Best Backpacking Sleeping Bag of 2025

Our Picks of Backpacking Sleeping Bags

Best Overall Backpacking Sleeping Bag

Western Mountaineering MegaLite

Like other ultra-premium bags with down insulation, the Western Mountaineering MegaLite offers maximum warmth with minimal weight in a bag that effortlessly packs down to 6.6 liters. But, unlike other ultra-premium down bags we tested, it features a spacious interior that provides superior comfort no matter your sleep style. “I'm a lifelong side sleeper, and I found plenty of room to roll over in this bag,” our lead tester Ian McEleney said. If you don't need quite as much warmth, but weight and packed size are a priority, consider the more snug-fitting Feathered Friends Hummingbird 30, which we measured to be about 8 ounces less and 5.5 liters. But, for virtually any overnight backcountry activity, the MegaLite is an excellent choice.

Listed Temp Rating (Lower Limit)	22°F (manufacturer rated)
Fill Power	850+ FP
Insulation	Goose down, ethically sourced
Measured Weight (Size Regular)	1.5 lbs
Measured Compression/Stuff Sack Weight	1.0 oz

Our gripes about the Western Mountaineering MegaLite are few and minor: the hood closure is a bit awkward, and the zipper is good but not great. More notably, it's plain expensive. Still, we think it's worth the investment for serious backpackers trekking in cold places, especially considering this rugged bag has lasted with us for many years. One of our testers reports, “This is the bag for the backpacker who wants everything and doesn't mind paying for it, and I wouldn't hesitate recommending it if you've got the budget.”

Read more: Western Mountaineering MegaLite review

Best Budget Down Sleeping Bag

Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15

A sack full of feathers isn't cheap. Fortunately, the Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15 provides amazing bang for your buck. It's filled with a generous 21 ounces of 650-fill power duck down and weighs just over 2 pounds, giving it a great warmth-to-weight ratio. While it has only the standard set of sleeping bag features, those it includes are well done. Tester Ian McEleney notes, “I appreciate its long zipper, and glow-in-the-dark zipper pull — they make answering nature's call in the dark far easier.” The bag's liner is also smartly designed in a bright color, making it easier to find small items inside than many other models in darker shades. It also has generous measurements that will allow most backpackers to sleep comfortably. If you're looking for the cheapest down bag in the lot, check out the Kelty Cosmic 20. It doesn't perform nearly as well, but it costs much less.

Listed Temp Rating (Lower Limit)	15°F (EN)
Fill Power	650 FP
Insulation	Down, RDS-certified
Measured Weight (Size Regular)	2.3 lbs
Measured Compression/Stuff Sack Weight	1.9 oz

Most casual backpackers probably won't notice the downsides of the Bishop Pass, but it has a few limitations when compared across the lineup. It is not as light as ultra-premium options like the Feathered Friends Hummingbird UL 30 or the Western Mountaineering MegaLite, and its 650FP down insulation is not as lofty as the higher fill power down found inside more expensive competitors. This is likely why more fill is inside, making it a heavier bag overall. Our testers found the 15-degree rating to be consistent with the lower limit EN ratings of similar bags, keeping in mind it will lose most of its insulating power if it gets wet, just like any other down bag. Critiques aside, we think the Bishop Pass is the best budget down bag currently available. If you're searching for the least expensive option, the TETON Sports Trailhead is a decent synthetic alternative, though it's much less warm for around the same weight, and we wouldn't take it anywhere with truly chilly nights.

Read more: Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15 review

Best Budget Synthetic Sleeping Bag

REI Co-op Trailmade 20

Outdoor gear is getting more expensive, and we rarely see any key items for our backpacking kit sold in the price range of the REI Co-op Trailmade 20, let alone one of the most important pieces. Though this sleeping bag may boast a low price tag, it's not limited in features or performance — for a synthetic bag. It's comfortable for all but the most rowdy sleepers or the biggest hikes. Lead tester Ian McEleney says, “For the occasional backpacker in a rainy climate or anyone wanting to test out backpacking without making a significant financial commitment, I think this is a great choice — it's a perfect introductory bag.” The Trailmade 20 has several great details, including long zipper pulls, different drawcords for different parts of the hood, and a bright yellow interior that makes finding that lost sock in the morning easy. Because it has recycled polyester insulation, it will also keep you warmer than down if you happen to get wet.

