Finest Sleeping Baggage of 2023

A good sleeping bag is critical to a successful camping trip. Sure, a good tent will keep you dry and a sleeping pad helps keep you comfortable (and warm). But, the right sleeping bag tops it all off, keeping you cozy all night long. No one wants to wake up tired because they spent the night shivering, sweating, or sliding onto bare ground. 

While mummy bags are all the rage for backpacking and hiking, sometimes you just need a bit more room to spread out. And where those bags make concessions to make weight and packability targets, sleeping bags made for camping are able to fully luxe out. From bags with toss-and-turn-ready shapes to integrated pillows and sheets, we pulled together a list of the most camping-ready sleeping bags on the market.

To evaluate the best sleeping bags, we took key performance factors into account, like temperature rating, construction, materials, and other features. We’ve collectively spent years sleeping under the stars using sleeping bags, and all of that knowledge went into testing. Then, from the mountains of the Pacific Northwest to the hills of Appalachia, we took to our tents and put the bags to the test.

Keep reading to peruse all our recommended bags, and at the end of the list, make sure to check out our helpful comparison chart, comprehensive buyer’s guide, as well as our FAQ section to answer any lingering questions. 

The Best Camping Sleeping Bags of 2023

Sleeping Bag Comparison Chart

Why You Should Trust Us

Our GearJunkie crew has slept in dozens of sleeping bags to bring you the best of the best. Every year, we saddle up and hit the woods for a week of testing the latest and greatest camping equipment. Reviewers from across the country converge to catch some Zzzs outdoors and put the best camping sleeping bags through a number of tests to prove their worth.

One of those reviewers is Kylie Mohr, who hails from Missoula, Montana, and has enjoyed sleeping outside since early childhood camping trips to the Olympic Peninsula. She’s since graduated to backpacking all across the Rockies, from the Tetons and Winds in Wyoming to Glacier National Park. 

A cold sleeper who used to complain about overnight temps before upgrading her bag in recent years, Mohr knows the importance of a good night’s sleep without a shiver in sight. She tested numerous bags in Montana’s late summer/early fall season when frost on tents isn’t an uncommon experience. And she’s pleased to report her new puppy didn’t manage to tear any of the bags — yet. 

The final list of recommended sleeping bags is the combined result of thorough firsthand experience across the nation and various conditions. Beyond our field tests and personal experience, we determined the best sleeping bags based on metrics like reported warmth, packability, weight, material durability, and intended use. Ultimately, these bags serve a range of campers in their quest for ample quality sleep outdoors. 

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Camping Sleeping Bag

It’s worth spending time finding the right sleeping bag. After all, this is a piece of gear that will not only keep you comfortable at night but can easily last through years of use.

And while there isn’t a single sleeping bag that’s best for every camper out there, this buyer’s guide will help identify the best bag for you.

It’s worth noting this article is aimed at general camping. While some may be fine for backpacking, most are better suited to car camping or short hike-in scenarios due to their size and weight. For longer trips in the backcountry, check out our review of the best backpacking sleeping bags.

Take a moment to imagine your camping future. Do you plan to spend a lot of time in the backcountry? Or do you mostly car camp? Do you sleep outside all year round? Or just in the warm summer months? Are you a side sleeper or a back sleeper? Do you snore? (Just kidding!) 

With this in mind, let’s jump into some important factors for choosing a sleeping bag.

Down or Synthetic Fill

Unless you’ve got a portable reactor tucked away in your bag, it’s important to note that sleeping bags don’t create warmth on their own; they reflect back and trap the warmth your body puts into the bag.

In order to do that, sleeping bags employ a few different types of insulation: down and synthetic fills. Each has its own benefits and shortcomings, and both are used heavily in camping sleeping bags. Because down is more compressible, it often is used in backpacking sleeping bags, whereas synthetic fills often find their way into camping sleeping bags.

Down Insulation

Like the insulation of many down jackets, the down insulation in many sleeping bags comes from the soft plumage of birds — mostly geese and ducks. These wispy under feathers are different from the flight feathers, and have an incredible warmth-to-weight ratio.

As the best insulator nature has come up with yet, down is able to insulate by trapping air in between the fibers and holding it there. It also has the ability to release moisture from within, meaning sleeping bags made with it are more breathable than those made with synthetic fill. 

Down sourced from geese is often finer than that of ducks, and thus insulates at a slightly higher level as well as tolerating compression better. This also means that it commands the highest price when used in a sleeping bag.

All down lands on a sort of continuum of efficiency that measures how much loft the fibers have. This “fill power” is measured by filling a cylinder with one ounce of down and taking its weight, landing it somewhere on a scale that typically runs from 600 all the way to 900 for premium goose downs. The North Face The One, uses a high-quality 800 fill weight down.

A higher fill power down will do the same insulating power of a higher amount of lesser down, meaning that a sleeping bag will need less of it to sport the same temperature rating. For example, a 32-degree sleeping bag made with 650 fill down will have more bulk and weight than that of a 32-degree bag made with 850 fill down.

The final metric to pay attention to in a down sleeping bag is the total fill amount, typically given in ounces. Knowing both numbers will give you a more accurate idea of how warm the sleeping bag is bound to be. 

