For months, we used a huge array of new sleeping bag and came up with a handful of products we think are worthy of mention. Here’s what we liked, and the activities for which they are best suited.
Kelty Tru.Comfort 20 Best for festival camping (and couch surfing)
The feature-rich Tru.Comfort 20 offers a luxurious night’s sleep in a variety of conditions. The generous tapered cut provides a cozy fit without being constrictive, while the layered blanket construction style lets you adjust your covers to match the temperature. Tucking into a tent after a music festival? Slip under both top blanket layers to stay warm even on cold winter nights (rated to 20ºF). But when couch surfing while on a ski trip, slide in between the blankets to stay cozy in your buddy’s climate-controlled condo. $120. www.kelty.com
Sierra Designs Nitro Mummy 20, Best for extended adventures
Stuffed with 800-fill DriDown, the Nitro Mummy 20 offers incredible warmth at a weight of just 1.75 pounds. The Nitro Mummy features an aggressive taper to minimize weight, yet the fit is snug but not constrictive. The well-shaped hood and roomy footbox add to the bag’s comfort while improving heat retention. Used while trekking along the John Muir Trail, the Nitro Mummy earned our respect for its performance and its weight. $319.95. www.sierradesigns.com
Kammock FIREBELLY QUILT, Best for hammock camping
Curling up puffy quilt could be the coziest way to sleep, and the Kammock Firebelly Quilt perfects that experience for campers. Pull the Firebelly over yourself when dozing in a hammock during cool nights, and when conditions are a bit chillier, snap the lower section together and tug the hem drawstring create a snug footbox that helps hold warmth while keeping the quilt in place over you. The Firebelly’s 750-fill DownTek insulation kept us warm when hammock camping in the old growth forests of Olympic National Park. $299. www.kammok.com
Big Agnes Beryl 0°F, Best for winter camping
The 650-fill water-repelling down within the Beryl SL 0 provides great warmth and a reasonable weight. The long vertical baffles stretch the length of your body from head to toe with no gaps or cold spots in the lofty blanket of insulation. Every tester praised the fit and comfort of the Beryl, and especially called out the unique detachable pad sleeve that helps keep the bag centered on top of your sleeping pad. The Beryl SL 0 proved itself worthy of that temperature rating during extensive use while testing snowshoes on the flanks of Mount Rainier. $319.95. www.bigagnes.com
ThermaRest Questar HD 20, Best for general backpacking
In backpacking, the balance between weight and comfort can be tough to manage. The Questar HD finds that balance point, with reasonable weight (2 lbs, 5 oz) without the Spartan-like performance of many ultralight bags. The 650-fill hydrophobic down and a light 20-denier polyester shell provide good weight savings at a reasonable price, while a roomy cut means great sleeping comfort for tired campers. During extended treks in the Lake Tahoe area of California and the deep canyons of Idaho’s Salmon River, we found the 20º rating suitable for any three season use. $239.95. www.thermarest.com
Cabelas XPG Mummy 15, Best for Basic Backpacking & Car Camping
Backpackers on a budget typically turn to synthetic-filled sleeping bags while dreaming of down. The XPG Mummy 15 makes those dreams come true without busting the bank. The bag features vertical baffles holding 700-fill down for great warmth. Though a mummy shaped bag, the taper is generous, allowing for free movement inside the bag. The bag’s 15º rating is bit optimistic, but we stayed warm in temperatures well below freezing (down to the low 20s) while backpacking and car camping around Oregon’s Mount Hood. Because the generous cut does make the bag a bit bulky and heavy, even with the 700-fill down, it is best used in car camping and casual backpacking. $219. www.cabelas.com
