The most important element beneath a sleeping bag is the sleeping pad . The sleeping bag can only insulate from the top , as it is compressed at the bottom by body weight. Therefore, the sleeping pad should have a better thermal rating than the sleeping bag, as sleeping pads are usually measured without any load.

In VW vans, it's especially important to note that the mattresses are often well-ventilated but don't provide sufficient insulation. Therefore, it can get cold inside the sleeping bag, even though the sleeping bag itself is warm enough. We recommend bringing an additional sleeping pad for better insulation.