Every great adventure should end with a well-earned, restful sleep – not shivering until 2am in a woefully thin quilt or tossing and turning all night entrapped in an overly toasty cocoon. That’s why finding the right sleeping bag and mat is a must before you head off on any outdoor trip.
But choosing a sleeping bag that’s warm enough can be an absolute minefield. The ‘comfort’ and ‘comfort limit’ temperature ratings are the best indicators, but even then, making the right decision is tricky. That’s where Mountain Equipment’s ‘A good night’s sleep guaranteed’ promise comes in, taking the stress out of the sleeping bag selection conundrum.
While some other brands’ temperature ratings should, arguably, be taken with a pinch of salt, Mountain Equipment’s sleeping bags have been tested to the limit in temperature-controlled cold chambers, as well in the ‘real world’ in extreme environments across the globe, from the North and South Poles to the summits of Himalayan 8,000m giants including mighty Everest. This has given the brand an unsurpassed goldmine of field data and expedition feedback, vital insight used to make today’s range of Mountain Equipment sleeping bags the best and to pinpoint the quoted temperature ratings with technical precision.
Indeed, Mountain Equipment is confident its sleeping bags will keep you warm and comfortable to the quoted temperature ranges. The brand has put its money where its mouth is with an industry-leading guarantee. This is how it works...
Every Mountain Equipment sleeping bag comes with ‘A Good Night’s Sleep Guaranteed’ 30-day pledge, meaning “should you decide that the sleeping bag you’ve purchased isn't as warm as you’d expected it to be, we’ll upgrade your bag to one of a warmer specification – giving you peace of mind”. It’s basically risk-free purchasing of vital kit – a real win-win scenario.
Quality is guaranteed with Mountain Equipment, too. It is well regarded as one of the world’s best and most technical mountaineering brands, with over 60 years of experience crafting some of the finest clothing and equipment for hikers, mountaineers and outdoor adventurers. A key pillar of this success is the extensive field testing of its products on genuine expeditions across the globe, and nowhere is this more evident than in the brand’s comprehensive range of sleeping bags and mats.
The brand’s sleeping bag collection includes everything from winter-ready, four-season down sleeping bags to ultralight and super-comfy synthetic bags. From the premium Glacier, Helium, and Classic Eco ranges to the less technical Olympus, Nova, and Lunar lines, Mountain Equipment also offers women's specific fits, sleeping quilts, alpine bags, and a superb range of accessories. The range of sleeping mats is similarly impressive, with a mix of closed-cell foam mats, insulated inflatable mats, and self-inflating mats to suit all needs.
4 of the best Mountain Equipment sleeping bags and mats
With such a comprehensive selection, picking out the best products is tricky. But for spring and summer, here’s our choice of 4 of the best Mountain Equipment sleeping bags and mats.
1. Mountain Equipment Hoverstat 7.0 Mat, £100
With this lightweight, low-pack sleeping mat, you can minimise your backpack weight but maximise overnight comfort. Weighing just 520g and offering a 2.0 R-value thermal rating, this super-comfy sleeping mat has vertically aligned air chambers and a two-way self-sealing inflation valve. It is made from sturdy 75-denier fabric with a recycled face.
2. Mountain Equipment Helium 400, £300
With a comfort rating of 0C and a comfort limit of -6C, despite weighing just 820g, this sleeping bag offers an amazing warmth-to-weight ratio for spring and summer backpacking expeditions. Filled with 700 fill power, ethically sourced duck down, the Helium 400 is lightweight, packable and fully featured. It is also available in a women’s specific fit.
3. Mountain Equipment Aerostat Synthetic 7.0 Mat, £150
If you need an extra touch of under-the-body warmth, this sleeping pad has an R-value of 4.0, thanks to synthetic Polarloft® insulation. The mat is made from a recycled 30-denier ripstop polyester with TPU lamination and is inflated using Mountain Equipment’s clever Windsock™, which doubles as a stuff sac.
4. Mountain Equipment Helium 250 Women’s, £250
For warmer spring and summer nights, this ultralight sleeping bag – which features a female-specific alpine fit – delivers first-rate comfort levels at the lowest weight possible. Filled with 242g of 700 fill power ethically sourced duck down, the Helium 250 weighs just 600g and has a comfort limit rating of 2C. It is also available in a men’s specific fit.
For full details about Mountain Equipment's sleeping bag and sleeping mat ranges, visit mountain-equipment.co.uk