The 10 Best Sleeping Bags for Camping, Backpacking and Everything In Between

If you were lucky enough to tune into the Discovery Channel’s Man vs. Wild during its heyday, you might’ve witnessed Bear Grylls, a former British Special Air Service operator and the show’s host, make TV magic by gutting a dead camel and demonstrating how to climb inside the carcass for warmth and shelter. The sequence of teeth-clenching footage is perhaps the best reminder that, hey: sleeping bags are pretty cool.

Sleeping bags, in fact, are a camping essential — and even those of us who never bed down under the stars may well keep one around the house as emergency bedding. We tend not to upgrade our sleeping bags with the same frequency as other pieces of outdoor gear, like hiking boots or down jackets. But sleeping bags have come a long way in the past decade.

This guide — which we’ve organized by fill type and temperature rating — represents the best of the current class. Here’s how to choose the best sleeping bag.

Temperature Ratings

Every sleeping bag comes with a temperature rating, usually represented roughly by a number in its name. That number comes from third-party lab testing. Those labs test for two numbers: a comfort rating and a lower limit rating. The comfort rating is the environmental temperature in which a sleeping bag can provide sufficient warmth for colder sleepers; the lower limit rating represents the temperature at which a warm sleeper will be comfortable.

The number in a sleeping bag’s name may not be its exact temperature rating; brands tend to round numbers to the nearest five or zero. For example, REI’s Trailbreak 30 has a lower limit rating of 29 degrees Fahrenheit and a comfort rating of 38 degrees Fahrenheit.

Should You Buy Down or Synthetic Insulation?

Sleeping bags provide warmth by trapping air inside their fluffy filling, which is typically either down or synthetic insulation. Choosing which is right for you is a matter of pros and cons.

Down, which comes from geese and ducks, tends to provide more warmth in a smaller volume than most synthetics. Down insulation comes with a fill rating that denotes its quality. For instance, a 30-degree sleeping bag with 800-fill down will provide the same amount of warmth as a 650-fill bag rated to the same temperature, but it will do so with less insulation, so it will pack down smaller. Down’s main drawback is that it clumps when it gets wet, but many brands today use down that’s treated to be water-repellant. Down sleeping bags are also almost always more expensive than synthetic ones.

Synthetic insulation consists of manufactured fibers that attempt to mimic down. Synthetic insulation tends to be more water-resistant, durable and affordable…but also bulkier and heavier.

Price

Depending on how often you use it, a sleeping bag can last you for years; it’s a long-term investment. Sleeping bags are also expensive, and their price is a product of the materials used. As a rule, down insulation is more expensive than synthetic, and higher fill powers (more warmth for weight) are more expensive than lower ones. Because they use more material, cold-weather sleeping bags tend to be more expensive than warm-weather sleeping bags.

How We Tested

REI

Best Overall Sleeping Bag

The North Face One Bag Sleeping Bag

• $290.00 at REI

• Weight: 3 pounds 12 ounces (5°F); 2 pounds 12 ounces (20°F); 2 pounds 3 ounces (40°F)
• Fill: 800-fill goose down
• Compressed Volume: 17.5 liters (5°F); 13.5 liters (20°F); 9.1 liters (40°F)

In terms of bang for buck, campers will be hard-pressed to find a better deal than The North Face’s One Bag. The sleeping bag uses a modular zipper design that gives it a range from five degrees up to 40, eliminating the need to own multiple sleeping bags for camping in different environments. The One Bag is lightweight enough and packs down small enough for backpacking, too, especially if you leave the cold temperature layer at home.

I found myself falling for the One, thanks to its one-two-punch combo of versatility and comfort. Using the bag for the first time, I was struck by the cocoon-like feel, which was cozy without being suffocating. As a stomach and side sleeper, I typically have issues getting comfortable in my sleeping bags, and although I personally found myself wishing for a little more room in the knee area of the One, the overall comfort and feel of the bag outweighed my no-compatible sleep style.

I’d recommend the One for anyone that prioritizes multi-use attributes in their outdoor products — I found myself picking the slim-fitting One over other roomy, albeit less customizable, bags, due to its ability to adapt to variable weather conditions. If you’re looking for one bag that can get you through most weather conditions, this is the One for you.

Backcountry

Best Upgrade Sleeping Bag

Nemo Riff 30 Sleeping Bag

• $205.00 at Backcountry

• Weight: 1 pound 13 ounces
• Fill: 800-fill PFC-free down
• Compressed Volume: 5.5 liters

NEMO’s Riff 30 has fine-tuned engineering that offers a bit more comfort than your classic mummy bag. The Spoon design is a great option for side sleepers, or really anyone who likes a bit more room around their knees and elbows. I did not expect the extra space to be such a game changer for comfort as I think I had just accepted the confining shape of mummy bags over the years. I had concerns that the insulation performance would be similar to a rectangle bag, but because the bag still lays close to your body at the feet, core and head, it was just fine.

