FAQ

How do I choose the right sleeping bag?

Ever since we began making sleeping bags, we've learned there are three questions that should be asked when helping a consumer make a purchasing decision.

First
For what activity will the bag be used? Backpacking? Hunting? Family Camping? Scouting? Fast packing? Since different activities require different standards, Slumberjack sleeping bags are categorized by activity and by price.
Second
In what weather conditions will the bag be used? What seasons? What areas of the country? What kind of terrain? Mountains? Deserts? Wet areas? From a far-away mountain range to the local state park, in what kind of temperatures will the bag be asked to perform? Check the temperature ratings of the bags to match them with your expected use. Remember, though, that minimum temperature ratings are given as guidelines only, not absolute temperature parameters. After all, what is comfortable to one person might not be comfortable to another. And don't forget that a strong north wind can blow the ratings right off the chart!
Third
Who will be using the bag? Man? Woman? Adult? Child? Large? Small? Petite? Husky? When it comes to sleeping bags, one size does not fit all. Slumberjack sleeping bags are intended to offer a fit as personal as any item of clothing. So the best way to help your customer select the right size is to have them get in, try it on and see how they feel. This method of measurement works better than any ruler ever invented.

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What are the different shapes of sleeping bags?

Mummy:
Takes up less room and weighs the least. They're also smaller in size than rectangular bags, therefore decreasing the amount of space around the body. The less space that needs to be warmed by body heat, the warmer the bag will be.
Barrel:
A rectangular shape tapered slightly at the foot to help decrease overall size. The barrel shape is slightly more portable and compactible than a full rectangular shape.
Rectangular:
Bags that offer the user the greatest flexibility and interior room. Once unzipped, they can be used as comforters, blankets, and for other outdoor or indoor uses. Hooded rectangulars provide the added warmth of a hood to the comfort of a rectangular.

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What features make Slumberjack bags better than others?

Details are a trademark... When you look closely, you see that comfort is more than a result of great design, effective materials, high performance insulations, or additional stitching and quilting. Details and additional design features are what separate Slumberjack bags from ordinary sleeping bags. Here are a few examples of what we mean:

  1. Internal Collars are baffles sewn to the liner and used to prevent heat loss from the user's body.
  2. Draft Tubes are baffles sewn adjacent to the zipper to keep cold air out and prevent heat loss through the zipper coils.
  3. Weather Wedge is a small piece of triangular fabric (either filled or unfilled) that is sewn at the base of the zipper to prevent heat loss at the zipper opening. This also reduces stress at the point where the zipper is sewn.
  4. Anti-Snag Zipper Tape is sewn along the draft tube and the liner to prevent the zippers from snagging.
  5. Utility Pockets are used to store small items, so they'll be close at hand, such as car keys, flashlights, MP3 player, or similar items.
  6. Dual Designated Drawcord with barrel locks allow for easy closure of hood and/or neck of bag. The hood cord is flat and the neck cord is round for easy distinction.
  7. Flip Over Hood allows you to flip the hood inside out giving the user the option of a flat hood or a fully contoured hood.
  8. Hook and Loop Neck Closures provide firm closure of the bag and prevent zippers from separating or opening.
  9. Trapezoid Foot Box provides space in which the feet remain in a natural position for better comfort.

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What type of materials does Slumberjack use for fills and fabrics?

There is an obvious reason why Slumberjack sleeping bags are considered the finest bags. We continue to test and introduce new materials and insulations. Here are some of the ingredients that go into making these great bags:

Fills
600+ Power Fill Goose Down, Polarguard Delta, Polarguard 3D, Thermolite Extreme, Thermolite Extra, Thermolite Quallo, Slumberloft HQ, Slumberloft HL
Fabrics
Nylon Ripstop, Polyester Taffeta, Polyester Ripstop, 10oz Cotton Duck, Brushed Polyester, Teflon®, Lycra®, Coolmax® and Yarn Dyed Cotton Flannel

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How does a sleeping bag keep me warm?

Warmth in a sleeping bag is a direct result of keeping the warmth generated by your body inside the bag, while keeping the cold air outside.

Three factors that affect warmth...

