Nepal and Kilimanjaro - Choosing the Right Sleeping Bag

Article

Nepal:

For trekking in Nepal, for example the Annapurna Circuit, the "Lamina -15F" is the most commonly booked model. Its comfort range is around -15 °C. It doesn't usually get that cold in the lodges, but after a strenuous day of hiking—possibly while battling altitude sickness—your need for warmth can be greater than usual.

Depending on your individual warmth needs as well as the month of travel and the elevation profile of your trekking route, the slightly less warm "Lamina 0F" with a comfort range of -11 °C may also be warm enough. For information on the temperatures typically expected in the Himalayas, see » here.

The insulation in these sleeping bags compresses extremely well, but the packed size of the "Lamina -15F" and "Lamina 0F" still makes them only moderately suitable for carrying in your own backpack. If you'd like to carry your own luggage, one option is to combine a "Lamina 15F" (comfort range -4 °C) with a blanket, which is usually available at the lodges. Spreading a warm blanket over the sleeping bag significantly improves its comfort range.

Kilimanjaro:

The "Lamina -15F" (comfort range approx. -15 °C) is typically used when climbing Kilimanjaro and has proven itself excellently.

If you're not spending the night in the crater, our experience shows that the "Lamina 0F" with a comfort rating of -11 °C is also sufficient for people who generally don't feel the cold too much.

When camping in a tent, a sleeping pad that insulates well against ground cold is essential: on the side facing the ground, the sleeping bag's filling gets compressed by your body weight and can therefore only provide limited insulation in that area. Tour operators often provide a sleeping pad, but it doesn't always offer sufficient insulation. It's a good idea to clarify this with the tour operator in advance. Without a sufficiently insulating sleeping pad, you won't stay warm on cold ground, even in the warmest sleeping bag. Even when sleeping on a camp bed, a sufficiently warm base is essential.

What do you need?

All models are sleeping bags with synthetic fiber filling. The weight and packed size of synthetic fiber sleeping bags are somewhat higher than those of down sleeping bags, but they dry much faster and therefore don't need to be aired out for as long in the morning.

Temperatures in Nepal

Our sleeping bags are frequently rented for trekking tours in Nepal. The frequently asked question of what comfort range the sleeping bag should have unfortunately can't be answered in a general way. Besides individual heat requirements, the month of travel and the hiking route also play a role. The table below provides an overview of the temperatures typically expected in the Himalayas during different months and at different altitudes.

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