I often feel a bit like Goldilocks when it comes to sleeping temperature; I’m constantly zipping and unzipping my sleeping bag, trying to get comfortable. The gills featured on the top of the bag add an extra option for temperature control and breathability. I found them to allow just enough air through to make a difference. If you want to go for the full unzip, NEMO did a great job with the functionality of their zippers as it wasn’t constantly getting stuck.

The stuff sack does not seem to be quite as durable as others on the market, but these are often replaced to better align with your packing style anyway. I will note that a larger mesh bag is included which provides a great place to store your bag when you get back home to keep the down in good condition. For colder environments, the Riff also comes in a version rated to 15 degrees.

Evo

BEST ULTRALIGHT Sleeping Bag

Big Agnes Torchlight UL 30 Sleeping Bag

• $277.00 at

• Weight: 1 pound 12 ounces
• Fill: 850-fill DownTek
• Compressed Volume: 5 x 6 inches

Whether you stuff or roll this sleeping bag up, it remains ultra-packable. Weighing in under two pounds, the lightweight bag is great for backpacking, but its convenience won’t go unnoticed during more casual camping. Expandable, the bag kept me comfortable as I shifted around in the night, and the next day, took less than 20 seconds to pack up.

Previous reviews have suggested the bag might not be the best choice in warmer climes, but we initially tested the Torchlight UL on a lakefront forest in Pennsylvania in late August. There, it held up and I slept comfortably through several 65° F – 70° F nights; most notably because of the material and expandable pockets. While I’ve found other similar, lightweight sleeping bag materials can trap enough heat to wake you up in the middle of the night – sweating – this bag stayed breathable. This was helped in part by the bag’s expandable pockets. Unzipping each pocket added 5 inches on either side of the bag, meaning I could comfortably stretch out or sleep on my side. This was especially helpful at the foot of the bag, where all too often I find other mummy bags force my feet together.

My only real complaint is that zipping the bag back up requires a little extra patience, as the zippers often catch on the bag’s material – a consequence of the puffy down. However, the down has been treated to stay water repellent (with Downtek), and the task of zipping the bag back up does not outweigh the convenience of being able to expand it in the first place.

While $370 may seem like a hefty price tag for the car camper, this bag is roomier and more easily packable than most of the bags we’ve tested. All too often, smaller, lighter bags force one to stuff the bag into an impossible stuff sack. However, you can roll this bag up into its hood in about fifteen seconds – no struggle required. (The Torchlight UL also comes in a 20-degree F version.)

Backcountry

BEST BUDGET Sleeping Bag

Kelty Cosmic 40 Sleeping Bag: 40F Down

• $130.00 at Backcountry

• Weight: 9.14 ounces
• Fill: 550-fill down
• Compressed Volume: 10 x 7 inches

It’s difficult to get a good sleeping bag for less than $100 — chances are you’re just as well off bringing blankets from home. But for close to that price, you can get this full-featured mummy-style bag from Kelty. It’s stuffed with 550-fill down insulation and includes a small zippered pocket for keeping essential items close and an extra baffle that prevents air from creeping in through the zipper (an underrated innovation). Compared to sleeping bags with similar temperature ratings, the primary downside is that this one won’t pack down as small, so if you’re backpacking or camping frequently, it might be worth investing up. (For colder camping, the Cosmic also comes in a 20-degree F version.)

REI

MOST INNOVATIVE DESIGN

Ust Monarch Sleeping Bag

• $150.00 at REI

• Weight: 4 pounds, 7 ounces
• Fill: Body: 150 g recycled synthetic poly; wings: 220 g recycled synthetic poly
• Compressed Volume: 13.5 liters

Sleeping bags traditionally follow a pretty standard formula when it comes to shape, but UST’s Monarch is for those that like to think outside the box. The bag is essentially a three-in-one option, thanks to two wings on either side of the bag that can be folded over, or under the sleeper, providing varying levels of insulation. For colder environments, flip both wings over the body for your warmest sleep. For warmer temps, do the inverse and fling them to the side. Just don’t hit your fellow campers in the process).

