Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags 2023
THREE-SEASON BACKPACKING SLEEPING BAGS, INCLUDING BEST ULTRALIGHT, COLD AND WARM WEATHER, SYNTHETIC, WIDE AND TALL, AND BUDGET OPTIONS
April 22nd, 2023
When it comes to finding the best sleeping bags for backpacking, there are a lot of factors to consider, like weight, temperature rating, materials, sizing, and extra features. We tested the most popular three-season backpacking sleeping bags to determine the best backpacking sleeping bag for men and women, as well as the best ultralight sleeping bag, best sleeping bag for cold or warm weather, best synthetic sleeping bag, best sleeping bag for wide and tall bodies, and best budget sleeping bag options.
To find the best backpacking sleeping bags that weigh under 2 pounds, we tested over thousands of miles and hundreds of nights backpacking and camping.
We considered warmth, the quality of fabrics and materials used, the shape and measurements of the bags, durability, packability, and weight. We tested each ultralight sleeping bag over a variety of terrains and conditions with testers of various shapes, sizes, and skill levels. We use our knowledge and experience to help you find the best backpacking sleeping bag to fit your needs.
Looking for more affordable bags? See our Best Camping Sleeping Bags guide
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MEN’S Comparison Table
| SLEEPING BAG | TREELINE AWARD | TEMP RATING (F) | EN COMFORT | EN LOWER LIMIT | TOTAL WEIGHT (OZ) | FILL WEIGHT (OZ) | FILL POWER | HYDROPHOBIC DOWN | FABRIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feathered Friends Swallow UL 20 (mens) | Best Overall Read why |
20 | N/A | N/A | 27 | 16.8 | 950+ | No | pertex endurance 10D |
| Western Mountaineering Summerlite | Best Ultralight Read why |
32 | N/A | N/A | 19 | 9 | 850+ | no | 20D nylon ripstop, DWR coating |
| Feathered Friends Lark 10 UL | Best Cold Weather Read why |
10 | N/A | N/A | 31.3 | 20 | 950+ | no | Pertex® Endurance UL |
| Sea to Summit Reactor Thermolite | Best Warm Weather Read why |
adds 25 | N/A | N/A | 14 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 110g/m2 Thermolite fabric |
| Nemo Forte 20 | Best Synthetic Read why |
20 | 32 | 22 | 46 | 29 | N/A | no | 30-denier ripstop polyester |
| Western Mountaineering MegaLite | Best Wide and Tall Read why |
30 | N/A | N/A | 24 | 12 | 850+ | No | 12D "extremelite" |
| REI Magma 15 | Best Affordable Read why |
15 | 28 | 16 | 28.2 | 15.9 | 850 | Yes | 15D pertex |
| Montbell Down Hugger 800 #3 | Best for Side Sleepers Read why |
30 | 39 | 30 | 24 | 11 | 800 | 10-denier Ballistic Airlight nylon taffeta (100% Nylon, water repellent finish), Spider yarn (93% polyester + 7% Nylon) |
WOMEN’S Comparison Table
| SLEEPING BAG | TREELINE AWARD | TEMP RATING (F) | EN COMFORT | EN LOWER LIMIT | TOTAL WEIGHT (OZ) | FILL WEIGHT (OZ) | FILL POWER | HYDROPHOBIC DOWN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feathered Friends Egret UL 20 (Med) | Best Overall Read why |
20 | N/A | N/A | 27.2 | 17.3 | 950+ | No |
| Western Mountaineering SummerLite | Best Ultralight Read why |
32 | N/A | N/A | 18 | 8 | 850+ | No |
| Feathered Friends Petrel 10 UL (Med) | Best Cold Weather Read why |
10 | N/A | N/A | 32.3 | 21.3 | 950+ | No |
| Sea to Summit Reactor Thermolite | Best Warm Weather Read why |
adds 25 | N/A | N/A | 14 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Nemo Forte 20 | Best Synthetic Read why |
20 | 20 | 10 | 53 | 38 | N/A | N/A |
| Western Mountaineering MegaLite | Best Wide and Tall Read why |
30 | N/A | N/A | 23 | 11 | 850+ | No |
| REI Magma 15 | Best Affordable Read why |
15 | 17 | 3 | 36 | 23.5 | 850 | Yes |
| Montbell Down Hugger 800 #3 | Best for Side Sleepers Read why |
30 | 39 | 30 | 24 | 11 | 800 | ? |
The Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags
BEST BACKPACKING SLEEPING BAG FOR MEN: Feathered Friends SWALLOW UL 20
Temperature Rating (F), EN Comfort/EN Lower Limit: 20
Total weight (oz): 27
Fill Weight (oz): 16.8
Fill Power: 950+
Hydrophobic Down? No
Fabric: Pertex endurance 10D
Shoulder (in) / Hips (in): 60” / 56”
Traceable/Responsible Down: Yes
What we liked: conservative warmth rating, incredible loft, good sizing options, draft collar
What we didn't like: expensive
The Feathered Friends Swallow is our winner for best sleeping bag for men for three years running. Feathered Friends is a well-loved sleeping bag manufacturer for good reason. Their bags are simply top-notch and backed by a lifetime warranty. Every review — both professional and customer — found these bags to be very warm (better than the rated temp). After 4 years of carrying the Swallow mummy bag on backpacking trips in the Sierra, Rocky Mountains, and Pacific Northwest, our own testing backs that up. Reviewers and our testers also liked that unlike many other ultralight sleeping bags, the cut is generous enough to feel comfortable without being oversized. The Swallow is a time-tested and beloved backpacking sleeping bag and is our pick for Best Overall Men’s Backpacking Sleeping Pad.
VIEW THE SWALLOW UL 20
A Treeline Review tester with the Feathered Friends Swallow on a section of the Sierra High Route near Mt. Conness.
The men's Swallow is available in 6’0 and 6’6” lengths. We like that for these lengths, the two models give you a wider width spectrum that you'll find offered by most manufacturers. The Swallow is wider in the shoulders as compared to the women's Egret, which is wider in the hips (see below).
The loft on the Swallow is incredible, appearing ready to burst at the seams with poofiness (referred to as "loft" in sleeping bag lingo) just a few minutes after being removed from the stuff sack. It’s hard to believe you’ll ever get the bag back in that tiny stuff sack. Other bags I’ve tested over thousands of miles have just not had this “full” of an appearance. The warmth to weight ratio on this bag is impressive, especially since we've had a cold night down to TK degrees.
The Feathered Friends Swallow has a generous hood that cinches around your face to keep you warm from drafts. Photo by Liz Thomas.
The Swallow doesn’t have any fancy features like lip balm pockets or zippered vents. The materials are light but durable. One feature we especially like is the snag-free zipper, which is not prone to snagging. At 27 ounces, the men’s 6’0” Swallow is among the lightest weight available for that temperature rating, thanks to 950+ fill power down. For backpackers who want an ultralight sleeping bag for a warm mummy hood,
The only real downside to the Swallow is the price. That price comes with the cost of being handmade in their factory in Seattle of the finest materials. Because a high-quality down bag can last at least 10 years, we think it is an investment worth making over other bags. If you’re concerned about sizing, Feathered Friends is noted for its customer service. They’re also among the only brands of sleeping bags we considered that are willing to work with you on custom sizing. If you’re unsure about your purchase, Feathered Friends offers a 30-day return policy.
