Build A Better Sleep System
Stack the odds in your favor for a solid night of camp sleep.
PACK A MORE VERSATILE BAG
For a fuller range of adventures on the spectrum from casual car-camping to ultralight extremes, look beyond grams and Fahrenheit to factor ventilation and cross-season comfort.
The Ascent (unisex) and Altitude (women’s) down mummy sleeping bags offer better heat retention in colder temps than some lighter bags, especially for moving sleepers. And as the weather warms, sequentially opening the Free-Flow Zip System lets you use these ever-flexible bags like quilts.
ADD A LINER
Go for the stretch of a knit (not woven) sleeping bag liner. There’s non-restrictive comfort and increased warmth to consider, but also your gear triage upon return; just wash it in the same load as any base layers.
Sea To Summit’s Reactor knits Thermolite hollow-core fibers into a soft mummy shape that’s lighter and more compact than fleece, stretching up to almost twice its normal width and adding up to 14 degrees F of insulation (or the Reactor Xtreme for those looking for a bigger thermal boost up to 25°F).
USE A MAT WITHOUT WORRY
Most inflatable-pad sleepers (especially backpackers), fear punctures when most failures occur from the inside. Invest in a well-built mat with RF-welded seams. And don’t overlook mat stability. Mats with big tubes will wobble as you move; extra thickness doesn’t always mean stability.
The Comfort Plus Insulated Air Sleeping Mat mixes light weight and supreme stability. Camp in luxury with a well-insulated, Dual Layer Air Spring Cell mat that results in the greatest possible support, insulation, and comfort.
COMPLETE YOUR SLEEP SYSTEM
Make room for a handful of additional must-haves to ensure quality sleep, following a warm dinner, like an eye mask to sleep through first light, a good (non-electronic) book to help drift-off, plus a supportive pillow.
The inflatable Aeros Premium has a super-soft, knit exterior with a contoured shape that cradles your head and locks into compatible Sea To Summit mats with patented PillowLock system for a slip-free sleep.
LEVEL UP WHEN YOU NEED IT
When weight is the absolute criteria, consider the Spark (unisex, pictured) and the Flame (women’s) lines. Well-engineered ergonomic shaping plus an incredibly lightweight fabric (70-denier liner and 10D shell with 850 down) result in a fit that’s more comfortable than other ultralight bags.
Combine with the Ether Light XT Air Sleeping Mat that packs dozens of separate Air-Sprung Cells to provide a stable base for this 4-inch-thick, ultralighter’s dream.
