Top 10 sleeping bags for camping
I don’t have specific information on the latest models of sleeping bags available on the market. However, I can provide you with a list of reputable brands and considerations to help you choose a top-quality sleeping bag for camping. Keep in mind that new models may have been released since my last update, so it’s advisable to check recent reviews and product specifications for the most up-to-date information. Here are some well-known brands and factors to consider:
- REI Co-op:
- REI is known for offering a variety of outdoor gear, including high-quality sleeping bags suitable for different temperatures and camping conditions.
- The North Face:
- The North Face produces a range of sleeping bags designed for various climates and activities. They are known for their durability and insulation.
- Marmot:
- Marmot is recognized for its performance-oriented outdoor gear, including sleeping bags with innovative features and materials.
- Western Mountaineering:
- Western Mountaineering is known for its high-end sleeping bags that prioritize lightweight design and exceptional warmth.
- Mountain Hardwear:
- Mountain Hardwear offers a variety of sleeping bags suitable for different climates and outdoor adventures. They focus on combining performance and comfort.
- Big Agnes:
- Big Agnes is known for its sleeping bags and sleep systems, offering innovative designs and features such as integrated sleeping pads.
- Enlightened Equipment:
- Enlightened Equipment specializes in ultralight sleeping bags, often using down insulation. They are popular among backpackers and ultralight enthusiasts.
- Sea to Summit:
- Sea to Summit produces a range of sleeping bags with a focus on lightweight design and packability. They offer different models for various temperatures.
- Kelty:
- Kelty provides affordable and reliable sleeping bags suitable for a range of camping scenarios. They are known for their durability and value.
- Patagonia:
- While Patagonia is widely recognized for its outdoor clothing, they also offer sleeping bags that prioritize sustainability and responsible sourcing of materials.
Top 10 sleeping bags for camping
When selecting a sleeping bag for camping, consider factors such as temperature rating, insulation type (down or synthetic), weight, packability, and features like hood design and zipper quality. It’s also essential to choose a sleeping bag that suits the climate and conditions of your camping trips. Always check the latest reviews and consult with outdoor experts for the most current recommendations.
Few things are more satisfying for mountain fanatics than packing their most essential things and launching a few days of camping, disconnecting from everything.
But, no camping is complete without the best sleeping bag, the one that works for you alone or looking for a double bag; everything will depend on your needs when setting up your camp.
Nothing worse than having everything ready to go, only to discover that your old bag is torn, has holes, or is not suitable for the type of climate you want to visit. Therefore, it is essential to choose well, always thinking about what suits you more.
The best sleeping bags
What is the best sleeping bag?
Let’s start with its manufacturing materials. Being in direct contact with the ground, the bag must have some coating that protects its lower part and construction with thermal insulation to maintain heat for longer.
For its filling, we speak of down, synthetic or natural fibers, being fabrics capable of keeping you warm, but, in addition, it is necessary to look for a waterproof surface. Which is impermeable so that, if it rains, everything does not become chaos with your wet things.
Here are the best sleeping bags:
Double sleeping bag – TOMSHOO
It is a TOMSHOO branded sleeping bag, a rectangular-shaped double option that can easily be converted into two separate handy sleeping bags, making it one of the most versatile on the comparison list.
It is filled with 250 g/m2 hollow fiber materials, making it softer and warmer than other models with the same features.
Indicated for spring and winter, it can withstand temperatures between 0 and -10ºC, this being its maximum temperature limit.
It’s the best when it comes to portability, having four straps that allow the bag to be compressed to a minimum size that won’t affect space in your backpack.
Sleeping bag – Ferrino
For temperatures down to 5 and -5 degrees, this sleeping bag can keep you insulated from the cold even on the lowest temperature nights.
Among its characteristics that make it stand out from the rest, we find an ultralightweight that gives it its manufacture in synthetic materials.
With an anti-cold hood, it will keep the heat in the area of your head, which is one of the areas that suffer the most when exposed to humid climates or with temperatures that drop below zero degrees.
One of the things I like most about this jacket is that its seams between the inner and outer layers are non-communicating, which means it prevents heat from spreading.
0 Degree Sleeping Bag – Paria Outdoor Products
Filled with 907 grams of responsibly sourced down, this bag is a perfect option for those looking for extra resistance against the cold.
