Best Sleeping Bags for Camping of 2023
The Top-Rated Sleeping Bags for Camping in the Summer, Winter, and In Between
July 17th, 2023
A huge part of camping is the idea of having a “good night under the stars.” A good 3-season sleeping bag lets you do just that — while staying warm and comfortable through the night. We tested the top-rated camping sleeping bags to find the best sleeping bags for camping for all campers—for those on a budget to the warmest sleeping bags for people who get cold while camping.
One of the most critical pieces of camping gear, a sleeping bag can make or break your trip. To help you find the best camping sleeping bag for you, we review 25 sleeping bags for a range of conditions, seasons, and parts of the country.
I’m a camping guide who runs the Bus for Outdoor Access and Teaching, a camping program that’s been featured in National Geographic. I use a camping sleeping bag months every year as part of my job and even tested these bags with teenagers (who are notoriously hard on gear) to see how each bag holds up.
Note: your sleeping bag will only be as warm as the sleeping pad or mattress that is under your sleeping bag. See our guide to the Best Camping Mattresses to pair your sleeping bag with a quality mattress.
Looking for backpacking sleeping bags? Check out or guide to The Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags
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Camping Sleeping Bags Comparison Table
| CAMPING SLEEPING BAG | TREELINE AWARD | INSULATION | PACKED SIZE (IN) | WEIGHT (LB) | TEMP | STYLE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelty Tuck 20 | Best Overall Camping Sleeping Bag Read why |
Synthetic | 8.7 x 15 | 3.7 | 20°F | Mummy |
| The North Face One Bag | Best Upgrade Camping Sleeping Bag Read why |
Synthetic/ 800-fill down | 8 x 15 (for all layers) | 3.8 | 5°, 20°, 40°F | Mummy |
| Kelty Galactic 30 | Best Down Camping Bag Read why |
550-fill down | 7.5 x 15 | 2.6 | 30°F | Rectangular |
| Nemo Forte 20 (men's) | Best Camping Sleeping Bag for Backpacking (Men's) Read why |
Synthetic | 9 x 11.5 | 3 lbs 7 oz | 22°F (35F also available) | Mummy |
| Nemo Forte 20 (women's) | Best Camping Sleeping Bag for Backpacking (Women's) Read why |
Synthetic | 9 x 11.5 | 3 lbs 15 oz | 22°F (35F also available) | Mummy |
Interested in camping gear? See our Camping section for our most popular stories.
The Best Camping Sleeping Bags
The Best Overall Camping Sleeping Bag:
Kelty Tuck 20 Thermapro
Temperature rating: 20F
Insulation: Synthetic
Packed size: 8.7x 15 inches
Weight: 3 lbs 11 oz
Style: Mummy
Models: Men’s and women’s sleeping bag
What we liked: silky soft, comfort, doesn’t feel cheap, feels like a sheet at home, lots of options for sizing including wide, has features found in more expensive bags, easy to zip-in-zip-out
What we didn’t like: too bulky and heavy to double as a backpacking sleeping bag
Of all the camping sleeping bags we tried, nothing beat the Kelty Tuck 20 for best camping sleeping bag. Kelty advertises their “silky soft” polyester, and it’s true: this was one of the most comfortable bags I slept in while testing. If you’re not used to sleeping bags, consider bed sheets — a higher thread count feels softer on the skin than a cheaper, low thread sheet. This bag mimics that feel, and instead of feeling like you are sleeping on plastic like some camp bags, the Kelty Tuck feels like sleeping on a sheet at home.
The Kelty Tuck is also a steal at $99, which makes it not only our overall winner but our best budget sleeping bag winner as well. In addition, it’s one of the few sleeping bags we considered available in men’s and women’s sleeping bags.
COMPARE PRICES ON THE KELTY TUCK 20 THERMAPRO
The Kelty Tuck, with the unique ankle-level zipper. Warmer sleepers can remove their feet from the bag and vent heat, but still rest it on the comfort softness of the bag.
Rated for 20F, the Kelty Tuck bag is relatively wide for a mummy bag and has standard features — extra “baffles” (wads of extra insulation) covering the zipper to keep warmth in. That feature is usually found in more expensive sleeping bags, like the ones in our Best Backpacking sleeping bags guide. One innovative twist is the zipper runs above the ankles rather than to the bottom of the bag keeping your feet toasty warm and secure.
This zipper designs means that you always have the warmth of a comfortable foot box surrounding your feet. This is a feature our cold sleepers appreciated.
For those who sleep warmer, this design means you can take your feet out and still rest them on the comfort of the bag (but vent the heat). This widens the comfortable temperature range considerably. Finally, I found it much easier to zip in and zip out than traditional bags.
Weighing 3 lbs. 11 oz., it’s heavier than the average mummy sleeping bag and not a great fit for backpacking — but if you don’t mind the weight, it fits in a pack.
