Choosing the right MILLET sleeping bag for your needs

Whether you're planning to explore the poles or take a nap in your garden, choosing a sleeping bag is a serious decision that can have far-reaching consequences if the choice isn't right.

Millet, one of France's leading sleeping bag specialists, has a comprehensive range. We'll show you the criteria best suited to your needs to find the perfect MILLET sleeping bag.

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What do the temperatures on the sleeping bags correspond to?

Every sleeping bag has its own characteristics, and it's essential to take them into account. The most crucial characteristic is the famous comfort temperature. All sleeping bags are labelled with three temperatures:

- Comfort temperature: This is like the magic temperature where you're comfortable, warm and feel like you're wrapped in a cozy blanket.

- The comfort limit temperature: This is like the temperature where you have to adopt the fetal position to avoid becoming a human icicle.

- Extreme temperature: This is the temperature where even if you curl up in a ball like a snail, you can still feel the cold. At this stage, your sleeping bag looks more like an ice box.

Reaching the extreme temperature is like playing Russian roulette with the cold. You risk turning into a snowman if you don't choose the right sleeping bag. So avoid venturing into these icy lands with an unsuitable bag, unless you want to become a living ice sculpture.


How to determine the right comfort temperature?

Determining the right comfort temperature for your sleeping bag requires a little thought. To choose the ideal comfort temperature, it's essential to find out about minimum temperatures in the region you plan to explore. Keep a close eye on temperature fluctuations between night and day, as in some regions, days can be warmer, while nights can be really cold.

Millet's range of sleeping bags is varied to best meet your needs in all exploration conditions. It covers a wide range of temperatures and activities. So, if you're planning a quiet hike on the plains in spring, a sleeping bag with a comfort temperature of +10°C and a comfort limit temperature of +6°C should do the trick.

In this category, we can recommend Millet's Light Down 10, Light Down 5 and Baikal 750 sleeping bags.

However, if you have alpine ambitions and plan to climb high mountain peaks, we strongly recommend opting for a sleeping bag with a comfort temperature as low as a penguin in a freezer. Millet even has sleeping bags in its collection with a comfort temperature down to -17°C and a comfort limit temperature reaching the icy -25°C. Get ready to feel the cold like a true mountaineering champion!

In this more alpine category, we recommend the Millet Trilogy sleeping bag and the Millet Trilogy Ultimate.

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Down? Synthetic? What's the difference? What's the difference?

The choice of material for the lining of your sleeping bag is crucial, and a major concern for hiking and mountaineering enthusiasts.

It's essential to understand that the lining is what protects you from the cold. In fact, the sleeping bag is not a heat generator; rather, it acts as a kind of waterproof shell that keeps the heat produced by your body inside. Insulation is made possible by the presence of air trapped in the filling.

Synthetic fibers are a practical option for your sleeping bag, offering an obvious budget advantage. They also stand out for their ability to maintain effective insulation even in damp conditions.

Sleeping bags with synthetic fillings are child's play to clean. You can just pop them in the washing machine like any other garment.

What's more, as a general rule, sleeping bags filled with synthetic fibers are lighter than their down counterparts.

Down, which offers superior insulation to synthetics, is made up of feathers and down from goose or duck. Goose feathers, in particular, are reserved for mountaineering adventurers facing extreme climatic conditions. In addition to its exceptional insulating properties, down has other undeniable assets:

- High Fill Power (a measure of down volume per unit weight). The higher this figure, the better the quality of the down.
- An excellent compromise between insulation and compactness, thanks to its capacity to inflate.
- Optimum comfort, so you can snuggle up in a cozy cocoon.
- High-level breathability, so you stay dry even when you sweat.

The different sleeping bag shapes

Having unraveled the mystery of temperature and material, let's move on to the different shapes and ergonomics of MILLET sleeping bags.

Whether you're a hiker, trekker or mountaineer, every component of your sleeping bag deserves careful attention, whether it's its size, shape or closure system.

Choosing the size of your sleeping bag is of crucial importance. It must be done with care, because :

A sleeping bag that's too narrow will deprive you of the possibility of adding layers to keep warm, and it may prove uncomfortable around the feet and hood.

A sleeping bag that's too roomy may not provide adequate insulation. Your body will have to produce more heat to compensate for the empty spaces inside the bag.

An excessively large sleeping bag can unnecessarily weigh down your equipment and increase the size of your load. What's more, it may force you to compress the filling excessively, reducing its insulating efficiency.

The shape and closures of your sleeping bag:

The most common shape for sleeping bags designed for sporting activities is the sarcophagus or mummy sleeping bag. This configuration wraps the head and face in a hood with a flap, with the legs tightened to minimize heat loss by keeping the bag as close to the body as possible.
If you're used to camping with two people, opt for a sleeping bag with zippers that allow you to pair them up. The positioning of the side zipper is also a question of comfort: right-handers are generally advised to choose a left-hand zipper, and left-handers a right-hand zipper.

Now that you know how to select your sleeping bag, all you have to do is choose your next destination with peace of mind!

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Summary of MILLET sleeping bags available at Alpinstore.


LIGHT DOWN range

Available in LIGHT DOWN 10°, LIGHT DOWN 5°, LIGHT DOWN 0°, LIGHT DOWN -5°, LIGHT DOWN -10° There is a women's model (comfort limit temperature)
Filling : Hydrophobic duck down
Shape : Sarcophagus
One size per model


BAIKAL range

Available in BAIKAL 1500, BAIKAL 1100 and BAIKAL 750, the BAIKAL 750 is also available as a women's model
Filling : Synthetic
Available in ZIP Right & ZIP Left


TRILOGY range

Available in TRILOGY -15°, TRILOGY -25° or TRILOGY -40° (temperature limit of comfort).
Available in SHORT or LONG for each model
Lining : Down
Shape : Sarcophagus
Available in ZIP right & ZIP left


The product expert's advice:

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 Choosing the right sleeping bag is essential to having a good time in the mountains, and there's nothing like a warm night's sleep to help you get back into shape the next day. Make sure you choose the right temperature for comfort! To find out more about choosing the right sleeping bag, read the following article: How to choose your sleeping bag?
Florian - Product expert

About Florian: "Rain or shine, nothing can stop the sports enthusiast in me. Cycling, running and sports of all kinds are part of my daily routine. One thing's for sure, I'd never turn down a pétanque evening with my friends."


team alpinstore