sleeping bags for the Marathon des Sables
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Using the Aegismax during the race
The best sleeping bag for the Marathon des Sables is a highly personal choice, and comes from how well you know yourself, how comfy you want to be!
The average night time temperature is between 10℃ and 20℃ (according to this source), however anecdotally, we’ve also heard it can drop down to as low as 5℃ in extreme circumstances – therefore a 2-season sleeping bag will keep you covered.
We ran the MdS in 2019 and opted to take a Thermarest Z-Lite sleeping mat, which was fine however for the next ultradistance race, we’d take an inflatable mat to sleeper a little deeper at night (probably a Thermarest Neoair Uberlite). The tent has a thick carpet floor which protects the mat from sharp rocks however it is good practice just to make sure to sweep anything that may have found its way in that might puncture it.
These are the 5 best sleeping bags for the Marathon des Sables that we know of:
1. Aegismax ultralight sleeping bag
With a recommend range of 6℃(43℉) to 10℃ (58℉) and an extreme rating of 0℃/(32℉), this sleeping bag weighs in at just over 400 grams (around three quarters of a pound (0.8lb)), and was perfect for us. Just pick the correct size for you and it’ll sit happily in your backpack for when you’ve finished moving for the day. At just over £100 but with a low weight and pack size, we think this is the best choice for most who will be tackling this great endeavour.
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If you’re concerned about being cold at night, perhaps consider the Forclaz offering at Decathlon, with its comfort rating down to 0°C, and a lower limit temperature of -5°C. We’ve not had a chance to test this out yet, however have been impressed with the build quality and price of other Forclaz items we’ve purchased for adventures before (especially when there is a likelihood of it being destroyed or lost on the adventure, there’s no point in spending big bucks on gear that may not be used again).
Weighing in at meagre 545 grams, Alpkit’s offering is perfect for your running across the desert racing ambitions! It features 100% Responsible Down Standard (RDS) certified hydrophobic down, a 7˚C sleep limit, and each purchase will see a donation to the Alpkit foundation to help disadvantaged adventurers access opportunities for growth.
4. Rab Mythic Ultra 180 Down Sleeping Bag
Probably the gold standard of ultralight sleeping bags with a price tag to match (over €500!), the Rab Mythic looks and sounds like a work of art using a heat-reflective thermo-ionic lining (with titanium coating on the internal fibres) gives it a ‘sleep limit’ down to 0 ˚C and an extreme limit of -12°C , it comes in at 400 grams, making it the lightest option amongst those currently on the market.
5. Mountain equipment Lunar II
The heaviest 2-season bag within a reasonable price range (check out our kit list for cost-saving tips on not spending a fortune on this endeavour!), the Lunar II weighs in at just over a kilogram, yet has a comfort range down to -2℃ (28°F) and extreme limit of -17°C/1°F
Thinking about what gear you need to successfully complete the Marathon des Sables? Read our complete kit list here
