537 standard applies to all sleeping bags except those for military use and those for extreme temperatures (below -25°C). The standard requires a thermal manikin test that produces four temperature results: upper limit, comfort, lower limit, and extreme. The comfort rating is the lowest air temperature at which a woman can sleep without feeling cold. The extreme rating is the minimum temperature at which a woman can survive in the bag for six hours without dying from hypothermia.
The EN13537 standard provides a uniform and consistent procedure for testing sleeping bags. While the values obtained may not be accurate, they are precise and allow for relative comparisons between different sleeping bags. This helps consumers make more informed purchases.
Some companies, such as REI, Marmot, and Sierra Designs, have adopted the EN13537 standard and provide EN Comfort and EN Extreme ratings for their sleeping bags. For example, the Marmot Helium bag has an EN Comfort rating of 27.7°F and an EN Extreme rating of -16.6°F. The REI Joule bag has an EN Comfort rating of 21.9°F and an EN Extreme rating of -25.4°F.
In conclusion, the EN13537 standard helps to determine the temperature ratings of women's sleeping bags and provides consumers with comparable data to make more informed purchasing decisions.
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Frequently asked questions
Women's sleeping bags are designed with the understanding that women sleep colder than men and have different anatomies. They are built with narrower shoulders, wider hips, and extra insulation in the upper body and foot box. They also use a rating system called EN 13537, which standardizes temperature ratings across brands.
The Feathered Friends Egret UL 20 is a good option for women who are serious backpackers, sleep cold, and are shorter than 5 feet 9 inches. The Marmot Women's Teton 15° Sleeping Bag is another highly-rated option, known for its warmth, softness, and thoughtful features.
Women's sleeping bags may be more expensive due to the higher cost of materials with a higher loft. Duck down is typically cheaper than goose down but is less lofty and therefore heavier. However, there are affordable options available, such as the NEMO Tempo 20 Synthetic, which is heavier but easier to pack due to its compression sack.
Women's sleeping bags are worth it for those who plan to camp or travel extensively, as they are designed to provide a comfortable night's sleep based on the average female's sleeping temperature. They can be a worthwhile investment for serious backpackers, especially those who sleep cold.
