The 9 Best Sleeping Bags of 2024

You’ve nailed down your camping trip and your crew, your meals, and your itinerary. But planning for your sleep setup is a priority one, because if you can’t get a good night’s sleep, you won’t have a good daytime experience. Sure, it can seem like whatever will do — it’s just a couple of nights, right? — but having a sleepless night in the outdoors can ruin a trip. So your choice of the best sleeping bags is a crucial decision.

Best Three-Season: Marmot Trestles 30

Best for Cold Weather: Nemo Sonic Down Mummy Sleeping Bag

Best for Summer: Marmot Voyager 55

Best Double: TETON Sports Celsius Mammoth Double Sleeping Bag

Best for Kids: Marmot Kids’ Trestles Elite Eco 30° Sleeping Bag

Best for Dogs: Alcott Adventure

Best Down: Nemo Riff

Most Affordable Down: Marmot Ironwood 30

Best Budget: Coleman Brazos 20

The Basics of The Best Sleeping Bags

The best sleeping bags depend on the season you’ll be using them, but that’s not to say you need to invest in more than one. It does, however, mean that it’s not a one-size-fits-all situation. There are contextual questions you need to ask — about climate, mode of transportation, size, preference, and of course, budget — but before you dive into those, it pays to understand some principles, measures, and materials that cover all bags.

Fit: While you may love your California king at home, bigger isn’t better when it comes to finding the best sleeping bags. The more empty space there is inside, the harder it is to keep warm. A snug fit means less cold air — hence the design of the mummy sleeping bag.

Heat rating: Sleeping bags have standardized heat ratings (specified as “EN” or “ISO” ratings) that note the lowest degree of comfort for the average sleeper. You want something that goes slightly below the temperatures you’ll face, and know that your experience will vary based on a host of factors, including wind, humidity, whether your body sleeps hot or cold, and more.

Sleep style: Don’t neglect your sleeping position. If you find it impossible to sleep on your back, you’re not going to magically do so while outdoors, and tightly cut mummy bags might be too restricting. Nemo Equipment sleeping bags are cut to keep that tailored fit for warmth while also striving to be the best sleeping bags for side sleepers.

Fill material: Sleeping bags are lofted with either down or synthetic fill. Down sleeping bags tend to be more expensive (especially goose down, rather than duck down), and they definitely have their perks. For starters, they’re significantly lighter than synthetic bags of the same warmth rating. But they’re not always the better choice, especially when dampness is a factor. Even treated down doesn’t do as well as synthetic in wet conditions.

Occupant: Sleeping bags are generally sold by gender, but that’s not a hard and fast rule to follow. Double sleeping bags, a.k.a. two-person sleeping bags, allow couples to share space (and body heat!). Kids sleeping bags are sized for smaller bodies, of course, but also tend to be heat-rated in proportion, too. Dog sleeping bags keep a camp pup happy.

Size and Weight: Bag weight and how much it matters is mostly a question of how you’re getting to your campsite. If you’re driving, it won’t matter much. If you’re on foot — or intend to be in the future — get a down sleeping bag.

And a word to the wise: Don’t bundle up inside your bag; clothing actually interferes with insulation doing its job. It’s the “help me help you” of letting the best sleeping bags perform like it.

The Best Sleeping Bags: Reviews & Recommendations

Best Three-Season: Marmot Trestles 30

Key Features

Weight: 3.3 lbs

Shape: Mummy

Fill Materials: Synthetic

Temp Rating: 30°F

Pros

Continues to insulate when wet

Limited lifetime warranty

Fairly roomy for a mummy bag

Fold down zipper design for more ventilation

Affordable price

Cons

Heavy for temp rating due to synthetic insulation

If you’re looking for one sleeping bag to carry you through most climates and circumstances, the Marmot Trestles series won’t let you down. No bag is waterproof, but this one’s fill is designed for better performance in damp conditions. It is rated to function down to 30°F, but keep in mind that temperature is the rating to keep you alive, not necessarily the one that will keep you comfortable. Pair this bag with one of the best sleeping bag liners, and you’ll have an excellent setup to get you through the summer and shoulder seasons of camping.