Listed Temp Rating (Lower Limit)	21°F (ISO)
Fill Power	Not listed
Insulation	Synthetic - (98% recycled polyester; bluesign approved)
Measured Weight (Size Regular)	3.2 lbs
Measured Compression/Stuff Sack Weight	1.6 oz

A few tradeoffs come with the REI Co-op Trailmade 20's low price. In general, synthetic insulation just isn't as light and packable as down is for a comparable temperature rating. This proves to be the case here. Though not the heaviest synthetic bag we tested, the Trailmade is heavier than all the down bags in our review, and even with a compression sack (not included), it's still bulky. We got it down to nine liters of pack volume during testing, which was far less compact than most other down or synthetic options in the lineup. Though you'll rarely be in below-freezing temperatures when summer backpacking, our testers who run cold found they became a bit chilly when using this bag down to 20 degrees. If you want to stay warm, the Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15 or NEMO Disco Endless Promise 15 are well-priced down options worth considering. Nevertheless, we think the Trailmade 20 is an excellent synthetic value worthy of consideration. An even lower-priced, though also lower-performing, synthetic bag is the TETON Sports Trailhead.

Read more: REI Co-op Trailmade 20 review

Best for Colder 3-Season Conditions

Western Mountaineering UltraLite

If you know you “sleep cold” or have plans for colder trips in the spring or fall, the Western Mountaineering UltraLite is the bag for you. With 17 ounces of 850+ fill power down and a legit draft collar, this is the warmest bag in our test. Our cold-sleeping lead tester used it at 12,000 feet in October and had no problems staying warm. At the same time, its full-length zipper and horizontal baffle construction provide ample options to shed heat and cool off on warmer nights. He says, “I slept quite comfortably across an expansive range of overnight temperatures ranging from 10° to 55°F, without any problem.” The REI Co-op Magma 15 also has a low limit temperature of 9°F and a lower price. Yet it doesn't have continuous horizontal baffles nor the same superior heat retention as the UltraLite.

Listed Temp Rating (Lower Limit)	14°F (manufacturer rated)
Fill Power	850+ FP
Insulation	Goose down, ethically sourced
Measured Weight (Size Regular)	1.8 lbs
Measured Compression/Stuff Sack Weight	1.0 oz

Unsurprisingly, exceptional performance as seen in the UltraLite tends to come at a premium price. Even so, many consumers will appreciate that Western Mountaineering is a small company producing all its bags in the USA. We feel most 3-season hikers can make do with a less insulated bag boasting a lighter weight and smaller packed size. For instance, the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 30 is lightweight and packs up very small for anyone simply needing something for those warmer nights. Drawbacks aside, if you want a fantastic sleeping bag that's almost guaranteed to keep you toasty under most 3-season conditions, the UltraLite is our top recommendation.

Read more: Western Mountaineering UltraLite review

Best for Fast and Light Adventures

Feathered Friends Hummingbird UL 30

The Feathered Friends Hummingbird UL 30 is our top choice when saving weight is paramount. Feathered Friends uses the highest fill power down we tested (950+) to create a really warm and shockingly light bag. The ultralight shell and liner fabrics help, too. Somehow, this bag also features a sturdy full-length zipper that's virtually immune to snagging. That same zipper provides ample venting options and the flexibility to share it as a quilt with a partner during an ultralight bivouac. “Our testers fought over this bag when they wanted to keep their packs as small as possible, and I agree, it's perfect for when you are going to be moving quickly and covering distance,” reports lead tester Ian McEleney.