Down does have its problems, particularly once it becomes wet. Once damp it loses a considerable amount of insulating power and is tough to dry. It also can be on the pricier side when compared to synthetic insulations, and shouldn’t be left compressed for long periods of time.

Synthetic Insulation

Synthetic fills are man-made polyester fibers that are designed to mimic the warmth-retention properties of down, but still provide some warmth once wet. These fibers are woven in different patterns to provide differing levels of warmth, breathability, and compressibility. 

There are many different brands of synthetic fill, including market leader PrimaLoft, 3M, and others, as well as many proprietary technologies. All can be categorized by two broad filament styles: short strand or continuous.

Short-strand synthetics use shorter fibers to up the density of their fills and create warmth similar to the way that down does. These materials can shift around with time, and create cold spots. Continuous fiber synthetics get around this by using much longer filaments, woven into themselves to make a stronger and more durable material.

Synthetic fills are measured by the grams per meter squared (GSM) metric. This gives users an idea of how warm the sleeping bag will end up being. For example, a synthetic fill with a 2.5 oz. GSM can expect to provide a temperature rating of around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. 

While there has been considerable improvement in synthetic fills over the years, we still haven’t been able to brew up a material that can match down in terms of weight-to-warmth ratio. Because of that, sleeping bags made with synthetic materials will need more insulation to provide the same amount of warmth. This will also mean that they often will be bulkier when packed. While our best glamping bag, the Sierra Designs Frontcountry Bed, was cozy as all get-out, it also packs up to a substantial size.

It’s important to note that synthetic fibers are quite durable, but over time will compress down and lose the loft that they once had. Compared to down bags, however, they need a good bit less care in order to keep the sleeping bag rolling for a long time. 

Warmth

Sleeping bags come with a temperature rating, but it’s not always clear what that number means. Depending on the person, a 20-degree bag might keep you cozy down to 20 degrees, or it might be more of a survival number.

Sure, you’ll make it through, but you’ll spend the night shivering instead of snoozing. Women tend to sleep colder than men. And for that reason, women’s-specific sleeping bags tend to be warmer.

Bags often get rated for comfort — the lowest temperature a bag will keep an average cold sleeper comfortable — and lower limit — the lowest temperature for an average warm sleeper. The ratings are calculated using a person wearing long underwear and a pair of socks, and sleeping on an insulated pad. 

But everybody’s body and comfort levels vary, and factors like posture, clothing, wind, and humidity affect how insulated, or not, you’ll feel. The important thing to determine is if you’re a warm or cold sleeper. We recommend that cold sleepers choose a bag on the warmer end of the spectrum, even for summer camping. 

Options like the NEMO Jazz Synthetic Sleeping Bag and The North Face The One were among our resident cold sleepers’ favorite bags. Think about any comfort rating as a guideline when comparing bags, not a guarantee of warmth in said forecast. 

Packed Size

Packed size is of particular importance when backpacking. Being able to pack your bag into the smallest stuff sack possible means more room for gear (or snacks). But, related to the point above, you’ll need to balance this with a bag that’s warm enough.

Anyone looking to minimize pack weight should consider something like the Questar sleeping bag. This 32-degree bag weighs in at just 1 pound 15 oz. and packs down impressively small.

On the other hand, if you mostly plan to car camp, the 9-pound Kelty Tru.Comfort Doublewide could be the plush nighttime nest of your dreams.

Shell Fabric

As with down treatment, most sleeping bags from reputable brands will use synthetic shell fabrics and liners. Because of the inherent elements in the outdoors, technical sleeping bags do not use soft, natural fabrics like cotton.

Most bags will use a ripstop material for the outer shell. Ripstop is a nylon or polyester fabric woven with heavier threads to resist abrasion and tearing. The unique construction of ripstop also allows it to remain fairly breathable.

As for bag liners, taffeta is among the most common choices. This is also a nylon or polyester material, but unlike the coarse feel of ripstop, taffeta has a pleasant, silky feel. And it is more breathable. This makes it an ideal choice for next-to-skin pieces. Some of the bags we reviewed, like the NEMO Jazz, have a removable insert sheet that’s washable and soft. 

Size

Increasingly, brands offer one sleeping bag model in various lengths, oftentimes short, regular, and long. Some, though not many, even offer width options. The new REI Co-op Trailmade bag is available in an impressive six different size variations in order to fit campers of any size or shape.

Typically, a regular-size sleeping bag will accommodate someone from about 5’7″ to about 6’1″. If you like more room for your feet and don’t think the extra air will make your toes chilly, size up to a long. 

Women’s-Specific Sleeping Bags

What makes a women’s sleeping bag different? Generally, they are slightly warmer and smaller. So regardless of gender, if you are shorter in stature or tend to be cold when sleeping, a women’s-specific bag could be a good choice. A bag like the Sea to Summit Altitude is shaped specifically with more space in the hips, as well as additional insulation in key spots to ensure folks with small frames stay toasty warm all night.

Extra Features

From extra zippers to “gills that breathe,” there are all types of extra features being added to bags these days. Some are just marketing hype, but many really do make for a better sleeping experience.

The budget-friendly Kelty Galactic has a great cellphone pocket, and the Big Agnes Diamond Park integrates perfectly with a sleeping pad. Other features to consider are sleeping bags that zip together, extra zippers for venting, and a cinchable hood.

FAQ