BEST WOMEN'S BACKPACKING SLEEPING BAG: FEATHERED FRIENDS EGREt UL 20
Temperature Rating (F), EN Comfort/EN Lower Limit: 20 F (not rated by the EN system)
Total weight (oz): 27.2 oz
Fill Weight (oz): 17.3 oz
Fill Power: 950+
Hydrophobic Down? No
Fabric: Pertex Endurance
Shoulder (in) / Hips (in): 54” / 56”
Traceable/Responsible Down: Yes/Yes
What we liked: comfortable, incredible loft, good sizing options, draft collar, insulated zipper baffle, wide in hips
What we didn't like: expensive
The Feathered Friends Egret is our winner for best sleeping bag for women. I had previously thought a women’s sleeping bag was utter nonsense (what could be that different?), but I am now a believer. My hips and feet were always cold spots when testing other bags. The thoughtful design of the Feathered Friends Egret mummy bag addresses these common issues. Women’s cut bags expand the range of sizes accommodated, especially in the hip area where traditional cut bags can be restricting for women and wide shoulder areas can feel drafty. No matter what the label says, choose the best fit for your body!
VIEW THE FEATHERED FRIENDS EGRET
The author in the Feathered Friends Egret on Mt. Baker. Photo by Dan Slattery.
The women's Egret is available in 5’3” and 5’9” lengths. While most brands offer a 5'6" option and a 6" option, we applaud Feathered Friends for offering more lengths to accurately reflect the type of users who want this bag.
The reason: Getting a bag in the appropriate size and length is important to maximize warmth, weight, and comfort. If your bag is too small, your feet will compress down in the feet making them feel cold. A too long bag means you'll pay extra (in cost and in weight) to carry more sleeping bag than you need. Plus, a bag that is too big for you takes longer to warm up.
Feathered Friends is among the only bags we considered that offers the 5’9” length, allowing outdoor enthusiasts at that height access to a better warmth-to-weight ratio than found in other bags.
The puffy down fill is notable on the Feathered Friends Egret. Photo by Dan Slattery.
At 27.2 ounces for the 5’6” Egret, the weight is quite light for a sleeping bag thanks to 950 fill down. Even though the Egret is shorter than the Swallow, it makes up for the weight difference with more down fill in areas that otherwise may be drafty like the foot box. The Egret is wider at the hips than the men's Swallow too, and has more down in the footbox and torso, adding extra warmth to those areas which are more commonly colder for women.
For example, after years of use of the very well-regarded Western Mountaineering Versalite, a “men’s” 10F rated bag with a narrower cut and 6’0” length (I am 5’7”), I can say the wider cut in the hips, added areas of insulation, and more appropriate length (5’9”) of the Egret easily make it much warmer than that 10F bag.
Your sleeping bag is one of your most important pieces of gear for staying warm, both at night and during the day. Photo by Dan Slattery.
Regardless of your gender, if your height is near 5’9” we recommend considering the Egret. The materials are identical to the men’s Swallow, but the cut is slightly different.
The loft on the Egret is incredibly full, it’s impressive how small it can pack down and poof back up. The materials are light but durable, and the zipper is not prone to snagging. The warmth to weight ratio on this bag is impressive, especially since we've had a cold night down to TK degrees.
Like the Swallow, the only major downside to the Egret is the price. And like the Swallow, the Egret doesn’t have fancy features like zippered vents or pockets, though we don’t see that as a concern as those features are often not necessary. Nevertheless, if you are looking for a sleeping bag to last at least a decade, the cost is worth the investment. As mentioned above, Feathered Friends is noted for its customer service and are willing to work with you on custom sizing. If you’re unsure about your purchase, Feathered Friends offers a 30-day return policy.
The Egret appears in many “best women’s sleeping bag” roundups including Switchback Travel, Section Hiker, Clever Hiker, and winning Outdoor Gear Lab’s Editor’s Choice Award. The Wirecutter also recommends the Egret as an upgrade option for anyone who sleeps cold (Full disclosure: that story was co-written by Liz Thomas, Treeline Review’s current Editor-in-Chief, who did not choose the winners for this story).
BEST ULTRALIGHT SLEEPING BAG: WESTERN MOUNTAINEERING SUMMERLITE
Temperature Rating (F), EN Comfort/EN Lower Limit: 32
Total weight (oz): 19
Fill Weight (oz): 9
Fill Power: 850+
Hydrophobic Down? no
Fabric: 20D nylon ripstop, DWR coating
Shoulder (in) / Hips (in): 59” / 51”
Traceable/Responsible Down: Yes
What we liked: lightweight, great weight-to-warmth ratio
What we didn't like: fits snug
The Western Mountaineering SummerLite is our winner for Best Ultralight Sleeping Bag. It is the brand's lightest sleeping bag with baffle construction. It weighs only 19 ounces–impressive for fully baffled hooded mummy bag rated to 32F degrees. The bag is fully insulated with 10 ounces of 900 fill power down fill. While Western Mountaineering does not use EN temperature ratings (for more on EN and ISO ratings, see below), our own research and testing on over 1000 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail and another 1000 miles on the Continental Divide Trail in early summer suggests a comfort rating of 32 degrees seems reasonable.
We found that when it starts getting colder, you'll want a liner, a more insulated sleeping pad, or another bag. But for those summer trips where weight and space are at a premium, it's hard to beat the Summerlite in terms of warmth-to-weight ratio of a true zip sleeping bag (as compared to a quilt–more on that below).
COMPARE PRICES OF THE WESTERN MOUNTAINEERING SUMMERLITE
Treeline Review photographer John Carr watches the stars from his Western Mountaineering SummerLite while thru-hiking the PCT. Photo by John Carr.
Our tester switched to the Western Mountaineering Summerlite for the northern half of the Pacific Crest Trail for hot evenings in Northern California. He switched from the Western Mountaineering Ultralite, a similar bag rated to 20F. The Summerlite is lighter and much more compact than the Ultralite, but otherwise uses the same fabric and fill. They both have full-length #5 YKK Zippers, which means it is easy to get in-and out of the Summerlite, which gives it an advantage over backpacking quilts. Additionally, the full length zipper means you can vent the bag for evening that are truly warm.
Drying gear out is an essential part of daily gear maintenance while backpacking, especially in inclement weather. The Western Mountaineering Summerlite (center), like any sleeping bag, needs to be dried out regularly to prevent condensation from reducing loft. It’s center right drying at this trailhead parking lot on the Continental Divide Trail in Colorado . Photo by John Carr.
The Summerlite lives up to its name as a summer bag. It's a 1-season bag, but it does that very well. It's hard to beat the comfort and quality of the materials and stitching. Our Summerlite has lasted almost a decade of hard use. We have had issues trying to push it with the temperature rating–for example, Northbound CDT thru-hikers may want to opt for a warmer bag. But for peak summer trips, the Summerlite kept us warm and happy.
Our one complaint with this bag (and we can't blame them) is it fits snug. To save weight while keeping the features, Western Mountaineering made the SummerLite narrower than other bags. If roominess is a priority for you, this sleeping bag may not be the best option. But if weight and a compact volume are what you want, then the Summerlite is just that–a lightweight option perfect for the one season where you're most likely to get outside.
