Backpacking & Camping

Best Sleeping Bag: A Guide in Selecting The Right Sleeping Bag for You

Best sleeping bag

Choosing the best sleeping bag is an effective way to achieve a good night’s sleep outdoors. The comfort and warmth provided by a sleeping bag enhance your hiking performance for the following day. Since weight load is one of the factors that must always be given due consideration in any trekking activity, you must see to it that the sleeping bag’s weight does not impede your movement and progress.

You may be asking, “What are the types of sleeping bags?” There are four main classifications for sleeping bags, and so you can choose from them based on your purpose.

  • General use bags – are great for outdoor sleepovers and camping but are heavier than other kinds of sleeping bags available. These sleeping bags are designed to have extra beddings, comfortable, durable and practical. When general use sleeping bags are what you need, the technical aspects like weight and size are not the main concern that is why said bags are usually fabricated to be thickset and are either tapered rectangular or rectangular in shape.
  • Travel bags – are sleeping bags that are meant for indoors; hence there is less importance on the warmth they provide and other technical features that are incorporated in their design. The size of travel bags are essential for packing purposes, so most come in tapered rectangular shapes.
  • Bushwalking bags – are created for comfort and performance. Although most bushwalking sleeping bags are lightweight, extra allowances and features for maximum comfort are still kept in mind when these sleeping bags were designed for any sleepover or camping activity.
  • Alpine bags – alpine sleeping bags are made for environmental conditions that have snow. That is why these sleeping bags are light, provides optimum warmth and water-resistant. Said sleeping bags are mostly mummy shaped.

Determining the different shapes of sleeping bags

The shape of a sleeping bag makes the difference between warmth and comfort. Depending on the weather outdoors, it is essential to note that a giant sleeping bag has more free room internally but provides less heat. Thus, sleeping bags that are less snugged to the body or that have a broader space to wriggle in does not offer optimum thermal heat needed when outdoors.

Almost all sleeping bags come in the mummy shape, tapered rectangular shape, and rectangular shape, which are described below:

Mummy-shaped sleeping bags give the best thermal efficiency. It is fashioned to be wide at the shoulder area and is made to taper down to a narrow shape at the foot, just like how a mummy is tied–up. Sleeping bags with such conditions offer maximum warmth and are ideal for your outdoor adventures. Also, it is lightweight with three-quarter zippers that come up until the calf or knee.

Sleeping bags

Before purchasing a mummy-shaped sleeping bag, you must try it first, especially if you are a sleeper who requires more free room to wriggle when asleep or claustrophobic because these sleeping bags hinder your movements, which might make you uncomfortable.

See: Best Cold Weather Sleeping Bag: How to Choose It And Why

Minor fitting than the mummy sleeping bags is the tapered rectangular sleeping bags that have comfortable space inside the sleeping bag. Since these sleeping bags are roomier, the warmth provided is not as pronounced as the mummy sleeping bag. However, tapered rectangular sleeping bags are still efficient to keep you warm and convenient enough to pack up.

The rectangular bags have more space than the Mummy shaped sleeping bags and the tapered rectangular sleeping bags. Although these sleeping bags are less technical, heavier, and larger, they still provide the necessary warmth, are lightweight and easy to pack.

Learning about what the fills of sleeping bags are

The sleeping bag fills insulations used for all forms of sleeping bags. Generally, there are two kinds of fills for sleeping bags: the down fills made up of duck or goose undercoats and the synthetic fillers.

Down fills are breathable, durable, light, and compressible, making them more expensive than synthetic fills. In general, down-filled sleeping bags weigh less, offer more warmth, and can be packed smaller than synthetic-filled sleeping bags. However, when down-filled sleeping bags get wet, it is hard to dry them out, so manufacturing companies came up with water-repellent downs that are moisture-proof. Please look at our article reviews of the best compression sack for sleeping bags to make these compact.

Sleeping bag

The synthetic fills, on the other hand, are good in cold and damp environmental conditions. Synthetic fillers are less compressible and heavier in weight than down fills. They also dry faster than down fills and are a lot cheaper. Most synthetic fills are non-allergenic and made out of polyesters.

Knowing of sleeping bag temperature ratings

To counter the chill and make you more comfortable in natural surroundings, sleeping bags must have the ability to keep you warm at 20 degrees Fahrenheit while sleeping. Anything lower than the recommended temperature can affect your sleep and physical well-being.

