Best Sleeping Bags for Camping – 2018

When it comes to the great outdoors, nothing quite compares to camping. Sleeping under the stars and living in nature is a great way to spend your time and reconnect with yourself, your friends and family, and the world as a whole.

One thing about camping, however, is making sure that your sleeping arrangement is both comfortable and warm. Sleeping bags are one of the most important pieces of gear you can have on your trip, so make sure that it’s a good one.

Today I”ll be talking about what to look for in sleeping bags, as well as show you some of the best sleeping bags for camping in general. Be sure to keep all of this in mind when shopping for your next expedition into the wild.

Picture Product Name Editor Rating Price [easyazon_image align=”center” cart=”n” height=”110″ identifier=”B0779BYS3C” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” src=”https://hikingcampingguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/415X1YjuGIL.SL110.jpg” tag=”hikingcampingguide-20″ width=”110″] Quilt 800F DriDown [easyazon_image align=”center” cart=”n” height=”110″ identifier=”B014JQA4YM” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” src=”https://hikingcampingguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/41ceKUz2BVbL.SL110.jpg” tag=”hikingcampingguide-20″ width=”110″] Cosmic Down 20 Degree [easyazon_image align=”center” cart=”n” height=”110″ identifier=”B0744H5QKF” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” src=”https://hikingcampingguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/312BRAVFahUL.SL110.jpg” tag=”hikingcampingguide-20″ width=”41″] TETON Sports TrailHead +20F [easyazon_image align=”center” cart=”n” height=”110″ identifier=”B000F38YI2″ locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” src=”https://hikingcampingguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/41lHZT7RdQL.SL110.jpg” tag=”hikingcampingguide-20″ width=”99″] TETON Sports Queen Size [easyazon_image align=”center” cart=”n” height=”110″ identifier=”B01APQ0LY8″ locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” src=”https://hikingcampingguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/51h0dXYDHtL.SL110.jpg” tag=”hikingcampingguide-20″ width=”110″] Vitals Summit 20°F Down

How to Choose a Sleeping Bag

Temperature Rating

No matter what time of year you go camping, odds are that the nights will get colder than you’re used to, meaning that one of the most important things a bag can do is keep you warm.

To that end, you need to pay attention to the temperature rating of your bag to ensure that it will stay toasty even if the ambient temperature drops.

The best sleeping bags have a rating of around 20-40 degrees, but some will go as low as ten degrees or even less. Depending on the area you’re traveling in, whether or not you’ll have a tent, and the time of year can all determine what rating you should choose.

Shape

​When it comes to keeping you warm, the shape of the sleeping bag can have just as much of an impact as the material. The way most bags work is that the air around your body is heated by your natural body warmth, thus keeping you warm all night long.

The bigger the bag, the more space there is, and the longer it takes to heat. There are four primary types of bags to choose from, each with a specific purpose.

Rectangular: the most common design is rectangular, which means that it has an even shape all throughout. These bags can fit almost any body shape and size.

Mummy: if you want to reduce the amount of air around your body, so you warm up faster, a mummy bag is the way to go. It’s called a mummy bag because of the way it’s shaped, meaning that it conforms to your body more, so there’s less dead air in the bag. The tradeoff, however, is that you are more restricted in how much you can move.

Barrel: these bags (also called semi-rectangular) have a tapered bottom to reduce the amount of air, but are not as restrictive or as form-fitting as a mummy bag. They are something of an in-between design, for those who want quicker warmth but also some room to spread out.

Double wide: if you like to sleep with a partner, then you’ll need a double-wide bag. It is possible to join two single sleeping bags if the zippers are a match and on opposite sides (one’s on the right, the other’s on the left), but a double-wide is made for two people and is much better at holding both of you than just joining two single bags. These bags can also be paired with a mattress or sleeping pad for better comfort.

Insulation

One aspect of warming you is by reducing the amount of air around your body. The other aspect is the type of insulation that’s in the bag itself. There are three primary insulation types, as listed below. The best sleeping bags use synthetic down, however.

Synthetic: if you want something cost-effective, then synthetic down is the way to do. While it’s not as high-performance as feather down, it gets the job done adequately. Unless you want to do some extreme backpacking in a frozen environment, synthetics are mostly fine. Also, they dry out much faster when wet.

Goose-down: if you’re not familiar with feather down, it refers to the layer of feathers on water birds that keep them warm and buoyant. Feather down is rated by how much loft it has (how big it is when not compressed) and how thick it is. For best results, down is unmatched, however, if it gets wet, then you have a big problem.

Water-resistant down: to help combat the issue with most down bags, some companies will treat their down with synthetic treatments to keep the feathers dry, even if they get soaked. Most “synthetic down” is much more expensive than other alternatives, but it has the best of both worlds.

Recommended Best Sleeping Bags

First on our list is the Sierra Designs Backcountry Sleeping Bag. What makes this a great buy is the fact that it has 800 fill DriDown. When it comes to down ratings, the fill count means how lofty the down is when not compressed. Most down is rated for 500-700, with the higher numbers taking up more space.