BEST COLD WEATHER SLEEPING BAG: FEATHERED FRIENDS LARK 10 UL (MEN’S) AND PETREL 10 UL (WOMEN’S)
Temperature Rating (F), EN Comfort/EN Lower Limit: 10
Total weight (oz): 31.3
Fill Weight (oz): 20
Fill Power: 950+
Hydrophobic Down? no
Fabric: Pertex® Endurance UL
Shoulder (in) / Hips (in): 60” / 56” (men’s) and 54” / 56” (women’s)
Traceable/Responsible Down: Yes
What we liked: warm and comfortable
What we didn't like: not recommended for mountaineering
The Feathered Friends Lark 10 UL (men's) and Petrel 10 UL (women’s) sleeping bags have been favorites among some of our testers, particularly for cold weather.
The Lark and Petrel are like taking the Swallow and Egret, but making them even warmer. At a 10 degree rating and made with 950+ goose down, these bags are Feathered Friends’ warmest 3-season options. The Lark weighs 31.3 ounces and the Petrel at 30.2 ounces. Our tester switched to the Lark 10-degree bag for the last few months of his Appalachian Trail thru-hike, which he finished towards the end of December. The Lark helped him sleep comfortably during the long nights of winter in Appalachia and live out his dream of finishing the Triple Crown.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE FEATHERED FRIENDS LARK 10 UL AND PETREL 10 UL
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Our tester told us, "I slept well in it every night" and added, "I named it 'Dreamy.'" In November, many AT southbound hikers add liners. Our tester had already added a liner to a 22F quilt and didn't find it was warm enough. He also found the liner cumbersome to get in and out of. He found the Lark much warmer than the liner + quilt combination, and it only added 1 oz to the system. After he upgraded to the Lark, he slept much better. The full collar traps body heat and the insulation draft protected zipper also sealed in warmth. He also added that, "Feathered Friends customer service was outstanding. They expedited my order to arrive when and where I needed it."
Our only complaint about the Lark is that it is an investment. Any 10F sleeping bag is going to be. Like other Feathered Friends bags, the Lark is made in the US, so also comes at a premium price.
Another tester enjoyed the Lark base camp of Mt. Everest in the summer, where many trekking companies recommend carrying a 10F bag. While this isn't the cold weather bag we'd recommend for mountaineering, this 10F bag is perfect for colder than normal backpacking trips.
BEST WARM WEATHER SLEEPING BAG: SEA TO SUMMIT THERMOLITE REACTOR EXTREME SLEEPING BAG LINER
Temperature Rating (F), EN Comfort/EN Lower Limit: adds 25
Total weight (oz): 14
Fill Weight (oz): n/a
Fill Power: n/a
Hydrophobic Down? n/a
Fabric: 110g/m2 Thermolite fabric
Traceable/Responsible Down: n/a
What we liked: lightweight, affordable, versatile
What we didn't like: not for cold weather (unless used with a sleeping bag)
This answer is a bit cheeky, we know, but the reality is if you’re backpacking where it’s warm, buying an expensive sleeping bag may not be worth the cost and added weight. Sleeping bag liners – ideal for adding degrees of warmth to your sleeping bag rating – are versatile in that they can serve as warm weather sleeping accommodations as well. We think the Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor Extreme Sleeping Bag Liner is an affordable and practical warm weather sleeping bag for those hot, humid summer days when you only need a little extra warmth.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE SEA TO SUMMIT THERMOLITE REACTOR EXTREME SLEEPING BAG LINER
As recommended in our Shoulder Season Backpacking Gear Guide, the Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor Extreme Sleeping Bag Liner both add 25 degrees of warmth for only $75. At 14 ounces, liners weigh less than a sleeping bag and pack down smaller. This is a solid option for hot, humid days. For example, we've taken this bag for many nights sleeping in hammocks and behind bug netting in tropical rain forests and have found it to be everything we need.
As a bonus, if you also backpack somewhere cold, these liners would add extra warmth to your sleeping bag. In fact, these liners are popular among thru-hikers late in season or as they enter the Sierra to add extra warmth to a traditional sleeping bag. That's a win-win!
BEST SYNTHETIC SLEEPING BAG: NEMO FORTE 20
Temperature Rating (F), EN Comfort/EN Lower Limit: 20, 32, 22
Total weight (oz): 46
Fill Weight (oz): 29
Fill Power: N/A
Hydrophobic Down? no
Fabric: 100% recycled 30-denier ripstop polyester
Shoulder (in) / Hips (in): 64” / 59” (men’s) and 62” / 58” (women’s)
Traceable/Responsible Down: N/A
What we liked: good for side sleeping, vegan, affordable, easy venting for warmer days
What we didn't like: heavy
A popular sleeping bag for its comfort, the Nemo Forte 20 sleeping bag is our winner for Best Synthetic Sleeping Bag. Made with 80% recycled PrimaLoft RISE synthetic fill, this bag has an ISO tested comfort rating of 32 degrees and ISO tested lower limit of 22 degrees for men, and 20 and 10 degrees, respectively, for women. We backpacked with this bag on a snowy spring trip in Colorado and found it warm even in just below freezing temperatures.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE NEMO FORTE 20
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Only available at their website, the newest version (men’s and women’s) debuts the Nemo Forte is the first sleeping bag in Nemo’s new Endless Promise program. The idea is that it is made of recycled materials and at the end of its life, it can be fully recycled. The goal is to keep gear out of landfills. The newest model is fully re-designed to be a single material, which allows it to be recycled (recycling multi-material products is difficult, if not impossible with current technology). When you’re finished with your Nemo Forte, send it back to Nemo as part of their Take Back Program, which includes a free return shipping label.
In addition to being recyclable, the Nemo Forte is made of 100% recycled material, including a recycled liner, bluesign-approved shell fabric, and Zerofiber PCR insulation, which is made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials. This goes along with Nemo’s brand commitment to the the environment. They’re also a founding member of the Outdoor Industry Association Climate Action Corps.
The Spoon™ shape of this mummy bag adds extra room at the elbows and knees to allow for more comfortable side-sleeping. And while we agree that this is a comfortable sleeping bag for side sleepers, our pick for Best Backpacking Sleeping back for Side Sleepers (see below) offers not just extra room, but more stretch for those who toss and turn as well.
The Nemo Forte 20 is on the heavier side of sleeping bags we tested, which might deter ultralight backpackers. The men’s regular weighs 2 lbs 14 oz, and the women’s weighs in at 3 lbs 5 oz. Still, this is on the lighter weight side for synthetic bags. It's typical with any synthetic bag you choose for synthetic insulation to weigh more than a down bag of. the same temperature rating. The warmth to weight ratio of synthetic won't be as good. However, it is suitable for vegans and will stay warm, even when it gets wet. This is a good option for backpackers who are worried about getting their sleeping bag wet while hiking in rainy conditions.
BEST WIDE & TALL SLEEPING BAG: WESTERN MOUNTAINEERING MEGALITE
Temperature Rating (F), EN Comfort/EN Lower Limit: 30
Total weight (oz): 24
Fill Weight (oz): 12
Fill Power: 850+
Hydrophobic Down? No
Fabric: 12D "extremelite"
Shoulder (in) / Hips (in): 64” / 56”
Traceable/Responsible Down: Yes
What we liked: size-inclusive, comfortable, accurate temperature rating
What we didn't like: expensive
COMPARE PRICES OF THE WESTERN MOUNTAINEERING MEGALITE
The Western Mountaineering MegaLite is a highly lauded bag among reviewers from one of the most trusted sleeping bag brands. Like Feathered Friends, Western Mountaineering is a trusted brand with decades of experience making high-quality down sleeping bags. They have many offerings to choose from. We appreciate the MegaLite for its size-inclusivity, particularly for its increased spaciousness at the shoulders.