Listed Temp Rating (Lower Limit)	30°F (manufacturer rated)
Fill Power	950+ FP
Insulation	Goose down, RDS-certified
Measured Weight (Size Regular)	1.3 lbs
Measured Compression/Stuff Sack Weight	1.0 oz

The Hummingbird UL achieves its low weight and high warmth by utilizing narrow dimensions. Slender backpackers, heavy sleepers, and others who don't find a mummy bag confining probably won't mind its dimensions. But others might not find it to be the ideal choice. We recommend the Nemo Forte 20 if you want a more roomy fit. Also, the ultra-high fill power down of the Feathered Friends Hummingbird UL comes with a matching ultra-high price point. If you can look beyond these downsides, you get a traditional mummy bag that supplies an unparalleled warmth-to-weight ratio and a cozy night's sleep. There may be no better bag out there when ounces really count the most — we haven't come across it yet.

Read more: Feathered Friends Hummingbird UL 30 review

Also Great for Ultralight Comfort

Sea to Summit Spark Down 15

What stands out to us most about the Sea to Summit Spark Down 15 regular is the soft, silky nylon and cozy goose down cushioning that makes sleep feel like a luxury after a long day of trekking with a heavy pack in the Sierra Nevada's. We were happy to see that this bag could compress down into a super-compact 6.8 liters, barely taking up any space in our pack. When we weighed it, it came in at 1.6 pounds, making it one of the lightest bags we've tested. We felt reasonably warm in this bag, especially above the waist, which is likely thanks to the addition of thoughtful features like the zipper and collar draft tubes filled with down feathers (although the collar isn't found on every version of the Spark Down). “My biggest sleeping bag pet peeve is when the draft collar feels suffocating, which makes it hard to sleep. The collar on this one has a much lower profile and is softer, but still effective at keeping cold air out. I love it!” said one of our testers. The 53.0-inch hip girth is also roomy enough for those who toss and turn in their sleep without sacrificing too much warmth. The footbox felt spacious enough for our feet, while also keeping them warm and toasty.

Listed Temp Rating (Lower Limit)	15°F (ISO)
Fill Power	850+ FP
Insulation	Non-PFAS Ultra-Dry Down
Measured Weight (Size Regular)	1.6 lbs
Measured Compression/Stuff Sack Weight	2.9 oz

While the zipper on this unit is burly and for the most part works fine, it doesn't have the same seamless feel as the Western Mountaineering MegaLite, and it did occasionally snag the bag, which is disappointing considering it's advertised as an “anti-snag slider”. And while we love the feel of the fabric, we have some concerns about long-term durability, considering how fragile it felt to the touch. “I would be nervous about this bag ripping apart easily if it were to catch on something, more so than other bags I tested,” said our tester. This bag is also fairly expensive, and in this price range, there are lighter and warmer bags. But, if you're able to find this bag on sale, we highly recommend it.

Read more: Sea to Summit Spark Down 15 review

How We Tested

Our review team has researched hundreds of the most popular backpacking sleeping bags before selecting and purchasing the most popular among them to undergo extensive hands-on testing. We measured warmth, weight, and packed size in the lab. We assessed performance metrics, including comfort, versatility, and design, in California's spectacular Sierra Nevada, Wyoming's Wind River Range, Zion National Park, and Death Valley National Park. Bags were tested at elevations ranging from 150 feet below sea level to 14,000 feet above, with nighttime lows between 10°F and 70°F.

This review is also unique because it directly compares Western Mountaineering and Feathered Friends products. These specialty manufacturers have a reputation for sourcing some of the best goose down products on the market, but their reluctance to give away free samples means that not many of their products end up in reviews. Fortunately, GearLab's policy to purchase every piece of gear that we test gives us the flexibility to include models from both companies in this comprehensive review. And we're glad we did — they're well-made sleeping bags that achieved some of the highest overall scores.

Our testing of backpacking sleeping bags is divided into five different metrics:

• Warmth (25% of total score weighting)

• Weight (25% weighting)

• Comfort (20% weighting)

• Packed Size (15% weighting)

• Features (15% weighting)

Why Trust GearLab

Lead tester Ian McEleney started playing outside in New England, and like many others, over time, he has made his way west. He now lives and guides in the Sierra Nevada as an AMGA-certified alpine guide who has helped over 1,000 clients select the ideal gear for their backpacking, mountaineering, and climbing goals.

Co-author Jack Cramer is an accomplished climber, former member of the Yosemite Search and Rescue team, and undeniable gear nerd.