The comfort temperature is 0 degrees, with a maximum limit of -17. You will feel a little cold even with thermal clothing, so it is not indicated for temperatures below that number.
On the other hand, it has only 1.4 kilos of weight, which is compensated by its good heat retention, so it will not be inconvenient to carry it if storage is not a problem for you.
It’s highly tear-resistant, with zippers that secure the bag to keep you protected at all times. The best value for money option for adventurous campers.
Comfy Sleeping Bag – Mountain Warehouse
It is a comfortable model for those who enjoy mummy-type bags, being the ideal one for the beginning of winter, with a comfort limit between 4 and -2ºC, as well as a maximum limit of -18ºC.
Its filling is made of hollow fiber, which retains heat much better, with a double zipper so you can open and close it comfortably.
It is a practical and durable option, of good quality for its relatively affordable price, with a synthetic fabrication that dries quickly to avoid the concentration of humidity.
Mummy Sleeping Bag – KeenFlex
If you want to sleep comfortably without the cold becoming a problem, this mummy-type model from the KeenFlex brand is ideal for you to have a spacious and warm place during your camping nights.
Looking for a sleeping bag, it is essential to look at its compactness and lightweight, things in which this affordable option stands out in the selection. It can be reduced in size by up to 60% of the original to store in your backpack or bag easily.
It is designed for three seasons, with certificates endorsed by the ISO 23537-1 standard, which guarantees that it can withstand temperatures of -12ºC and a comfort limit of 7ºC.
4 Season Sleeping Bag – Alpine’s Lab
Being a bag suitable for people up to 185 cm tall, it is perfect to combine two bags, as it has side zippers that allow it.
It has an insulated construction, with an outer coating resistant to tearing, and is also waterproof, with synthetic padding that will guarantee your comfort above all things.
Its 240T polyester fabric offers more excellent softness in contact with the skin, plus it can be easily machine washed, saving you annoying tasks after each camping adventure.
Lightweight sleeping bag – SONGMICS
So you can have sweet dreams while you go camping, this bag from SONGMICS is perfect if you are looking for a less high price for your first camping bag.
It is a bag with enough width to find a correct position when sleeping, with 84 centimeters wide that give you room to move your legs or even sleep on your side.
With this bag, you will have an optimal level of warmth, as it has a 300 g/m2 silk wadding to maintain the temperature and heat inside.
It is very light, easy to transport, and easy to wash to extend its useful life.
Camping Sleeping Bag – Active Era
If it is one of the first times you go camping and plan to spend the night, it is best to have a bag like this one, which is cheap so that you can adapt to its use, but with functional characteristics that keep you warm.
It stands out among the models on the list, as it has a reasonably efficient design, with internal pockets that allow you to store the items you want to have on hand quickly.
Like others in the comparison, it is a bag with a mummy design, which means tighter legs for more excellent heat retention, which will be comfortable if this type of sleeping bag suits you.
Like others in the comparison, it is a bag with a mummy design, which means tighter legs for more excellent heat retention, which will be comfortable if this type of sleeping bag suits you.
Waterproof sleeping bag – BACKTURE
Being highly compressible and durable, this sleeping bag will give you all the benefits of having fabrics that allow you to retain heat for much longer.
It is made of polyester and a hollow fiber filling that provides higher levels of comfort, warmth, and freedom of movement. Friends, It stands out on the list for having a design with a hood for icy conditions, being very versatile as it can be used as a quilt.
It has a waterproof design that prevents the passage of water and faster drying.
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Microfiber Sleeping Bag – NirvanaShape
Having the lowest price on the list, we find this microfiber bag from the NirvanaShape brand that, although it is less expensive, its sound quality is not ruled out as it is made of resistant materials.
Being microfiber gives the bag a breathable construction, ideal for outdoor activities if you want to make sure you have a good balance in temperature while you sleep inside it.
It can be machine washed at a maximum of 30ºC without affected materials. In the same way and like the previous model, it is pretty versatile, as it can be used as a duvet cover inside another sleeping bag.
Keep in mind that this is not a bag for the most extreme cold temperatures, but for seasons like summer, where the nights can be more relaxed than the days when outdoors.