We chose the MegaLite as our top down bag for larger users who want a roomier cut around the shoulders. Sleeping bags are notoriously constrictive for those with broad or muscular shoulders. At 64” shoulder girth, the MegaLite remains very lightweight at just 24oz for the 6’0” length. Its 30F temperature rating is on the upper end of our target range, but user reviews consistently found this bag’s rating is conservative. Almost all users were very satisfied with its warmth, perhaps because those who have wider shoulders and torsos often sleep warmer. Users also liked the soft feel of the fabric, smooth zipper, and how small the bag compresses when packed.
Western Mountaineering makes a similar bag The Western Mountaineering Alpinlite, which is a wider version of their popular Ultralight.
As with our overall picks, the biggest downside of the MegaLite is the price. But again, with sleeping bags in particular, you get what you pay for. We think a high-quality sleeping bag like the MegaLite is worth the price because it can provide up to decades of service. The cost per year compared to a less expensive bag works out to be less than needing to replace your bag every few years.
Western Mountaineering is also noted for its customer service and ability to repair and re-fill down in their bags for an almost non-existent charge (we had a rip and re-stuffing done for practically the cost of shipping). These bags last decades and have a lot of happy customer reviews over the years. At least one Western Mountaineering bag consistently appears on review roundups for Outdoor Gear Lab, Clever Hiker, Switchback Travel, and Section Hiker.
BEST AFFORDABLE BACKPACKING SLEEPING BAG: REI CO-OP MAGMA 15
Temperature Rating (F), EN Comfort/EN Lower Limit: 15, 28, 16
Total weight (oz): 28.2
Fill Weight (oz): 15.9
Fill Power: 850
Hydrophobic Down? Yes
Fabric: 15D pertex
Shoulder (in) / Hips (in): 63” / 57” (men’s) and 60” / 57” (women’s)
Traceable/Responsible Down: Yes
What we liked: quality materials and features at more affordable price
What we didn't like: not as warm as marketed
If dropping $500+ on a sleeping bag is just not going to happen, the REI Co-op Magma 15 (women’s and men’s) is a solid choice. At the time of writing, the Magma 15 was the bestselling sleeping bag at REI.com. The bag retails at $399, and you can save more if you time your purchase with an REI sale or coupon promotion.
The Magma boasts some impressive stats that are comparable to the Feathered Friends and Western Mountaineering bags we recommended for our Overall and Wide & Tall Picks. It’s constructed with lightweight 15D Pertex fabric and 850 fill down. It also has a solid zipper and a nicely shaped foot box.
The Magma 15 is made of 15-denier ripstop nylon by Pertex that performed well in our water resistance test. But by our tests, it wasn’t as good at being downproof in daily use as our overall pick, the 10-denier Feathered Friends Egret (women’s bag) and Swallow (men’s bag). Our staff found the Magma’s 15-denier fabric to not feel as durable as that on the Feathered Friends, either. It’s counter-intuitive for a 10-denier fabric to feel more durable than a 15-denier fabric.
But we think that even though both bags use Pertex fabrics, it’s a little like comparing a Ford Fiesta to a Ford Expedition and calling both Fords. The two fabrics are by the same company, but have different features (and likely, different prices per yard). While Pertex is notorious for being secretive about their proprietary fabrics, we do know that Feathered Friends uses QuantumPro Endurance coating.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE REI CO-OP MAGMA 15
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
The updated version of the REI Magma is marketed as a 15F bag, available as both a men’s sleeping bag and a women’s sleeping bag (the previous version offered a 10F men’s and 17F women’s). They call both 15F bags, but the men’s bag is rated 28F/16F comfort/lower limit, and the women's is rated 17F/3F comfort/lower limit. Yes, when it comes to the women’s bag, REI named a 17-degree bag “15 degrees.” Treeline Review team members think this is REI’s attempt to capture more of the sleeping bag market since people are more likely to Google “Best 15-degree bag” rather than a 17-degree bag.
These temperature ratings are consistent with our own testing with the Magma. Guide Duncan Cheung finds the men’s temperature rating to be accurate. But with the women’s temperature rating, he says his many students who buy this bag find it reliably warm above 20 degrees, but “they never pushed it down below 20.”
As with any sleeping bag, drying out the REI Magma each day is a good practice to retain loft. Photo courtesy Duncan Cheung.
Reviewers at Switchback Travel, Outdoor Gear Lab, Clever Hiker have found the Magma to be not as warm as other bags marketed at the same temperature rating. However, with an EN comfort rated of 28F and lower limit of 16F, it falls squarely within our 20-30F temperature target, while still weighing just 28.2 oz.
Basically, don’t expect the Magma to function as a 15F bag, but more like a 20-30F bag, and you’ll be happy. Time it with a sale and a coupon code, and this bag is one heckuva deal.
BEST BACKPACKING SLEEPING BAG FOR SIDE SLEEPERS: MONTBELL DOWN HUGGER 800 #3
Temperature Rating (F), EN Comfort/EN Lower Limit: 30, 39, 30
Total weight (oz): 24
Fill Weight (oz): 11
Fill Power: 800
Fabric: 10-denier Ballistic Airlight nylon taffeta (100% Nylon, water-repellent finish)
Traceable/Responsible Down: Yes
The Montbell Down Hugger 800 #3 is the least expensive bag of our down sleeping bag picks at $339 and has some unique features that will appeal to side sleepers, tossers-and-turners, and people who sleep in a ball.
Montbell is a Japanese brand known for high quality, lightweight gear, and is the ubiquitous hiking/camping store in Japan, much like REI is in the US. What initially drew us to this bag is its Spiral Stretch system. We also like that the Down Hugger is among the lightest weight bags we considered (18.7 oz for men and 17.8 oz for women) while maintaining warmth and comfort.
What makes the Montbell 800 #3 bag so unique is its construction. The baffles are sewn on a bias, known as Montbell’s patented “Super Spiral Stretch System.” This tailor’s trick makes the bag feel stretchy and allows users to sprawl out, freely bending their knees or elbows. In past models we reviewed, it was on the outside of the bag, but now it is on the inside of the bag.
Reviewers of any of Montbell’s Spiral Stretch sleeping bag models rave about the unparalleled comfort it provides. Aside from a sleeping quilt, the Montbell Spiral Stretch is the best down bag for side sleepers, tossers-and-turners, and people who like to sleep in a ball. The Spiral Stretch is far more comfortable and less restrictive than other bags we’ve tested.
VIEW THE MONTBELL SEAMLESS DOWN HUGGER 800 #3
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
The Montbell Down Hugger 800 #3 is a great bag for side sleepers and those who enjoy sleeping in balls. Photo courtesy Liz Thomas.
We hiked the 500-mile Colorado Trail with the Montbell 800 #3 and found the fabric incredibly soft. Unlike other bags, Montbell’s proprietary shell fabric doesn’t feel like a sleeping bag shell but more like bedsheets. The down is also quite soft, though not as poofy as the other bags we considered (likely because it’s a 30F bag vs. a 15F bag).
The one downside with the Montbell Down Hugger 800 #3 is the temperature rating. Marketed as a 30F bag, it has an EN Comfort Rating of 39F and Lower Limit of 30F. It’s not as warm as other bags on our list. However, the Down Hugger #3 still makes a solid summer sleeping bag in most areas and is reasonably priced. Plus, reviews reported excellent customer service including multiple references to free zipper repair on Montbell items that had already seen many seasons.