Best for Cold Weather: Nemo Sonic Down Mummy Sleeping Bag

Key Features

Weight: 3 lbs 2 oz

Shape: Mummy

Fill Materials: 800 FP RDS Down

Temp Rating: 0°F / -20°F

Pros

100% Bluesign approved materials

Comfortable for side sleeping

NEMO lifetime warranty

Warm, waterproof foot box

Cons

Price

Also available with a -20°F temperature rating, the Nemo Sonic Mummy Bag is our top pick for the best cold-weather sleeping bag. It provides the necessary warmth in a durable and long-lasting package, all while using responsible materials. Even though it is rated for such cold temperatures, it is still highly packable and comes with a compression sack and a mesh storage bag.

The bag is comfortable to sleep in, even with the mummy design. If you are a side sleeper, the bag has enough space to allow for tossing and turning in the night without compromising heat retention. Pair this bag with Tensor Alpine Ultralight Sleeping Pad for an even better cold-weather camping experience.

Best for Summer: Marmot Voyager 55

Key Features

Weight: 1.75 lbs

Shape: Mummy

Fill Materials: SpiraFil high-loft down

Temp Rating: 55°F

Pros

Affordable price

Packs down small

Lightweight materials

Good moisture resistance

Cons

May be too small for larger/taller individuals

Only good for peak summer months

The summer sleeping bag conundrum is how to get comfort without overheating. The solution: This Marmot mummy sleeping bag is rated at 55 degrees and has a full-length zipper so that it can be used as an open blanket or just for extra ventilation. It’s available in two sizes, but those sizes don’t accommodate larger individuals all that well. The bag packs down nice and small, making this an excellent backpacking or bikepacking option for hot climates or summertime adventures. While the materials seem of decent quality and should hold up with use, the zippers are likely the first thing that will break. Zippers can easily be replaced, and with careful use and some zipper maintenance, you can get a longer life out of the entire bag.

Best Double: TETON Sports Celsius Mammoth Double Sleeping Bag

Key Features

Weight: 16.5 lbs

Shape: Double Wide Rectangle

Fill Materials: SuperLoft Elite Hollow Fiber

Temp Rating: +20°F or 0°F

Pros

Lifetime warranty

Large, roomy size

Comfortable materials

Square design with a mummy hood

Cons

Weight

The TETON Sports two-person sleeping bag is available in two temperature ratings and several color options. The bag is rather heavy (16.5 lbs), so it is a comfy, cozy option for car camping or even in an RV/camper van but not suitable for backpacking. It is a double-wide rectangle-shaped bag, but it has a mummy hood and a draft collar to keep you warm on colder nights. It also unzips completely, creating a large blanket the size of two standard-size comforters. If you can get past the weight of this bag, it is a durable two-person option.

Best for Kids: Marmot Kids’ Trestles Elite Eco 30° Sleeping Bag

Key Features

Weight: 1 lb 14 oz

Shape: Mummy

Fill Materials: Synthetic

Temp Rating: 30°F

Pros

High quality materials

Long design to fit a child as they grow

Synthetic materials make it easy to clean

Lifetime warranty

Cons

Doesn’t pack down very small

This 30-degree Marmot is designed to withstand damp conditions (note: no bag is waterproof). It’s cut to fit those under five feet tall but still plenty long to fit taller kids or to use as your kids grow. It uses the same Marmot Trestles design, meaning it has the same features and quality. It is just sized down to fit children. Since it is designed for kids, it is ideal that the fill and outer materials are made from synthetics as they are easier to maintain and keep clean. Plus, they continue to insulate when wet.

Best for Dogs: Alcott Adventure

Key Features

Weight: 1 lb

Shape: Oval

Fill Materials: Synthetic

Temp Rating: 40°F

Pros

Available in three sizes

Easy to clean

Unzips all the way

Soft interior

Cons

Bulky for backpacking

Not very water resistant other than the bottom

This affordable dog sleeping bag comes in three sizes, has a waterproof base, and rolls up for transport in an included bag. This bag won out in terms of value and functionality, but if you are looking for a more durable product, you’ll want to upgrade to the Ruffwear Highlands Dog Sleeping Bag. This bag still gets the job done, and most dogs enjoy it. It is plenty warm for summer and mild weather camping, but with a 40°F, the seasons of use are somewhat limited. 

Best Down: Nemo Riff

Key Features

Weight: 2 lbs 6 oz

Shape: Mummy

Fill Materials: 800 fill power hydrophobic RDS down

Temp Rating: 15-30°F

Pros

Comfortable for side sleepers

Responsibly sourced materials

Thermo gills to help with temperature regulation

Lightweight and compressible

Cons

Could have better warmth-to-weight ratio

While we could likely rank any of Nemo’s down sleeping bags in this category, we settled on the Nemo Riff. It has 800-fill power down insulation, which means this thing can bring the heat (and will be ultra-plush), but a proprietary venting system dubbed “Thermo Gill” technology means you will not overheat. It comes in long and regular sizes and at 15- and 30-degree ratings. One stand out against other mummy bags that Nemo has perfected (in our opinion) is that many of their designs, including this one, are comfortable for side sleepers. You won’t feel claustrophobic in these bags, but they’ll still keep you warm and cozy when used in the proper conditions.