  1. Insulation - Since air is a poor conductor of heat, the trapped air within the insulation acts like a thermal barrier between you and the cold air outside the bag by not letting your body heat escape from the bag. The insulation traps air and keeps it from moving around, hence the phrase "dead air". The more dead air you can trap, the more you will be insulated from the cold, and the warmer your bag will be.
  2. Construction - How the sleeping bag is stitched or sewn also has a lot to do with the heat integrity of the bag. For example, if the outer liner material is stitched through the insulation to the inner liner material, this construction will not perform as efficiently as if the outer material is quilted to the insulation. This means the stitch lines don't go all the way through and thus, will not allow heat to escape through stitch holes.
  3. Environment - The use of a sleeping mat or pad can improve the thermal performance of your sleeping bag by as much as 10° F, not to mention the added benefit when using a tent or bivy shelter. The advertised temperature ratings are only guidelines and assume the use of a ground pad and the user being inside a shelter.

The body loses heat three ways...

  1. Convection takes place when warm air moves away from the body through openings in the bag and by air movement in large gaps between the body and the bag.
  2. Radiation is the process of radiant energy leaving the body and passing through the material of the bag.
  3. Conduction is the transfer of body heat through still air and through the materials that make up the insulator.

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What's the best way to clean my sleeping bag?

The best way to clean your sleeping bag is to follow these simple instructions:

Sleeping bags made of synthetic insulations
  1. Machine Wash
    1. Wash only in commercial heavy duty, front-loading, tumble-type machine set on "gentle" cycle. These are the machines usually found at laundry mats.
    2. Wash in warm water with mild soap, detergent or specialty bag cleaning solution (for example, McNett X-Treme™ wash) with the bag zippered closed.
    3. Dry by hanging over a clothesline or in a commercial front load tumble-type dryer set on "cold air only".
  2. Hand Wash
    1. Hand wash in warm water with a mild soap, detergent or specialty bag cleaning solution (for example, McNett X-Treme™ wash).
    2. Rinse thoroughly in warm water until all the soap is removed.
    3. Dry by hanging over a clothesline or in a commercial front load tumble-type dryer set on "cold air only".

NOTE: To avoid damage to the washing machine and your bag, do not use agitator or plunger type machines.

Sleeping bags made with down insulation should be:
  1. Hand washed in mild soap such as Woolite® or McNett Thunder Down™ Cleaner. After washing, hang to dry, periodically shaking the bag to loosen wet down.
    OR
  2. Dry cleaned by a professional familiar with down products.

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What's the best way to store my sleeping bag?

Before your bag is stored, allow as much time for it to air out as possible. When not in use, a sleeping bag should not be rolled up tightly or stored in its stuff sack. The best way to store your bag is...

  1. Laying loosely on a shelf.
  2. Hanging it by the loops at the foot of the bag in a closet.
  3. Stuffing it loosely in a Slumberjack storage bag.

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How can I be most comfortable in my sleeping bag?

  1. Use a Slumberjack insulated ground pad between your bag and the ground. For best results use either a foam pad or a self-inflating mat.
  2. Sleep with dry clothes on. Use synthetic fibers or wool. Cotton keeps moisture against your skin therefore keeping you colder.
  3. Sleep out of the wind in a tent or bivy shelter.
  4. In extreme weather, prevent heat loss by
    1. Pulling the bag's hood snugly around your head,
    2. Wearing a stocking cap or beanie,
    3. Tightening the bag around your shoulders.

NOTE: In warm weather, cool your bag by unzipping the bag from the bottom to release some of the warm air.

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Is there a trick to stuffing the bag into the stuff sack?

Yes. To stuff a sleeping bag, grasp the mouth of the stuff sack with your thumb on the inside, while keeping a toe or heel on one corner or through the handle of the stuff sack. This will keep the sack from moving while you're stuffing the bag.

With your free hand, grab the foot of the bag and stuff it right to the bottom of the sack. Grasp the next section of the bag higher up and repeat the process. Remember, always push each section of the bag all the way to the bottom of the stuff sack. Otherwise, you'll end up with a loosely packed bag at the bottom and not enough room on the top to finish stuffing. When the entire bag is in the stuff sack, pull the drawcord closed.

Some stuff sacks will be equipped with compression straps that will allow for more compression. This is accomplished by simply pulling on each alternating strap a little bit at a time until maximum compression is reached.

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What are the different types of bag construction?

How a sleeping bag is made has to do with how it's expected to perform.

Slumberjack offers eight different types of construction, each scientifically designed to achieve optimum performance with the insulation used. Also, this process takes into consideration the anticipated environment or intended use of the bag.

