The Best Sleeping Bags of 2021

From versatile camping bags to wallet-friendly picks, we’ve found the best sleeping bags for every use and budget.

A good sleeping bag is critical to a successful camping trip. Sure, a good tent will keep you dry and the sleeping pad helps keep you comfortable (and warm). But, the right sleeping bag tops it all off, keeping you cozy all night long.

To evaluate the best sleeping bags, we took key performance factors into account, like warmth-to-weight ratio, temperature rating, construction, and other features. We’ve collectively spent years camping and using sleeping bags, and all of that knowledge went into testing. Basically, as long as the bag is still available for sale, it’s a contender for this list.

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. For longer trips in the backcountry, check out our review of the best backpacking sleeping bags.

The Best Sleeping Bags of 2021: Review

Our top picks are divided into men’s, women’s, budget-friendly, and double sleeping bags. We also included some select honorable mentions. Each has its own benefit for certain types of campers and sleepers, as you’ll see.

Best Overall Sleeping Bag: The North Face The One (5/20/40-Degree)

Despite a rather bold naming convention, The One sleeping bag ($290-300) really lives up to its marketing. The North Face did an excellent job of creating a highly versatile sleeping bag to meet a variety of sleepers and conditions. At its core, The One sleeping bag is an interchangeable sleep system with adaptable insulating properties.

It’s an ingenious idea — multiple layered sleeping bags that you can swap out depending on the temperature. But it’s a concept that could easily become overly complex and user-unfriendly.

However, The North Face design team pulled it off beautifully. The One bag uses both color-coding and small, descriptive symbols to cue users on how to operate it.

Essentially, The One is two separate sleeping bags of different ratings — a 20-degree (orange) bag and a 40-degree (blue) bag — that, when combined, provide warmth down to 5 degrees. These bags connect with zippers. And while two different bags, each with its own set of zippers, could become unwieldy, these too are color-coded and intuitive to use.

Beyond the interchangeable nature, The One uses exceptional 800-fill goose down that has a high warmth-to-weight ratio and compresses extremely well. To get a 5-degree down sleeping bag under $300 is pretty amazing. To get three at that price? An outstanding value!

While it isn’t the roomiest sleeping bag, it functions and feels like many mummy bags on the market. Because the 40-degree bag sits on the outside when combined with the 20-degree bag, it offers a little more shoulder room. And although operating the zippers can be a little confusing the first time, it quickly becomes obvious how the system works.

But my favorite feature was no doubt a last-minute “a-ha!” from someone at The North Face HQ. You can use the 20-degree layer by itself as a camp blanket. And small snaps work to transform that blanket into a wearable shawl. For chilly nights around the campfire, this is a wonderful feature.

Pros: Three bags for the price of one, detachable camp blanket/shawl
Cons: Small learning curve, no pad sleeve
Insulation: 800-fill goose down
Buy this bag if: You want a versatile sleeping bag that works for most all conditions
Weight: 4 lbs. 4 oz. (long)

Shop at REI

Runner-Up: Big Agnes Diamond Park

This is hands down the most comfortable bag we tested. Big Agnes’ Diamond Park ($300-400) series is plush, cozy, and loaded with cool features. This bag even has enough room for wide-shouldered campers, thanks to a gaping 80-inch span across the top of the bag.

And for the not so broad-shouldered, hand pockets at the top corners let you snuggle the bag around you, nice and tight. The cinchable hood completes the full-on cocooning. Big Agnes also included a wraparound zipper so you can remove the insulated top layer to use as a camp blanket.

Unlike many bags, the Diamond Park has zippered entry points on both sides, which makes for a small but convenient touch. You can also unzip the bag from the bottom to pop your feet out.

An internal accessory pocket helps a smartphone preserve a charge on cool nights (and may keep you from losing it outright at night).

Big Agnes’ trademark Flex Pad Sleeve helps keep the bag from sliding off your sleeping pad as you move around. And the brand also incorporated a pillow “barn” to help keep that in place, too. Overall, it’s a very smart, very comfy sleeping bag.

