It gets cold up on that mountain in a tent, but you have to keep your strength up with a good night’s sleep.
Since altitude can make sleeping difficult, the last thing you need is getting stuck with a bag that doesn’t keep you comfortably warm.
That means it needs to be rated at least to -5, because that is at least how cold it’s going to get. A down bag may cost a lot more, but it’s much lighter and warmer and will last up to five times longer.
One thing to bear in mind is that the temperature ratings given on sleeping bags are only a guideline and change depending on the user, clothing, tiredness and several other factors.
Both First Ascent and Capestorm say they prefer to give conservative ratings – which means that the bag has been used in colder conditions than those stated.
Tip: for added warmth at night use a thermal liner, wear thermal underwear as pyjamas and eat a good supper so your body has fuel to keep warm.
First Ascent Icebreaker (-8?C)
A legend in its own lifetime, the Icebreaker is apparently South Africa’s best-selling down sleeping bag. At least one of the reasons for this must be that its comfort range of 20 to -8?C is suited to almost every climatic condition in this country and, combined with a thermal liner, can even be used on Kilimanjaro.
The Icebreaker is designed so that you can move the down around the bag to make it more comfortable in different conditions. For warmer nights, stroke the down to the bottom, where it’s squashed flat and will give little insulation. For maximum insulation, move most of the down to the top. It’s a good idea to move the down to the top at lower altitudes, as even this slight extra effort high up can leave you breathless.
This bag also has sticky spots on the bottom, to prevent sliding on uneven surfaces (lots of those on Kili!), a countoured cowl top, an internal pocket for headlamp, valuables or batteries, a zipper system that allows your feet to stick out if you want, and face and chest baffles to keep out the cold.
It’s made from breathable, water-repellent Mictrotex fabrics and is filled with 680+ fill-power goose down. It’s also available in large size.
Weight: 1400g
RRP: R2795
Capestorm Firefly (-15?C)
If, like me, you’re prone to feeling the cold, especially when you’re tired, you need a sleeping bag that almost guarantees you’ll get through the night without noticing what the weather’s doing.
The Firefly does everything possible to warm you up without weighing you down and I didn’t experience so much as a chilly toe. On the other hand, I didn’t overheat either. Bear in mind that I was using it with the Sea to Summit silk liner – but I’m pretty certain that even without a liner, this bag would be warm enough. Its comfort range is 7 to -10?C, with an extreme range of -15?C.
54 stabilised channels keep 750g of goose down exactly where it should be. The hood and bag shapes are tailored to fit, reducing air movement and cold spots. A couple of strategically placed press-studs mean you can leave it unzipped in warmer weather. A little zip-up pocket inside is a handy place to keep your headlamp or camera batteries. The double insulated foot-box is a bonus if you suffer from cold feet.
Another nice touch is that it comes with a large mesh storage bag as well as a compact stuff sack (it’s not good for down bags to be kept permanently in a stuff sack). You can also choose between long and regular lengths and a left or right-hand zip.
Weight: 1400g
RRP: R2995
Ray’s tip: Work the rating
While sleeping bags have temperature ratings, they’re more like guidelines. By knowing what to do, you can get far more from your sleeping bag:
– use a liner [not only does it help keep it clean, it can increase the temperature by up to 8C]
– use a hot water bottle [use your Nalgene bottle as a hot water bottle & slip it into your bag a little before you go to bed. Remember not to open your bag too much as you will let the warm air escape]
– raise your core [don’t climb into your bag cold, as you will remain cold. Do a little dance or star-jumps to warm yourself up before climbing in]
– have a snack or hot drink [this will also help raise your core by getting your metabolism going]
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