Types of sleeping bags
When looking for a sleeping bag or sleeping bag, we look at the fact that there is a default model and that they adapt to each season of the year and, consequently. They also adapt to changes in temperature, so it is essential to define when you want to go out, whether in summer, winter, or all seasons.
summer sleeping bags
These are indicated for temperatures that exceed one-degree centigrade, being incredibly light as they have less insulation. They are generally made of materials such as synthetic fiber, with openings or zippers that facilitate perspiration at higher heat levels.
three season sleeping bag
Ideal for temperatures below zero degrees, they are equipped with features that make them suitable for spring and summer in the mountains, where the nights are usually relatively calm.
This type of bag has things like a hood to protect your head from the cold or a crew neck to keep you much warmer.
winter sleeping bags
This bag is already for adventurers who want to go camping when there are shallow temperatures, ideal for covering between -6 degrees or less.
The best thing about these is that they have all the functional characteristics of the three-season models, such as hoods that can be adjusted or the roll necks that we already talked about. Still, they differ because they have a more excellent reinforcement in their insulation, making Them retain heat much better.
They are usually stuffed with natural or synthetic feathers, so they are generally heavier, but think that, with 1 kilo of weight. You will be ensuring warm nights in which you will not have to worry about frostbite or hypothermia, especially if you are someone cold.
The different temperature levels in sleeping bags
When choosing these jackets, we will notice among their specifications the different limits or temperature levels, which can vary depending on whether it is for men or women, the materials with which they are made, and what season they are made for.
With that said, expect to come across the following terms that will tell you the level of heat:
- Comfort temperature:
It is what guarantees us that we will be comfortable even wearing layers of clothing inside our bag and having better heat retention. It is usually indicated especially for girls. On the other hand, men can first look at their comfort limit, which we will talk about next.
Comfort limit:
It is one of the most critical points, as it is the grades for which some bags are specifically indicated. Reaching the comfort limit, the cold will manage to sneak in a little, even when you have thermal mesh or another type of protection inside the sleeping bag.
- Maximum temperature:
It should not be used as a determining factor when choosing a bag. It is not safe, nor convenient, to have a sleeping bag that falls short in protection against the cold, as it can result in hypothermia or frostbite, so discard this item and only have it for information or guidance.
No universal measure tells us whether a bag will be ideal for a temperature or not since this is something entirely subjective, depending on whether you feel the cold more intensely. If you are out, keep this in mind when choosing and pack your camping equipment with a bag capable of providing you with warmth.
Whatever your choice, the sleeping bag must have a certificate, being approved by some international standard, which would be the European one, in this way, you will have security in what you are choosing.
What are the types of insulation in sleeping bags?
Another point that is essential to the dwelling is the insulation or padding that the sleeping bags have.
Here, mainly, it is possible to find two safe options: feathers and synthetic fillings. Each one has pros and cons depending on what you’re looking for, so let’s take a closer look at what they have to offer:
Feather filling:
It is the lightest you will find, considering the level of heat they can transmit, which means: greater efficiency with only a few kilos of weight.
They can be easily compressed, which is a great advantage for travelers who want to travel with less weight on them.
As a disadvantage, keep in mind that they are more expensive materials, so the final price is higher than that of synthetic fillers, as well as the fact that they take much longer to dry on wet ground.
In general, these are not made of 100% natural feathers. These are mixed with other feathers and filaments, so it is always convenient to look for those with a more significant amount of down, which can be expressed in the specifications. Of the bags as 90/10, which indicates 90% down and 10% other feathers, being the highest quality
In the case of the European standard, a 90/10 bag is considered to have 81% down in its composition.
There are, in turn, different types of down, including white, gray, or goose and goose down, all with an excellent performance against the cold.
Synthetic fiber:
It is a non-natural product, but it has a performance quite similar to that of down, generally made of polyester fiber.
The main advantage is that they are less expensive than down, and they’re a speedy drying time, with a unique design for very humid environments.
Here, each brand or manufacturer has its synthetic fiber, to which they give a technical name that differentiates them from others on the market.
The ideal amount of filling
Something indicates the heat retention capacity of the bag you want to buy, and it is the amount of padding they have.
As a general rule, it establishes that the greater the amount of filling, the higher the temperatures they can retain inside. Although you should keep in mind that 1 kg of down will not be the same as synthetic fiber, the manufacturing material greatly influences this aspect.