Honorable Mentions
Western Mountaineering UltraLite
Temperature Rating (F), EN Comfort/EN Lower Limit: 20
Total weight (oz): 29
Fill Weight (oz): 16
Fill Power: 850+
Hydrophobic Down? No
Fabric: 12D "extremelite"
Shoulder (in) / Hips (in): 59” / 51”
Traceable/Responsible Down: Yes
What we liked: continuous baffles allows down to move where needed, high quality construction
What we didn't like: narrow cut, doesn’t pack down well
The Western Mountaineering UltraLite is a beloved bag for many, with an impressive 17 ounces of fill weight and great warmth to weight ratio. Like the Feathered Friends bag, it has a draft collar and zipper tube. However, for our testers the cons outweigh the pros. The cut is narrow, but yet it doesn't pack down well. And it's expensive. For us, the Feathered Friends is a better choice, as it’s warmer and weighs a little less.
Plus, as Treeline Review Editor-in-Chief notes, “the women’s design Feathered Friends is roomier in the hips but narrower in the shoulders.” You can find a more detailed comparison of the two sleeping bags in our Favorite Gear for a PCT Thru-hike piece. The Western Mountaineering Ultralight is also available in a similar wide model called the Western Mountaineering Alpinlite.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE WESTERN MOUNTAINEERING ULTRALITE
NEMO DISCO 30
Temperature Rating (F), EN Comfort/EN Lower Limit: 30, 41, 31
Total weight (oz): 27
Fill Weight (oz): 11
Fill Power: 650
Hydrophobic Down? Yes
Fabric: 30D nylon ripstop
Shoulder (in) / Hips (in): 64” / 59” (men’s) and 62” / 58” (women’s)
Traceable/Responsible Down: Yes
What we liked: affordable, lots of features
What we didn't like: heavy
The Nemo Disco is one of the most beloved sleeping bags out there. It is heaviest bag in our review, but the has some clever features that we think are worth your attention. The Nemo Disco uses a thermo gill design on the top so you can vent heat during warm weather. This is a popular choice for the comfort it provides–the bag is spacious and suited for stomach or side sleepers. It's also a bargain at $280.
The Nemo Disco comes with some nice features, including Thermo Gills™ that help release warm air from the sleeping bag on warmer nights without letting cold air in. A Blanket Fold™ and full-length draft tube add comfort and allow for some additional temperature regulation. The bag also features a pillow pocket in which you can stuff clothing or other items for support while you sleep.
The downside to the Disco 30 is it's over 2 pounds but it only has 11 ounces of fill weight. You pay a weight penalty for those clever features that just aren't worth it to us. Additionally, it doesn’t pack down as small as other bags we tested, making it less than ideal for long thru-hikes.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE NEMO DISCO 30
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Temperature Rating (F), EN Comfort/EN Lower Limit: 20, 32, 20
Total weight (oz): 20
Fill Weight (oz): 12.5
Fill Power: 900
Hydrophobic Down? Yes
Fabric: 10D nylon ripstop
Shoulder (in) / Hips (in): 57” / 49.5”
Traceable/Responsible Down: Yes
What we liked: lightweight, nice features
What we didn't like: not very warm, constrictive fit
At just 20 ounces, the Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 20 is in an ultralight bag we're looking forward to testing. The comfort rating is 32F for an impressive weight. So far, customer reports found issues with the previous model, where the cut was more constrictive than other bags. We're hoping that the newest iteration has more room.
While it does not come in women’s, it does come in small (73”), regular (80”), and long (85”) sizes. The bag features SynergyLink™ connectors that help secure the bag to the sleeping pad, and the box baffling uses mesh to increase loft and increase warmth. However, as the low weight is its best feature, we think if you're looking to go ultralight, a backpacking quilt might be a better option depending on your backpacking needs.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE THERM-A-REST HYPERION 20
REI ZEPHYR 25 RECYCLED
Temperature Rating (F), EN Comfort/EN Lower Limit: 25, 38, 25
Total weight (oz): 43
Fill Weight (oz): N/A
Fill Power: N/A
Hydrophobic Down? no
Fabric: Ripstop recycled polyester (bluesign® approved)
Shoulder (in) / Hips (in): 62” / 56” (men’s) and 60” / 59” (women’s)
Traceable/Responsible Down: N/A
What we liked: recyclable synthetic insulation (vegan), comfortable, affordable
What we didn't like: heavy
If you’re looking for a solid synthetic sleeping bag, the REI Zephyr 25 Recycled is another good choice. Made from 100% recyclable synthetic fill polyester insulation, the Zephyr 25 is comfy and compressible.
Like the Nemo Forte, this sleeping bag is on the heavier end of those we tested. The women’s bag weighs 3 lbs 8 oz and the men’s weights 2 lbs 11 oz. This weight may not be ideal for ultralight backpackers, but it’s still a nice synthetic and more affordable option if the weight isn’t a dealbreaker.
VIEW THE REI ZEPHYR 25 RECYCLED
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Treeline Review writer and photojournalist Dean Krakel captured this photo of his Colorado Trail hiking partner mid-yawn as he cowboy camped (slept in his sleeping bag without a tent). Photo by Dean Krakel.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BACKPACKING AND A CAMPING SLEEPING BAG?
When it comes to sleeping bags, there are all kinds of shapes and sizes, fabrics and types of insulation, and a wide price range. The reason is that sleeping bags are designed for different use cases. In this story, we’ll guide you through the differences and point you towards the most versatile sleeping bags designed to meet your many needs.
This article focuses on the best sleeping bags for backpacking, as opposed to car camping or sleeping on a friend’s couch. The backpacking sleeping bags mentioned here would also serve well for summer mountaineering and alpine climbing trips.
Backpacking sleeping bags prioritize warmth, weight, and packability (small size when compressed). To achieve these goals, the backpacking-worthy sleeping bags have a “mummy” shape, conforming to the body. This minimizes size and therefore weight of the bag and also provides maximum warmth by not requiring you to heat up extra “dead air” space inside your bag. Just like a big house takes a lot more energy (from gas, electric, etc.) to heat than a small one, an oversized sleeping bag requires more energy (from you) to heat than one that fits closer to your body.
Treeline Review writer Amanda Jameson documents watching the sunrise on Mt. Whitney from the warmth of a sleeping bag. Photo by Amanda Jameson.
The lightweight fabrics and high fill power down also equate to a high price tag. When presented with all the options, it may seem silly to buy a bag that costs 2-3X more than other options. However, this is one area where there is near universal agreement among experienced outdoors people: of any piece of gear you want to invest in, it’s a sleeping bag. A quality bag that is taken good care of will last for decades (yes, decades!).
““There is near universal agreement among experienced outdoors people: of any piece of gear you want to invest in, it’s a sleeping bag. A quality bag that is taken good care of will last for decades (yes, decades!).””
Down insulation is graded by how much it expands, creating pockets to trap air and, therefore, insulate. Think of it as “floofiness.” The “fill power” number is how many cubic inches of space one ounce of the down takes up. So, one ounce of 800 fill down takes up 800 cubic inches of space (think 3.5-gallon jugs of milk). 800-950 fill power is on the higher end of what geese can produce. While there are 1000 fill power down options, such as in Rab’s Zero G Down Jacket, the Montbell Plasma jacket line, or Mountain Hardwear’s $1300 mountaineering mummy suit, this is the extreme upper end and very expensive due to its limited supply. The amount of this down that would be necessary to fill a sleeping bag is cost-prohibitive (did you see that mummy suit?), so it’s not used in this application.