The Kelty Tuck is a comfortable bag at a great price — ideal for car camping or situations where space isn’t as limited. See the Nemo Forte, our winner for Best Camping Sleeping Bag for Backpacking (review below) or our dedicated Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags guide for more recommendations.
Best Upgrade Camping Sleeping Bag:
THE North Face One
Temperature rating: 3 layers can work together to range from 5F, 20F, and 40F
Insulation: Synthetic and 800-fill down
Packed size:
8 x 15” stuff sack, but differs depending which layers you bring
Weight: 3 lbs 11 oz
Style: Mummy
What we liked: innovative design icludes three sleeping bags in one, can tailor to your temperature needs
What we didn’t like: zippers can lead to user error, weight
If you are only going to buy one bag and are willing to spend, it’s hard to argue with the The North Face One Bag. Although it’s more expensive than the other bags, it’s also three sleeping bags in one.
The core is a 40F synthetic bag, which can unzip entirely from the bottom and act as a blanket. If that’s not warm enough, you can replace the top with a down bag that is rated to 20F. And to wrap it up, you can combine all three — synthetic exterior, down interior, and base — for a 5F bag. So for the price of one camping sleeping bag, you get essentially five combinations of sleeping bags and blankets.
COMPARE PRICES ON THE NORTH FACE ONE
Another thing we like about this sleeping bag is that it uses high-end insulation in every component. The down blanket uses 700 fill power recycled down for a good warmth to weight ratio similar to what you’d find in a Backpacking Sleeping bag.
The top layer is made of a synthetic insulation that is warm when wet and can also protect the down insulation and other layers from moisture. This is a similar system found in many cold weather sleeping systems. You can read more about Down vs Synthetic insulation here.
Another clever design feature is an anti-compression layer on the bottom that is made of synthetic insulation. Because it stays warm when wet, if your tent leaks or you accidentally set up in a puddle, you’ll still be insulated underneath.
Another nice touch is that the compression sack is made of fleece, so it can double as your camping pillow.
The North Face One’s temperature rating is standardized by independent testing by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 23537 protocol, which improves on the older European Norm (EN) 13537 standard you may see listed on some bags. It assumes that you’ll be sleeping on a camping mattress or sleeping pad with a minimum R-value of 5.38 (you can learn more about what R-value means here).
The North Face One Bag has some sustainability features we like, such as recycled down insulation, recycled nylon taffeta shell, and non-PFC durable water repellent (DWR) finish.
More zippers do mean more weight. At 3 lbs. 12 oz. all together, it is a heavier bag (though not unreasonable for 5℉). Some reviewers also flagged that multiple zippers led to more user error, though they are helpfully color-coded. Those might be tradeoffs for a performance backpacking bag, but this is an excellent option for a multi-use camping bag.
Interested in camping gear? See our Camping section for our most popular stories.
Best Down Camping Sleeping Bag:
Kelty Galactic
Temperature rating: 30F
Insulation: Down
Packed size: 87.5x 15 inches
Weight: 2 lbs 10 oz
Style: Rectangular
What we liked: reasonable price for a down bag,
What we didn’t like:
While down isn’t for every camper, we think if you’re opting for a down bag, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better option for the price than the Kelty Galactic. The most significant advantage of down is its ability to better insulate at a lighter weight than synthetic. That’s one reason nearly every sleeping bag in our Best Backpacking Sleeping bags guide is made of down.
For camping sleeping bags, there are several reasons why you may choose down over synthetic. Many people find down more comfortable, as you have a more delicate, “floatier” feeling in a down bag relative to synthetic insulation. A main advantage of down is that it can be longer-lasting than synthetic bags—in some cases, lasting decades.
Kelty has a knack for reinventing classic designs with modern technology. The Kelty Galactic is rated at 30℉ and costs only $50 more than our overall winner, the Kelty Tuck—but is made of down instead of synthetic insulation. It features a spacious rectangular design. It was my favorite bag for comfort during testing, largely due to the silky feel of the fabric. Even better, it is a worthy low-cost buy at $170.00. Best yet, it’s 2 lb, 10 oz, making it one of the lightest camping sleeping bags we considered. While it isn’t as light as a backpacking sleeping bag, it can certainly be a decent option to bring on the occasional backpacking trip.
COMPARE PRICES ON THE KELTY GALACTIC
The Kelty Galactic is a rectangular sleeping bag with soft and silky feeling fabric and cushy down.
The down on the Galactic uses 550 fill down. Fill power is a standard metric for down. It measures “fluffiness,” or how much volume a specific weight of down fills (typically cubic inches per ounce). So 550 fill means that an ounce of down could fill 550 cubic inches. More space means more air trapped, which means more insulating power. Higher fill (800 is typical high-end down) is warmer per ounce, but a lot of 550 fill is warmer than only some 800 fill. You can read more about what down fill weight means here.
