Ashwin Lewis
When shopping for a sleeping bag, you may come across the term 'loft'. Loft is a term used to describe the volume taken up by the down in your sleeping bag. It is a key component of a sleeping bag's warmth—the more loft your sleeping bag has, the more air it traps and the warmer it will be. The fluffier a cluster of down is, the more air and heat it can trap. Loft is also known as 'fill power'. The higher the fill power of your sleeping bag, the better its warmth-to-weight ratio. A bag filled with high-loft down will be more compressible than a similar-temperature bag with a lower loft/fill power.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Loft refers to the volume taken up by the down in a sleeping bag. |
| Purpose | Loft is a key component of a sleeping bag's warmth. |
| Measurement | Fill power measures the fluffiness of a sleeping bag. |
| Rating | The rating is calculated by compressing and then expanding a one-ounce sample of down in a special cylinder. |
| Warmth | The more loft a sleeping bag has, the more air it traps, and the warmer it is. |
| Weight | A higher loft means less down is required to achieve the same warmth, resulting in a lower weight. |
| Compression | Loft can be lost when a sleeping bag is tightly packed or compressed by a sleeper's body. |
| Restoration | Loft can be restored by storing the bag in a non-compressing storage bag. |
| Types | Synthetic and down sleeping bags have different lofting abilities due to their insulation structures. |
| Factors | The cut and construction of the bag can impact the warmth retention and loft, especially around the shoulders, elbows, knees, hips, and feet. |
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What You'll Learn
Loft refers to the volume taken up by the down in a sleeping bag
Loft is a term used to describe the volume taken up by the down in a sleeping bag. It is a key component of a sleeping bag's warmth, as the more loft a sleeping bag has, the more air it traps, and the better it is at keeping you warm. The fluffier a cluster of down is, the more air and heat it can trap. Therefore, the higher the loft, the better the warmth-to-weight ratio of the sleeping bag.
Loft is also referred to as 'fill power' and is measured by compressing a one-ounce sample of down and then allowing it to expand in a special cylinder. The total volume the down expands to, measured in cubic inches, is its fill power. For example, an ounce of 750+ Loft down would fill at least 750 cubic inches.
The amount of loft in a sleeping bag is affected by the type of insulation used. Synthetic insulation tends to be inexpensive and easy to care for but is bulkier and heavier than down. Down insulation, on the other hand, uses the natural insulation that birds use, trapping the warm air generated by the body. Higher-quality down will push back against your hands, while lower-quality down will feel more "feathery".
The design and construction of a sleeping bag can also impact its loft. For example, the way the layers of insulation are built into the sleeping bag will affect how well it can loft up. Basic synthetic bags use flat layers of insulation, while better-quality bags use layers sewn diagonally over one another, and some bags have unique constructions that create curves of insulation to trap extra air. Additionally, the cut of the bag and the amount of volume the sleeper has to heat under the loft can also impact its warmth.
Over time, sleeping bags can lose their loft, becoming less fluffy and warm. This can be caused by the bag being tightly packed or by the weight of the sleeper compressing the down. However, there are ways to restore loft to a sleeping bag, such as storing it in a larger, non-compressing storage bag instead of its stuff sack.
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A sleeping bag with more loft will be warmer
The term "loft" in the context of sleeping bags refers to the volume taken up by the down in the bag. Loft is a key component of a sleeping bag's warmth—the more loft a sleeping bag has, the more air it can trap, and the better it is at keeping you warm. This is because down insulates by trapping warm air generated by the body. Therefore, a sleeping bag with more loft will be warmer.
The fluffier a cluster of down is, the more air and heat it can trap. The higher the loft or fill power of a sleeping bag, the better its warmth-to-weight ratio. This means that a bag with high loft down will be more compressible than a similar-temperature bag with lower loft/fill power. However, it's important to note that a higher fill power down isn't necessarily warmer. It just means that less down is required to achieve the same warmth.
The quality of the down also affects the loft of a sleeping bag. Lower-quality down doesn't push back against your hands as much, and you can feel its 'feathery' structure. Synthetics do not loft to the same degree as quality down. The way the layers of synthetic insulation are built into the sleeping bag will also affect how well it can loft up. Basic synthetic bags use flat layers of insulation, while better-quality bags use layers sewn diagonally, called shingles.
There are a few ways to tell if your sleeping bag has lost its loft. Firstly, it may not look as fluffy as when you first bought it. Secondly, it may not keep you as warm at night. Finally, when you hold it up to the light, you may see the light shining through. If your sleeping bag has lost its loft, there are some simple procedures you can try to restore it. For example, it is recommended to store your sleeping bag in its larger, non-compressing storage bag rather than its stuff sack.
When choosing a sleeping bag, it's important to consider factors beyond just the loft. The cut of the bag and its impact on how warm a sleeper feels should also be taken into account. Additionally, the construction of the sleeping bag and its ability to seal out drafts can affect its warmth. The degree to which the insulation is flattened by the sleeper, particularly around the shoulders, elbows, knees, hips, and feet, will also impact the warmth of the bag.
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Loft is also known as 'fill power'
When it comes to sleeping bags, loft refers to the volume taken up by the down in the bag, otherwise known as fill power. It is a way to measure the fluffiness of your sleeping bag, and it matters because the more loft your sleeping bag has, the more air it traps. Since down insulates by trapping air, the more air it can trap, the better it is at keeping you warm.