They've both spent the better part of the last two decades in the backcountry, developing the expertise to evaluate all sorts of outdoor gear. For this review, they consulted with Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers, National Outdoor Leadership School alumni, manufacturer reps, and novice backpacker friends to ensure a diverse array of perspectives.

Analysis and Test Results

Good design is a balancing act, and that's certainly true for backpacking sleeping bags. Add enough insulation to make the bag warm enough for every situation, and it can become too heavy. Cut that weight by shortening the zipper, and you reduce the ability to vent excess heat. It's a game of tradeoffs that varies by personal preference and planned usage. To evaluate today's top sleeping bags, we selected five performance areas that are sometimes at odds with one another: warmth, weight, comfort, packed size, and features. The push and pull between these metrics results in bags that are good for different uses and users. We've accounted for every performance aspect so you can hone in on the ones that most matter to you.

What's the Best Value?

Sleeping bags come in a broad range of prices for products that ostensibly serve the same purpose. After extensive testing, we can confidently say that a bag's price reflects real performance differences. Nothing came close to the Feathered Friends and Western Mountaineering bags in terms of absolute performance—they demonstrated clear superiority in overall design, build quality, and warmth-to-weight ratios. Anyone willing to shell out for a high-end sleeping bag will get something that will last a decade or more if properly cared for. However, these exceptional sleeping bags are beyond the budget of many backpackers.

For less than half the price of the premium bags, the Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15 provides an exceptional deal. Although a little heavier and bulkier on the trail, you will likely sleep just as well once you get it to camp. The synthetic REI Co-op Trailmade 20 is the other high-value bag in our tests. It fared well compared to the other synthetic models in our review, and the price can't be beat. For backpackers with a bigger budget, a bargain bag can be used for car camping, travel, or emergencies, and a premium bag can be saved for trips when performance really matters.

Warmth

The warmth of a sleeping bag depends primarily on the quality and quantity of the insulation. Models with down insulation are generally lighter, more packable, and more expensive. They can also keep their loft for a long period if you take good care of them. Bags with synthetic insulation are usually heavier, bulkier, and less expensive. That said, wet down loses all of the insulating properties, and it can take a long time to dry down after a soaking. Synthetic bags will also lose some warmth when wet, but overall, they will keep you warmer than down bags under these circumstances. So, synthetics can be better choices for particularly wet activities (like packrafting) or damp environments.

For down bags, you can make a rough estimate of the warmth by considering the fill power and fill weight. Fill power is a measurement of the “loftiness” of the down fill, corresponding to the amount of air a certain weight of down can trap. More trapped air translates into more trapped body heat. Sleeping bags usually contain down with a fill power between 500 and 900, with higher numbers indicating higher insulating ability. Fill weight is simply the amount of down inside the sleeping bag. Though manufacturers like to boast about fill power more, we think fill weight is much more important. Two sleeping bags with the same fill weight and fill power might not provide identical warmth, but they should be pretty close. However, other design elements (like hood design, zippers, baffles, draft collars, etc.) can also play a role.

Estimating warmth is trickier for sleeping bags with synthetic insulation because of the variety of proprietary materials. This makes a comparison between manufacturers nearly impossible. However, the fill weight should allow for a rough comparison; as with down, more insulation is warmer than with less. The REI Co-op Magma 15 has the highest fill weight of any down bag we tested, yet it wasn't the warmest of the down bags we tested (even with a matching 850 down fill power). In several cases, lighterweight bags proved even warmer in testing due to combined design choices that enhanced their insulating properties.

In an attempt to standardize sleeping bag warmth measurements, the European Committee for Standardization developed the EN 13537 standard, which is a test designed to provide consistent temperature ratings for all sleeping bags. The ISO (International Standards Organization) is a new entity that has joined the discussion, overseeing bag testing using a method that is almost identical to the EN bag test. Though the peculiar details of the testing protocols may arbitrarily favor certain designs while offering limited information on warmth under real-world conditions, the EN and ISO ratings seem more accurate than the manufacturer-advertised temperature ratings of the past. Feathered Friends, The North Face, and Teton Sports are three brands in our review that do not currently participate in EN or ISO testing for the models included.

