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Best Sleeping Bags For Camping Cold Weather

8 min read

Sleeping bag models, on the other hand, can vary by several pounds. As you can imagine, high-quality and lightweight sleeping bags are a premium gear item… Camping in autumn or spring can make for seriously chilly nights, so when it comes to sleeping in a tent, you’ll need a decent sleeping bag that’s up to the task. Use both inside and outside – Suitable for Children, Men, Girls, Adolescents, and Adults Bags that are ultralight and compact are ideally suitable for walking, trekking, and overnight. These lightweight sleeping bags are suitable for camping, hiking, self-driving trips, fishing, as well as other outdoor pursuits. The unique microfibre insulation provides more loft and excellent compressibility without losing quality or comfort.

The Multi-Layer has removable layers of padding and soft fabrics, as does the Polara 3-in-1. However, the two most comfortable single bags on our list are the Redwood and Deer Hunter. Both are oversized, traditional canvas bags with tons of space and padding.

Best Cold Weather Sleeping Bags Of 2020

So I would not always trust the official rating, it is best to test yourself if you can. Some of the bags do come with independent testing, but those are always done for some “typical” user, yet we are all built differently. The choice of materials is very much related to the weight and packed size, those with synthetic insulation are always bulky and very heavy. In other words, some of the sleeping bags here are only for car camping and for basecamps, but some are ultralight and they can be carried on the trail.

Sleeping bags made from synthetic materials usually tend to be affordable and less-expensive. For this reason, synthetic bags remain suitable in case you want a sleeping bag that moves around with. Remember, synthetic bags can be warm but sometimes are also a bit bulkier since they require more material to keep you warm.

When comparing the warmest bags side by side, the Redwood led in warmth. It’s also the only bag on our list with 100% cotton materials, providing a soft next-to-skin feel and by far the coziest experience. Cotton generally offers a more even temperature, resulting in fewer cold spots. Its heavier canvas external fabric also provides a tucked-in feeling that most of our testers love. This sleeping bag is a durable, lightweight, and affordable four-season rated bag. It has an extreme limit of 15 degrees F and a lower limit of 30 degrees F which makes it suitable for very cold outdoor conditions.

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If you need additional warm layers, you can purchase separate quilts and blankets, which can be attached to the loops on the sleeping bag. A compression sack and storage sack are included with the bag for easy transportation and packing. The Big Agnes Daisy Mae has a Free Range style hood, which allows you to lift your head more easily. Drawcords for the hood are inside the bag, so you can adjust it as needed throughout the night without needing to reach out of the bag into the cold night air. Thanks to the shape, the Ibis is a perfect bag to take along on mountain treks when temperatures may vary from night to night, depending on the weather and how high up you are.

This will keep the fibers from breaking down prematurely, and, more importantly, will ensure it acts as the warmest sleeping bag possible for your camping trip. You’ll want to consider weather, storms, and seasonal temperature fluctuations in your area. Additionally, sleeping bags last for years, so it’s good to be diligent about your research and find the right balance between temperature, weight, comfort, and durability. Because it’s one of the warmest sleeping bags for this price, you won’t wake up in the middle of the night, tossing and turning to stay warm in this bag. The Teton is made to be a wide, oversized bag that could possibly fit two. We take our time to get to know the strengths and weaknesses of each item, and also check out the analysis of other experts just to make sure we’re not missing anything.

The Best Sleeping Bags For Camping Cold Weather Is The One That Works For You

They’re especially important in down sleeping bags, as down feathers tend to shift more than synthetic polyester. I’ve had good success with using an older 20 degree Marmot synthetic sleeping bag with my 20 degree EE revelation down quilt strapped on top of it. Combined with the right sleeping pad insulation and sleep clothing I’ve slept warm in temps down as low as 9 degree F so far. The bag comes with what they call the SynergyLink Connectors, the straps under the bag that keep the sleeping pad in place. They build the bag in two sizes and this is also an ultralight sleeping bag. The R size weighs 3 lb 4 oz (1.47 kg), and the L size weighs 3 lb 7 oz (1.56 kg).

However, due to the design, it’s not the sleeping bag you’d want on an extreme cold expedition. The right side of the bag has a half zip, and the left has a 2-way full zipper, so you can ventilate the bag as needed. To keep your feet warm, the footbox is anatomically contoured, and vertical baffles along the sleeping bag prevent cold spots. To keep your upper body warm and provide more wiggle room, the Murre EX 0 also has a bit of extra volume in the chest and elbow area. All these features combined create an excellent, relatively lightweight bag perfect for camping or backpacking winter adventures. The fully contoured hood helps prevent heat loss, and you can use the drawcords to adjust the neck to stay comfortable.