Typically, EN temperature ratings are described as follows: comfort rating (women) is the lowest temperature, which can keep a regular female warm. Then for men, there is the lower-limit rating, which will save an average person warmth. This said, it could be concluded that women are more cold sleepers than men are. So when you buy a sleeping bag, the comfort rating will generally be higher than the rating for lower-limit.

The EN ratings have been based on each gender’s sleepwear, which consists of one underwear layer that is long with a hat and one-inch thick pad insulation.

Selecting the right sleeping bag for you

For excellent warmth, durability and compressibility, choose a water-repellent down-filled sleeping bag. Although it is more expensive, its durability goes a long way and is worth the price you paid.

Shapes of sleeping bags

If you prefer something less expensive and notable for exemplary performance in wet climates, choose a synthetic sleeping bag that comes in two forms. The first synthetic sleeping bag is the short-staple synthetic sleeping bag and the continuous filament synthetic sleeping bag. The latter is more durable than the former.

Season ratings for sleeping bags to know about

Sleeping bags are classified by season to assist in deciding what type of sleeping bag to purchase for the time or season of the year that you are planning to go on your camping trip.

  • 1-Season sleeping bags – are compact, lightweight and perfect for summer months that are hot from June to August. 1-season sleeping bags are also best suited when going for camping trips in hot climate countries.
  • 2-Season sleeping bags – are more suited for camping use during late spring onwards to the early autumn months.
  • 3-Season sleeping bags – must be chosen for the time of early spring until late autumn. This is also suited for evenings with mild winter. The 3-Season Sleeping Bags are usually recommended if you have plans to go on expeditions or school trips.
  • 4-Season sleeping bags – these thick sleeping bags are usually down insulated. Are generally used during wintertime when temperatures fall below zero degrees.
  • 5-Season sleeping bags – are expedition bags that are used for mountaineering expeditions or for areas where temperatures are extremely cold.

The right hand, left hand zipper compatibility

Most sleeping bags can be fused by zipping them up. The disadvantage of this is that a giant sleeping bag with two people inside creates spaces making warm air escape the confines of the sleeping bag. But in case that you prefer to zip two sleeping bags together, see to it that one bag has a left-hand zipper and the other has a right-hand zipper.

To know which is a right-hand zipper or a left-hand zipper, the right-hand zipper should open and close to your right side when lying with your back down on the ground. This goes the same for your left-hand zipper.

Sleeping bag zippers come in the exact sizes and lengths, so it will be easy to zip together two bags. Bags with different zipper lengths can still be zipped together, although there will be some cold spots within the bag where those zippers don’t come together.

To further guide you on choosing a suitable sleeping bag that you can buy, refer to the following list that describes each bag, where you can select the most appropriate one for your outdoor activity:

Vango Womens Stratos 250 sleeping bag

Vango Womens Stratos 250 Sleeping Bag is designed to keep out cold drafts. It has shoulder baffles and insulated zips. It is made of breathable Polair fabric and is fleece lined to promote maximum comfort and Mummy shaped for an optimum warm temperature during use.

Vango Womens Stratos 250 sleeping bag

Another one is the Vango Stratos 300 Square Sleeping Bags is for people who want more freedom to move or wriggle their feet. This particular sleeping bag can be unzipped and laid out open similar to a blanket; it has been designed with shoulder baffles and insulated zips.

Vango Single sleeping bag

With a fresh, vibrant color, the Harmony Single Sleeping Bag by Vango is a rectangular-shaped sleeping bag that provides maximum comfort of movement. It is sold at a reasonable price and designed with a loop and a hook at the back end to make folding easier for petite frames.

Vango Single sleeping bag

It is a great outdoor gear for new campers.

If you like this product, you can find and check its price here.

Lamina 0 Regular sleeping bag

The Lamina 0 Regular Sleeping Bag is a synthetic sleeping bag designed using the latest technology, which resulted in a practical decrease in weight and increase in performance. In addition, compared to other sleeping bags constructed using old-fashioned stitching, the Lamina 0 Regular Sleeping Bag can trap more warm air.

Lamina 0 Regular sleeping bag

This sleeping bag is a practical choice for those who wish to carry a lighter sleeping bag.

If you like this product, you can find and check its price on Amazon.

Slumberjack Country Squire

A rectangular sleeping bag that provides warmth and comfort also comes with a heavy-duty zipper and duffel bag storage.  While it may give optimum warmth, it is bulky, heavy, and not recommended for wet and warm weather.

