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TETON Sports Polara 3-in-1 Review

This bag is warm, soft, and has lots of features and configuration options to adapt to varying climates
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TETON Sports Polara 3-in-1 Review
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Price:  $130 List
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Manufacturer:   TETON Sports
By Jason Wanlass ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 15, 2023
82
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#2 of 13
  • Warmth - 35% 9.0
  • Comfort - 30% 8.0
  • Features - 25% 9.0
  • Packed Size - 10% 4.0

Our Verdict

As versatile as your favorite, highly skilled handyman, the Teton Sports Polara 3-in-1 can do just about everything — all while keeping you toasty warm. This bag boasts a bring-your-lunch-pail-to-work kind of design, which hands-down earns it our admiration for versatility. The rugged exterior, combined with a soft interior lining, creates a dynamic duo of layers that together can easily guard you against chilly mountain air. The bag is also versatile enough to adjust to several different temperatures. The Polara 3-in-1 has the tools needed for a camper's every sleeping situation. To see how it compares to others in our lineup, hop over to our best camping sleeping bags review.
REASONS TO BUY
Very warm
Well-crafted
Tons of features
Soft and cozy
Adjusts well to different temperature ranges
REASONS TO AVOID
Grabby liner
May be confining to larger body types
Editor's Note: We tested the most current version of the Polara 3-in-1 and updated this review on November 15, 2023.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Top Pick Award
Best 3-in-1 Versatility
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Camping Sleeping Bag
Top Pick Award
Best Hooded Sleeping Bag
 Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
Price $130 List
$129.99 at Amazon
$170 List
$159.99 at Amazon
$149 List
$149.00 at REI
$50 List
Check Price at REI
$40.61 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line This feature-laden model is versatile, cozy, and adaptable to varying tempsDesigned with cozy warmth and top quality in mind, this bag is best traditional camping bag on the marketSmall details allow this lightweight bag to show up big when it comes to warmth and comfortA very basic bag that is small on price but also on length and featuresIf you are on a tight budget, this bag gets the job done and saves quite a bit of cash, with some drawbacks
Rating Categories TETON Sports Polara... ALPS OutdoorZ Redwood REI Co-op Siesta Ho... Kelty Catena 30 Coleman Brazos
Warmth (35%)
9.0
10.0
8.5
8.2
8.0
Comfort (30%)
8.0
9.5
7.0
6.5
4.0
Features (25%)
9.0
7.0
9.0
3.0
5.0
Packed Size (10%)
4.0
3.0
7.0
6.0
6.0
Specs TETON Sports Polara... ALPS OutdoorZ Redwood REI Co-op Siesta Ho... Kelty Catena 30 Coleman Brazos
Claimed Temperature Rating 0 F -10 F 20 F 30 F 30 F
Measured Packed Weight 8.0 lbs 11.7 lbs 5.5 lbs (long) 4.2 lbs 5.5 lbs
Style Rectangular Rectangular Rectangular Rectangular Rectangular
Draft Tube Full length Full length Full length Full length Full length
Neck Baffle Yes No No No No
Shell Material Taffeta Canvas Recycled polyester (Bluesign approved) 190T poly taffeta Polyester
Lining Material Inner bag: 100% Brushed Poly Flannel
Outer bag: PolarLite Fleece
100% cotton Recycled polyester (Bluesign approved) 50D 300T polyester Tricot knit
Insulation SuperLoft Elite hollow fiber TechLoft Synthetic Cloudloft synthetic Polyester
Measured Size L x W 82" X 36" 80" X 38" 72" x 32" 72" x 34" 75" X 33"

Our Analysis and Test Results

Even the most casual observer can see the thoughtful care and effort that went into designing and constructing the Polara 3-in-1. It's large and roomy, well-crafted, warm, and chocked full of features that allow campers to customize the bag to their personal sleeping preferences.