Due to these issues, we evaluated warmth using real human testers. We spent three nights in each model in a 48°F room, putting each bag to the test outdoors when temperatures dipped into the 20-35°F range, and even beyond. We compared the bags to each other and their EN/ISO ratings. The difference between the warmest and coldest bags is more significant than each company's ratings imply.

Fit and design also affect warmth. If your sleeping bag is too roomy, your body has to heat all that extra space, making you feel colder. This goes for length and girth, so shorter humans might want to check out our women's sleeping bag review, which features shorter models. A bag that fits too tightly results in your body squeezing against the insulation, reducing its ability to trap heat. For maximum warmth, size your bag to fit snugly but not tightly.

Other design features that can affect warmth are zipper baffles and draft collars. Both features are extra bits of insulation positioned to stop heat from escaping from the zipper and hood, respectively. They're unnecessary for a summer backpacking sleeping bag, but we like to see them on bags with 20°F ratings and below. The Rab Neutrino 400 and Western Mountaineering UltraLite are two bags that feature excellent draft collars. While draft collars are great for warmth, they can sometimes detract from comfort, making the user feel somewhat restrained, especially when tossing from side to side. This is not the case with the Sea to Summit Spark Down 15 draft collar, which kept our body heat sealed in nicely without smothering us in our sleep.

As you'd probably guess, a higher score in this test means a warmer bag. However, a high score doesn't necessarily mean it's the best bag for you. More likely, if you're looking for a bag for most 3-season conditions, a score of 7 or 8 will probably be enough. For most hikers, the bags with the highest warmth rating are best suited for frosty nights at elevation or perhaps the shoulder seasons. For folks whose backpacking season starts on April Fool's Day and goes through Halloween, consider a 9 or 10.

Weight

The longer or more challenging your trips are, the more important weight becomes. A sleeping bag's weight is a consequence of the amount and type of insulation, the specific fabrics used, the bag's dimensions, and the nature of the features. Generally, higher-quality materials weigh less, but they cost more. Switching to a shorter zipper or a trimmer fit is one potential way to reduce weight, but it can affect comfort. We tested and measured all the bags in this review in size Regular.

To evaluate the weight, we used a digital scale to weigh each bag by itself, without any included stuff or compression sacks. Although we report the weight of stuff sacks individually, scores are based solely on the bag's weight. This is under the assumption that most users will opt for an aftermarket compression sack that is more effective at compression and potentially lighter weight.

There is an almost 2-pound difference between the lightest and heaviest bags in this review: the Feathered Friends Hummingbird UL 30 (our lightest bag) and the Nemo Forte 20 (the heaviest bag we tested). That's an enormous difference in the world of backpacking, where you're sometimes carrying a week's worth of necessities on your back. If you select similarly heavy gear for your entire overnight kit, the weight difference will quickly grow to double-digit pounds. That could easily be the difference between making it to camp before dark or turning back before your knees and back give out.

A sleeping bag is one of the top three heaviest items backpackers carry. A really light model, like the 1.3-pound Feathered Friends Hummingbird UL, is one of the most ultralight-friendly bags we tested, and can cut several pounds off your load. While this bag is pricey, we think it's well worth it for your joints, but also for overall enjoyment. Other ultralight-friendly bags worth considering are the Western Mountaineering MegaLite (1.5 pounds) and Sea to Summit Spark Down 15 (1.6 pounds), for their exceptional goose down, comfort, and warmth. Both are pricey, but if you plan to do a lot of backpacking or are considering a thru-hike, we think it's worth the cost.

A more affordable, lightweight choice for the budget backpacker is the Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15. At 2.3 pounds, it's not the lightest bag, but the few extra ounces are easy to overlook when you're spending half as much.

Comfort

For many, sleeping can be much harder outdoors when you're at the mercy of Mother Nature and zipped inside an ill-fitting tube. Although some can sleep like a log on a busy city bus, many find the unfamiliar and restrictive environment of a backpacking sleeping bag to be disruptive. If you're in the former group, rejoice! You can ignore our comfort evaluations. The latter should devote special attention to this assessment.

