Your sleeping bag (or quilt) is one of the core items to your pack. It’s definitely worth taking the time to research and weigh options before making a selection. You don’t want to find yourself shivering through the night with one that’s not rated for the temperatures you’re planning for. You also don’t want to load around extra weight of a bag meant for subzero temps if you never plan to overnight in weather that extreme.
So how do you go about choosing a bag? Below are a few key factors to weigh when making your decision.
Also be sure to pair your bag with a quality overall sleeping system. See our supplemental article on choosing a sleeping pad.
1. Temperature Ratings (Warmth)
We recommend picking a bag with a temperature rating that is slightly lower than the typical low temperatures you expect to encounter on your backpacking trips.
Most bags will have two listed temperature ratings. One will be listed as the “comfort” rating and the other as the “lower limit.” These ratings are also known as the ISO or EN ratings. EN is a legacy standard and ISO is the modern standard. The comfort rating is the temperature at which the average cool sleeper will be comfortable. The lower limit is the temperature were the average warm sleeper will feel comfortable. Again, we recommend a bag with a temperature rating slightly lower than the typical low temperatures you expect to encounter, and for that reason we make our decisions more off the comfort rating.
2. Insulation Type
You’ll see options for both down and synthetic fill. Down means the bag is filled with feathers and plumage of geese and ducks. Synthetic fill is most often polyester. Which is better? There are pros and cons to each. Down tends to be lighter, easier to compress, and more durable. It does great in dry weather – but tends to loose loft and efficiency in wet conditions where synthetic does better. Down is also a more expensive option compared to synthetic. Synthetic is quick drying, maintains insulation when wet, and is non allergenic. As mentioned, it’s also typically more affordable than down. However, be aware that synthetic options will add more bulk and weight to your pack.
3. Weight & Dimensions
The quality of the fill material and cut of your bag will impact the amount of spaces it requires and how much weight it adds to you pack. This becomes more important as you get into longer distance hikes where you want to keep weight as minimal as possible.
A bag with a sleek, snug fit will mean less weight and easier packability, but keep in mind this also means you’ll be giving up roominess. When deciding on a more snug mummy bag (which will pack smaller and lighter) versus a roomier rectangular bag (larger and heavier) you’ll need to weight personal preference in terms of comfort.
4. Features
Common features to look for and to weight into your decision making include: sleeping bag hood for additional warmth and comfort, anti-snag zippers, stash pockets, and outer materials (many offer rip stop fabrics and water repellent treatments).
Keep those 4 key factors in mind when making your decision will help you narrow down the bag that’s right for you.
Need help on where to start? Here are some quick recommendations:
Best Overall: REI Co-op Magma 15 (Men’s) ; REI Co-op Magma 15 (Women’s)
Best Budget Bag (Down): Kelty Cosmic 20 Degree Down (Men’s and Women’s)
Best Budget Bag (Synthetic): Marmot Trestles Elite Eco 20 (Men’s) ; Marmot Trestles Elite Eco 20 (Women’s)
Best Ultralight Option: Western Mountaineering Summerlite Mummy Bag
