There are two types of sleeping bags; down sleeping bags and synthetic sleeping bags. Down sleeping bags are a lot warmer, lighter and pack smaller than synthetics. They also cost more for the same temperature rating.
If you decide to choose down sleeping bags, look at tags see what the down quality rating is. They usually range from 600 to 800. The higher the number the higher quality the down is. A higher quality down bag will keep you warmer (and loftier), pack smaller and weigh less than lower quality down.
You would also want to consider the venting and zipper options in a sleeping bag. Most zippers today are nylon-coil type zippers. The best are "self-healing" i.e. when the teeth pull apart, you can zip down and back up and all will be fine. Early zippers then to eat on the fabric of the sleeping bag providing exit points for the fill.
There are also a lot of position options for the zippers, there's front zipper that goes part way down or goes down the whole way. The reasoning behind part way front zippers is that you can use it for doing other things like cooking while still in your sleeping. There's the side zipper and zipper at the bottom for good ventilation. Some bags with side zippers can be combined with other sleeping bags.
You might also want to consider the hood design. Hood design with drawcords are great because you can loosen up the hood when it's warm and tighten it up when it's cold. If you want to save ounces and weight is your primary concern you might want to choose a sleeping bag with small hole tailored around the head.
Another thing to consider is whether you want a sleeping bag with little or no insulation on the bottom side. It's good for people who sleep on their backs and on a sleeping pad. A sleeping bag's insulation is not effective at the bottom anyway since it is compressed by the weight of your body so you really have to rely on your pad for insulation. With little or no insulation at the bottom you can save a little bit of weight.
The draft collar is another thing to consider but most above-freezing bags don't need draft collars. Some cold weather sleeping bags don't even have draft collars. It may even be a lot more comfortable and convenient without a draft collar.
If you want draft collars in your sleeping bag I recommend the tubular draft collar that lets you roll freely from side to side without fussy realignments. A yoke style draft collar that hangs down over the neck may also be a good option.
The shape of the sleeping bag is a good consideration to make when choosing one because some people have varying preferences to the amount of space in a sleeping bag. If you like to move around inside your sleeping bag or if you're bigger than average, choose a rectangular or semi-rectangular shaped sleeping bag.
There's much less room to maneuver in a mummy shaped sleeping bag but it's much more thermally efficient because there's not much space inside to heat up. It's also going to save you some weight and will pack a lot smaller.
Author Resource:-
Jonsky Sicuna is a writer for Hiking-Camping-World.com. Marmot makes good down sleeping bags [http://www.hiking-camping-world.com/Marmot-Col-EQ-Sleeping-Bag.html]. Use a sleeping pad for bottom insulation. [http://www.hiking-camping-world.com/Camping-Mat.html].
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