The interior of a sleeping bag varies quite a bit between designs, but one general rule of thumb is that comfort correlates closely with price. Comparing two of our top picks, Coleman’s cheap Brazos 20 uses a tricot lining that’s reasonably cozy but less soft than The North Wawona Bed (especially the smooth fleece-like panel along the top of the Wawona’s interior). For those who plan to get out a lot, opting for an upgraded design may be worth it. My daughter had a big sleepover party and one of her guests borrowed it for the party. She told me the next day that it was the most comfortable sleeping bag she had ever used.
To be clear, liners are totally optional and not everyone needs one, but they do offer added warmth and comfort and help keep your bag in good shape. Sleep comfortablyeven when the temperature drops below freezingwith the Coleman Heritage Big and Tall Sleeping Bag. This lightweight sleeping bag has heat-locking, full-cover construction that keeps you warm in temperatures as low as 0°F.
From handmade pieces to vintage treasures ready to be loved again, Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. It’s also home to a whole host of one-of-a-kind items made with love and extraordinary care. While many of the items on Etsy are handmade, you’ll also find craft supplies, digital items, and more. This keeps the zipper head perfectly aligned and allows it to smoothly glide the full length of the bag without snagging. We feel it would be great for young kids or teens, both of which tend to be hard on shoes, clothes, cars, and just about everything else.
For a reasonable $139, you get a high-quality bag with a useful 20-degree temperature rating, which is great for three-season car camping in a variety of conditions. For a fun take on warmth regulation and year-round comfort, The North Face’s One Bag features a unique layering system that allows you to swap between three different temperature ratings. During summer months or warm nights, you can use the basic synthetic-insulated bag with its 40-degree limit. Then, as the temperature drops, zip on the 800-fill goose down midlayer (to 20°F) or add the third section on top for winter camping (5°F rating). At less than 4 pounds with all layers connected, the One Bag is streamlined, lightweight, and reasonably packable.
If you find yourself at higher elevations or in colder temperatures, a mummy bag is a great option. Similar to The North Face’s One Bag above, Big Agnes’ Lost Ranger 3N1 uses an innovative layering system for adapting to shifting conditions. In this case, you get two down-filled bags (the One Bag has a synthetic outer bag and down midlayer) that can be paired together on cold nights or separated in warmer temps. At 2 pounds 13 ounces all in, it adds up to a highly versatile system that crosses over nicely for backpacking, too.
However, fitting it into its stuff sack is a different story — think round hole, square peg. We found it easier to just keep the bag unrolled and randomly shove it into other places in our camp kit. Bursting at the seams, this bag’s packed size when we did commit to the bag is 16.5 x 10 inches. You don’t need to wash your sleeping bag after every camping trip, but you should clean it once or twice a year, depending on how much you use it. Using a front-loading washing machine (never use a top-loading agitator-style machine), wash your sleeping bag with a small amount of mild liquid detergent on a warm, gentle cycle and rinse it with cold water. Tumble dry on low heat in as large a dryer as possible (high heat can burn the fabric or insulation).
That said, we still recommend checking the weight and stuffed size that will be listed in the product specifications to get an idea of just how large and heavy the bags are. Synthetic bags are typically made with thicker fabrics and require more insulation to provide sufficient warmth, which can add up to a surprising amount of bulk. And if you’re considering a double coleman chair bag (covered in more detail below), you’re talking about packed dimensions listed in feet rather than inches. If weight and packed size become important, a crossover backpacking/sleeping bag like the still-roomy Nemo Disco 15 reduces both. We covered Nemo’s Disco above, which is a nice crossover option for those who like to get out into the backcountry on occasion.
It is designed to be lightweight and compact when deflated, making it easy to pack and carry in your backpack. The included storage bag allows you to compress the pad for convenient storage and transportation. In this metric, we also noted each bag’s packed weight and then scored each on how easily it rolled up and fit into its storage bag.
For those looking to travel fast and far, or for those traveling into alpine terrain, a lighter-weight bag makes that possible. A bag in the 3- to 4-pound range can be used for backpacking, and these models are often more comfortable to sleep in, but they also take up more space and add weight to an already heavy pack. Anything above 4 pounds is generally best for car camping and recreational use.