Everything (really everything) you need to know about hut sleeping bags and sleeping bag liners!

The humble cotton hut sleeping bag is the most widely used. It is easy to use and easy to clean, as cotton can be washed in the washing machine from 40 to 60 degrees. There is often an integrated pocket in the upper part into which a pillow can be inserted on the underside.

This means that you also lie on your own sleeping bag in the head area. When packed up, you have a small package in your hand that measures approximately 20 x 13 cm. The price starts at around 17 euros for members of the Alpine Club, for example. On average, the cotton hut sleeping bag costs 20 to 25 euros. The weight ranges from approx. 270 to 500 grams. 

Silk is the luxury variant among cabin sleeping bags. The animal fiber fabric has many advantages. Firstly, it is considerably lighter than cotton and packs down much smaller. Secondly, silk is characterized by its high strength and has an insulating effect against cold and heat and is particularly pleasant on the skin. This is why a silk hut sleeping bag is also ideal for tropical and hot climates.

If the silk sleeping bag needs to be washed, it is worth taking a look at the washing instructions first.
One way to wash the silk sleeping bag is on a gentle cycle at 30 °C with a special silk detergent and a low spin speed. The alternative to the machine wash cycle is hand washing. You can use a conventional gall soap for this. Silk sleeping bags weigh an average of 110 to 160 grams.

First of all: I'm not talking about microfiber hut sleeping bags with the same insulation because they weigh considerably more and are therefore unsuitable for mountain tours. The pack size is also a lot larger, so we are actually talking about a conventional sleeping bag.

The down hut sleeping bag has become increasingly important, especially during the pandemic. Due to hygiene precautions in the mountain huts, the huts' own blankets can no longer be used in combination with the hut sleeping bags you bring with you.

The mountain hut blankets are no longer used at all. Hut sleeping bag made of down It is no longer possible to use the conventional thin hut sleeping bag as it provides too little insulation. Even in summer, it can get very cool in the mountains at night, and a simple cotton or silk sleeping bag would no longer suffice. This is where the down sleeping bag comes into play.

The down hut sleeping bag is much smaller than its siblings, which are used to survive frosty temperatures outside. The down, or more precisely the feathers inside the sleeping bag, which are responsible for the pleasant warmth, are literally as light as a feather.

Despite the insulation, the sleeping bag has a relatively small pack size. Around 25 x 15 cm, depending on the model. On warm nights, you can even sleep outside with the sleeping bag. The comfort zone here is around 12 - 17 °C, depending on the model. For this hut sleeping bag in particular, it is advisable to buy one in cocoon form.

With other shapes, you have additional material that is not absolutely necessary and only increases the weight and pack size unnecessarily. The down sleeping bag should be aired out after each use and should never be washed too often. You can find out exactly how to care for your down sleeping bag in our blog post Care recommendations for down sleeping bags and ultralight down sleeping bags.

The weight of down sleeping bags varies greatly. Remember, the lighter the better. A guide value that you can stick to is around 500 grams. 

This hut sleeping bag has many positive features. It is an all-rounder and versatile. Microfiber is pleasant on the skin, either in the cooler mountain hut or in the hostel in warmer climates. Microfiber also has the advantage that it dries very quickly. Microfiber in hut sleeping bags mainly refers to polyester. In rare cases, lyocell. Because microfibers are so fine, the sleeping bag can be packed tightly together.

Microfiber textiles are generally very resistant to fluff and easy to handle. They are best washed at 30 to 40° C on a delicate wash cycle with similar colors. Make sure you follow the instructions on the label. Microfiber sleeping bags weigh an average of 190 to 450 grams and are available in stores from around 20 euros. 

The advantage of merino wool sleeping bags is that they are very pleasant on the skin and temperature-regulating. Merino wool materials also need to be washed less often as the wool is odor-resistant. The pack size is roughly the same as cotton hut sleeping bags. The weight is slightly higher, around 400 to 600 grams.

In terms of price, however, they are significantly higher, starting at around 70 euros. Depending on whether the sleeping bag is made of 100% merino wool or a blended fabric, the care instructions will also vary.

It is therefore essential to read the label and, if necessary, wash by hand or, if possible, on a wool wash cycle. Wool should generally never be washed hot and always at a very low spin speed. 

Egyptian cotton is characterized by the fact that the individual fibres are longer than those of conventional cotton. They can therefore be spun into a thin but strong yarn. This makes it not only more resistant than other types of cotton but also particularly soft and shiny. The fabric is considerably lighter than ordinary cotton and much more durable.

It is precisely these properties that make Egyptian cotton so interesting in the outdoor sector. A sleeping bag made from this fabric is considerably lighter and weighs an average of 210 to 270 grams. They are commercially available from 25 euros.

Egyptian cotton can be machine washed at 40 degrees and tumble dried at a low temperature. 

There are only a few models of these on the market. Mainly made of cotton and polyester (microfiber hut sleeping bag) that are up to 155 cm long. Whether you choose cotton or microfiber is not only a question of the properties of these materials, but also of taste. Would you prefer a natural fiber or plastic?

If the material doesn't play a major role, you can decide what is right for you based on the respective positive properties. See cotton hut sleeping bag and microfiber hut sleeping bag.