The amount of filling can be found reflected in grams over square meters.
External protection of sleeping bags
Whether you need a waterproof bag or one with waterproof protection will depend on the places you tend to frequent, as well as factors such as whether you will be indoors, if you have a camping tent or if you will sleep under the stars.
A sleeping bag with protection against water will be ideal for those places where it rains frequently, but these must be both waterproof and breathable to ensure that sweat evaporates correctly.
Different shapes and designs of sleeping bags
These essential accessories for camping can come in different shapes or designs, from a children’s sleeping bag or a baby bag, through winter models for hiking in low temperatures. Those that are useful during winter; there is a wide range, being all capable of adapting to the needs of each person. Let’s see which are the most popular:
- mummy type:
They are characterized by having a conical cut, where they offer the legs and feet maximum thermal efficiency. This type of bag works by containing the heat generated by the body in a smaller space at the bottom.
This type of bag is designed to offer plenty of room for your torso, shoulders, and arms, but keep in mind that your legs will be tighter, so if that’s something you’re looking for in a camping bag, these might be the best Indicated.
A benefit of this type of bag is that they use fewer materials, making them lighter, easier to pack, and less expensive.
Rectangular bags:
On the other hand, these bags do not have that narrowing that characterizes the mummy models; instead, they are completely wide, which makes them not as efficient when it comes to keeping warm. They are ideal for those campsites that we set up in the garden, but not to take to the mountains, especially when it is cold.
- Semi-rectangular bags:
We find them as a midpoint between the mummy design and the rectangular ones, being a good option for camping fans in the mountains.
They can offer a good option of warmth, so they are ideal for those who do not enjoy the tapered design that restricts the free movement of the legs but who need a little more thermal protection than with rectangular bags.
How to choose the sleeping bag?
Once the design that suits you best has been defined, in addition to the type of filling and the ideal temperature level for you, it is necessary to move on to some final considerations, which may be accessories to the bag. Still, it will provide it with more versatility and functionality.
- Reinforced zippers:
Strong zippers or closures will guarantee that the cold will stay out of your bag. In addition, these can be used to join several bags, depending on the side where they are located.
Internal pocket:
There are things that, even when camping, we always want to have at hand. Be it your cell phone, a flashlight, or a multipurpose knife, and, conveniently, the bag has a series of pockets or compartments inside that allow you to access what you need quickly, and that is also safe.
- Sleeves and hood:
For added heat retention and protection from the cold, your sleeping bag can have built-in sleeves to tuck in a pillow for a more comfortable night’s sleep. In the same way, many models integrate a practical hood with a drawstring, used to avoid losing heat and allow you to adjust it to the size you want.
Bag to store the bag:
Most of these bags incorporate a practical bag or cover where you can store them to carry them more easily, in addition to preserving and extending their useful life.
- Mattress:
Suppose you do not feel too comfortable sleeping inside a bag or bag. In that case, you can use a sleeping bag with an integrated mattress or buy an inflatable mattress with the necessary measures to fit inside to have even a little more heat retention.
You can even use sleeping bag sheets if you don’t want to without the same comforts you have at home.
Frequent questions
Do I need a sleeping bag?
It depends on your level of activity, how often you go to the camping mountain, and the seasons you plan to go outside. Sleeping bags are recommended for frequent campers who want protection against the cold at night, being equipment capable of retaining heat very well and making the experience much more comfortable.
Are mummy sleeping bags uncomfortable?
It’s all a matter of taste, as campers don’t thoroughly enjoy using this type of bag. In general, they are pretty comfortable, but if you want to have more space in the leg area, it is best to choose a semi-rectangular model.
Can I sleep without clothes in a sleeping bag and still be warm?
Sleeping bags are designed to trap the heat generated by your body, preventing it from escaping. If you don’t wear clothing inside your sleeping bags, you probably won’t have the same level of insulation as wearing a warm, cold-suited dress.
Is it more comfortable to sleep in the car when camping than in a tent?
Although it sounds like an excellent idea to protect yourself from the cold in the middle of the night, you should keep in mind that cold air can also pass through the car doors, which ends up lowering the temperatures inside. So, in the same way, it is convenient to have a bag inside your vehicle that keeps you warm.
