The following article includes tips to help you find the best lightweight backpacking sleeping bag for your next adventure.

Best Sleeping Bags

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Image	Name	Our Rating	Temp. Rating	Insulation	Style	Length	Width (shoulders)	Width (lower)	Price	Where to Buy

Last update on 2023-02-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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Last update on 2023-02-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Best Quilts

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Image	Name	Our Rating	Temp. Rating	Insulation:cf:quilt_style1:Style	Length	Width (shoulders)	Stuff Sack incl.?	Price	Where to Buy
[amazon fields="B01NACUVNQ" value="thumb" image_size="small"]	Paria Outdoor Products Thermodown 15 Degree Down Sleeping Quilt	[usr 4.2]	15°	700 fill-power 90/10 white duck down	84" x 37"		Yes	[amazon fields="B01NACUVNQ" value="price"]	[amazon fields="B01NACUVNQ" value="button"]
[amazon fields="B01HP6D8WI" value="thumb" image_size="small"]	Outdoor Vitals Aerie 30°F Down Underquilt / Sleeping Bag	[usr 4.1]	30°	800+ fill power StormLOFT™ hydrophobic down	83" x 29"		Yes	[amazon fields="B01HP6D8WI" value="price"]	[amazon fields="B01HP6D8WI" value="button"]
[amazon fields="B01HQU4A84" value="thumb" image_size="small"]	Outdoor Vitals OV-Roost 40°F UnderQuilt / Sleeping Bag	[usr 4.9]	40°	600 grams of Hollow Filament Synthetic	75" x 35"		Yes	[amazon fields="B01HQU4A84" value="price"]	[amazon fields="B01HQU4A84" value="button"]
[amazon fields="B01LX68GFJ" value="thumb" image_size="small"]	Outdoor Vitals Aerie 20°F Down Underquilt / Sleeping Bag	[usr 4.2]	20°	800+ fill power StormLOFT™ hydrophobic down	75" x 35"		Yes	[amazon fields="B01LX68GFJ" value="price"]	[amazon fields="B01LX68GFJ" value="button"]
[amazon fields="B01N30KQYF" value="thumb" image_size="small"]	Big Agnes – Kings Canyon UL Quilt with PrimaLoft Insulation	[usr 4.1]	45°	PrimaLoft® Silver insulation	80" x 21"		Yes	[amazon fields="B01N30KQYF" value="price"]	[amazon fields="B01N30KQYF" value="button"]
[amazon fields="B078JWQ8MH" value="thumb" image_size="small"]	Therm-a-Rest Corus HD Camping Quilt	[usr 4.8]	35°	High loft 650-fill Nikwax® Hydrophobic Down	78" x 53"		Yes	[amazon fields="B078JWQ8MH" value="price"]	[amazon fields="B078JWQ8MH" value="button"]
[amazon fields="B078HZYNY5" value="thumb" image_size="small"]	Therm-A-Rest Apogee Quilt	[usr 4.1]	35°	Hollow microfiber polyester eraLoft™	78" x 48"		Yes	[amazon fields="B078HZYNY5" value="price"]	[amazon fields="B078HZYNY5" value="button"]
[amazon fields="B075VGPVZY" value="thumb" image_size="small"]	Therm-A-Rest Vela Quilt	[usr 4.9]	35°	650 fill Nikwax Hydrophobic Down	84" x 72"		Yes	[amazon fields="B075VGPVZY" value="price"]	[amazon fields="B075VGPVZY" value="button"]
[amazon fields="B00MU2HU86" value="thumb" image_size="small"]	ENO Eagles Nest Outfitters – Ember 2 Under Quilt	[usr 3.8]	50°	Polyester fill	85" x 45"		Yes	[amazon fields="B00MU2HU86" value="price"]	[amazon fields="B00MU2HU86" value="button"]
[amazon fields="B00TQZH2V0" value="thumb" image_size="small"]	Eagles Nest Hammock Spark TopQuilt	[usr 4.2]	40°	Polyester fill	80" x 50"		Yes	[amazon fields="B00TQZH2V0" value="price"]	[amazon fields="B00TQZH2V0" value="button"]
[amazon fields="B0752TFQY3" value="thumb" image_size="small"]	Montem Sneaky Snuggler Camping Blanket	[usr 4.1]	40°	3D Hollow Fiber Synthetic Insulation	80" x 54"		Yes	[amazon fields="B0752TFQY3" value="price"]	[amazon fields="B0752TFQY3" value="button"]

Last update on 2023-02-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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Last update on 2023-02-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Selecting a new backpacking sleeping bag for any adventure can be a challenging task.