Most Affordable Down: Marmot Ironwood 30

Key Features

Weight: 2.6 lbs

Shape: Mummy

Fill Materials: 650-fill power down

Temp Rating: 30°F

Pros

Available in long and regular sizes

Lifetime warranty

Doesn’t lose much loft when damp

More affordable than other down bag options

Cons

Doesn’t seem to use high-quality zippers or drawstrings (prone to breaking)

A remarkable price for a down sleeping bag from a great sleeping bag brand, this one is designed to keep you comfortable down to 30 degrees. The down, at a 650 down fill power, has been treated to improve water resistance, and design choices like ground-level side seams boost the performance, too. Need one for colder temps? Go for the Marmot Ironwood 20.

Best Budget: Coleman Brazos 20

Key Features

Weight: 5.3 lbs

Shape: Rectangle

Fill Materials: Synthetic

Temp Rating: 20 °F

Pros

Machine washable

Two can zip together

Fairly durable materials

Comfort cuff to help retain heat

Cons

Weight

Zipper will be the first part to break

This is a classic, trusty sleeping bag with a 20-degree warmth rating. It doesn’t have a mummy shape or a hood for warmth and comfort, but it does have a soft lining—and a price that’s roughly 15% of some leading sleeping bags. If you are just starting out and are primarily car camping, or you want a sleeping bag to keep around for your kid’s backyard campouts, this is an excellent option. It also works well as a backup comforter as it can unzip fully to be a blanket.

Things To Consider When Looking For The Best Sleeping Bags

What is the climate where (and when) you’ll be using the sleeping bag?

Climate is consideration number one in finding the best sleeping bags for your camping trip. If you’re only a summer camper — and you are also not in the mountains or another location where it still gets chilly in the evening — a three-season or warmer bag will treat you fine. And while waterproof sleeping bags are not a thing, look for a fill and outer material that are treated to perform well in wet conditions. (Also do not skimp on a tarp and camp mattress to keep you off the ground and away from the water.)

Do you need sleeping bags for the whole family?

If you’re shopping for the crew, you have several decisions to make. You may need a two-person sleeping bag for you and a partner, kids’ sleeping bags for younger campers, and even a dog sleeping bag, because, let’s face it, they’re family members — and they have much more domesticated needs than their wolf progenitors. 

Should you buy a down sleeping bag or one with synthetic fill?

Down sleeping bags tend to be more expensive, particularly those made with goose down (the price mostly has to do with the availability and processing of the feathers). A down sleeping bag is significantly lighter than a synthetic bag of the same warmth rating. This means the best backpacking sleeping bag, or best compact sleeping bag, is going to be a down sleeping bag.

However, in wet conditions, synthetic bags outperform down, so if you know you’ll consistently be contending with water (rain, humidity, dew, etc.) and if the weight does not outweigh price as a factor in your decision, a synthetic bag is likely the way to go. Many leading down sleeping bags are now treated to help the materials perform better when damp, although they still generally don’t match synthetic on that measure.

Are you looking for something well-cushioned and comfortable?

“Roughing it” is a relative term, and there’s a huge middle ground between backpacking and “glamping.” An air mattress makes things extra comfortable in this category — especially if you’re not in your 20s anymore. New mattress-ready sleeping bags make the whole thing a delight.

The Best Sleeping Bags on a Budget: What You Get for Less Than $40

Sometimes you’re just going on a weekend jaunt with friends in stable weather and would rather save your cash for something else. If your expectations are manageable — and if you don’t mind if your bag is heavy and bulky, as that’s a major trade-off with price — there are some very good budget sleeping bags out there.

FAQs

Final Thoughts on the Best Sleeping Bags

The best sleeping bags must be suited to your camping climate and how much of a factor water will be — not just with rain, but with humidity and dew. Pay attention to the warmth rating but also consider your particulars, like how your body temperature runs while sleeping, as well as wind, shelter, and other environmental factors that will affect the insulation’s performance. Also, make sure to choose the best sleeping bags that will accommodate your sleeping position.

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