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ALPS OutdoorZ Redwood Review

The cotton canvas shell and flannel liner stuffed with synthetic insulation give this bag a soft, weighted, and cozy warm feel
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ALPS OutdoorZ Redwood Review
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Price:  $170 List
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Manufacturer:   ALPS OutdoorZ
By Jason Wanlass ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 15, 2023
84
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#1 of 13
  • Warmth - 35% 10.0
  • Comfort - 30% 9.5
  • Features - 25% 7.0
  • Packed Size - 10% 3.0

Our Verdict

At first glance, the Alps OutdoorZ Redwood is obviously durable and cozy. Its canvas shell and cotton flannel liner are soft, warm, weighty, and rugged, giving it an old-school vibe. But the Redwood rose above and was awarded as our favorite bag because it is well-crafted, over-sized, and super plush. If you're looking for a bag that will swallow you whole, last a decade, and is steeped in old-style tradition and quality, this may be just the bag for you. Its Techloft Insulation makes it very warm, so if you tend to camp in warmer climates, we recommend a sleeping bag with less warmth — this one is rated to -10°F. Get the scoop on how it stands up to the competition in our full review of the best camping sleeping bags.
REASONS TO BUY
Warm
Large
Rugged
Comfortable
Built to last
REASONS TO AVOID
Large packed size
Heavier than many bags
Not water-resistant
Editor's Note: This review was updated on November 15, 2023, after our fall testing session, which involved adding quite a few new sleeping bags to our lineup. This one still lands on top.

Compare to Similar Products

 
alps outdoorz redwood
Awards Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Camping Sleeping Bag
Top Pick Award
Best 3-in-1 Versatility
Top Pick Award
Best Hooded Sleeping Bag
Top Pick Award
Best Two-Person Model
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
Price $170 List
$159.99 at Amazon
$130 List
$129.99 at Amazon
$149 List
$149.00 at REI
$199.95 at REI
Compare at 3 sellers
$40.61 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line Designed with cozy warmth and top quality in mind, this bag is best traditional camping bag on the marketThis feature-laden model is versatile, cozy, and adaptable to varying tempsSmall details allow this lightweight bag to show up big when it comes to warmth and comfortBeyond cozy for couples or starfish-sprawling solo sleepers, this model lives up to its nameIf you are on a tight budget, this bag gets the job done and saves quite a bit of cash, with some drawbacks
Rating Categories ALPS OutdoorZ Redwood TETON Sports Polara... REI Co-op Siesta Ho... Kelty Tru.Comfort 2... Coleman Brazos
Warmth (35%)
10.0
9.0
8.5
7.0
8.0
Comfort (30%)
9.5
8.0
7.0
8.0
4.0
Features (25%)
7.0
9.0
9.0
8.0
5.0
Packed Size (10%)
3.0
4.0
7.0
5.0
6.0
Specs ALPS OutdoorZ Redwood TETON Sports Polara... REI Co-op Siesta Ho... Kelty Tru.Comfort 2... Coleman Brazos
Claimed Temperature Rating -10 F 0 F 20 F 20 F 30 F
Measured Packed Weight 11.7 lbs 8.0 lbs 5.5 lbs (long) 8.8 lbs 5.5 lbs
Style Rectangular Rectangular Rectangular 2-person Rectangular
Draft Tube Full length Full length Full length None Full length
Neck Baffle No Yes No No No
Shell Material Canvas Taffeta Recycled polyester (Bluesign approved) 75D 210T high filament poly taffeta Polyester
Lining Material 100% cotton Inner bag: 100% Brushed Poly Flannel
Outer bag: PolarLite Fleece
Recycled polyester (Bluesign approved) 75D 210T poly taffeta Tricot knit
Insulation TechLoft SuperLoft Elite hollow fiber Synthetic Cloudloft insulation Polyester
Measured Size L x W 80" X 38" 82" X 36" 72" x 32" 90" X 60" 75" X 33"

Our Analysis and Test Results

Cinched into place with three nylon buckled straps, the Redwood rolls up full-width, like an old bedroll you might see on the back of a pack horse. This distinct shape, combined with the bag's thick canvas exterior and over-stuffed design, resembles something an old cowboy might prop his head against while he lowers his hat and catches a snooze on the trail.

