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REI Co-op Siesta Hooded 20 Review

A versatile hooded option that can keep you warm at night without weighing you, or your wallet, down
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REI Co-op Siesta Hooded 20 Review
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Price:  $149 List
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Manufacturer:   REI Co-op
By Jason Wanlass ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 15, 2023
80
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#3 of 13
  • Warmth - 35% 8.5
  • Comfort - 30% 7.0
  • Features - 25% 9.0
  • Packed Size - 10% 7.0

Our Verdict

We have a few hooded bags in our lineup, but the REI Co-op Siesta Hooded 20 is our favorite because it's chock full of added features to keep you warm and comfortable without adding a ton of weight. Even better, its price tag won't put a damper on your whole camping trip. This bag is ready for any outdoor adventure and is perfect for any age. We wish it were more generous in width so broader shoulders could move more freely, but overall, this is a great bag and a great buy.
REASONS TO BUY
Warm
Lightweight
Large hood
Water-resistance
Machine washable
Great comfort features
Reasonably priced
REASONS TO AVOID
Narrow design
Polyester shell easily snags
Hood doesn't evenly cinch

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Top Pick Award
Best Hooded Sleeping Bag
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Camping Sleeping Bag
Top Pick Award
Best 3-in-1 Versatility
Top Pick Award
Best Down Camping Sleeping Bag
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
Price $149 List
$149.00 at REI
$170 List
$159.99 at Amazon
$130 List
$129.99 at Amazon
$154.94 at Amazon
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 Small details allow this lightweight bag to show up big when it comes to warmth and comfortDesigned 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 tempsDown-filled and rectangular, this is a rare bag and we love itIf you are on a tight budget, this bag gets the job done and saves quite a bit of cash, with some drawbacks
Rating Categories REI Co-op Siesta Ho... ALPS OutdoorZ Redwood TETON Sports Polara... Kelty Galactic 30 Coleman Brazos
Warmth (35%)
8.5
10.0
9.0
7.0
8.0
Comfort (30%)
7.0
9.5
8.0
6.0
4.0
Features (25%)
9.0
7.0
9.0
7.0
5.0
Packed Size (10%)
7.0
3.0
4.0
10.0
6.0
Specs REI Co-op Siesta Ho... ALPS OutdoorZ Redwood TETON Sports Polara... Kelty Galactic 30 Coleman Brazos
Claimed Temperature Rating 20 F -10 F 0 F 30 F 30 F
Measured Packed Weight 5.5 lbs (long) 11.7 lbs 8.0 lbs 2.9 lbs 5.5 lbs
Style Rectangular Rectangular Rectangular Rectangular Rectangular
Draft Tube Full length Full length Full length Full length Full length
Neck Baffle No No Yes No No
Shell Material Recycled polyester (Bluesign approved) Canvas Taffeta 50D downproof polyester taffeta Polyester
Lining Material Recycled polyester (Bluesign approved) 100% cotton Inner bag: 100% Brushed Poly Flannel
Outer bag: PolarLite Fleece
50D downproof polyester taffeta Tricot knit
Insulation Synthetic TechLoft SuperLoft Elite hollow fiber 550-fill power duck down Polyester
Measured Size L x W 72" x 32" 80" X 38" 82" X 36" 73" X 34" 75" X 33"

Our Analysis and Test Results

Two key attributes make the Siesta Hooded stand out: its lightweight design and very large, square hood. This versatile, go-anywhere bag is also warmer than we anticipated.

Performance Comparison


rei co-op siesta hooded 20 - still somewhere in dreamland on a cold bryce canyon morning.
Still somewhere in dreamland on a cold Bryce Canyon morning.
Credit: Jason Wanlass


Warmth


To the touch, the Siesta Hooded feels lightweight and somewhat basic in construction, so we were pleasantly surprised to discover its ability to keep us warmer than we anticipated. The 98% recycled polyester insulation really performs well at keeping warm air in and cold air out.


A massive, insulated hood and extended front flap are huge players in ensuring this 20-degree bag retains body heat. Both the hood and the bag's main opening have independent drawstrings and can be cinched tight over the head and shoulders when temps begin to plummet. The generous hood is also large enough to secure a normal bed pillow from home, a huge plus in making camping a little more comfortable. During the early morning, when temperatures tend to feel the coldest, we especially loved the ability to burrow into our Siesta Hooded and wait for the sun to warm things up.

