Are You Planning an Ultralight Sleeping Bag Trip or Expedition to the High Peaks? Ultralight sleeping bags offer comfort and warmth at minimal weight – each model weighs less than 2 lb / 900 grams!

For this review, we conducted extensive tests on various mummy-style and hoodless sleeping bags to test them for warmth, comfort, packability and warmth. Here are our favorite picks.

Weight

Every ounce counts when backpacking through the backcountry, and our list of lightweight sleeping bags are carefully designed to combine warmth with packability. You won’t find many that weigh more than 2 lb – most come in well under that threshold!

Manufacturers take extreme measures to minimize weight, such as Therm-a-Rest’s Hyperion for front sleeping; its clever design holds nine ounces of lofty 900-loft down but packs into an ultra compact package thanks to just nine ounces.

Other manufacturers prioritize warmth while maintaining compactness, such as Feathered Friends’ Tanger 20 UL sleeping bag. This versatile hoodless bag can be used as either a quilt or partially zipped up for cold nights to transform it into a mummy style mummy bag; additionally it uses lighter-than-standard DRILITE loft fabric which uses less down than standard 850 loft down bags – making this backpacking bag one of the lightest options available to those sleeping cold who wish to reduce pack size.

Insulation

Insulation provided by sleeping bags is crucial for staying warm during the night, and lightweight sleeping bags using premium down, ultra-thin shell materials, and sleek features and dimensions to reduce weight without compromising warmth.

Fill power is the essential spec to consider, indicating how lofty or fluffinessy the down is. A higher number indicates better quality down; our best options have fill powers of 1,000 or higher.

Shape can also impact warmth; semi-rectangular bags like the Sea to Summit Spark provide an optimal combination of roominess and heat retention. If you prefer ultralight sleeping bags, consider the Feathered Friends Tanager as it forgoing zippers and hoods to reduce weight further while using high quality 800-fill down for ample warmth. When searching online you may also come across “compressed volume”, which indicates how many liters the bag can be compressed down for convenient packing.

Design

A sleeping bag’s shape plays an integral part in its ability to keep its user warm and provide enough room to move freely inside it. Many lightweight options boast tapered designs, which save fabric and weight while providing snugger coverage – thus increasing thermal efficiency.

Manufacturers rely on various construction techniques to secure their insulation materials, with down bags using baffles and synthetic bags secured via quilting or shingling. Companies like Insotect specialize in developing innovative construction methods that improve loft, thermal efficiency and comfort.

These innovations may sacrifice some aspects of sleeping bag performance to meet other goals, but ultimately all contribute to creating lightweight bags that keep users warm and cozy on long trails. From summer camping gear to backpacking bags suited to alpine terrain, ultralight sleepers allow adventurers to reach their destinations without extra weight holding them back.

Comfort

No matter your sleeping bag needs – whether a traditional rectangular sleeping bag, a mummy-shaped one for extra warmth, or one with a hooded top – there are lightweight solutions designed to meet them all. Make sure to double-check dimensions and temperature ratings of backpacking sleeping bags when selecting one that will meet them ideally; try on bags at REI stores before purchasing to feel how well it suits them and see if it suits you personally.

Many of the lightweight sleeping bags we tested offered exceptional warmth-to-weight ratios thanks to quality materials and clever designs, like Feathered Friends Flicker 40 UL’s ability to convert into a quilt for warmer nights as well as its mummy shape for thermal efficiency while still offering flexibility in positioning options. Sea to Summit Spark provides another fantastic backpacking option, boasting small pack size with top quality insulation.