Drawcords make it easy to customize your fit, and zipper guards ensure everything functions smoothly. The Marmot Col is a mummy-style expedition bag designed for the most extreme conditions. Whether you’re headed into sub-freezing weather or camping next to a frozen lake, you need a bag that can stand up to everything Mother Nature dishes out.

Kids will love the vibrant blue or pink colors on the exterior and the fun patterns inside the bag. This bag is made for kids up to 5 feet tall, so it could easily be used for many years until they’re ready to upgrade to an adult-sized sleeping bag. A kid-sized sleeping bag is an essential piece of family camping gear, but it also comes in handy for scouting trips, sleep-away camp, and sleepovers at friends’ and relatives’ houses. To aid in your search, we’ve done the research and found great kids’ sleeping bags for all types of needs and situations. Most winter sleeping bags will be made from down since this is one of the best insulating materials.

Outdoor Vitals Summit 0°f Premium Down Sleeping Bag

Some users may find the tapered mummy bag shape a bit restricting to sleep in, however, the design does help to trap heat and reduce weight. On the other hand, the angled footbox and comfortable 3D internal collar guarantees a comfortable night’s sleep. Plus, with a minimum temperature limit of -22ºC, the Neutrino 800 is certainly built for extreme conditions.

As a teenager on wilderness camping trips, I experienced my fair share of miserably cold camping — mainly due to camping with the wrong sleeping bag. That had long had me thinking about the best sleeping bags for this kind of weather. In addition to temperature ratings and material, there are some other features you might want to keep an eye out for when shopping for a good winter sleeping bag. Having a good compression sack helps to make transportation and packing your sleeping bag easier.

They also provide a warm overnight space where you can keep water, filters, and footwear overnight to prevent them from freezing. This is harder to do with an ultralight quilt, which is usually shorter and sized narrow to save weight. Sleeping in temperatures below freezing definitely changes your behavior and requires a different skillset and gear list than regular three-season camping or backpacking in warmer weather. Teton Sports Tracker +5ºF is a synthetic, mummy-shaped sleeping bag.

Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed

Kids who don’t want to roll the sleeping bag up can instead just stuff it into the included carrying case, making it easy for transporting and storing away until they need it again. The Kelty Tru.Comfort 20 Doublewide is our favorite two-person model. Many double bags are simply extra fabric, resulting in little more than a super large sleeping bag. However, the Tru.Comfort offers cuddlers an array of features aimed at providing more of a sleeping system. Individual, built-in blankets allow sleepers the ability to customize personal warmth preferences. A U-shaped, top-side zipper bypasses the foot box, allowing toes to stay warmer, while a massive hood keeps pillows in place and helps trap heat escaping from the top of the head.

We strongly support the exquisite craftsmanship of outdoor camping gear and provide the best customer experience. 【Ultralight & Portable】Weight only 1.95lbs/2.2lbs, super ultralight and portable. Each sleeping bag comes with a storage bag and a compression sack, packed size only 13.8” x 6.3” / 13.8” x 7.1”. 👑 【EASY TO CARRY】If you’re backpacking instead of just packing up the car to camping, weight is going to be a big consideration. This Ultralight sleeping bag weighs only 3.6lbs including the carrying bag. Make the most of any hike with a backpacking sleeping bag that doesn’t weigh you down on your trek.

It’s also a bit wider than your standard mummy bag and has a contoured foot box and, thus, is a bit more comfortable and less restrictive when you move around. We chose this sleeping bag from Coleman as our best overall because it comes in three color options and has a pocket inside the bag where they can stash small items. Designed for kids up to 5 feet 5 inches tall, these mild-weather sleeping bags can keep your kiddo warm in temps as low as 45 F.

Today’s econo-models (which include the “must-have” features listed above) would undoubtedly be a step up from the REI bag, with which I’ve been generally satisfied. For winter, primarily I’ve used a 1971, REI model with 2.5 pounds of down (“fill-power” metric wasn’t in use; possibly 500 cubic inches per ounce). I bought the Montbell Down Hugger 800 #0 for my husband about five years ago and he’s been 100% happy with it. Prior to that he only ever had inexpensive bags and it was a huge improvement in warmth for him.

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