I hate cold nights. You know, the ones where you toss and turn, unable to rest because no matter how you shift, there’s a cold draft snaking down your back or your toes are numb or your mat isn’t insulating you from the frozen ground beneath your tent. That’s why your chosen backpacking sleeping bags are so vital! Before you head out on your grand adventure, make sure you have the best backpacking sleeping bag to keep you warm.
Quilt vs sleeping bag
There are two main options when you’re looking for backpacking sleeping bags: a mummy bag, which has a hood that draws tight around your face to keep the heat in, and a backpacking quilt, which wraps around your sleeping pad to create insulation and keep the heat in that way.
Sleeping bags
Sleeping bags are best for people who
- Want the feeling of something completely enveloping them
- Prefer the “hooded feeling of a mummy bag
- Don’t have a proper sleeping pad set up for quilts
Quilts
Quilts are best for people who
- Want to cut down on their pack weight
- Hate carrying “wasted” gear (for instance, the compressed part of the sleeping bag)
- Feel claustrophobic in mummy bags
- Toss and turn a lot at night
Down vs synthetic sleeping bag
Down sleeping bags are made from down feathers and are very warm. They’re lightweight and extremely packable. However, they’re typically more expensive than synthetic bags and they don’t do well when they’re wet.
Synthetic bags are cheaper than down, and can still hold heat in when they’re wet. However, they’re usually heavier and don’t pack as tight as the down bags do.
Best backpacking sleeping bags
Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass Mummy Bag
Specs:
- Temperature rating: 15 degrees F
- Tested lower limit: 3 degrees F
- Tested comfort: 15 degrees F
- Weight: 2 lbs 8 oz
- Fill: 650-fill-power down
What I like:
It’s hard to dislike sleeping bags that have proven themselves repeatedly. I carried this sleeping bag from Georgia to Maine, which is no easy trip for a down sleeping bag. It kept me warm when nights were bitterly cold and under 15 degrees F; it stood up to the damp nights; it handled cowboy camping, tents, and shelters. Even at the end of that journey, it’s still the first sleeping bag I grab for cold nights.
If a 15 degree bag isn’t what you’re looking for, they also have a 30 degree bag.
What I don’t like:
For as many nights as I’ve spent in this bag, I still have not been able to unzip it in the morning without it snagging on something.
Where to buy – Women’s
Where to buy – Men’s
Featherstone Outdoor Products Moondance 25 Top Quilt
See my full review of the Featherstone Moondance 25 Top Quilt here.
Specs:
- Temperature rating: 25 degrees F
- Tested lower limit: 26 degrees F
- Tested comfort: 36 degrees F
- Weight: 1lb 7 oz
- Fill: 90/10 850 DownTek PFC-Free Grey Duck Down
What I like:
The first time I took my Moondance on a hike, the temperature dipped colder than we were expecting. Yet I spent the 19 degree night warm and toasty. A great choice for the price- and weight-conscious hiker, the Moondance is one of my go-to recommendations and choices for my own personal trips.
What I don’t like:
There is some baffling around the neck, but I wish it was bigger, as I think that would have prevented some small drafts I find as I shift.
On a cold night, I miss the feeling that the hood of a mummy bag can bring. This is just personal preference and I’ll definitely continue to use my Moondance on colder night but it’s something to consider if you’re making a move from a typical mummy bag to a quilt.
Where to buy
NEMO Disco 30 Endless Promise Down Backpacking Sleeping Bag
Specs:
- Temperature rating: 30 degrees F
- Tested lower limit: 21 degrees F
- Tested comfort: 31 degrees F
- Weight: 2 lbs 4 oz
- Fill: 650-fill-power duck down
What I like:
The specific “spoon” design of this sleeping bag gives you extra room to roll around or sleep on your side if that’s what you prefer. If you feel like the traditional shape of a mummy bag is too restrictive for you, this is an excellent option to combat that. Additionally, the blanket fold baffling traps more heat in, keeping you warm even as you move around. The Endless Promise aspect of the sleeping bag is Nemo’s commitment to recycle and reuse the sleeping bag, and keep it out of landfills and the trash.
What I don’t like:
Because of the extra features of this sleeping bag, it doesn’t necessarily pack as small as other bags. Considering the number of features it has, its weight is reasonable but there are lighter options if that’s your bigger concern.
Where to buy – Women’s
Where to buy – Men’s
The North Face Cat’s Meow 20 Eco Sleeping Bag
Specs:
- Temperature rating: 20 degrees F
- Tested lower limit: 20 degrees F
- Tested comfort: 32 degrees F
- Weight: 2 lbs 11 oz
- Fill: Synthetic
What I like:
The Cat’s Meow has been around for a while and has made a name for itself as an accessible, well-designed synthetic bag. While synthetic bags are not my go-to, they do have their place (such as on trips where you’re expecting to get wet frequently). It’s created with recycled materials, has straps to help hold it in place on your sleeping mat, and the water repellent finish helps shed off any excess water.
What I don’t like:
Though synthetic options have their places, they are heavier and don’t pack as well for backpacking. This sleeping bag does pretty well but is still almost a pound heavier than the other 15-30 degree bags listed here.
Additionally, the comfort rating is higher than the temperature rating on the bag. I would be cautious taking it out in weather that reaches the 20s.
Where to buy
Pack your backpack for sleeping bag
Packing your backpack correctly makes a massive difference when you’re hiking and your sleeping bag is the base of it all! The best way to pack your sleeping bag is to stuff it in the very bottom of your pack. Some backpacks even have a specific sleeping bag compartment.
Packing your bag this way helps create a steady base for your gear and enables you to put the heaviest items directly against your back.
If it’s raining, you’re crossing rivers, or you’re worried about your sleeping bag getting wet, put it in something waterproof before packing it up. When I’m thru hiking, I usually use a contractor bag. However, you can also use a waterproof compression bag to minimize the space your sleeping bag takes up too.
What degree sleeping bag do I need?
Before you pick your sleeping bag, know what temperatures you will most frequently be sleeping in. Do you hike most normally in the summer, with evening temperatures that don’t really get below 50? Or do you hike in spring and fall too when the weather can drop into the 20s or 30s unexpectedly?
Also know what your typical sleeping temperature is. That is, do you normally feel cold at night or do you easily stay warm?
If you get cold easily, pay special attention to the “tested comfort” range of a sleeping bag. This is the temperature that the sleeping bag will keep you feeling warm if you easily get cold.
If you stay warm at night, look at the “tested lower limit” of the sleeping bag. This is usually the temperature you can go down to and still be warm.
Women often feel colder than men. As such, most women’s sleeping bags have extra filling to help you stay warm.
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