All bags for this review use down that is not live-plucked from the birds. Some brands have also committed to higher standards of animal welfare, certifying their down sources through the Responsible Down Standard, or their own program.
When traveling in snow or colder conditions, pay attention not just to the temperature rating on your sleeping bag, but also on your sleeping pad. Treeline Review co-founder Liz Thomas snapped this photo of her hiking partner Moni on the Continental Divide Trail in Colorado. Photo by Liz Thomas.
HOW ARE SLEEPING BAG TEMPERATURE RATINGS DETERMINED?
The EN/ISO Rating System Explained
The terms "EN” (European Norm) and “ISO” (International Organization for Standardization) refer to two organizations whose ratings are used to standardize temperatures in which sleeping bags are comfortable or capable. Both metrics are so similar they are rarely differentiated.
Looking into the specifics of the EN ratings, the European Standard EN 13537 was created in 2005 to provide a framework for sleeping bag apples-to-apples comparison. Outside of Europe, sellers are not required to use this standard, though some do (especially companies that also sell their sleeping bags in Europe).
The EN 13537 standard includes four temperature specifications. Of these specifications, we examined the more useful two: EN Comfort is the lowest temperature at which a typical female can sleep comfortably, and EN Lower Limit is the lowest temperature at which a typical male can sleep comfortably.
Sleeping Bags Without an EN/ISO Rating
Some brands, like Western Mountaineering and Feathered Friends, do not use EN/ISO ratings for their sleeping bags. However, these brands in particular are considered pretty accurate by our testers and testers of other major gear review sites (if anything, they may be even warmer than advertised). Some retailers are requiring sleeping bag companies to use EN/ISO ratings to maintain a standard. However, EN/ISO ratings often require expensive lab testing processes that may be out of the budget for smaller brands. So often if brands do not sell to retailers that are requiring temperature ratings, they will use their own measurements roughly based on, among other things, fill weight, quality of down, and height of loft of the down. However, EN/ISO ratings aren't available for bags designed for extreme cold (beyond the 10F covered in our guide) and aren't available for kids' bags.
Choosing the Right Temperature Rating
When you see temperature ratings on bags, it’s not always an apples-to-apples comparison. Different manufacturers rate the warmth of their bags in different ways. For example, how warm a bag feels also depends on the insulation in your sleeping pad. Different sleeping pads, just like sleeping bags, have different temperature ratings. To read more about sleeping pad insulation, check out our Best Sleeping Pads guide.
As described in the How to Choose the Sleeping Bag for You section, there are many factors that affect warmth when sleeping. Regardless of the testing protocol used to rate a bag, your experience may vary. That’s one reason why we have a few suggestions of ways you can extend the warmth of your sleeping bag and what to do when you feel cold. We said it above and we’ll say it again: if you want to sleep warm in your sleeping bag, get not only a warm sleeping bag, but also a warm sleeping pad. See our Best Sleeping Pads guide for more on how to choose an insulating pad.
Drying out a sleeping bag on the Pacific Crest Trail. Photo by Amanda Jameson.
BUYING ADVICE
To narrow down the very wide field of sleeping bags into our finalists list, all 12 sleeping bags that made our contender list had to meet the following criteria:
TEMPERATURE RATING BETWEEN ~20-30F
This range is appropriate for typical 3-season use (late spring to early fall in most places), covering most trips backpackers would tackle. Temperature ratings can vary from one manufacturer to another because they may use different testing methods. There is also significant person-to-person variation in comfort levels.
In general, women tend to sleep “colder” than men, and require a bag with a lower temperature rating to be warm. Of course, this is also variable from person-to-person, but our experience has been (and most professionals agree) that the 20-30F rating is a good temperature rating for most people.
LIGHTWEIGHT
We aimed for a target of under 2 lb. With a backpacking focus in mind, keeping the weight minimal is ideal. With today’s lightweight fabrics and high lofting down sleeping bags, many bags meet this minimum requirement. There are plenty of quality camping and backpacking sleeping bags that weigh more than 2 lbs by brands like Kelty, The North Face, Sierra Designs, and Big Agnes. These tend to be less expensive than the ones we recommend. They also may be less compact. An example is the popular Kelty Cosmic, which is a winner in our Best Camping Sleeping Bags guide. It weighs 3.5 lbs for a 20F bag but costs less than half the price of our overall winners.
QUALITY AND DURABILITY
Sleeping bags are a significant investment and when cared for, can and should last many years, even with heavy use. We looked for bags with quality construction and durable materials that will stand the test of time.
SHELL DENIER
Shell denier (D) refers to the thickness of the outer material of a sleeping bag. Higher numbers refer to thicker shells. The biggest impact this has is in durability, so if your sleeping bag will be exposed to the elements a lot, be crawled on by a furry friend (hopefully a pet), or otherwise take a beating, a higher shell denier may be a good option. Otherwise, smaller shell deniers are a good way to shave weight.
SLEEPING BAG DIMENSIONS
Not all sleeping bags are tailored to a person’s height. While most brands offer “regular” and “tall” options, those lengths are not necessarily consistent from brand to brand. Additionally, different sleeping bags offer different measurements for shoulders and hips. Depending on your height and shape, some bags will work better than others, so you’ll want to consider that when deciding.
LIMITED DOWN LEAKAGE
There’s nothing worse than waking up with loose feathers flying all around you.
Several factors impact how likely feathers will escape through micro-holes in your sleeping bag’s fabric. Some shell fabrics are more puncture-resistant than others. This is impacted by 1) how tightly the fabric is woven together; 2) any coatings on the fabric.
Down quality can also impact how likely micro-feathers may escape. Quality of down is related to the down-to-feather ratio. Down is less common than feathers, so a mix that has more feathers is less expensive.
The quality of the how the down is processed can also impact how likely you’ll wake up to escaped puff. Leftover quill shafts and quill points can pop through the fabric. Higher quality down has fewer of these pointy down-parts that can sneak through the fabric.
Down leakage is most noticeable in lower quality bags. All of the bags that we recommend have minimal down leakage.
COST
Cost was not a primary consideration in this roundup, because, as mentioned above, this is the one item in your kit you don’t want to skimp on.
CUSTOMER SERVICE AND MANUFACTURING
With such a huge investment as a sleeping bag, it’s important to know the manufacturer stands behind its product and provides excellent customer service. We also appreciate the opportunity to buy made in the USA products when feasible. In the case of sleeping bags, we are lucky that several great brands make their bags here.
ETHICAL DOWN
Down comes from ducks and geese, often grown for meat production. The Responsible Down Standard is a voluntary certification process that ensures certain humane standards are met in producing the down, such as no live plucking or force feeding. All of the manufacturer's included in this round up either use RDS certified down or have their own standard in place for humanely-raised down. If you prefer a 100% vegan option, we named the Nemo Forte 30 the Best Synthetic Backpacking Sleeping Bag, and included the REI Zephyr 25 Recycled Sleeping Bag to our Honorable Mentions list.
PACKABILITY
Packability refers to how small the sleeping bag will pack down when compressed. For backpacking adventures, it’s nice to have a sleeping bag that packs down small to help save room.
TYPES OF INSULATION
DOWN VS. SYNTHETIC INSULATION
Down, the fluffy feathers from geese, is the warmest insulation available for its weight. Synthetic insulation materials (such as Climashield Apex) have come a long way, but they just don’t quite compete in warmth, weight, and compressibility. Although down is more expensive than synthetic insulation, we think it is worth the investment. You can read more about down insulation in our Best Down Jackets guide.