Performance Comparison


alps outdoorz redwood - testing the buckles on our redwood. although large, it packs up fast.
Testing the buckles on our Redwood. Although large, it packs up fast.

Warmth


Our first hands-on overnight experience with the Redwood was on a chilly 25-degree night. The Redwood's thick, warm, and weighty design kept us comfortable all night.


One of our controlled warmth tests involves using a laser thermometer to record interior warmth readings. As expected, the Redwood led the pack with some of the warmest readings among all the bags we tested (95.2 degrees). For a camping sleeping bag, this model is one of the warmest options we tested in this category. It beefs up its insulation by being thick and heavy. And, just like a heavy blanket, it covers the body's contours to keep us cozy and warm.

alps outdoorz redwood - the cotton flannel on the redwood is not only super cozy, it does a...
The cotton flannel on the Redwood is not only super cozy, it does a great job of evenly dispersing both heat and cold, making for a very comfortable fabric.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Not only is this bag warm, but the natural cotton flannel liner is also much more temperate than silky synthetic materials used on other bags. This allows for an even fabric temperature with virtually no cold spots. While most sleeping bags employ a single draft tube that runs the full length of the zipper, the Redwood comes with two, one on each side of the zipper. When combined, they trap warm air and reduce heat that can get lost through thousands of micro gaps in the zipper teeth.

Doubling up our draft tubes. These two strips of insulated canvas run the entire length of the Redwood's zipper. When zipped, they naturally squeeze together to keep out cooler air.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Additionally, this bag uses a two-layer, off-set stitching pattern that keeps its unique denier-based Techloft Insulation firmly in place and reduces heat loss. From hunting pack trips to a weekend at your favorite lake or campsite, when temps drop, this bag has your back. The only potential drawback we feel this bag has is its incredible warmth. While most adventurists will love the added warmth, those who camp in warmer climates or heated RVs or trailers may find it too warm.

alps outdoorz redwood - trying out the redwood's drawstring opening. it holds in body heat...
Trying out the Redwood's drawstring opening. It holds in body heat by cinching around the neck and shoulders, and is a nice extra to have on a cold mountain morning.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Comfort


There are several ways to define comfort, and the Redwood checks every box that exists. It's crammed to the hilt with Techloft Insulation, making it cushy enough to make a bed right on the ground if you had to. A super soft, cotton flannel interior boasts a traditional plaid print and is soft enough to fool you into thinking you are in your own bed.


One of our favorite features of the Redwood is the over-sized 38 x 80-inch rectangular design, which provides plenty of wiggle room without a lot of excess air space to heat. Finally, the cherry on top is this bag's heavy-duty cotton canvas exterior shell. Becoming rarer on today's market, this time-tested material adds a weighty component that gives this bag one of its greatest X-factors.

Hoping we don't have to wake up. We hated to leave this bag in the...
Hoping we don't have to wake up. We hated to leave this bag in the morning.
A thick, weighty, canvas shell is one of our favorite Redwood...
A thick, weighty, canvas shell is one of our favorite Redwood features. It's rugged, provides extra insulation, and it folds around you and tucks you in at night.

When you slip inside the Redwood, the heavy canvas softly collapses down on you. It naturally tucks you in as it presses against your body, folding around every individual curve. Some bags on the market use polyester-based canvas materials that simply aren't as soft, heavy, comforting, or conforming.

Testing our Redwood's zippers. They are some of the best in the biz.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Features


The basic old-school design of the Redwood resulted in lower scores in our features category. We looked at several areas, from zipper function and warranty, to discover what each bag has to offer.