Performance Comparison


teton sports polara 3-in-1 - testing our polara in an out of the way section of utah's bonneville...
Testing our Polara in an out of the way section of Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Warmth


Boasting a layering system on par with your favorite ski jacket, the warmth level of the Polara can be customized by an integrative design that allows it to adapt to many types of users or climates. This dynamic feature, along with its 0-degree rating, resulted in top scores for the Polara in this metric.


If temps are warmer than expected, simply unzip and remove the toasty fleece liner and sleep in just the main bag. Still too warm? Grab the removable liner and zip it together to create your own fleece bivy (we then suggest sleeping on top of the main bag for added comfort and padding). You can even leave the fleece unzipped to be used more like a blanket. For colder mountain temps, zip the liner back in place, anchor it with the bag's interior velcro tabs — and voila — you're ready for some of the coldest air Mother Nature can blow into your camp.

teton sports polara 3-in-1 - watching the autumn sunset as we test out the warmth of our polara's...
Watching the autumn sunset as we test out the warmth of our Polara's removable liner. It can be used as a blanket or zipped together to form a warm-weather sleeping bag.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

In addition to this bag's layered design, the Polara also offers one of the most impressive shoulder baffles we've ever seen. The baffle is attached just below the bag's heavily insulated opening, and both the main opening and baffle have separate drawstrings, which allow them to be cinched tightly around the shoulders and neck. This double-cinching system is very effective at retaining body heat, and we found it particularly useful during a cold-weather camping trip in Bryce Canyon National Park, where nighttime temps were 20 degrees.

teton sports polara 3-in-1 - they say two is better than one. the polara's neck baffle and main...
They say two is better than one. The Polara's neck baffle and main opening can be cinched at the same time, making for a very toasty bag.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

During our controlled tests, we used a laser thermometer to observe the interior temperature of our Polara. After lying inside it in a controlled environment for 5 minutes, we scanned the bag's interior liner just above our stomach. Our Polara registered 91.5 degrees, one of our top readings.

teton sports polara 3-in-1 - checking the interior temperature inside our polara. after lying it...
Checking the interior temperature inside our Polara. After lying it for five minutes, we scanned the upper liner just above our stomach.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Comfort


Stuffed to the hilt with SuperLoft Elite Hollow Fiber, we found the Polara 3-in-1 to be quite thick and cushy. Its tough taffeta exterior, thick insulation, and soft PolarLite Fleece liner create a sleep system that some campers may find comfortable enough to use without a sleeping pad or camper bed. This bag is excellent for a wide variety of users, from young children to teens to adults. The only area of limited use would be for campers who are tall or larger-bodied. The Polara could feel too narrow or confining due to the nature of the fleece liner.


We flopped the Polara down on a hard-packed, gravel campground road and climbed inside for 10 minutes to feel firsthand just how much natural padding the bag has. It goes without saying that we were quite impressed. This bag received one of our highest scores for its natural padding.

teton sports polara 3-in-1 - trying to enjoy our last few minutes of beauty sleep. being...
Trying to enjoy our last few minutes of beauty sleep. Being swallowed up by this bag all night makes it difficult to want to get out of it in the morning.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

We did find one potentially negative aspect with the fleece liner: When layered inside the bag, it tends to grab onto other fabrics like underwear, nightshirts, longjohns, and socks. Although providing a very noticeable increase in warmth when attached as an added layer, the fleece liner is less accommodating to movement when compared to polyester, poly-cotton, or flannel. The grabby nature of the liner created a more constrictive space for our taller or larger-bodied testers. Some users felt overly cocooned or knotted by the fabric, even a little claustrophobic at times.

teton sports polara 3-in-1 - we really like the removable fleece liner for its ability to serve...
We really like the removable fleece liner for its ability to serve as a blanket or a stand-alone lightweight bag. But, when added to the main bag, the liner's fabric grabbed at clothing to some extent.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Features


Cool features are definitely a strong suit of the Polara, and it has the score to prove it. In fact, it has more features than nearly every bag we looked at.