To evaluate comfort, we considered several factors: the dimensions and fit of each bag, the loft or fluffiness of the insulation, the feel of the interior fabric, and, in some cases, the noisiness of the materials. In this test, the bag's comfort score is our best subjective judgment of its fit, loft, feel, and noise performance.

Three bags provide impressive comfort in two different ways that are worth discussing. The Nemo Forte 20 is shaped like a broad hourglass rather than a tapered sarcophagus. The bottom of this hourglass offers an extra 12 (or more) inches of girth compared to ordinary bags, which gives side and tummy sleepers ample room to stretch their legs in any direction. This extra space for the hips and feet was noticeable even when compared to tapered bags with similar shoulder measurements. The NEMO Disco Endless Promise 15 is the same shape but four to six inches wider for even more space to move around.

Though we like the unique shape of the Nemo bags, the insulation is not as lofty as it appears, and the other materials aren't exceptionally soft. The final standout in our comfort tests is the Western Mountaineering MegaLite, which covers all the bases. Its 850+ fill power down and 12-denier ExtremeLite fabric combine to create a cozy cocoon of luxurious loft. While it has some of the most space around the shoulders and torso, the standard tapered mummy shape and narrow footbox won't be appreciated by everyone.

When sleeping in some of the most uncomfortable conditions in the High Sierra in late October with whipping winds and cold temperatures, the Sea to Summit Spark Down 15 felt like luxury. The 53-inch hip girth and 61-inch shoulder girth were just roomy enough for us to roll around in our sleep, but slender enough not to let too much dead space accumulate cold air. The footbox is 40 inches, which gave us enough space to stretch out. While we weren't exactly starfishing this bag, it wasn't restraining either.

The Spark's main allure is its velvety nylon fabric that feels light and feathery to the touch, and comes close to sleeping on a cloud. It occasionally makes soft crinkly sounds when we shift around in the bag, though they weren't loud enough to disturb our ears (or our tent-mates). That said, we do have some durability concerns with this 10D fabric on both the liner and the shell, as it's almost as thin as you can get and could rip more easily than other fabrics. Though, you shouldn't be bringing your sleeping bag around sharp objects anyway.

As these examples illustrate, a bag's comfort is inherently subjective; choosing one that matches your preferences is essential. Those who don't mind a mummy bag will likely prefer the luxurious materials of the MegaLite. Meanwhile, side sleepers may find the innovative, spacious shape of Nemo's Forte and Disco superior.

A facet of comfort we didn't think about before testing was the noisiness of the fabric. Our crew's lightest sleepers immediately noticed that certain crinkly fabrics could disturb their sleep. This issue was most noticeable with the Pertex Endurance shell of the Feathered Friends Hummingbird UL. Though earplugs easily resolve this issue, you should probably avoid this fabric if you're concerned about noise. Fortunately, the Hummingbird can also be purchased with a much quieter, more durable, and cheaper—but slightly heavier—Pertex Quantum shell fabric.

Packability

The bigger your backpack, the further its mass is from your center of gravity. This can make hiking with your pack more strenuous, leading to premature fatigue and ultimately less fun outdoors. Sleeping bags are usually one of the largest items in your overnight pack. Therefore, getting a bag that compresses smaller is a good way to reduce the size of your load and overall burden. As with weight, the more time you spend on the trail, or the more challenging that trail is, the more this becomes important.

All the bags we tested include a regular stuff sack or compression sack for storing them inside your backpack. The regular stuff sacks, however, are ineffective at compressing a sleeping bag. So, to evaluate packed size fairly, we used the same 11-liter Granite Gear Air Compressor compression sack to measure each bag's minimum compressed volume. We also noted how strenuous it was to stuff each bag back into its individual pack.

By and large, the compressed volumes we observed corresponded closely with the weight of each bag. A couple of exceptions are the Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15, which compresses roughly 10% smaller than its weight would suggest, and the Western Mountaineering UltraLite, which packs down 15% larger than comparable bags. The Western Mountaineering MegaLite also packed away very small, and super easily, saving us both space and time.