550 fill is on the lower end for down fill. As a light bag, there isn’t much down in the Kelty Galactic. That results in a 30℉ rating, which is respectable for most summer camping purposes. The lack of a hood and baffles around the shoulders means this bag shouldn’t be used in extreme conditions — buy a specialized down backpacking bag for those uses.
Still, if you want a comfortable, soft, and silky feeling sleeping bag, the Kelty Galactic is an excellent choice.
Best Camping Sleeping Bag for Backpacking:
Nemo Forte
Temperature rating: 20F, 35F version also available
Insulation: Synthetic
Packed size: 9 x 11 inches
Weight: 2 lbs 14 oz
Style: Mummy
What we liked: made of synthetic insulation, good price for a backpacking sleeping bag, lightweight enough to take backpacking
What we didn’t like: expensive for a camping sleeping bag (but a good deal for a backpacking sleeping bag)
We designed this review with an eye towards camping, but if you are looking for a bag that can flex into short backpacking trips while keeping the perks of a casual bag (larger, heavier, more comfortable), consider the Nemo Forte. It’s the winner of Best Synthetic Sleeping Bag in our Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags and is offers great value for a backpacking sleeping bag.
At 2 lbs. 14 oz. you could find lighter bags for backpacking. However, remember that weight and insulating ability are correlated — at 20F, the Nemo Forte can handle most temperatures you should consider going out in as a beginner. It’s one of the most popular sleeping bags at REI and is made of 80% recycled PrimaLoft RISE synthetic fill with a unique shape that is roomy and comfortable for side-sleeping.
COMPARE PRICES ON THE NEMO FORTE
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
It can be surprisingly difficult to keep a sleeping bag dry (especially in wet climates), so it’s often best to start with a synthetic bag that can handle some moisture. We like that the Nemo Forte is a lightweight and compact synthetic bag that ticks off all the boxes we want for a camping sleeping bag and a backpacking sleeping bag.
The Nemo Forte is also roomy; extra width around the knees may be easier to adjust to. The Spoon™ shape of this mummy bag adds extra room at the elbows and knees to allow for more comfortable side-sleeping. This is a comfortable sleeping bag for side sleepers with extra room.
Only available at their website, the newest version (men’s and women’s) debuts the Nemo Forte as the first sleeping bag in Nemo’s new Endless Promise program. The new Forte 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.
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 new 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.
We’re not alone in this recommendation. SwitchBack Travel also considered this their best cross-over bag.
The Forte is on the higher-end of prices for camping bags, but on the lower-end for backpacking sleeping bags. If you need a more affordable alternative, the Nemo Forte is also available in 35F version (men’s and women’s), which is $30 less.
The Nemo Forte is available as a men’s sleeping bag (which some retailers call unisex) and a women’s version.
Honorable Mentions
The world of sleeping bags is a big one! Some were pricier and more technical than needed for an introductory 3-season bag, and others may have been missing key advantages of the bags we chose but are still worth considering. Some of these bags follow.
REI Co-Op Siesta Hooded 25
Temperature rating: 25F
Insulation: Synthetic
Packed size: 11 x 17 in.
Weight: 4 lbs. 6 oz.
Style: Rectangular
Women's bag/men's sleeping bag: Unisex
The REI Co-Op Siesta Hooded 25 is a large and comfortable rectangular sleeping bag. Rare among double bags, this sleeping bag is rectangular and hooded. But in our tests, it was not as comfortable to the degree of our overall winner, the Kelty Galactic, which it matched in size (see review above). Like the Galactic, the Siesta Hooded also has a 2-way main zipper that allows the bag to be used fully open as a quilt. Like the Kelty Zip, it can also unzip just the foot box for extra ventilation.
If a hood is a deal-breaker for you, the Siesta Hooded is a good choice that allows you to have a rectangular bag. It’s also available as a double bag, where both campers can still keep their own hood to keep the head warm.
COMPARE PRICES ON THE REI SIESTA HOODED 25
Kelty Cosmic Down
Temperature rating: 21°F
Insulation: 550 fill down
Packed size: 8 x 13 in.
Weight: 2 lbs. 10 oz
Style: Semi Rectangle
Women's bag/men's sleeping bag: Both
The men’s and women’s Kelty Cosmic Down is very similar to our overall winner, the Kelty Tuck (see review above). Like the Tuck, it has also won awards. But ultimately, when choosing between the two bags, we found the Cosmic still be a good choice, if more expensive. The Cosmic is made of down insulation, which tends to be more costly than the synthetic insulation found in the Tuck.
We also liked that the Tuck has a unique ankle-level zipper, which the Cosmic lacks.