One of the drawbacks of the Redwood is its laundry requirements, which state hand-washing and line-drying or air-drying in a commercial dryer. Hand-washing a bag of this size will certainly be a task. Another drawback is its inherent lack of water resistance. Unlike synthetic materials, water-repellent spray treatments don't work as well on cotton.

Cotton loves water. It absorbs it like a sponge and doesn't dry quickly. We ran this water test twice on our Redwood. First directly on the seams, and then on the untouched sections of the canvas. The results were the same: soggy.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Additionally, cotton tends to absorb and hold moisture. Although a rare occasion, if this bag were exposed to large amounts of water, it would act more like a sponge and would take a large amount of time to dry. On the positive side, the Redwood comes with a lifetime warranty, a hefty velcro zipper closure, a heavy-duty zipper, and a top drawstring to help keep warm air trapped during colder nights.

Zipper closures are showing up less and less on sleeping bags, so we are always happy when we find one. They fold over on the zipper and help to keep it from opening up on you during the nighttime.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

At the risk of being on repeat, this bag's most outstanding features are its lush cotton fabrics, over-stuffed design, exceptional craftsmanship, and off-set stitching. Many of these features are more felt than seen, but they greatly add to a very pleasant sleeping experience in the outdoors. A rugged canvas exterior and full-length zipper allow this bag to open up fully to become a perfect ground cover for a picnic in the park or outdoor concert.

alps outdoorz redwood - not just a sleeping bag, the redwood unzips to become the perfect...
Not just a sleeping bag, the Redwood unzips to become the perfect ground covering. Great for picnics, star-gazing, concerts, lounging and more.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Its natural earth-tone colors do a nice job of hiding grass stains or dirt. Additionally, zipping two Redwood bags together creates one of the warmest, coziest double bags on the market. Finally, the Redwood's full-width roll and stow design is legit. It's simple, easy, and effective.

Have you ever rolled up dough to make cinnamon rolls? That's what we thought of when we rolled this big boy up. If only it smelled as good.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Packed Size


There's no ignoring the elephant in the room: The Redwood doesn't pack up small. This beast rolls up full-width, ending in a tight 14-inch tall by 38-inch wide bundle. We think it's the largest packed size we have ever seen for a sleeping bag. However, it's light enough that moving it from car to camp is still a non-issue. Campers with extremely limited car space or home storage may want to pass on this bag.


This sleeping bag does not have a stuff sack. While that saves the common annoyance of trying to jam a huge sleeping bag into a small sack and is one less thing to lose, it also means that it isn't protected when being stored. An easy storing solution to keep dust (and maybe rodents) off your rolled bag is to wrap it in a large garbage bag when not in use.

alps outdoorz redwood - breaking camp with our redwood in tow. despite its size, it's pretty...
Breaking camp with our Redwood in tow. Despite its size, it's pretty easy to carry. Just grab anywhere and go.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Should You Buy the Alps OutdoorZ Redwood?


The Redwood has a higher price tag than several other options in our lineup, but we feel it's worth it for those seeking the best for car camping. This bag is the right one for you if you tend to camp in colder climates or higher elevations where the air is chilly at night. If you prefer camping in warmer or more humid areas, this bag's warmth just might ruin your star-gazing party. Likewise, this probably isn't the right fit if you have limited storage space at home or in your vehicle.

alps outdoorz redwood - this bag was our favorite to sleep in during a late fall camping...
This bag was our favorite to sleep in during a late Fall camping trip to Bryce Canyon National Park. The park's elevation is above 8,000 feet, so this bag really came in clutch when temps started to drop.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

What Other Camping Sleeping Bags Should You Consider?


If you are drawn to the warmth of the Redwood but need a bag that is more water-resistant, we suggest looking at the Teton Sports Polara 3-in-1. It's a super warm, all-synthetic, multi-layer bag that hates water like a cat. If you like the traditional aesthetics of the Redwood but want a synthetic bag, try the Teton Sports Deer Hunter. Lastly, another option for warmth and size is the REI Co-op Siesta Hooded 20. It's decently warm and has tons of features, including a hood.

Jason Wanlass