Mattress-Like Consolation and One Much less Factor to Pack

I’ll be honest, I never considered myself to be the type of person who would invest in a two-person sleeping bag. As someone who tends to side sleep, and toss and turn after long days of gear testing, sharing limited bag space doesn’t sound like fun.

But recently, I tried the Big Agnes Dream Island Doublewide sleeping bag, and have come around to the idea. At the very least, it is an amazing solution to staying warm when the temps drop and you want to share some body heat with your partner.

Double sleeping bags like this one can be — and often are — bulky. But they aren’t necessarily heavier and they do offer various temperature ratings depending on what you need. They also have a lot of perks over traditional bags depending on the type of sleepers you and your tent mate are.

In short: The Big Agnes Dream Island Doublewide Sleeping Bag ($250) is the closest I’ve felt to sleeping in a “bed” outside. You can share the covers, or not. The design is roomy, but packs down well enough for car camping (even with a smaller vehicle or limited trunk space) and storage. The Doublewide has a pillow insert, a draft collar, covers, pockets, and more to differentiate sleeping areas for each user. Finally, there are corner tie-downs to keep the sleeping pad and bag together in place. I had some success using two different brand pads, but a thicker mattress or double sleeping pad worked best.

Big Agnes Dream Island 35 Doublewide Sleeping Bag Review

The Big Agnes Dream Island Doublewide comes in two versions. There’s a 20-degree (which replaced the older Dream Island 15, which I’ve used once before), and this 35-degree version. Overall, it’s a great value if you have a steady partner or tentmate and haven’t yet dialed in a sleep system together. I’d also consider it a nice warm-weather-season introduction to double sleeping bags.

Everything about the Dream Island functions as it should. The zippers all slide easily, the hood cinch toggle can be used one-handed, and there’s ample room in width and length (testing with two people under 6 feet tall). The interior lining is soft, the outer material is quiet, and even with two people, it doesn’t feel like you are fighting for the quilt covers.

To compare, there are plenty of double bags on the market. And unlike mummy sleeping bags for the outdoors that could run anywhere from $100 to $700, doublewide bags seem to occupy a narrower price range ($175-300).

Popular models include the Kelty Tru.Comfort Double ($210), The North Face Dolomite One Duo Sleeping Bag ($250, currently on sale for $175), REI Camp Dreamer ($300), and NEMO Jazz 30 ($350). There are a few more on the market from smaller brands as well.

The Big Agnes Dream Island is competitively priced at $250. But it has a lot of features that other bags don’t. It also has one of the widest measurements for shoulder girth and hip girth (aka more room!). The weight is manageable at just under 6 pounds. And I found it much less noisy in terms of fabric and materials compared to both the Kelty Tru.Comfort and Therm-a-rest’s Vela 20-degree double sleeping bag (which I almost didn’t bother mentioning since it’s $450).

Real-World Testing: Doubling Down on our Sleep System

I traded in my favorite and most reliable sleep system for the opportunity to share a bag — to test this bag — so you don’t have to! I’ve been testing this double sleeping bag on multiple back-to-back camping trips all summer and fall. I used it in two-, four-, and six-person tents with two people and (sometimes) two dogs.

Generally, if I can reduce the number of things I need to pack, I will. Same for comfort: if this bag can offer a comfier and better sleep experience, why not opt for it? And if this system also shaves some weight, that’s just gravy.

The dogs will want part of the action, but trust me: if you’ve already got two humans in the mix, you’ll want this double bag all to yourself. It’s a sleeping bag, after all, not a giant wool throw. And inversely, it’s also not a lean, slimmed-down ultralight down mummy.

I was actually impressed how some of Big Agnes’ more technical and performance qualities translated from bags like its Torchlight and women’s Sunbeam to this more casual camping Dream Island — at least, the 35-degree version. There is a Dream Island 20-degree in addition to the 35-degree that is warmer and better for more varying weather. But we only tested the latter version.

One of the biggest highlights was its warmth and coverage. It has sleeping bag features like a draft collar, a hood, and extra materials to account for sharing the covers (and side sleepers). Having this bigger bag was obviously better than two separate bags when we wanted to share body heat. And, it allowed the dogs to snuggle up closer when we gave them permission.

Drawbacks? Hard to Come By, but There’s One

I wouldn’t say that the Big Agnes Dream Island Doublewide one is the best camping sleeping bags around. But it offers ample room and is very functional. It’s perfect for constant and frequent car camping trips and hard use.

Its faults? You can definitely feel the warmth seeping out of the bottom fabric of the bag. The insulation down there could be better. I would love to see this bottom fabric insulated or bolstered a bit in any future updates from the brand. But as all camping experts know, a sleeping bag is also only as good as the pad you pair it with.

If you’re using your Dream Island when temps drop, be prepared with a thicker mattress (say a 4-inch EXPED double, or anything with an R-value in the 5-8 range.) It also doesn’t hurt to wear socks or even booties.

I’d also like to mention an included feature that’s definitely a pro, but could be seen as a con. The Dream Island comes with cords on the corners — aka “corner savers.” They keep all four pad corners tightly together to reduce any slipping or gaps. But setting up a double sleeping bag correctly and comfortably is easier said than done. It really does help to have two of the same sleeping pad, at least in brand and thickness.

And ideally, if you are splurging for this double bag, consider purchasing a doublewide pad as well. In my experience without a double pad, it’s a little annoying to get two different pads and this bag all in the right place. When testing with a full-size camping mattress, it was tenfold better.

Big Agnes Dream Island Doublewide Sleeping Bag: Conclusion

I am someone who, broadly speaking, doesn’t get the greatest sleep. My hips and back hurt from backpacking 20 miles, or they just ache in general. My mind is always running. I also like having my personal space.

That being said, I’ve camped hundreds of times, and often elbow to elbow with various tent mates. Sharing a tent is one thing, but sharing a bag? This is the ultimate question and it really depends if it’s a fit for you … and a consideration for whoever you choose to share the bag with.

I have thoroughly enjoyed sleeping in the Big Agnes Dream Island Doublewide. The weight is not bad compared to two individual bags. One bag has made it way easier to pack away our tent and sleep system in the backseat of the car for quick trips to the mountains.

The temperature rating of 35 degrees performed well in summer and fall temps (20-45 degrees at night). But honestly, if you plan on using a double bag for tons of adventures year-round, the warmer and more capable Dream Island 20-degree version would be worth considering — though that version is $50 more (at $300) and 15 ounces heavier.

Hands down, if you’ve yet to find a dialed double sleep system you like, consider the Big Agnes Dream Island. Its components function really well (especially the pad and pillow integration), it’s plenty cozy, and overall, it was a convenient choice for car camping. It’s the comfort and feel of a bed without having your bed with you. And hey, it means there’s one less thing to pack!

Check Dream Island 35° Price at Big Agnes

Check Big Agnes Dream Island 20° Price at Backcountry