While both bags are great, because a synthetic sleeping bag tends to be better for beginners, we think the Tuck is a better option. The Cosmic down bag can be a good alternative to the Tuck if you live and camp in a consistently dry climate.
Lastly, for reasons we can’t figure out, the women’s version of the Kelty Cosmic Down costs near $60 more than the men’s version. We understand that the women’s version has nearly 10 oz more of down insulation, which is an expensive material. Still, we’ve rarely seen such a disparity in pricing between men’s and women’s prices in any gear item.
COMPARE PRICES ON THE KELTY COSMIC
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Nemo Jazz
Temperature rating: 20°F
Insulation: Synthetic
Packed size: 13 x 29 in.
Weight: 5 lbs. 3 oz
Style: Rectangle (semi-tapered)
The Nemo Jazz is one of the most interesting camping sleeping bags we’ve seen. It was out of stock for several seasons, but was the overall winner of Evo’s Best Sleeping Bags for Camping. It’s designed to brign the comfort of your bed to a camping trip and includes a bedsheet, draft collar, and extra insulation. It also had an integrated pad sleeve so there’s no slipping and sliding around on your camping mattress (you can even roll them up together when you put iut away). Lastly, it has a pillow pocket so your pillow always stays in place.
It has other unique features, including zippers on both sides, a removable interior sheet, a built-in pillow, and a sleeping pad sleeve. With that said, most of those features are easily solved by more custom affordable options (like an independent sleeping bag liner), and at $300, the price was high.
COMPARE PRICES ON THE NEMO JAZZ
Teton Sports Polara 3-in-1
Temperature rating: 30°F
Insulation: Synthetic
Weight: 2 lbs 14 oz (regular)
Style: Rectangle
The Teton Sports Polara 3-in-1 is an alternative to the North Face "One Bag," as is the Coleman All-Weather Multi-Layer. Unfortunately, both simply lack the quality of the North Face equivalent, weighing more for less insulating power even though they are cheaper.
COMPARE PRICES ON THE TETON SPORTS POLARA
What’s the best budget sleeping bag?
Many other review sites recommend the Coleman Green Valley (rated 30℉ to 50℉) as a budget bag. I want to acknowledge it because it can work if you need a cheap bag for sleepovers or the backyard. But the Green Valley loses versatility quickly.
Sure, as Switchback put it, “it’s 50 bucks and gets the job done for car camping, sleeping on a bunk in an Airstream, accommodating a buddy on the couch, or keeping dog hair off the backseats.” That may be true — but why not just buy a blanket? Same service, a fraction of the price.
Consider instead the Kelty Tuck (also our overall winner). It’s affordable, made of quality materials, has longevity, and can work camping, in backyards, or even backpacking. Moreover, as mentioned above, it’s wildly comfortable. The design allows it to operate effectively in a range of conditions, and it is rated down to 20℉. Not bad for under $100!
Want something roomier? Consider our winner for Best Down Camping Sleeping Bag, the Kelty Galactic (review above). It’s rectangular and rated at 30℉.
Similarly, the Kelty Mistral is the same price as the Coleman Green Valley. They both share a 20℉ rating. While it can be tricky to find — it’s been in demand and out of stock for months — reviews and design suggest it’s a superior bag.
What kind of sleeping bag will you need for hiking and camping?
Sleeping bags are arguably the most critical part of your “shelter kit” while camping. They make the difference between a good night’s sleep and a bad one. While you can camp without a tent, you almost always need a sleeping bag to get through the night. The concept is pretty simple: once you’re inside the bag, the air held still by insulation catches and retains body heat to keep you warm.
A huge range of bag shapes, fabrics, insulation materials, and sizes are used to achieve this simple feat, which is where picking the right bag for you can get tricky. We’re here to make that choice easy for you. The first step to choosing your ideal bag is figuring out just how you need to use it.
What kind of sleeping bag do I need for camping?
Outdoor equipment is technology; like any other technology, it is designed to meet different needs. In this article, we will focus on casual outdoor camping sleeping bags. These are great for car camping (or with rafts and boats) when weight and size are less important than warmth and comfort.
However, the bags we include still cover many different uses. For example, there are 3-season bags you might use for “casual” camping — for warm summer nights, inside a rustic heated cabin, on a kids sleepover, or for a guest staying over.
What type of sleeping bag do I need for winter camping?
Although this guide primarily focuses on 3-season sleeping bags for summer camping, it's worth noting if you're winter camping, you'll want a dedicated winter sleeping bag. These are designed for extreme cold, but you won't need that much additional warmth on a warm night. The sleeping bag insulation that is crucial when temperatures dip below freezing can be uncomfortable during summer camping. The sleeping bag temperature rating is the best indicator of whether your sleeping bag is 3-season or a cold-weather sleeping bag.
What type of sleeping bag do I need for backpacking?