Thus, an 800 fill down is one of the lightest options out there (since it takes less material to fill the bag) while still maintaining its temperature rating.

​Another great thing about this down is that it is DriDown, which means that it has been treated to stay dry even when wet, so you can still use your bag if it gets soaked.

Other features of this bag include a mummy design, a hideaway hood for better warmth of your head, arm and hand pockets to keep your body swaddled through the night, and a carrying sack that comes with it for your convenience.

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Pros

Lightweight

Durable construction

High-quality insulation

800 Fill DriDown

Mummy style bag

​Hideaway hood included

Insulated arm and hand pockets

Cons

Dry clean only

More expensive than other models

Not ideal for larger campers

Zipper only goes down halfway, which can make getting in and out difficult for some

Our next bag is the Cosmic Down Sleeping Bag by Kelty. This particular model also uses DriDown, meaning that you don’t have to worry about the bag getting wet and ruining your camping experience. The fill rating is not quite as high as the Sierra model, however, so it’s not quite as light. This bag is rated at 550 instead of 800.

​This is another mummy style bag, with a zipper on the side instead of down the middle. The bag also comes with an adjustable hood, a tunnel for the zipper so it doesn’t get stuck, and is rated for three seasons, meaning that it will keep you warm in temperatures as low as twenty degrees Fahrenheit.

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Pros

Durable construction

Mummy style design

DriDown included

550 fill down

Lightweight and water-resistant

Adjustable hood for comfort

Full-length zipper for better venting

Ideal for most weather conditions

Stuff sack included

Cons

Not 100% down filling

Lower fill count means it is not as lofty as other models

In rare cases, the bag only stays warm at 30 degrees or higher

​

Next, we have the Sports TrailHead Sleeping Bag from TETON. This is a fantastic company that makes excellent camping gear, and I have had great experience with its sleeping bags. To that end, I have two TETON bags on the list.

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​The TrailHead is classified as a mummy bag, but I would say that it’s more of a barrel design than a mummy, due to its even tapering at the bottom.

Misnomer aside, this bag is ideal for both backpackers and campers due to its lightweight design and durable construction.

The interior is synthetic, so it won’t work quite as well as down, but regardless this bag is rated at twenty degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

​Other features include an adjustable hood, interior zippers so you can close all the way when inside, a larger foot area so your feet aren’t cramped, and an internal pocket to hold any valuables or other items you need with you.

Pros

Lightweight design

Durable synthetic material

Interior and exterior zippers

Adjustable hood

Enlarged foot area

Barrel design

Rated at 20 degrees and above

Interior pocket included

Stuff sack comes with the bag

Cons

Material is not as effective as feather down

In rare cases, it may only keep you warm at temperatures of 30 degrees and above

Synthetic filling has limited loft, meaning the bag is thinner than most models

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If you want to share your sleeping space with a significant other, then the best way to do that is with a double wide sleeping bag. One of the best double wide bags is the Mammoth Queen Size Bag from TETON.

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What sets this model apart from the rest is not just its size, but that it also has a temperature rating of zero degrees Fahrenheit, meaning that it’s perfect for almost any terrain or environment.

​Other notable features of this bag include synthetic filling, a polyester lining, a stuff sack, and zippers on both sides so each person can get in and out easily and quickly. Overall, this is a great buy for any camping couples out there.

Pros

Durable polyester construction

Relatively lightweight, given the size

Zero degree temperature rating

Synthetic fill material

Zippers on both sides

Stuff sack included

Adjustable hood for both sleepers

Cons

Not as efficient as feather down

Large size can result in more air, meaning it takes longer to heat up

Not very lightweight for backpacking

In rare cases, the bag may only keep you warm at higher tempe ​ ratures (20 degrees and up)

​

Finally, we come to the Outdoor Vitals Summit Sleeping Bag. This is another feather down model, meaning that you will get unmatched warmth and performance, albeit at a higher price tag.

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This mummy style model is rated for 20 degrees and up, making it ideal for campers and backpackers alike. This bag has an 800 fill down rating, making it both high-quality and super lightweight.

​Other features include an adjustable hood, reinforced zippers, and a one-year limited warranty. It also comes with a stuff sack for your convenience.

Pros

Cost-effective (for down)

800 fill down rating

Mummy style design

Durable nylon outer shell

Reinforced zippers

Adjustable hood

Lightweight design

20-degree temperature rating

Ideal for backpacking or camping

Cons

Not fully water-resistant

In rare cases, the bag may only stay warm in temps of 30 degrees and above

Certain parts of the bag (such as the hood) are filled with synthetic, not down

Final Verdict

Overall, when picking out the right bag, I want something that will keep me warm at night and not take up a bunch of space in my backpack. That being said, I would highly recommend either the Sierra or Cosmic bags, because they both come with DriDown, which is the best filler you can buy.

I would prefer the Sierra model, however, because of the higher fill count, but both of them are similarly rated for temp, so it’s just a matter of preference and compression. If you have two campers, however, you can’t beat the TETON Queen Size Bag. When I camp with my wife, that’s what we use.