There are all the features to consider including price, weight, materials, durability and most importantly your own personal sleeping comfort level.

The deciding factors can seem endless.

In the article below we’ve assembled a simple guide that will explain how to pick a backpacking sleeping bag for your next lightweight camping adventure.

This includes some of the most important features to consider when sifting through all of the options.

We also give some of our top recommendations to help you find your ideal backpacking sleeping bag.

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Types of Backpacking Sleeping Bags

Sleeping bags can be broken into three basic categories: winter, 3-season, and summer.

The Sierra Designs DriDown Backcountry Bed 800-Fill 3 Season Sleeping Bag includes has no zippers and works great for those of you who sleep on your side.

Many backpackers will be pleased with a 3-season bag, which will keep you comfortable most of the time.

Spring and fall are the ideal times for the 3-season bag.

However, if you’re hiking in the mountains in the summer you will find the 3-season optimal as well.

Keep in mind that you can unzip the bag a bit if the temperature is a little warmer than expected.

This is useful for the late spring and summer hikers.

There is the option to add a liner to the bag if you’re worried about feeling too cold in a 3-season bag

A good sleeping bag liner will add insulation and protection to the bag.

A summer bag might be your best option if your backpacking in the summer in warmer temperatures

When camping at much lower temperatures go with a quality winter bag.

The outdoors can be unpredictable and you’re better off a little warmer than freezing.

Even if you sleep warm and you’re the guy who wears shorts to Christmas parties.

EN Temperature Rating

The temperature rating is the primary place to begin when choosing a new backpacking sleeping bag.

Most bags on the market are tested for temperature by the EN 13537 standard temperature scale which tests each bag for different temperature standards like upper limit, comfort, lower limit, and extreme.

Most bags are assigned a comfort rating and a lower limit rating.

The comfort rating is the lowest temperature at which the bag will keep the average woman or “cold sleeper” comfortable,

The lower limit rating is the lowest temperature at which the bag will keep a person or “warm sleeper” comfortable.

(EN ratings depend on a sleeper wearing one long clothing layer and a cap, and sleeping on a solitary one-inch thick protecting pad.)

The Snugpak Softie Elite 1 Sleeping Bag has a comfort rating of 45°F down to the lower limit of 36°F .

Backpacking Sleeping Bag Shape and Style

While the shape of your bag doesn’t seem to be important, it actually is!

To start, backpacking sleeping bags are designed to keep you warm by catching air and holding it in the layer closest to your body.

Your body warms up this layer of caught air to keep you warm.

The less air space there is in the bag, the quicker you warm up.

This will keep you warm as long as you’re in the bag.

Picking a sleeping bag according to your body size and shape is critical for warmth and efficiency!

The Hyke & Byke Quandary 15 Degree Down Sleeping Bag is well insulated with 90% duck down and 10% duck feather .

More ample bags will also be heavier.

We suggest choosing a semi-rectangular bag or mummy bag which is flexible and works great for backpacking.

Mummy bags are typically the warmest and most packable choice and are more preferred by lightweight backpackers.

The mummy bag will have more tapered feet leaving less room to insulate with your body heat.

Semi-rectangular bags are useful for explorers with larger frames or individuals who don’t prefer the contours of a mummy bag.

Backpacking Quilts

Many backpackers prefer the “outdoors knit” of a quilt.

Quilts give more flexibility for comfort and are also lighter and less expensive than mummy bags.

That being said quilts are not as reliable for trapping heat and have to be used with a sleeping pad.

Although, there are some really great quilts that incorporate synthetic insulation (usually a kind of polyester) that are actually more affordable than down and dries much faster.

The Therm-a-Rest Corus HD Camping Quilt includes perimeter snap loops with an included loop kit to marry two of these bags together to create even more space for you and one more camper.

Synthetics are also non-allergenic, continue to insulate when wet and work quite well in damp atmospheres.

Oh, and did we say they’re more affordable?  🙂

The downside is that a synthetic bag offers somewhat less warmth for its weight, is bulkier when packed, and its protecting power gets diminished each time it is folded into a stuff sack.