A backpacking sleeping bag, by contrast, is lighter and may require you to sacrifice some comfort for something that packs down smaller, is easier to carry, or can handle more moisture. See our Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags guide for an article dedicated to lightweight packable bags.
A backpacking quilt, such as those made by higher-end brands like Katabatic Gear, Enlightened Equipment, Feathered Friends, and Western Mountaineering, is designed to be even lighter.
But despite having fewer materials, an ultralight sleeping bag or backcountry quilt comes at a price premium. Depending on how you're camping, a backpacking sleeping bag or backpacking quilt may be more expensive than what you will need to stay comfortable and happy on your trips.
Testing camping sleeping bags side-by-side for this guide.
How we Researched & Tested
Sleeping bags can lose their ability to insulate over time. In addition, both design and materials also evolve as technology improves. Because of that, we focused on newer models. At the same time, you can only get so creative with sleeping bag design. You will see most of our contenders came from trusted companies that have made good bags for years. Our recommendations come from our own experience with the brands and online reviews, including those from REI.
We also did our own testing — both in damp, spring Wisconsin weather and (when we needed to get below ~50 degrees) inside a large freezer to test sub-32 degree weather. We focused on 3-season bags, waiting for the winter to test models that can get you through a winter night.
We tested with a few different people, including both self-identified “warm sleepers” and “cold sleepers.”
Our key criteria were (1) materials and (2) comfort, as well as (3) insulating ability. If a bag can’t keep you warm and comfortable all night long, it’s simply not doing the job.
Our secondary criteria focused on ease-of-use. We looked at things like (4) ease of entry and exit, (5) shape, (6) adjustability, and (7) price. The best bag is one you feel good in not just when you are awake but also when you’re sleeping — even if you roll, move, or have to get out to use the bathroom. Finally, we considered (8) packed size and weight. While you may not be carrying it for miles, you want to be able to get it wherever you are going!
For more recommendations on How to Choose, see below and this article from REI.
Left shows the Kelty Galactic, a rectangular bag - typically bigger, with more space, but fewer insulating features.
Right shows the Kelty Tuck, a traditional mummy bag with a hood, but more constricting and tighter to the body.
buying advice
If you decide to look into other bags than the ones we recommend, it may be helpful to keep these tips in mind when researching:
MATERIALS
INSULATING ABILITY
Sleeping bags exist primarily to insulate you and keep in the warmth, so you want to know if it will work. Most bags have a “comfort rating” (how cold it can get outside while you still stay warm) and a “survival rating” (how cold it can get outside before you are in danger). This is the single most important thing to know about your bag!
SYNTHETIC INSULATION? DOWN INSULATION? FLANNEL OR COTTON INSULATION?
While the amount of insulation influences how much it can keep you warm, the type of insulation influences how a bag keeps you warm. Flannel is warm but heavy, hard to pack, and holds water like a sponge. Synthetic and down are light enough for backpacking but vary in their ability to insulate. While down tends to be better, it’s useless once a “strand” of down gets wet.
Even a damp down bag is noticeably less warm — a drenched one is ineffective. New technologies, like “dridown,” coat the strands of down in a waterproof chemical — those have more resistance, though they should still stay dry. When I say “strands,” imagine a thin feather (down is technically a unique type of feather closer to the bird's skin, under the layer of features you typically see).
RIGHT FOR THE JOB?
There are very few “bad” materials, but sometimes materials are not the best for the job at hand — we’ll explain what each bag is (and isn’t) good at.
IS IT SUSTAINABLE?
Good materials should be durable enough to last and, ideally, to be recycled or responsibly disposed of.
COMFORT & EFFECTIVENESS
SHAPE
Rectangular, semi-rectangular, or the “mummy” bag shapes vary, but the biggest differences are how tight the bag is around the feet and head. This impacts comfort by reducing dead air space — such as in a mummy bag that runs closer to the body. It can also shape the insulating effectiveness. Mummy bags tend to be better at insulating because they generally have fewer draft spots. Many people find that a rectangular sleeping bag shape mimics the comfort of blankets on a bed at home.
ZIPPER ADJUSTABILITY
To assess adjustability, we asked questions like: can it zip from both sides, letting you cool your feet during the night? Can you tighten the hood around your face to lose less heat? Can you add or take away layers or zip it to another bag to create a double bag?
DESIGN
We asked questions like: does it have a “baffle” — a pocket of extra insulation designed to lay over zippers, shoulders, or other places where heat tends to leak? Are the seams sewn with insulation in them to stop heat from escaping? Design features like this make a big difference in warmth on cold nights.
GETTING IN AND OUT
Trust us — there is nothing worse than being groggy and realizing you can’t find the zipper and get out of your bag. Whether you need to pee or just want to see the stars, the ability to get in and out makes a big difference in how enjoyable your bag is.