Slumberjack Country Squire

It is best for camping around the house or car camping. It could likewise be used as a queen-sized blanket.

If you like this product, you can find and purchase it on Amazon.

Wenzel Grande

Wenzel Grande has one of the best soft flannel linings with great packing straps. This rectangular sleeping bag provides ultimate warmth and is spacious inside, perfect for the sleeper who does not like movement restrictions when sleeping.

Aside from these, the Wenzel Grande comes at a reasonable price, and it is an ideal sleeping bag for near-freezing temperatures. The only downside with this sleeping bag is that it is heavy and quite bulky to carry around.

Wenzel Grande

If you like this product, you can find and buy it here.

Kelly Callisto

The Kelly Callisto sleeping bag is comfortable, warm, and lightweight. It also comes at a very competitive price. This rectangular sleeping bag is a little narrower than other rectangular sleeping bags available in the market but still provides ample space when zipped up.

Kelty Callisto 20 Degree Sleeping Bag

It is made of synthetic materials and is easy to carry, pack or load because it is lightweight.

If you like this product, you can find and buy it on Amazon.

Marmot Trestles

Another one is the Marmot Trestles. This synthetic sleeping bag provides adequate ventilation due to its two built-in zippers, one of which is a quarter-length zipper, and the other is one full-length zipper. However, the sleeping bag’s thick padded insulation is quite heavy at thirty-five ounces (35 ounces), making it hard to compress.

Marmot Trestles

Since this particular sleeping bag is on the thick side, it feels like a heavy blanket and not the flexible and light as a sleeping bag should be. Therefore, this is not ideal for backpacking due to its weight, but it is affordable.

If you like this product, you can find and check its price here.

Teton Sports Celsius XL

And then you have the Teton Sports Celsius XL is a synthetic rectangular-shaped sleeping bag that is comfortable, roomy, and with a small hood for additional warmth. Its lining is a brushed soft polyester material that helps seal in heat during cold weather.

Teton Sports Celsius XL

While Teton Sports Celsius XL is inexpensive, the quality of its construction is poor, and the zipper does not reach the sleeping bag’s foot. Thus it cannot be folded or opened into a blanket.

If you like this product, you can find and check its price on Amazon.

North Face Inferno

You may also go for the North Face Inferno sleeping bag has a goose-down fill with a 4.5-inch thick collar that comes with a 3.5-inch draft tube. In addition, it has a 33-inch center zipper, which permits unzipping to allow easy standing and doing chores within the tent without having to remove the bag from your body.

It is also water-resistant, keeping frosts or condensations out while allowing adequate room to wriggle around within the sleeping bag.

North Face Inferno

If you like this product, you can find and purchase it on Amazon.

Nemo Equipment – Sonic Down sleeping bag

Another consumer favorite is the Mummy-shaped and versatile Nemo Equipment – Sonic Down Sleeping Bag. It permits sleeping comfort even if the temperature range is from 0 degrees Fahrenheit (O°F) to forty degrees Fahrenheit (40°F). In addition, it has duck-down fill, which is as warm as that of a goose-down filling but a little less expensive.

In warmer temperatures, this particular sleeping bag can be unzipped through the long gills from the top to the area where the heat for the vent core is located.  Despite its numerous built-in features, it is still lightweight and can be carried with ease.

Nemo Equipment – Sonic Down sleeping bag

Although Mummy-shaped and tapered rectangular-shaped sleeping bags are often recommended because of their ability to preserve heat and warmth when sleeping outside, most people find them constricting.

If you like this product, you can find and buy it here.

NEMO Tango Solo

The NEMO Tango Solo is down-filled, and it offers more room for movement. It looks and feels like a quilt or blanket rather than a bag to sleep in. It also comes with an elastic foot box and hoods that can be removed or put on depending on the weather and the temperature. At an affordable price, this outdoor gear is undoubtedly worth the value.

NEMO Tango Solo

If you like this product, you can find and check its price here.

Coleman Trinidad

Suppose you are looking for a warm-weather sleeping bag. In that case, you can consider this model that can provide you with both comfort and convenience when out for hiking or camping with its comfortable, superb, and portable features.

This product comes with 100 percent of polyester, with its fill being 100% the same material, too. You will have a great time outdoors because this bag can make you feel cozy at home.

Coleman Trinidad

This is ideal for temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and it may be a deal for people with heights of up to 5 feet and 11 inches. It has dimensions of 33 x 75 inches. It is made of a brushed polyester cover and has polyester tricot lining.