Single Layer Construction
One layer of insulation that is sewn through from the outer to the liner.
Double Layer Construction
One layer of insulation is sewn to the outer layer of fabric and one layer of insulation is sewn to the liner fabric. These two layers are then sewn together (at the edges) to form a double layer bag. Quilt lines are offset to prevent cold spots.
Triple Layer Construction
One layer of insulation is sewn to the outer layer and one layer of insulation is sewn to the liner. Then, there is a third layer of insulation quilted and stabilized with scrim in between the inner and outer layers. These 3 layers are then sewn together to make a triple layer bag.
ThermoDown Construction
Offers the best warmth to weight ratio. These mummy bags feature baffled construction on top and double layer, offset construction on the bottom using a combination of Thermolite Extreme® and down.
Differential Cut Construction
Achieved when the outer shell is cut larger than the liner and then joined in a double or triple layer construction. This type of construction prevents the compression of the fill against the outer fabric and thus prevents cold spots. In other words, the inside of this bag is smaller than the outside shell.
Side Block Baffled Construction
Netting is sewn to the outer and liner of the bag. Then, the channels from the outer are blocked off from the liner to stabilize the insulation after the bag is sewn.
Bag-Within-A-Bag Construction
Inner lining is sewn to the outer shell only at the collar and along the zipper. This allows the user to separate the inside layers from the outside layers. This also cuts drying and airing time in half.
Differential Fill Construction
More insulation is sewn in the top side of the bag. This is done by layering the insulation or by using differing thicknesses of insulation.

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Here is a closer look at the fill fibers Slumberjack uses:

Slumberloft HQ™
is a synthetic fiber composed of a 50% hollow core polyester fiber joined with a 50% solid core polyester fiber. This combination offers great warmth and loft.
DuPont Thermolite® Extreme
is a high performance insulation that blends three different fibers - fine denier fibers, thermal bonding fibers, and hollow core spring fibers. This tri-blend fiber system offers ultimate warmth and superior compactibility.
DuPont Thermolite® Extra
is a high-loft, high-resilient technical insulation for extraordinary warmth. Because it is made from unique patented hollow-core, three-dimensional crimp having a helical configuration, it provides superior loft, compactness, and exceptional resiliency.
Polarguard® HV
is a high-performance insulation made of high-void, continuous-length polyester filaments that are bonded into a batting of multiple layers. Because it is a continuous filament, Polarguard HV does not shift, clump, or separate.
Polarguard® 3D
is a high performance insulation produced from continuous filament in the same manner but finer than Polarguard HV. This makes Polarguard 3D softer, more compressible and stronger while providing great insulating value and loft.
Polarguard® Delta
continuous filament polyester is the newest member of the Polarguard family. Polarguard Delta combines a super void cross section with modified batting formation. The larger void creates higher loft with less weight, making it warmer, yet lighter.
Down
is a time honored, expedition proven natural insulation made of very small extremely light down plumules found next to the skin of geese. For its weight, down has an exceptional ability to trap air, making it the most efficient warmth to weight insulation available.
Thermolite Quallo
is a high performance fiber featuring seven air-trapping tunnels that run the length of each fiber to capture and effectively retain body heat.

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What is the best way to store and care for my Slumberjack sleeping mat?

We've learned there are three questions that should be asked when helping a consumer make a purchasing decision.

Proper care and storage of Slumberjack sleeping mats will provide many solid years of use.

Here are a few helpful hints to help your mat enjoy a long and adventurous life.

  1. Keep a waterproof ground cover between your mattress and the surface you’ll be sleeping on (this would include a tent floor). This reduces abrasion and puncture potential.
  2. After each use, make sure the mat is properly cleaned before placing it into storage. No harsh detergent, just a little soap and water.
  3. When storing a mat, make sure that the mat is stored in a cool dry place, out of direct sunlight (e.g., under a bed or in the back of a closet).
  4. Always store with the valve open and unrolled. This allows the foam to rest and any moisture caught inside to dissipate.

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Why is "R-value" important when purchasing a sleeping mat?

R-value describes an item’s resistance to the flow of heat. R-value, quite literally, is ft^2*degF*hours/BTU. If we all had a lab, this might make a difference to us, but where R-value really comes in handy is when comparing mats. It is a tool when you want to compare apples to apples, and figure out which pad is best suited for your activity. You might have heard R-numbers tossed around the last time you were at your local lumberyard talking about insulation for your home. The higher the R-value, the slower heat leaves you. So just as you want your home to be efficient, you also want your outdoor sleeping system to do the same.

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