SIZE AND WEIGHT
SIZE
Size is important both for comfort and effectiveness. A bag that is too big won’t “heat up” as your body releases heat, and therefore can’t keep you as warm. Too small, and you compress the insulated air that keeps you warm- and you’ll cool down. Plus, you want room to maneuver (especially if, like me, you roll in your sleep).
You also always want to store your bag “fully lofted” (i.e., not stuffed in its stuff sack), so size matters when you think about where you’ll keep it when you aren’t camping.
PACKED SIZE
Packed size matters when you either have a lot of camping gear competing (like on a family car trip) or limited space (backpacking). In some cases, packed size is a deal breaker, though for others it may not matter as much.
WEIGHT
Weight only matters if you plan to carry your bag a lot — but if you want to get into backpacking, a light bag makes a world of difference.
OTHER FEATURES
While not universally important, you may want to consider whether a bag has pockets, how noisy it is when you move, or other unique features about each bag.
PRICE
You can find bags across many price points — from $40 to $50 (or even lower) for a bag that is basically a blanket with a zipper to $2,000 for what is a cold-weather shelter. We tried to find you the best bang for your buck (while steering away from the most expensive performance bags). As a result, most of the bags we looked are under $300.
Camping sleeping bags should have enough width to get into easily and not feel too cramped inside.
How to Choose a Sleeping Bag for Camping
As mentioned above, there’s really no “right” sleeping bag — there’s just the right one for the job. Our criteria above give you a good sense of what to look for, but here are a few guidelines:
CLIMATE WHERE YOU CAMP
If you primarily camp in dry climates, go with down. If you usually camp in wet climates or are a beginner, go with synthetic insulation. This is because down, once wet, isn’t usable (see our “materials” section above for more on that). If you primarily camp inside (in cabins, sleepovers, etc.) then consider flannel or cotton bags.
TEMPERATURE WHERE YOU ARE CAMPING
Most bags share their survival rating, which is how low the temperature can go while keeping you safe. That’s very different from a comfort rating, which is how low the temperature can go while keeping you (you guessed it) comfortable. I’d aim for a bag rated 10 degrees warmer than the average temperature where you camp.
PACKED SIZE OF YOUR BAG
Get a size that leaves you some room to wiggle but is still close to your body. The more empty space in your bag, the longer it takes for your body to heat the air and trap warmth inside. Bigger bags can actually make you colder because of this quirk of insulation. Beyond that, it’s ultimately a matter of comfort.
SLEEPING BAG SHAPE
Mummy bags tend to be lighter for the same amount of material, making them a better option for backpacking. In addition, because they run closer to the body, they do a better job of trapping warmth. A mummy sleeping bag is a good choice for cold sleepers, particularly with cold feet. A rectangular sleeping bag will allow for more room to maneuver, and some find them more comfortable or easier to move around in. While some couples opt for a double sleeping bag, in our experience, it is easy for drafts to form. As a result, a double sleeping bag doesn't often keep both campers warm, so we didn't include one in this guide.
An example of an uncompressed bag for storage - still consolidated, but with enough breathing room to maintain “loft”.
An example of an uncompressed bag for storage - still consolidated, but with enough breathing room to maintain “loft.”
How to Care for a Camping Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bags are pretty easy to maintain if you follow a few key steps:
Storage
Always store it uncompressed, not in its stuff sack. This helps lengthen its life significantly, and it will “loft up” more quickly to full size (and thus full warmth) on your trips.
Washing it carefully
Avoid washing the bag. Washing can compress the insulation and reduce its life. Keep the exterior clean by keeping it away from dirt — in a tent, on a tarp, in a bag, or on a pad.
If you do need to wash your bag, make sure you check the manufacturer’s instructions for guidance. Down bags, for example, should be washed very differently than bags with synthetic insulation.
Some bags are easier to care for than others. You can ruin a bag by washing it the wrong way, and it may be a good idea to use a larger industrial machine from a laundromat without a column in the middle (i.e., just a big round metal cage) instead of a home washer to work best. Always use the correct product wash explicitly designed for outdoor gear. The cleaning products are sold as either Down Wash or Synthetic Tech Wash.
See our guide on How to Wash a Down Sleeping Bag for step by step instructions on how to wash a bag in a washing machine or by hand.
Similarly, if your zipper is stuck or broken, see our guide on How to Clean and Repair Down Jackets and Outdoor Gear. The process is surprisingly fast and inexpensive to do yourself at home.
Keep it clean
Most of the real mess and smell comes from you! One solution could be to use a sleeping bag liner, which is a thin sheet-like sleeping bag that fits inside your sleeping bag. It absorbs moisture, sweat, and odors and can be easily washed over and over.
Zipper Care
Use zippers gently — using two hands decreases the likelihood of a stuck zipper. The zipper is the most likely part of the bag to break (and the hardest to repair).