It comes with unique fiber-lock construction material for preventing the insulation from shifting, while the same construction material also extends the life of the sleeping bag. It also comes with a no-snag zipper to plow the fabric away from it to prevent snagging.

If you like this product, you can find and buy it on Amazon.

Naturehike Outdoor

This envelope sleeping bag is versatile to suit most outdoor activities, such as camping and hiking. You can opt from different colors, including light blue, orange, dark blue, and army green. It comes with a simple design and gives you a comfortable feel. According to users, they love how this product can keep them warm all the time while outdoors for camping.

They also appreciate that the product is waterproof, making it more durable even if it gets wet. And because it is lightweight, it is easy to carry, and it compacts well. One user revealed that he got it for a survival bag because he was looking for something as compact and lightweight.

Naturehike Outdoor Sleeping Bag Camping

Additionally, many customers also appreciate that the product lets them sleep inside of it comfortably because it can accommodate most heights.  As a consensus, the people enjoy this product and are happy they bought it for themselves. Some of them even revealed that they bought one as a gift for their loved ones who love the outdoors as they do.

If you like this product, you can find and purchase it on Amazon.

Peanut By EGOZ

This is an easy-to-carry sleeping bag that can keep you warm outdoors when camping and hiking. It is your best bet when it comes to the convenience it can give you when doing outdoor adventures because it can keep you feeling comfortable and warm as if you were sleeping in your bed.

It comes with a tactical quality that you can expect from the brand, making it even more durable to last and to be appreciated by outdoor lovers worldwide.

Peanut By EGOZ

It is perfect for multiple uses, and many users appreciate it for their activities, including biking, backpacking, and scouting.  It is easy-to-roll and stuff in its stuff sack. If you want to get a suitable sleeping bag for yourself or a loved one, you may check out this product.

If you like this product, you can find and purchase it on Amazon.

What product will be best for you?

Sleeping bags come in different forms and have different temperature ratings. They are essential because of the comfort they give when you choose to sleep outdoors. Unfortunately, weather often affects our comfort thresholds. So if you decide to go camping or any other activity that would require you to sleep out of your house at night, then make sure to know the weather forecast, and you are your sleeping bag with you.

Aside from sleeping bags, it is also recommended that you purchase a sleeping pad. The thing is, when you lie down on your sleeping bag, your body compresses the foam beneath, lessening the bag’s capability to contain warm air within. A sleeping pad or foam compensates by insulating the cold ground beneath your sleeping form.

Sleeping bag outdoor

If you do not have any sleeping pads, you can use another extra sleeping bag to double up with your sleeping bag to retain heat and warmth, especially when camping outdoors during winter. Remember that comfort and warmth is the key to acquiring a good sleep outdoors.

There you have it, our guide on how to choose an excellent sleeping bag for your sleeping comforts when engaged in outdoor activities. Finally, feel free to share this guide in selecting the right sleeping bag for different needs with your friends who may also benefit from the same information.

For more choices, read our piece on choosing the best quality sleeping bags for more details.

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you click on one of these links and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Also, as an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If the information in this post has been helpful, please consider purchasing through one of the links in this article. Thank you.

About the author

Ellie Thomas

Survival-Mastery reflects my love of the outdoors and having the skills to take care of myself in the wilderness and in worst-case scenarios. I grew up in the southeast backpacking, camping, and fishing, and I have hiked and backpacked over 15,000 miles in the US. My background and career for the past 30 years has been in operations and construction and I enjoy learning and DIY projects.

4 Comments

  • The Slumberjack Country Squire is the best for me; it is the coziest sleeping bag I have ever bought. More than enough space, linen-like, satisfying headrest, durable zipper. It’s a deluxe sleeping bag, it is huge and takes much more space than your normal sleeping bag, even when packed. I strongly advise that you take it when you are going by your car. Also, if you are traveling on foot, it is advisable to take a smaller sleeping bag.

  • When looking for a sleeping bag especially for a zero-degree season, you might want to consider a down bag rather than the synthetic one. Down bags offer warmth much more quickly. The only downside is, it is more expensive. You can also opt for a synthetic with sleeping pad underneath.

  • I also have several sleeping bags at home and I can choose which one I’d like to use. They come in different sizes and materials and I plan ahead to know which one to bring.

  • There are several sleeping bag models in the market and what would be best for you might not be what is best for another person. Down bags are always good as they provide warmth and comfort and they can get too bulky when packing.

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