Backcountry

Best Two Person Sleeping Bag

Nemo Jazz Duo 30F Sleeping Bag

• $350.00 at Backcountry

• Weight: 7 pounds, 9 ounces
• Fill: Stratofiber (synthetic)
• Compressed Volume: 29.0 x 13.0 x 13.0 in

For most of us, camping is rarely, if ever, a solo activity. Part of the joy of spending time outside is doing so with your significant other. But two-person bags are often finicky and ill-fitting, leaving much to be desired during the shared sleeping experience. Not so with Nemo’s Jazz Duo — this thing is plush, and is one of the comfiest, most luxurious duo sleeping bags we’ve tried. The synthetic fill stands up to moisture and rain, and the built-in pillowtop adds extra comfort, on top of standard sleeping pads. Sure, it’s heavy and big, but if you’re car camping, we suggest springing for the extra opulence (and weight).

REI

BEST CASUAL SLEEPING BAG

REI Siesta Hooded 20 Sleeping Bag

• $139.00 at REI

• Weight: 4 pounds 6 ounces
• Fill: synthetic (polyester)
• Compressed Volume: n/a

If you aren’t camping in a way that puts packing space at a premium, then it might not make sense to confine yourself to a mummy-style sleeping bag. That doesn’t mean you should go for a low-grade bedroll, though. REI’s Siesta is the perfect compromise — it has enough synthetic insulation for temps down to 25 degrees, and both its sides have zippers (one full-length, one partial) so that you can flip down its top like the duvet on your bed at home.

Montbell

BEST FOR WET ENVIRONMENTS

Montbell Seamless Down Hugger WR 900 #3

• $499.00 at montbell.us

• Weight: 1 pound 3.6 ounces
• Fill: 900-fill Power EX Down
• Compressed Volume: 5.5 x 10.9 inches, 3.8 liters

Montbell’s crop of Down Hugger bags has a lot going for them. For one, Montbell secured this bag’s down insulation in place using a system that it calls Spider Baffle, where an array of synthetic threads hold onto down clumps to help maintain their loft. It eliminates the need for baffles created by stitching, optimizing the bag for warmth and durability. Montbell employed elastic in the liner to help the bag “hug” a sleeper, eliminating dead airspace (in our testing, we didn’t find this feature claustrophobic). To top it all off, this particular Down Hugger model comes with a Gore-Tex Infinium exterior, making it remarkably weather-resistant.

The Down Hugger WR 900 #3 is rated to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. It also comes in 15-degree, 25-degree and 40-degree models.

Big Agnes

Best For Side Sleepers

Big Agnes Sidewinder SL 35˚

• $270.00 at Backcountry

• Weight: 2 pounds
• Fill: 650-fill DownTek
• Compressed Volume: 7.5 x 15 inches

Big Agnes makes the Sidewinder specifically for side sleepers. It’s apparent, too: the bag’s hood opening faces to the side. Its form isn’t as tapered as typical mummy-style bags, but that’s intentional to allow side sleepers to bend their knees inside and shift foot position. While most of the Sidewinder’s insulation is down, Big Agnes reinforced these regions with synthetic insulation in these areas to allow for that shifting, too. Lastly, there’s a pocket in the hood for a pillow that enables it to move from one side to another if you decide to switch sides.This sleeping bag also comes in a model rated to 20 degrees.

Sitka

Best For Hunting

Sitka Kelvin Aerolite 30 Sleeping Bag

• $429.00 at Amazon

• Weight: 2 pounds 6 ounces
• Fill: PrimaLoft Gold with Cross Core (synthetic)
• Compressed Volume: n/a

Hunting doesn’t necessarily call for a different sort of sleeping bag, but Sitka believes hunters should have one regardless. Knowing that stalking game requires patience and, at times, hunkering on the damp ground for a long time, it gave the Aerolite 30 arm slots and a bottom you can open and tuck out of the way, transforming this bag into a functional warm layer you can bivy down in while remaining mobile. It’s filled with PrimaLoft’s Gold Insulation with Cross Core tech, which comes from NASA and won’t lose its warming power when damp.

Therm-a-Rest

BEST TRAIL QUILT

Therm-a-Rest Vesper 45F/7C Quilt

• $262.00 at

• Weight: 12 ounces
• Fill: 900-fill Nikwax hydrophobic down
• Compressed Volume: 4.5 x 6 inches

The best option for a warm-weather sleeping bag isn’t a sleeping bag at all; it’s a quilt. Trail quilts have been a go-to for ultralight backpackers for a while but are increasingly becoming popular amongst more mainstream campers. With less material, trail quilts are lighter and more packable. Therm-a-Rest’s Vesper 45 is an excellent intro to this offshoot category — at 12 ounces, the quilt will go unnoticed in a backpack, but it still has functional features like an enclosed foot box and straps to secure it to a sleeping pad.

Trail quilts work in cold environments too, and the Vesper is also available in a 32-degree version and a 20-degree version.

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