Packing the wrong sleeping bag on an outing can mean the difference between a peaceful night's rest and hypothermia. I spend two-thirds of my year on the road, sleeping bag tied to a backpack. I've tested and rounded up the best sleeping bags for any occasion.
It's challenging to find a balance between portability and warmth, but the Kelty Tuck succeeds where others fail. Thermapro insulation is Kelty technology that retains body heat while still being packable. The internal batting is a synthetic blend sewn in an offset quilt pattern into a polyester taffeta liner. The combination offers a luxurious place to relax while being durable enough to take anywhere.
The lightweight, compressible filling of the Kelty Tuck squishes down into an included 9-by-15-inch storage bag and can be compressed more tightly by using a conventional stuff sack. There's an internal media storage pocket in this bag that safely stores phones and headphones. On chilly nights, you can draw the hood over your head and cinch it tight. Zipper draft tubes in this Kelty are genius in design, never snagging or being difficult to pull up or down.
My favorite feature of this model is the vented foot box that Kelty calls a "comfort tuck." If you're feeling too warm, you unzip the foot-box at the end of the bag and ease your feet out. This sleeping bag comes in a regular size that accommodates those up to 6 feet tall and a more extended model to fit users 6-feet-6-inches tall. At 31 ounces, this sleep system isn't an ultralight bag meant for long treks down the Appalachian Trail, but it will do just fine on shorter weekend adventures.
When you're backpacking across the country, every ounce matters. The Sea to Summit Spark is the Rolls Royce of ultralight bags. It weighs a measly 12 ounces and comes with a featherweight compression sack, so you can squish it down small. Also included is a large storage bag for use during the off-season or when you want to put your bag away in a closet, garage, or wherever you keep your gear.
This is a warm weather-specific bag, rated down to 40 degrees. The Spark is suitable for summer hikes and camping but will only be able to serve as a liner on colder trips. It's filled with 850+ ultra-dry water-resistant down and has a contoured mummy shape to retain body heat. YKK zippers run a third of the length down the bag and are super smooth to operate.
This bag is pricey. It's aimed at those wanting to keep their pack weight low. If you're a thru-hiker and you hit the trails during the summer months or need a high-quality liner, the Sea to Summit is a compact, ultralight sleeping bag that won't take up much room in your backpack and will keep you warm and dry.
The Sleepingo Double is a clever piece of camping equipment! It can function as a spacious queen-sized double bag that has more than enough room for two adults, or it can be unzipped and used as two separate sleeping bags. Genius!
The outer shell on the Sleepingo Double is waterproof polyester that doesn't absorb dew, spills, or moisture that gets inside your tent or camper. The inner lining is a combo of tetron and cotton that's soft against the skin. This XL sleeping bag also comes with two tiny camp pillows that fold up small but aren't as comfortable as pillows you could bring from home.
This bag is very thin. It's far too thin to place directly on the floor of your tent. You'll feel the temperature of the ground and every pebble beneath you. In a camper, this shouldn't be an issue. The bag is rated for 32 degrees, but we've shivered the night away in temps that barely dipped below 50 degrees. For warm summer months, this is an affordable sleeping bag for two that's worth every penny.
Hyke & Byke is a relatively new outdoor company started by a handful of engineers. They design their own bags with two goals in mind: keep costs low and build peak quality equipment. The Hyke & Byke Snowmass is in my backpack every winter, and I swear by its ability to keep my body temperature up when outside temps dip low.
This is a mummy-style bag. The newest iteration has a broader shoulder area and larger foot box, so you feel less claustrophobic and can bundle up if you like. Hydrophobic 650 FT duck down is the filler, and the underside is LofTech Summit, a down-like synthetic, that is hard-wearing and long-lasting. The external fabrics are waterproof, protect you against the elements, and the bag comes with a cinch sack that makes it manageably smaller.
This isn't an ultralight sleeping bag, and it can't be considering its intended usage. Still, three pounds is a lot to carry on your back when trudging through the snow in the winter. If you don't have much gear to haul, this is a phenomenal sleeping bag at a truly impressive price. I've found it keeps me warm when temps dip to 10 degrees, and I wouldn't hesitate to rebuy it.
Summer and fall camping is unpredictable. One minute it's 80 and sunny and the next it's 50 and raining. The Marmot Voyager 55 sleeping bag is the idyllic companion for such trips. With SpiralFill high-loft insulation on the inside, this breathable bag will keep you heated down to 55 degrees without causing you to break into a sweat.
The Voyager 55 comes in regular and tall sizes, so you can grab the fit that suits your body type. This is a mummy-shaped sleeping bag that may leave those who are broad-chested feeling too confined. For the more slender, this is a superior choice for backpacking and car camping. The included compression sack shrinks this sleep system down to the size of a football, making it a stellar choice for backpacking.
The Voyager 55 is made for camping during the warmer spring, summer, and fall months. I've found that I could fit a fleece sleeping bag liner in the bag during colder seasons and it kept me warm in those instances down to 30 degrees. This is a basic model that will suit warm weather campers and hikers on a budget.
If you're big or tall, finding a sleeping bag that doesn't give you enough room to stretch out or turn over is a real pain. The TETON Sports Celsius XXL sleeping bag is extra wide and extra tall, plus it comes with a few things you won't find in more expensive bags.
This sleeping bag is available in three colors. You also get a choice as to whether you want the zipper on the left or right side. A nice touch if you're a leftie or have a dominant hand. Hang loops are attached to the ends of the bag for long-term storage and to maintain bag loft.
This bed in a bag tops out at seven pounds and is too heavy for backpacking. If you're car camping though, rain or shine, you'll stay warm and dry in the Celsius XXL. A few extras like an interior pocket, mummy hood, and taped and anti-snag zippers make this bag one of our favorites.
