Can You Use a Winter Sleeping Bag in the Summer?
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Buying a sleeping bag for each season can quickly become expensive and difficult on storage space. So it is both cheaper and better on storage space if you choose to use one sleeping bag throughout the year. This may ask the question can you use a winter sleeping bag in the summer?
In short, yes you certainly can use a winter sleeping bag in the summer but if you only plan to camp during Spring/Summer then you may find a winter sleeping bag too heavy and too thick. Whereas if you are camping year-round you can heavily benefit from using a winter sleeping bag all year round.
In this article, we will be looking at exactly what the benefits and drawbacks of using a winter sleeping bag in the summer are as well as the differences between winter and summer bags. Enjoy!
What Are The Benefits Of Using A Winter Sleeping Bag In Summer?
There are definitely some benefits of using a winter sleeping bag during the summer and although I do not use my artic-issue down bag for summer camping sessions I do use a lighter winter bag for my summer trips. I tend to stick to a heavier bag for the summer simply because I can guarantee that I will never get cold!
This is the first and main benefit of using a winter sleeping bag during the warmer months and something that I think outweighs the benefits of using a summer bag. You can always unzip a winter bag if you get too warm but if you get too cold in your summer bag with it zipped up, it is hard to get any warmer.
Another benefit to using a winter sleeping bag in the summer is the fact that you will only use one sleeping bag for year-round camping.
If you plan on purchasing a sleeping bag for every season you will quickly realize how expensive it can become! It is also better to spend more money on one sleeping bag to use year-round than spend little money on many sleeping bags as you will experience quality over quantity!
Having just one sleeping bag for use all year round will also save you space in your outdoor cupboard for those other all-important outdoor gadgets!
Overall, with a winter bag you can use year-round you will save money, save storage space, and make packing before your camping trip much simpler no matter the season.
If you are heading out as a couple during the summer months, having a winter sleeping bag can be much better than having a summer bag.
Unlike hiking alone with a winter bag, if you are a pair you will save space by taking just one sleeping bag as long as you don’t mind sharing.
Using a winter sleeping bag as a blanket for two people will keep you warmer, save weight, and allow more room in one person’s rucksack for extra essentials or creature comforts.
Although this benefit doesn’t apply to everyone it is certainly something to think about if you often head out into the wilderness with your partner.
What Are The Downsides Of Using A Winter Sleeping Bag In Summer?
The main pitfall of using a winter sleeping bag during the summer months is the weight aspect. Winter sleeping bags are much heavier than their warm-weather counterparts which can become a heavy burden if you are planning on hiking longer distances with your camping gear.
If you plan on putting in the miles on the trails with your sleeping bag, then I would recommend finding something a little more compact and lightweight. Having a winter sleeping bag in hiking or wild camping situations can slow you down and take up space for more important essentials like water and food.
You have to think about the pros and cons carefully before taking your winter sleeping bag with you into the summer wilderness. If you are heading out for a few nights on an easy trail, then your winter bag will not be an issue, however, if you are planning on a multi-day hike on some tough trails in the mountains, then you will not regret the weight benefits of bringing a summer sleeping bag.
Another drawback to using a winter sleeping bag during the summer goes hand in hand with the weight pitfall. It is, of course, the insulation aspect. All the weight has to come from somewhere and that somewhere is inside the sleeping bag: the insulative filling of down or synthetic fiber. All this insulation can be all too much for the warm midsummer nights!
Personally, I have no issues camping with a winter sleeping bag during the summers in northern Europe but using a winter bag during the summer anywhere near the equator would be extremely uncomfortable. Then again, who needs a sleeping bag in such warm climates?
If you are heading out only in the summer, then your best bet is to purchase a summertime or 3 season sleeping bag. Unless you are planning on camping all-year-round then there is no point in purchasing a winter sleeping bag. The starting price of a cold weather bag is much higher than it is for a warm-weather bag.
If it’s only summer camping you’ll be doing then a summer bag will benefit you in more ways than a winter bag (weight, space, and cost). If it’s year-round camping you are doing, then an all-season winter sleeping bag will benefit you more.
What Makes A Winter Sleeping Bag Different To A Summer Sleeping Bag?
To put it simply, a winter sleeping bag is designed to keep the user warm during the frosty nights that winter brings to the table and summer bags are only designed to take the cold edge off during the milder nights.
The main differences between the two separate seasons are the weather and temperature, so both types of sleeping bag are designed to accommodate the camper in these conditions.
You will find that a winter sleeping bag is filled with a large amount of high-quality insulative material (synthetics or down) and its outer shell is much more durable and hard-wearing than a summer bag.
Because of this, the winter sleeping bag is much heavier than its warm-weather counterpart. The summer sleeping bag is filled with significantly less insulation because it does not need to protect the user from such low air temperatures. Having a summer sleeping bag that is filled with less insulation can be a big benefit to the summer camper however they aren’t usable in colder conditions like the winter bag.
There are some major differences between both summer and winter bags but like any sleeping bag, they have more or less the same design.
The biggest similarity between both types is the large zip down the side or on the front. This zip is what makes it possible to use the winter sleeping bag during the summer as you can allow airflow in or out, depending on the climate.
It is as simple as zipping up the sleeping bag during a cold snap in the summer nights and un-doing the zip when the air is mild.
This is usually enough to regulate your temperature and stay comfortable in your winter bag during all but the warmest of nights. It sounds simple and obvious, but it works.