Loft does not refer to how much down is in the sleeping bag (usually measured by weight) or completely determine the quality of the down (how long it will last). It only refers to the ability of the down to trap warm air. Therefore, when choosing a sleeping bag, there are still a few other factors to consider. For example, 500g of 850+ down will be warmer than 500g of 600+ down. This means that if you’re looking at two sleeping bags rated to -5°C, the 850+ bag will have less down and, therefore, be smaller and lighter than the 600+ bag.
The design of the sleeping bag also plays a big role. For instance, a 30-degree bag with 4" of loft and a sewn-through design might not keep you as warm as a 30-degree bag that is fully baffled. This is because the stitch type and the cut of the bag impact how cold or warm a sleeper feels in the bag. The intention with the complexity of the down chambers is to prevent the down from shifting and to keep that lofty down exactly where it is needed to insulate you as you move in your sleep. A sleeping bag with a narrow cut may suggest greater warmth, but in practice, the insulation will be flattened by the sleeper's hips and knees, resulting in cold spots.
Over time, a sleeping bag may lose its loft and, therefore, its ability to keep you warm. This is because, during the day, the bag might be tightly packed inside a backpack, causing it to lose loft. To test if your sleeping bag has lost its loft, you can look out for three tell-tale signs: it doesn’t look as fluffy as when you bought it, it doesn’t keep you as warm at night as it used to, and when you hold it up against the light, you can see the light shining through.
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Synthetic sleeping bags are bulkier and heavier than down bags
Loft is a term used to describe the volume taken up by the down in a sleeping bag. It is a measure of the fluffiness of the sleeping bag, and it matters because the more loft a sleeping bag has, the more air it traps, and the better it is at keeping you warm.
Down sleeping bags use the natural insulation that birds use, trapping the warm air generated by the body. Down sleeping bags are lightweight, space-efficient, and warm. However, down is not very water-resistant. When down gets wet, it loses its insulating properties, and it becomes clumpy and deflated.
Synthetic sleeping bags, on the other hand, use man-made insulation. Synthetic sleeping bags are inexpensive and easy to care for. They are also more reliable in wet conditions as they are designed to maintain their insulating qualities even when wet.
However, one of the main drawbacks of synthetic sleeping bags is that they tend to be bulkier and heavier than down bags. This is because synthetic fibres are generally less compressible than down. Synthetic sleeping bags also offer less warmth for their weight than down bags. Therefore, if weight and compactness are important factors for you, a down bag is likely to be the better choice.
It is worth noting that there are now water-resistant treatments available for down sleeping bags, such as Nikwax's Hydrophobic Down, which absorbs less moisture than untreated down and dries faster. However, even treated down will get wet if submerged in water or exposed to heavy rain, so synthetic bags still outperform down bags in very wet conditions.
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The quality of down can be determined by how much it pushes back against your hands
Loft is a term used to describe the volume taken up by the down in a sleeping bag. It is a measure of the fluffiness of the sleeping bag and is important because the more loft a sleeping bag has, the more air it traps, and the better it is at keeping you warm. The quality of down can be determined by how much it pushes back against your hands. The fill power rating of down sleeping bags is a measure of loft and is usually between 550 and 850. The higher the fill power rating, the higher the quality of the down. This is because a higher fill power rating indicates a loftier fill that provides better insulation for a given weight. For example, 500g of 850+ down will be warmer than 500g of 600+ down. Therefore, if you are looking at two sleeping bags rated to -5°C, the bag with 850+ down will be smaller and lighter because it can trap more air with less down.
The quality of down can also be determined by its ability to bounce back after compression. Down sleeping bags can be compressed again and again without causing structural damage to the plumules, meaning they can retain consistent insulative power year after year. Synthetic sleeping bags, on the other hand, tend to break down faster and typically need to be replaced within 3 to 5 years. However, synthetic insulation is less expensive to produce and can be a more environmentally friendly option as it is made without the use of animal byproducts.
It is important to consider other factors when choosing a sleeping bag, such as the temperature rating and the cut of the bag. The temperature rating is important because it indicates how warm the bag will keep you, but it is also important to consider that women generally sleep colder than men, so a women's-specific sleeping bag may be necessary. The cut of the bag can also impact how warm or cold a sleeper feels, as a bag with more volume will be warmer than a bag with less volume.
Additionally, it is crucial to properly care for a sleeping bag to maintain its loft and insulation value. Oils and salts from perspiration, as well as grime from the outside world, can compromise the insulation of a sleeping bag if it is not cleaned regularly. Proper washing and drying techniques, such as hand washing and tumble drying, can help to extend the life and improve the performance of a sleeping bag.
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Frequently asked questions
Loft is a term that refers to the volume taken up by the down in your sleeping bag. It is a way to measure the fluffiness of your sleeping bag.
Loft works by trapping warm air generated by the body. The more air it can trap, the better it is at keeping you warm.
There are three tell-tale signs: it doesn’t look as fluffy as when you bought it, it doesn’t keep you as warm at night as it used to, and when you hold it up against the light, you can see through it.
Synthetic sleeping bags use man-made insulation and tend to be inexpensive and easy to care for but are bulkier and heavier than down sleeping bags. Down sleeping bags use bird down as insulation, which traps warm air generated by the body.