Some bags, especially higher-end bags like those by Nemo, may use an anti-snag zipper.
See our guide on How to Repair a Zipper on Outdoor Gear
Avoid damage inside your bag
Most of the damage to the interior of your bag comes from the sweat and other material that comes off your body! So...
Try to wear your base Layers while you sleep, covering more skin while sleeping in your bag. Many people will sleep in a clean base layer and then wear it the next day in camp. They work like pajamas, protecting your bag from dirt and body oil.
Use a sleeping bag liner that goes inside your bag to protect the material inside — wash the liner and protect the bag.
During the day and after your camping trip, air it out unzipped after use to cut down on moisture inside and outside of the bag.
Avoid damage outside your sleeping bag
Most of the damage to the outside of the bag comes from the ground, or by snagging limbs — try to avoid putting your bag directly on the ground by keeping it in a tent or on a pad.
Rips and tears tend to be easy to repair if you know how to patch and sew. I recommend Annie Getchell’s “Essential Outdoor Gear Manual” if you want to get into repairing equipment.
The author using sleeping bags in a quinzhee, a type of snow shelter, to get through -50 degree nights
How to Sleep Outside Comfortably
One thing I wish I’d learned sooner is that sleeping is a skill. Because we all do it so often, it can be easy to think of it as something that just happens. But when I started camping and guiding professionally, I quickly learned that you can get better at it over time. Practice helps, as does experimentation.
It helps to start slow. Especially when you are a first-time camper, a sleeping bag can feel tight and restrictive relative to blankets. Consider using it first on your mattress at home, so your body gets used to it.
how to stay warm while camping
The biggest thing to remember is that sleeping bags don’t create their own heat — it all has to come from you. If you go into a bag already cold, you can expect to stay cold all night. If you go in already warm, on the other hand, you are more likely to stay warm. A few laps around the tent (or other exercise) can help heat your body, and therefore, the bag, before bed.
Fully lofted bags keep you considerably warmer, but it takes time to get there — make sure you unpack your bag a few hours before use if you can!
There are literally hundreds of tips for staying warm in a bag, but here are those I’ve found I’ve relied on most when helping my students:
Eat food! Your body needs to metabolize to keep kicking off heat. Fat is best for long cold nights. Keep snacks in your bag (unless you are in bear country) to “refuel” during the night.
Fill dead space! Your body heats air to stay warm, but air only stays warm if it is still. Insulation traps air to keep it from moving. So any big open spaces around your body allow for airflow. Put some clothes there to trap more warm air (but not too tight — compressed insulation doesn’t help!).
Get cold during the night? Do sit-ups in your bag. Or try to swap your socks from one foot to the other — the movement required almost always heats you up. Just try to avoid rolling over and compressing the insulation flat — you’ll lose all the heat you already stored. Once your bag is puffy, keep it that way all night!
Still cold? A hot water bottle between your legs will heat your blood, and your blood flow heats your body. If it’s too hot to touch, put your sock around it so you can (only use Nalgenes or metal that won’t bend from the heat).
how to not overheat while camping
Bags are designed to trap warmth — so the best way to stay cool is just to use less of your sleeping bag.
Sorta warm? Unzip the bag around your feet to get more airflow.
Pretty warm? Unzip the bag, and use it as a blanket above you, not below you
Totally warm? Unzip the bag, and leave it open to your side — this lets a lot of air out
Figure out what zipper length works for you, especially once you add a sleeping pad into the mix — and remember that it will also change based on conditions. I use an unzipped zero-degree bag well into early summer. All winter I zip it up, and on the warmest days of summer, I just change to a lighter bag.
Even on dry sunny days it is best to keep sleeping bags on a pad and off the ground.
What equipment do I need to go camping?
When we teach people to camp at BOAT, we talk about how you go out with needs (like sleeping, or staying out of the elements) and systems to meet those needs. Sleeping bags are part of your “sleep system” (which gets you through the night) as well as your “shelter system” (which keeps you warm and dry). Your sleeping bag is rarely complete without a camping mattress or a camping tent.
Pay extra attention to your sleeping pad. Whenever you sleep on a sleeping bag, you compress the insulation. Compressed insulation cannot hold heat and won’t keep you warm — so a pad underneath you is a critical part of most sleep systems. See our Best Camping Mattresses guide for our recommendations or if you want something lightweight, check out our Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads guide.
Some people like other accessories to complete their sleep and shelter systems — inflatable pillows, solar lanterns for the tent, or (my favorite) — a pair of “sleep socks.” These are warm, comfortable, cozy socks that never leave my sleeping bag, guaranteeing I always have a dry pair overnight. Then, of course, I change out of my “sleep socks” into “hiking” socks in the morning.
Happy trails and sweet dreams!