However, we recognize vegans may prefer a synthetic sleeping bag, which is why we created a Best Synthetic Backpacking Sleeping Bag category.
For more information about choosing between down and synthetic fill insulation, check out our Which Is Better: a Down or Synthetic Jacket guide.
DOWN QUALITY: FILL POWER
The fill power of a down sleeping bag refers to the quality of the down–a higher number meaning less down is needed to insulate and is, generally, lighter weight than sleeping bags with low fill power. A high fill power does not necessarily equate to more warmth, as the fill weight also needs to be factored in (e.g. a sleeping bag may achieve its warmth by using a low quality fill power but a lot of it, making the bag weight heavier).
DOWN AND SYNTHETIC FILL WEIGHT
The fill weight refers to the weight of the down material and is a factor in how much the sleeping bag will weigh and how warm it will be. This metric, along with the fill power, will determine the warmth of the sleeping bag.
Treeline Review founder Liz Thomas is using the men’s Feathered Friends Swallow 20F on a backpacking trip on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Should I get Women's Specific Sleeping Bags?
As mentioned previously, I used to think women’s-specific sleeping bags were unnecessary. However, women’s bags are designed not just for the different body shape many female bodies have from male bodies, but also for the tendency for a female body to run colder. Women’s cut bags accommodate for a wider hip area for comfort and a narrower shoulder area for warmth. Of course, we recognize that there are more genders than just women and men but understand that brands in the outdoor industry categorize sleeping bags this way. Regardless of how you identify, we recommend choosing the bag that fit your body and needs. For example, our 5'4" men's tester prefers the 5'9" length Feathered Friends Egret to the men's Swallow (available in 6' length).
Treeline Review writer Kate Hoch airing out her Feathered Friends Egret sleeping bag on a winter trip to climb Mt. Baker.
Should I get a backpacking quilt?
A backpacking quilt looks like a sleeping bag but often does not have a hood or any down in for the back half of the bag. Many look like a sleeping bag footbox with an attached puffy blanket. The theory is that since down gets its insulation from lofting, it doesn't do much to keep you warm when crushed under your body during sleep. By eliminating the part of the sleeping bag that would otherwise be under your body weight, a quilt is a lightweight and more streamlined piece of gear than a sleeping bag.
Popular backpacking quilt models include:
Backpackers who prefer quilts tend to value lightweight and compact gear, and are often willing to pay a premium for it. Some of our testers have tried and loved quilts after notching a few thru-hikes using traditional sleeping bags first. If this is your first sleeping bag, we'd recommend going with a traditional bag instead of a quilt. Using a quilt often has a learning curve and many first-time quilt users find they require extra skills to avoid sleeping cold.
Our Editor-in-Chief Liz “Snorkel” Thomas enjoys the Katabatic Gear Palisade, for example, as referenced in our Favorite Gear for a PCT Thru-hike guide. Yet she backpacked for nearly a decade with the Western Mountaineering Ultralite sleeping bag, but likes the weight savings and warmth-to-weight ratio for the Palisade.
Hydrophobic Down and Water-Resistant Fabrics
There’s significant controversy over the long-term durability and efficacy of water-resistant down. For that reason, we did not use waterproof down as a criterion to determine whether a sleeping bag made our list. Waterproof down is down that has been treated with a coating that makes it less likely to become soaked and lose its insulative abilities when exposed to moisture. However, some skeptics claim that the coating can cause down to clump, reducing its overall insulative ability.
Two of the major high-end sleeping bag companies, Western Mountaineering and Feathered Friends don't use waterproof down, citing they aren't adopting it because of limited benefit and data about performance over the long term. To read more about their reasons, here are Western Mountaineering’s statement and Feathered Friends’ Statement about water-resistant down.
Most of the sleeping bags we tested do not use water-resistant down. We think that if you take the proper precautions like using a waterproof pack liner, a waterproof compression sack, and even some waterproof backpacks, that an untreated down sleeping bag will serve you well even in wet conditions. See our full Best Backpacking Backpacks story for more on waterproof backpacks and waterproofing your backpack.
Down comes from ducks and geese, most of which are raised for food and not their feathers. According to the International Down Feather Bureau, from 2009 to 2013, 2.7 billion ducks and 653 million geese were raised for meat. There are over 10,000 farm and farm groups that contribute to the down industry. The International Down and Feather Bureau test, inspect and evaluate down and feathers, grading the product based on the quality. Down suppliers like Sustainable Down Source or Allied Feather provide the raw materials for brands to fill their sleeping bags.
Many sleeping bags or down garments made from down will come with a hangtag that allows you to trace the supply chain of your product. Sleeping bags made from Sustainable Down Source or Allied Feather feathers help to increase transparency in supply chain sourcing with retailers and users. The hangtag includes where the down is sourced, processed, crafted, shipped, and purchased. Both down suppliers allow you to scan a QR code and lot number. Sustainable Down Source hangtags will take you to the Down Tracker information for your specific bag or garment. Allied Feather hangtags will take you to the Track my Down website.
Note that not all down feathers — even if they come from the Sustainable Down Source or Allied Feather — have received Responsible Down Standard certification. It’s a separate process independently owned by the Textile Exchange, not by one down supplier.
WHAT DOES THE DOWN INDUSTRY DO TO ENSURE SUSTAINABLE AND HUMANE PRACTICES?
The global poultry industry is highly regulated. Although the Responsible Down Standard is the best way to ensure that your feathers, according to the International Down and Feather Bureau, less than one percent of their own industry uses practices that are not supported by the industry. Producers of down and feathers must sign animal welfare laws in their country to join industry organizations, even if they aren’t signed onto the voluntary Responsible Down Standard.
WHAT IS THE RESPONSIBLE DOWN STANDARD (RDS)?
The Responsible Down Standard is the highest level of certification for down and feathers. Each sleeping bag or garment made of RDS down has a QR code where you can trace where your feathers came from. Even when feathers are supplied by the Sustainable Down Source and come with a hangtag that has supply chain sourcing information about the down, it doesn’t mean it has received the RDS certification. For a brand to claim they use RDS down, they need to follow guidelines and a process described by Responsible Down.
HOW TO CHOOSE A SLEEPING BAG FOR BACKPACKING
When considering a bag, finding one that is sized to fit you and matches your warmth needs are the most important considerations. Whichever sleeping bag model you choose, you should consider these criteria to a long-lasting bag that will serve you for years.
HOW TALL ARE YOU?
Unless you’re exactly 5’6” or 6’0” or 6’6”, picking the proper length sleeping bag requires most users to make a decision based on their priorities.
A bag listed as 6’0” will accommodate a user up to 6’0”. But what if you’re 6’1”? Can you squeeze into the 6’0” bag? Maybe, but your feet may bottom out in the bag, compressing the down there and thereby losing some warmth capacity. On the other hand, if you size up to the 6’6” bag, you’ve got 5” of dead space at your feet that you need to warm up, which is also inefficient (plus, it’s extra weight to carry and a bigger price tag for a bigger bag).
Sizing a bag is a balancing act. Try to pick the bag closest to your height without going under. If you have too much room, you can always stuff some extra clothing into the bottom of your bag to take up the extra space on the nights where you find you’re cold.
HOW MUCH WIDTH DO YOU WANT?
There is significant variation in shoulder, hip and feet girth among sleeping bags. Like length, it’s important to find a bag that fits you well. You definitely don’t want the bag too tight. Not only will it feel uncomfortable, but if your body is pushing the dimensions of the bag, the down won’t be able to fully loft and you’ll lose much of its insulation potential, leaving you cold.
