Used in sleeping bags and insulated garments, baffles are a sewn compartmented wall utilized to control the distribution of down insulation throughout a garment or bag. Sewn through construction (the resulting compartments sometimes also referred to as baffles) achieves the same type of insulation control and is simple to construct as well as lightweight, but creates cold spots along the seams making such a construction ideal for milder weather. A good example of this type of construction can be found in sleeping bags such as the Western Mountaineering Highlite.

Baffles in insulating backpacking gear can be found in sewn through, box baffled, and continuous designs.

Other Types of Baffles

Box-type baffles are a bit heavier and more complicated to construct, but by adding the baffle cold spots are greatly reduced and down is able to loft more efficiently. On sleeping bags, frequently baffles will be constructed with a continuous baffle, such that the user is able to shift the insulation along the length of the tube that’s created, often from the top to the bottom of the bag for warm nights, and vice-versa when maximum warmth is needed. For the construction of box baffles, fabric can be used, though no-see-um mesh and Dyneema Composite Fabric can be found in situations where saving weight is a top priority such as in Zpacks sleeping bags. For more on insulating gear, see our article on how to choose the best sleeping bag as well as our backpacking clothing guide.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in Issue 19 of TrailGroove Magazine. You can read the original article here.