Some synthetic-fill bags feel compressible and soft, much like down.

Others feel stiffer but can be more durable.

It is a good idea to actually feel a few sleeping bags in a sporting goods store to get a better idea of which you prefer.

Down vs Synthetic Sleeping Bag Insulation

SYNTHETIC BACKPACKING SLEEPING BAGS:

Synthetic bags are frequently made with polyester, they are quick-drying, and can protect even when wet.

They are significantly less expensive and non-allergenic.

The Trekr Outdoor 32°F Lightweight Backpacking Sleeping Bag is rated 32°F thanks to the duck down fill that absolutely keeps you warm without an extra liner or heavy clothes in cooler temps.

What’s the downside?

Synthetic bags do not pack down as much as down sleeping bags

They also tend to be heavier.

Synthetic fill is additionally a decent choice among those of you who carry on with a vegan way of life, as down is made from ducks or geese.

DOWN BACKPACKING SLEEPING BAGS:

A down sleeping bag’s greatest benefit is that it tends to be lighter and condense much smaller when stored.

Of course, this is a key attribute when you are utilizing the bag for backpacking.

Down tends to also be tougher than synthetics.

For the most part, a down bag is more costly than synthetic and it doesn’t protect too when it is wet.

However, many down sleeping bags are covered with a water-repellent finish to help keep you dry.

It should be noted that down is made from the feathers of ducks and geese.

If you practice veganism or try to avoid animal products you may want to steer clear of down bags.

Sleeping Bag Features

Zipper compatibility: Many backpacking sleeping bags are built with compatible zippers that can be zipped together with other bags to create extra space for couples or those of you who simply need more space.

Just realize that mating two bags together creates empty space inside so it’s a less efficient approach to remain warm.

Additionally, it’s OK to mate bags of varying comfort ratings.

You can be strategic and make it so the hotter bag covers the colder sleeper.

The Ledge Sports FeatherLite +20 F Degree Ultra Light Design has enough room for any campers up to around 6-6’2″ tall at the shoulders and the feet.

Hood:  A hood keeps warmth in the bag from radiating away.

Some hoods offer a cushion that you can stuff with your clothes to make a pillow.

At the very least you can use the hood as extra material when unzipped.

This can help turn your sleeping bag into more of a quilt.

Ultralight bags may spare weight by getting rid of a hood altogether.

Draft tube: This is an insulation-filled tube that runs inside along the bag’s main zipper.

It prevents any drafty air from pushing its way past the space between the bag and the zipper.

They don’t seem like much, but a solid draft tube can be the difference between a well-insulated bag and a porous, drafty bag.

Draft collar (or neck baffles) and confront mufflers: Usually found on bags built for colder weather.

They go around your head and neck and keep your body warmth from getting away while preventing frosty air from seeping in.

Differentiated cords:  All the different cords can get confusing, especially for the wary backpacker in darker conditions.

Add some more variety in your cords to be able to tell which rope tightens or loosens your hood and which cord alters your neck opening.

Stash pocket: This keeps little things like your telephone, glasses, or headlamp within reach.

Pad loops: These sewn-in straps keep your sleeping pad in place.

Without these loops, you’re left to simply place the pad between the sleeping bag and the ground.

After a long night of sleep, it is possible that the pad slips away while being more exposed to the ground.

Trapezoidal foot box: This outline includes space in the foot zone to permit a more natural sleeping position for your feet.

The trapezoidal shape is meant to follow the natural shape of your feet, thereby decreasing the amount of dead air space and reducing the total weight

This is most helpful if you sleep on your back as opposed to on your sides.

The additional space can reduce wear and tear on the bag and extend the lifespan of the bag by reducing the stress from your feet agitating the bag.

Pad sleeve: This gives you the option of adding a sleeping pad to the bag.

While some manufacturers have extra padding in their bags, some bags leave it up to you which can reduce the weight of the sleeping bag while allowing you to add better insulation.

Conclusion

A good sleeping bag is one of the most important things you’re going to pack.

It’s also going to be one of the most used items on your trip along with your tent and backpack

Not to mention one of the heaviest items in your pack.

When looking for a backpacking sleeping bag, take as much time as necessary and do your research to find what is best for you.

Quality sleep on the trail is priceless and by carefully selecting the right bag you’ll be rewarded with a more enjoyable trip.

Stay fearless!

Last update on 2023-02-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API