Saw a video showing a 20-degree sleeping bag's comfort rating is actually for survival

Found this out from a detailed breakdown on a gear testing channel. Makes me wonder how many other ratings are misleading like that.

4 comments

4 Comments

patel.eric1mo ago

Yeah, that survival rating trick is everywhere. Parker_hall5 is right, tents are the worst. A "3-season" tent often means you'll be cold and wet in spring rain. Same with waterproof jackets rated for "light rain" that soak through in ten minutes. These companies know we just look at the big number on the tag.

parker_hall51mo ago

That survival rating trick probably works for tents and rain jackets too.

adam4141mo ago

Wait, hold on. I gotta disagree a little. Those ratings are a starting point, not a promise. I've used a cheap 20 degree bag in fall and been fine because I wore a base layer. If you just hop in naked at the rating limit, yeah you'll be cold. It's on us to learn how to use our gear, not just blame the tag. The real scam is when stuff just falls apart.

zaranelson14d ago

Totally agree about the tent thing. My buddy bought a "3-season" tent for a spring backpacking trip last year. A chilly rain rolled in, not even a storm, and he said the wind cut right through the fabric and the condensation was unreal. He spent the night in his rain jacket inside his sleeping bag. It really showed how that label can mean almost nothing when you actually get out there.