Get out of my face. Just a simple flip of the flap covers your entire face. This added-feature is perfect for staying warm, and for deterring the paparazzi.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

The Siesta Hooded not only kept us warm at camp. Its insulating prowess was also substantiated back at home in front of the TV. After setting our home thermostat to the designated testing temperature, we encased ourselves into our Siesta and laid flat for 5 minutes. Then, we measured the bag's interior temperature with a laser thermometer. Its 93.5-degree measurement bested nearly all of the bags in our lineup.

rei co-op siesta hooded 20 - scoring big on our temp tests. after lying in our siesta for five...
Scoring big on our temp tests. After lying in our Siesta for five minutes, we scanned its interior liner with a laser thermometer, and were impressed at our reading.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

From hood to foot box, the Siesta Hooded is covered in features aimed at retaining heat. Some are hard to find, but we scoured every inch of this bag to uncover all of its secrets. One of our favorite finds was a small, triangular piece of fabric down at the bottom of the bag. This seemingly insignificant little whatchamacallit sits at the very end of the zipper and is a bonafide warrior fighting to keep feet and toes warmer. It's small but super effective at blocking cold air from entering the gap between the zipper end and the bag's main body.

Unveiling the amazing triangular thingamabob.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Comfort


We tested the longer version (78 x 32 inches) of the Siesta Hooded and gave it above-average scores for comfort, especially for taller campers. The Siesta is also available in a regular length (72 x 32 inches). Even though this bag is a little narrower than we would prefer, its recycled polyester lining is silky smooth, making twisting and turning a little easier.


We placed our Siesta Hooded directly onto a concrete driveway and laid in it for several minutes in order to determine its natural ability to cushion. Its 98-percent recycled fill isn't the thickest compared to the other bags we tested, but it certainly provides a decent amount of protection from the hard ground. This bag is also easy to get into and simple to move around in. We think our favorite comfort feature is the additional short off-side zipper that allows the bag's top cover to be folded down like bedding. It's not a critical feature, but it certainly is charming and makes it easier to read or play with your phone.

Turning down the bed on our Siesta.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Features


On par with many REI products, the Siesta Hooded is not short on thoughtful features. In fact, it's one of our top performers in this metric. One of our absolute favorite features is the ability to machine wash and dry it at home in our own laundry room.

It's important to follow the laundry requirements for any sleeping bag you own. Generally, they can be found on the tags attached to the bottom of the bag.


In addition to its generous hooded design, the Siesta Hooded has an interior pocket, reversible zippers, two velcro zipper closures, barrel-locking drawstrings, and off-set quilting. We also found its recycled polyester shell to be very water-resistant.

Ship shape and water tight. We dumped a cup of water on our Siesta Hooded and it stayed perfectly pooled on top for five minutes.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

A full-length zipper draft tube is another key feature that sets this bag apart. Although we feel it could be a little wider, it still adequately covers the zipper and keeps airflow through the zipper teeth to a minimum. A reinforced zipper guard is also incorporated into the draft tube. This addition is an excellent preventative feature that greatly reduces zipper snags and is often omitted by manufacturers.

Pointing out some key features. A full-length zipper guard and zipper draft tube keep you free of snags and warmer all night.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Packed Size


Our long version of the Siesta Hooded packs up a little larger (22.75 x 12.5 inches) than the standard-sized model (20.5 x 11.75 inches). Either version is still a little above average in size, but surprisingly lightweight.


At just 5.5 pounds, our Siesta Hooded was super easy to throw on top of a cooler and carry from car to camp. In addition to being easy to transport, its silky polyester exterior and oversized stuff sack make breaking camp a breeze. In fact, we felt this was one of the easier bags to stow out of the whole bunch.

rei co-op siesta hooded 20 - a silky polyester shell allows this bag to easily pack up into its...
A silky polyester shell allows this bag to easily pack up into its stuff sack.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Should You Buy the REI Co-op Siesta Hooded 20?


Tons of features, great warmth, and a reasonable price tag make this bag quite appealing. It's the right bag for you if you want a lightweight hooded bag that can hold your pillow from home, keep you toasty, and be cleaned in your own laundry room. This bag is great for basic tent camping, RVing, or even a river trip. It's lightweight enough to be added to your checked luggage if you're flying to your camping destination. We recommend this bag for kids, teens, and adults; however, it isn't very wide, so broad-shouldered, barrel-chested lumberjacks, beware.

rei co-op siesta hooded 20 - pillow talk. the siesta's massive hood holds your pillow in place...
Pillow talk. The Siesta's massive hood holds your pillow in place. It's even large enough to encase your regular bed pillow from home.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

What Other Camping Sleeping Bags Should You Consider?


If you love the hooded design of the Siesta but you really need a larger bag, take a look at the Teton Sports Celsius XXL or Teton Sports Deer Hunter. Both offer a hood and are the largest single-person bags in our lineup. The Kelty Tru.Comfort 20 Doublewide and Nemo Jazz 30 Double are hooded as well and are supersized to accommodate your favorite bunk buddy.

rei co-op siesta hooded 20 - showing off its quilts. instead of sewing all the way through the...
Showing off its quilts. Instead of sewing all the way through the bag, the Siesta's shell and liner are quilted separately. The stitch lines are then staggered (offset stitching). This goes a long way toward retaining heat and staying water-resistant.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Jason Wanlass