Unlike many other rectangular bags, the Siesta also comes with a hood to boost warmth and secure your pillow, and the interior stash pocket is helpful for stowing items like a cell phone or headlamp coleman canopy that you might want to keep close at night. Added up, the Siesta is comfy, well appointed, and a fantastic value. Looking for the perfect sleeping bag for your next backpacking or camping trip?
It’s much smaller than a traditional rectangular bag—especially one that’s fleece-lined—so it stows better in a trunk, and you don’t lose out on comfort. Hybrid-shaped bag, with a mummy-shaped head and a rectangular bottom for extra foot space. A backpacking sleeping bag is typically in the 2- to 3-pound range. 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.
A third type is the no-zip style, which is limited to a couple designs (none of which made our list), including a handful from Sierra Designs. The large oval opening requires some modest flexibility and patience to get out of, but going zipper-less can be nice. There’s no fumbling in the night for the zipper pull, and you don’t have to worry about snags or heat loss (if the bag lacks a good draft tube). But in the end, we don’t see the zipper-less concept completely taking over the market.
Anytime a company adds features or upgraded components to a sleeping bag, it adds to the cost. When you’re new to camping, the goal is to find a sleeping bag that has the features you need and none of the ones you don’t, which is what the Big Bay offers. The hood is the nicest add-on because it helps retain heat and adds comfort. It’s cinchable, with a simple nylon cord and plastic coleman canopy toggle that aren’t that fancy but get the job done. The nicest comfort touch is the added fleece in the footbox; it adds a touch of coziness to an already plush and comfortable bag. The Coleman Big Bay 20° mummy bag emerged as the best value pick in my sleeping bag review, and the Nemo Forte Synthetic Sleeping Bag (available in men’s and women’s) was given the top overall spot.
Put simply, the in-and-out convenience and ability to use the bag as a blanket with a full-zip sleeping bag is the better answer for most campers. 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). Some campers won’t mind missing out on the plush feel for the substantial cost savings (about $75 separates The North Face and Coleman options), but a well-made bag is undoubtedly a nice place to slip into at the end of the day.
In the end, the temperature rating does have value and you should use it as a basic guideline. In choosing the proper approximate rating, try to get an idea of the very coldest temperature you’ll be experiencing overnight. Once you have that number, it’s a good idea to build in a little buffer (we like an extra degrees) to avoid getting cold. And keep in mind the temperature rating is closer to a survivability rating rather than being comfortable and warm.
I was happy to see that Coleman has a new BIG-N-TALL 30 Sleeping Bag that is just right for him. The Wrap and Roll attached cover makes it easy to pack up and the Dura-Tough tarpauline bottom resists water is great for durability. The sleeping bag is plenty long for my husband and the wide rectangular shape gives him plenty of room to move around.