Summer is a great time to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Backpacking during the summer months usually means that you don't have to carry a heavy load of gear on your back, since you don't need a lot of cold weather gear. When it comes to finding a summer sleeping bag, there are a few important factors to weigh. This is especially true if you are a minimalist or ultralight backpacker.
The first thing you need to keep in mind is the temperature rating of the sleeping bag. Sleeping bags are rated to a certain temperature, which is the average 'comfort' temperature between a minimum and maximum range. Most summer backpacking trips will be fine with a rating of 40 degrees of above, and most summer sleeping bags fall in the 40-55 range. This obviously depends on where yo will be backpacking, so if the nights get colder than 40-55 degrees, pack a warmer bag.
The temperature rating will determine the amount of insulation inside the sleeping bag. This will affect the total weight, since more insulation will mean a heavier sleeping bag. Weight is an important consideration, especially if you are trying to achieve ultralight backpacking status (less than 10 pounds). Finding a sleeping bag that is close to 1 pound is ideal for that scenario.
The type of insulation is also an important consideration. Down sleeping bags will allow you to get down in the 1-2 pound range at this temperature rating, and some synthetic insulation sleeping bags will get close as well. The fill power of the down will give you an idea of its overall warmth to weight ratio, with a higher number giving you a higher ratio. Remember that down loses it's insulative properties when it gets wet, so if you plan on backpacking in a wet climate, either make sure you have waterproof protection or go with a synthetic sleeping bag (they retain their insulative properties when wet).
Cost is also an important consideration. Down bags will usually cost more than their synthetic counterparts, and this is especially true with the high fill power down sleeping bags (600-850).
Hopefully this guide will help you get started in finding a perfect summer lightweight sleeping bag to fit your needs. Happy trails!
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