Some of our favorite tidbits about this bag are a limited lifetime warranty, excellent zipper quality, a full-length draft tube, velcro zipper closure, and a water-resistant shell. During our water tests, our Polara performed exceptionally well, keeping an entire cup of water neatly pooled on its surface for more than 5 minutes.

Splishin' and splashin'. A little cup of water is no match for the Polara's water-resistant shell.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

After months of use, we fell in love with the outstanding zipper system on the Polara. Although it has more zippers than any bag in our lineup, each set glides smoothly and rarely snags on the exterior fabric or interior liner.

Zippy skippy. We also appreciate a smooth zipper that tracks well and doesn't snag.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

One defining feature of the Polara is its zipper closure. This simple addition is increasingly omitted by most manufacturers, so when we see one, it stands out. The Polara's velcro zipper closure is wide and sturdy and firmly fastens the end of the bag together, preventing the zipper from accidentally separating during a chilly evening.

A wide zipper closure with dense velcro goes a long way toward keeping your zipper in place and your backside warm.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

The Polara also boasts a very plush, full-length zipper draft tube, which is complemented by its thick shoulder baffle. Both provide excellent protection from cold air. Specifically, the draft tube runs the entire length of the zipper to the end of the foot box. It's wide and very well insulated, allowing it to effectively block cold air from sneaking through the micro gaps that naturally occur in zipper teeth.

Taking a tour through the interior of our Polara. Its plush neck baffle connects into its dense full-length zipper draft tube. The result is less cool air interrupting your evening snooze.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

The Polara has two storage pockets, one on the liner and one inside the main bag, so regardless of the combination of the sleep system you choose, you will always have a place to store keys or a cell phone. On the flip side, we disliked the Polara's cleaning instructions. Tags on the bag specifically require the bag to be hand-washed and placed flat to air dry. This bag is very bulky, and being easy to clean is a very desirable feature. We feel these washing directions are a drawback. Luckily, the bag's removable liner can be washed separately, making it easy to do a simple refresher.

teton sports polara 3-in-1 - first things first. even when camping, some people still hope for...
First things first. Even when camping, some people still hope for service so they can check their phone in the morning.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Packed Size


While not the smallest packed size on the market, it's also not the largest. For the quality, warmth, comfort, and features this bag provides, we feel it packs up relatively well, all with a stuff sack that has compression straps to condense the size a little more. Overall, we don't feel the compression straps are necessary. They make for great handles but really don't reduce the size all that much. Additionally, we feel a little more than average effort is required to stuff the bag into its storage bag. If we had our way, we would have the manufacturer make the stuff sack just a little bit larger.


Should You Buy the Teton Sports Polara 3-in-1?


Avid campers who spend time in a wide variety of nature settings and climates will love the Polara 3-in-1. Its layered system makes it extremely versatile. When fully configured, this bag is also very warm. So, if your camping plans involve cooler temps, we think this bag is a great option. The Polara is great for die-hard campers, boaters, hunters, or RV enthusiasts who want the ability to customize their setup based on the temperatures they are sleeping in.

teton sports polara 3-in-1 - such a lovely couple. the polara's stuff sack is a little too small...
Such a lovely couple. The Polara's stuff sack is a little too small. This bag packs up rather large, making the compression straps somewhat ineffective as reducing packed volume. But, they do make for good handles.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

What Other Camping Sleeping Bags Should You Consider?


If you want a nice warm bag but don't need all of the layering options, we think you should check out the The North Face Wawona Bed 20. If staying super cozy and warm is your main goal, look no further than the Alps OutdoorZ Redwood. Its soft flannel interior and heavy canvas shell will swallow you up and keep you toasty warm all night long. If you'd rather have something big enough for two, take a look at the Kelty Tru.Comfort 20 Doublewide or Nemo Jazz 30 Double.

teton sports polara 3-in-1 - makin' fresh tracks.
Makin' fresh tracks.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Jason Wanlass