If you order online, spend a night in your bag at home. We recommend trying sleeping bags at home before taking them outdoors. Keep the tags on and you’ll still be able to return it if it doesn’t work out. We suggest ordering online because many of the sleeping bag models we recommend aren’t available in conventional outdoor stores to “try on” before purchase. But if possible, get to a store and try out other companies’ sleeping bags to get a comparative sense of what length, shoulder and hip girth fits you best.
WHAT WILL THE TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS BE?
Are you a warm sleeper or a cold sleeper? Typically, men tend to sleep warmer than women, but there is wide person-to-person variation. If you know you’re a warmer sleeper, you might be able to get away with a higher temperature rated bag than someone who sleeps colder. Also look for features such as extra down in the footbox if you are prone to cold feet.
Other factors affect your warmth when sleeping, such as water and food intake. Stay well hydrated and eat a calorie dense meal before bed and you’ll stay warmer sleeping. We also recommend wearing a hat and socks on chillier nights. Also, be sure to use a good insulating sleeping pad (see our Best Sleeping Pads guide for recommendations), or you’ll be cold no matter what bag you choose.
Want to learn more about how sleeping bag temperature ratings are determined? See our section on How are Sleeping Bag Temperature Ratings Measured?
DO YOU WANT A MUMMY BAG OR A RECTANGULAR BAG
You'll find the vast majority of bags are either a mummy sleeping bag or rectangular sleeping bag. Backpacking sleeping bags are mummy bags for three reasons: they are lighter, compress smaller, and are more heat efficient. A rectangular bag is best for car camping.
DO YOU NEED A SLEEPING BAG LINER?
You can expand the temperature range of your bag by using a sleeping bag liner. For example, Sea to Summit claims that their Thermolite Reactor will add up to 25F to the temperature rating of your bag and potentially turn your 3-season bag into a winter sleeping bag (it can also be used as a standalone summer sleeping bag). It's also great to have a liner if unexpected cold weather pops up on an extended backpacking trip. But at 14 ounces, it will also add significant weight to your backpacking kit. Bonus — the liner will help keep your bag cleaner.
HOW WILL YOU STORE YOUR SLEEPING BAG?
One of the great things about all the sleeping bags we considered is their compressibility and how small they pack down in your backpack. However, when you’re not using the bag, it’s important to store it uncompressed for the down to retain its ability to loft. Most manufacturers include a large cotton storage sack to keep the bag in when not in use. This is a good storage option.
If you have the space, store the bag hanging in a closet, which allows full loft. However you choose to store your bag, be sure to keep it safely out of reach of pets - kitty claws are very attracted to down bags!
HOW TO WASH A DOWN SLEEPING BAG
When using your bag outdoors, take care to minimize dirt buildup. One way is by using a groundsheet (aka, footprint) under your sleeping bag and sleeping pad whenever you’re sleeping without a tent (aka, cowboy camping).
Many folks prefer to wear clean(ish) clothing while in their sleeping bag to minimize the dirt and smell transfer. We often wear a lightweight base layer like the Icebreaker 150 merino as sleep clothes.
Even with great care, at some point, you probably will want to wash your sleeping bag. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, but the process is generally this: wash your bag in a front load washing machine (no agitators) on the gentle cycle and only use soap specifically formulated for down (Nikwax Down Wash). Regular laundry detergent will strip the down of its natural oils and reduce its ability to loft. Use at least one extra rinse cycle to ensure all soap is washed out. Dry in a large commercial dryer on low heat with some tennis balls thrown in to help break up the clumps of down as they dry.
This is a detailed step-by-step description of how to wash a sleeping bag. See our similar article on How to Clean and Repair Down Jackets—the steps are very similar.
TIPS FOR STAYING WARM
Some nights are simply colder than you plan for. We polled our testers and gathered some advice for staying warm on those abnormally or un-planned for cold nights.
“Eat a big hot meal with a lot of fat in it right before going to sleep. Food is fuel and fuel is warmth!” - Liz “Snorkel” Thomas
“Carry an inflatable pillow so you can wear all the rest of your clothes while you sleep.” -Sam Schild
"Layer your clothing just like you would if you were active. Start with a moisture-wicking base layer, then add increasingly heavier layers if you're cold. Add them one at a time so you don't overheat and sweat. Don't forget your hands, feet, and head, where you lose much of your heat." -Naomi Hudetz
“Boil water in a Nalgene and put it into your bag. Do sit-ups before bed in your bag, or add a dog to your bag for warmth.” -Sara “Socks” Kruglinski
Treeline Review writer Amanda Jameson captures in a photo the importance of having a warm sleeping bag when watching sunrise on Mt. Whitney. Photo by Amanda Jameson.
HOW WE TESTED
To narrow down the field of backpacking sleeping bags to just the best, we combed reviews from all over the web, including Outdoor Gear Lab, Switchback Travel, Clever Hiker, Section Hiker, The Wirecutter and Backpacker. To further investigate the bags, we looked at consumer reviews on REI, Backcountry, and manufacturer websites. We also considered our own personal experiences.
From the list of contenders, we narrowed down the list by considering the positives and negatives reviewers found. If a complaint came up frequently, such as the troublesome zipper of the promising-looking but now-unavailable Marmot Phase 20, the bag was knocked out of the running. We also chose to leave out bags that were very new, since we don’t have data on their performance and durability over the long term. We think a sleeping bag is a huge investment to make without years of supporting data. The bags we recommend are proven to last.
The final winners were all bags with overwhelmingly positive user experiences, with almost no complaints. The top award winners, the Feathered Friends Egret and Feathered Friends Swallow were an easy pick — they fit our criteria for warmth, weight and quality with virtually no negatives aside from price.
The other bags that won our recommendations stood out as great options for folks who need something just slightly different in terms of size (MegaLite), price (Magma), and comfort (Montbell), but still met all our primary criteria without significant negatives.
Kate Hoch is a thru-hiker, mountaineer, and huckleberry enthusiast. Photo by Dan Slattery.
AUTHOR’S EXPERTISE & WHY YOU SHOULD TRUST US
By trade, I’m a mechanical engineer designing and building machines to test the reliability and safety of fitness equipment. I’ve put this engineer’s mindset to work when refining my backpacking gear choices over the years, honing in on details, learning about the nuances of material and design choices.
When I’ve been unable to find what I want in gear, I’ve embraced MYOG (Make Your Own Gear), either modifying existing gear to include features I want, or in the case of my current long distance backpack, taking my favorite elements of several different packs, and combining them into my dream pack built from scratch.
When asked about what I’m good at, one of my go-to answers is sleeping. I’m someone who’s always needed a good solid 8+ hour block of sleep to be able to function, so when I started backpacking ~2007, it was imperative that I find a comfortable way to sleep in the backcountry. In my 8,000+ miles of backpacking, including the entire Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Hayduke Trail, and Sierra High Route, and multiple ascents of Cascade Volcanoes including Mt. Hood and Rainier, I’ve had the time and variety of conditions to refine my sleep system to perfection.
I’ve been on the executive board of ALDHA-West (American Long Distance Hiking Association - West) for the past 4 years. As part of our five annual pre-backpacking season educational events (called “Rucks”), I’ve conducted many pack shakedowns and been a panelist on lightweight gear forums. I’ve shared my knowledge and expertise with hundreds of new backpackers. Running these events also keeps me on top of the newest available options for all kinds of backpacking gear.