FAQ
What is a good temperature rating for a camping sleeping bag?
The temperature rating for your sleeping bag should be based on the conditions you usually camp in, since bags come in a wide variety of temperature ratings from sub-freezing to 40 degrees or more. A good range for most car camping is somewhere between 20 and 40 degrees. If you are winter camping or in cold temperatures often, look for a bag with a lower temperature rating, and if you’re usually camping in hot climates opt for something closer to 40 degrees or so.
What is the difference between down and synthetic insulation?
Down insulated sleeping bags are made with duck or goose down feathers while synthetic bags are filled with polyester and other synthetic materials for insulation. The advantages to down are that it’s lighter, loftier, and more packable than synthetic options, but unless it’s treated with a hydrophobic coating, down does not perform as well in wet climates. Down is also almost always more expensive than synthetic insulation. Synthetic insulation is easier to care for, less expensive, and often performs better in wet conditions than down, though it’s heavier and tends not to pack quite as small. Synthetic bags are often a good choice for car camping because weight and packability aren’t as much of a priority as they are with backpacking, and because synthetic bags are more affordable and easier to care for.
What size sleeping bag should I get?
You’ll want to consider both length and width when choosing a sleeping bag. Compare the measurements of the bag to your body. You want to fit into the bag comfortably with it covering up to your shoulders and the hood (if there is one) reaching the top of your head without being too snug. A little extra space can make the bag more comfortable, but a bag that is way too large often won’t do as good of a job insulating you as one that’s sized properly.
Are mummy-shaped sleeping bags better?
Mummy shaped sleeping bags are a common choice for campers and backpackers because of their warmth and their packable nature. They are a better choice when space and weight is a concern, but for car camping they’re not always necessary. If you enjoy feeling swaddled in your bag, a mummy bag may be the most comfortable. But if you prefer to stretch out, a different style of bag may be better for you.
Can children use adult sleeping bags?
Children can slip into an adult sleeping bag, but it’s not ideal and not likely to keep them very warm. If you want your kid to have a good time camping and get good sleep in the tent, you’ll be better off with a bag that fits them properly and keeps them toasty.
Do I need a sleeping bag liner?
Sleeping bag liners are not necessary, but they can help you have a more comfortable night of sleep. Some advantages to sleeping bag liners is that they add warmth, so if you sleep cold it might be a good option. They’re also typically easier to clean than the sleeping bag itself, so you can treat it almost like a sheet and wash it after your trip if that’s something that is important to you.
Can two sleeping bags be zipped together?
Some sleeping bags can be zipped together, but this is not the case for all bags. It’s best to check the details and instructions before doing this to avoid any unfortunate zipper issues.
What is the best degree sleeping bag for summer camping?
Most summer camping sleeping bags fall somewhere in the range of 20 to 40 degrees fahrenheit. Think about the nighttime lows where you camp most often and base your decision on that. It’s best to err on the side of a warmer bag (unless you’re a particularly hot sleeper) because it’s easier to vent your bag than it is to get extra warmth when it gets chilly.
What degree sleeping bag for winter camping?
Winter camping sleeping bags should have a temperature rating well below freezing, and a 20 degree bag is often the upper limit of what is possibly warm enough. For most winter camping, opt for a bag with a rating around 0 or 10 degrees, but if you are sleeping in extreme winter environments, a warmer bag that has a temperature rating below 0 may be necessary.
Should I get a 3 or 4 season sleeping bag?
If you camp primarily in the summer, then a 3-season bag is probably sufficient. But if you like to sleep outside no matter the time of year, you may want to consider a 4-season bag. However, bags that work well in summer are often not warm enough for winter conditions, and winter bags often turn into saunas in the summertime. If you camp in all four seasons often, having separate bags for cold weather and warm weather might be the best option.
The author is the director of BOAT, an outdoor education program dedicated to making access to outdoor teaching easier.
About the Author/Why you can trust us
I run BOAT (the Bus for Outdoor Access & Teaching), a non-profit focused on helping people get out more on camping trips. As a guide and program administrator for the last decade, my teams and I have set up, slept in, torn, fixed, stuffed, and unstuffed hundreds of sleeping bags and helped many outdoor first-timers do the same.
Sleeping bags have kept me warm and comfortable from Michigan’s summer thunderstorms down to -55 degree blizzards in Wyoming. I’ve used sleeping bags car camping, tent camping, in hammocks, and with and without sleeping pads (and I highly recommend with a pad!).
I’m not sponsored by any of the companies mentioned on this list, nor am I an ambassador to any of these brands.
I’ve purchased dozens of bags for different ages, groups, areas, and types of activities, and I’m happy to share what I have found!
This review is unbiased, and we do this to help you find the best product for the price. Treeline Review doesn’t accept sponsored content, native advertising, or paid reviews.
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