Although these discrepancies are worth noting, all the bags included in this review are small, especially compared to cheap car camping bags or the backpacking behemoths of yesteryear. So, we don't think packed size should be crucial to distinguish between today's nicest sleeping bags. However, depending on your plans and budget, it may be worth checking the difference in packed size between a premium and budget backpacking sleeping bag you're considering.

Features

“Features” is a catch-all category encompassing the performance characteristics that our other evaluation criteria did not address. Often, this evaluation separates high-performing inexpensive bags from lower-performing models like the Teton Sports Trailhead and Big Agnes Anthracite 20. The assessment considers extras like small stash pockets, sleeping pad attachment systems, and the qualities of the bag's zipper, among other things. We also assess the overall execution of the bag. Are all of its materials similarly durable? Do its warmth, weight, and dimensions make sense for its intended use?

Dark interiors turn the bag into a black hole for small items stuffed away, like a headlamp or electronics, while bright liners make them easy to find. Both Nemo bags, the Trailmade 20, the Bishop Pass, Sea to Summit Spark, and several others feature light-colored liner fabrics, often yellow.

We're also big fans of the full-length zippers on the Feathered Friends and Western Mountaineering bags. Both companies' bags have an internal strip of plastic in the adjacent fabric to direct the fabric away from the zipper teeth and reduce the risk of snagging. Feathered Friends bags also feature a Y-shaped, anti-snag zipper slider. The Sea to Summit Spark is also marketed as anti-snag, and while the design does the trick most of the time, it wasn't completely fool-proof, and our zipper did snag on occasion.

Most sleeping bag zippers include a pair of the interlocking pins on one end that allow you to connect and disconnect the left and right sides of the zipper. Easy to overlook, these tiny pins are necessary for restarting a zipper if it gets misaligned. A few models have done away with the pins, choosing instead to sew the ends of the zipper directly into the bags.

This design creates a possible problem. Even if you're careful, a zipper will occasionally snag. When that happens, there is always a chance that the teeth will get misaligned or the zipper slider will pop off from one side. With most bags, just restart the slider at the pins. But if misalignment occurs in the backcountry with the The North Face Cat's Meow, restarting the zipper or closing the bag properly could be impossible. And, fixing a misaligned zipper will likely require cutting it off the bag, realigning the teeth, and sewing it back together.

How To Pick The Best Sleeping Bag For You

Ignoring our test results for a moment, consider the following questions to help guide your purchase. The more honest and practical your answers are, the more likely you'll get the best bag for your needs.

Other Notable Sleeping Bags We Tested

While we only have a limited number of awards, we've tested tons of bags that are still light, warm, comfortable, and perfect for backpacking adventures. Below are the bags that didn't receive an award, but are still worth considering, especially if you can find them on sale.

• If you've saved up a lot of REI rewards, you might consider the REI Co-op Magma 15. This comfortable bag made of recycled nylon is in the middle of the pack when it comes to weight, measuring in at 2.3 pounds, but has a reasonably packable volume of 6.2 liters. We also appreciate that the Magma also comes in nine different size options. And, the stash pocket is a really nice touch, especially when you hear a strange sound in the dark and are scrambling around for a headlamp.

• The Feathered Friends Swallow 20 YF is a lighter-weight bag that's under 2 pounds and has a slightly larger packed volume that we measured to be 8.5 liters. This bag gets seriously warm, thanks to its draft tube, and is great for colder weather. It also has great loft and cushion around the head.

Conclusion

Sleeping under the stars can require just the right backpacking gear. We've done the work to help guide you to a top-notch backpacking tent, a comfy sleeping pad, and a well-designed backpack before you're ready to head out.

Deceptive marketing claims, a tremendous number of models on the market, and preposterous prices make sleeping bag shopping a daunting task. Our extensive testing process and thorough assessments aim to crack the code for three-season backpacking sleeping bags. If you're unsure what kind of sleeping bag you need, start with our general sleeping bag review for an overview of our favorites of all styles. Depending on your activities, you might be happier in a specialty ultralight option or a sleeping bag designed for car camping. Considering the right apparel like a top-rated rain jacket or a great hiking boot can also make a huge difference when it comes to your comfort and fun level. Happy trails!