A hastily purchased sleeping bag is a dicey gamble. One bad roll can leave you with sleepless regret during the long, cold night. I learned this lesson on my honeymoon in Colorado, when the Aspens were golden and the days were deceptively warm. That crisp fall night my husband and I huddled inside our cheap Walmart sleeping bags … with our coats on. We woke to a thick layer of powdery snow in the ground in the foreground of Ouray’s jagged mountains. The image was stunning, but no amount of coffee could make up for our long, cold, sleepless lesson in buying cold-weather sleeping bags. Here you can learn from our mistakes as we share 5 of our favorite cold weather sleeping bags.
Things to Look for When Shopping for a Sleeping Bag
Before you run to Walmart on the morning of your long awaited camping trip, let’s dig a little deeper into the rabbit hole of sleeping bag purchases. There are some key factors that you should always take into consideration. Here they are.
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Temperature Ratings
Before my lesson in long, cold nights, I purchased a sleeping bag rated for 30 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. I did what I believe most people would do: I bought a sleeping bag with the temperature range that fell within the degrees I would be sleeping in.Huge mistake.
While that may seem like the logical approach, it is actually not the correct approach to sleeping bag temperature ratings. You need to choose the bag with a lower temperature rating than the lowest nighttime temperature you expect to be camping in. So, if you are camping in 30 to 50 degree weather, pick a sleeping bag with a 15 to 30 degree rating. (For the record, I’m going to throw my two cents in here and say that any confusion here is due to a faulty rating system, not consumer oblivion.)
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Shape/Size
Sleeping bags come in a variety of shapes. Some are mummy shape. Then there’s rectangular. And semi-rectangular. And double bags and kids-sized sleeping bags. For one adult, a rectangular shape is going to offer the most room. (And if you are a sweaty sleeper, it’s worth considering this simply for more ventilation and aeration.) A mummy shape will add a boost to your body warmth, while cutting down on its weight and size for great portability. (If your claustrophobic, I might forego this shape.) The semi-rectangular shape is a cross between the mummy shape and the rectangular shape. Double bags are made for two, and kids bags are junior sized.
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Insulation
There are two types of insulation available in a sleeping bag construct:
Synthetic: Synthetic insulation continues to insulate when damp, dries fast, and is non allergenic. A disadvantage to this option is that it is heavier.
Down: Down insulation is lightweight, packs small, and performs well in cold (dry) weather. It is also durable and retains its shape and warmth over the years. While some down insulation has water resistant treatment, it is not a fast drying material, nor does it continue to insulate when wet. The fill number will also be a determining factor. Generally, between 600-700 fill power is considered good quality. If you are concerned with ethics and sustainability here, look for RDS on the label of your down sleeping bag. It stands for Responsible Down Standard.
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Portability
Depending on the style of your camping, portability might be an important factor in your choice of sleeping bag. If you are flying with just a carry-on for a quick vacation out West, a tight packing down sleeping bag might be perfect for what you need in a climate that will likely be dry.
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Outer Shell
The outer shell will especially be important in below-zero, cold-weather sleeping bags. It needs to be both durable and lightweight, making nylon the most popular choice. And even better than nylon, is Ripstop nylon, designed to prevent small tears from getting larger.
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Price
Light, high fill down cold-weather sleeping bags will be more expensive, with a moderate temperature rated synthetic sleeping bag being on the cheaper end. Remember, you’re paying for durability (think zippers and fabric and filling), versatility, and comfort. You can’t really put a price on a good night’s sleep, but we will try.
Our Top 5 Sleeping Bag Picks
Best Sleeping Bag for Backpackers
The Western Mountaineering Kodak MF sleeping bag stands out with a combination of warmth, light weight, and portability. It is a zero-degree mummy bag with a roomy interior, and 30 oz of down fill (850 Fill Power) and 7 inches of loft. The water resistant outer shell is both durable and lightweight. This sleeping bag is portable with an ultralight stuff sack, weighing 2 pounds 12 ounces. The price is high, but the comfort, durability, and portability are all exceptional in this product.
Best Sleeping Bag for RVers
RVers will generally be prioritizing comfort over weight and portability. The REI Co-op Trailbreak 20 is a semi-rectangular shaped sleeping bag with a 20-degree rating. The milder temperature rating is appropriate for RVers who won’t be as exposed to the elements. The semi-rectangular shape offers a roomy interior, and the synthetic insulation ensures durability. The affordability of the REI Co-op Trailbreak 20 is another very attractive feature of this product.
Best Sleeping Bag for Kids
If you are camping in cold weather with your kids, you will definitely not want to skimp on quality. The Teton Celsius Junior 20 degrees F is made with the same high quality standards as Teton’s adult sleeping bags. Ideal for car camping, RVing, and cabin camping, this bag offers more insulation than competitors, and features draft tubes to keep warm air in. The semi-rectangular shape is designed with more interior space than the mummy design, especially around the shoulders and feet. It also includes a hood for added warmth and coziness. The weight and portability are also manageable if packing for air travel, at less than 3 lbs with a handy drawstring carrying bag.
Best Sleeping Bag for Car Camping
Our pick for best overall car camping sleeping bag is the Nemo Forte 20 Sleeping Bag. I was so excited to see that this comes in both a men’s and a women’s option. The woman’s option featured here is a unique spoon shape mummy bag, offering more room at the knees and elbows than a classic mummy shape. The synthetic Primaloft RISE insulation retains less moisture, but increases heat retention that matches 650 fill power down. The thermo gills are a great option for ventilation, letting heat out without allowing cold air in. The full length draft tube and draft collar provide comfort and temperature regulation.
Best Double Sleeping Bag
The Jazz 30 Double Sleeping Bag gets our best pick for a double sleeping bag. Sure, the temperature rating isn’t too extreme, but the main idea is that you will be that much warmer cozied up next to another warm body. The double wide design will comfortably fit two people, and the bag comes integrated with a sleeve for an additional padded insert if you choose, and a built in, ultra soft bed sheet for versatility. It has synthetic insulation, which will dry faster, and maintain warmth in damp or wet climates. The built in draft collar will seal in warmth and the integrated hood will fit standard pillows, adding to the comfort of your camping sleep set up. The bag packs well considering its large size, and is made with a ripstop nylon shell. This bag is great for camping couples who want to prioritize space, comfort and warmth.
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There are so many factors to take into consideration when planning for all weather camping. But finding you match among cold-weather sleeping bags is certainly among them. For any experience, whether it’s just another day at work, or the start of your trip of a lifetime, remember that a good night’s sleep is the foundation you lay for the rest of your day.
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