Pros: Roomy, detachable camp blanket, pillow barn, pad sleeve
Cons: May be too wide for smaller campers
Insulation: 600-fill down
Buy this bag if: You have wide shoulders and hate sliding off your pad or pillow
Weight: 3 lbs. 5 oz. (long)

Shop at Amazon

Best Sleeping Bag for Women: Sea to Summit Altitude

Our tester found this bag ($379-439) to be perfect for her, keeping her perpetually cold feet warm all night. In designing this bag, Sea to Summit took its unisex Ascent and narrowed the shoulders, widened the hips and knees.

It also added a layer of Thermolite insulation in the footbox. This resulted in less dead space and optimal comfort and warmth.

We tested the 25-degree bag, and it lived up to its temperature rating. The “oversized” draft collar and draft tube kept our tester wonderfully warm on a 28-degree night with some windchill. With its relaxed mummy shape, there was even enough room in this bag to make side sleeping possible.

And this thing has so many zippers — including a half-zip on the left side an extra zipper on the footbox — that on warmer nights, you could control the ventilation effectively to keep cool. And when it’s time to pack up, this bag is easy to get into its compact stuff sack.

The Sea to Summit Altitude is effing sweet for car camping. And depending on the size and temperature rating you need, you could even feasibly take this bag backpacking.

The only con we can think of is price. But for what you’re getting in this bag, we recommend dropping the cash. It’ll be worth it.

Pros: Extra insulation in footbox keeps feet toasty, light weight, packs down small, customizable venting for range of temps
Cons: Price
Insulation: Ultra-Dry Down 750+ Loft
Buy this bag if: You need a lightweight camping option that could transition to backpacking; you’re a woman who sleeps cold, especially your feet
Weight:

• 25-degree: 2 lbs. 6.1 oz. (regular)/2 lbs. 9.3 oz. (long)
• 15-degree: 2 lbs. 13.2 oz. (regular)/3 lbs. 1 oz. (long)

Shop at BackcountryShop at Sea to Summit

Runner-Up Best Women’s Sleeping Bag: Therm-a-Rest Questar 20

The Questar from Therm-a-Rest ($280) checks all the boxes when it comes to carrying everything yourself far into the mountains (backpacking and bikepacking). It’s light, weighing right around 2 pounds (give or take a few ounces for the regular versus short), and delightfully warm and cozy across a wide range of temperatures.

Despite testing a range of women’s-specific bags, Therm-a-Rest’s unisex design came out on top. Therm-a-Rest excels at packability and warmth-to-weight ratio, so while it could certainly fit in a pack or pannier, the brand retooled its design to make it a more comfortable bag for all-around camping.

Two things make the Questar especially comfortable. First, Therm-a-Rest’s new W.A.R.M. system (“With Added Room for Multiple Positions”) provides a little extra space. This is better for wider shoulders and those who like to shift positions at night. Second, the 20-denier polyester taffeta remains surprisingly quiet as you move around.

Inside, Nikwax hydrophobic down fill helps resist moisture and preserve warmth — a key factor when opting for a down bag. And the brand’s SynergyLink Connectors offer a minimalist take on sleeping pad attachment.

Pros: Quiet, comfy, roomier than other mummy bags
Cons: Sleeping pad connectors take more time than a traditional sleeve
Insulation: 650-fill down
Buy this bag if: You want to try a lightweight bag but maintain comfort factor
Weight: 1 lb. 15 oz. (long)

Shop at Backcountry

Best Budget Sleeping Bag for Car Camping: Sierra Designs Audubon 30

For $50, Sierra Designs packs in a lot of features for the budget-minded camper. Not only is the Audubon 30 a value among sleeping bags, but it also targets those who sleep at the campsite the way they do at home: tossers, turners, sprawlers, and (according to the brand) “dog snugglers.”

A whopping 3 feet of shoulder room accommodates a broad torso and large individuals, and it also allows more freedom to move while sleeping. Plus, the gaping hood is big enough to bring your favorite pillow from home.

It’s a simple bag, designed for comfort — but only down to 30 degrees, so bring liners or layers for chillier nights.

Pros: Spacious, affordable, materials
Cons: Weight, one size, oversized for most sleeping pads
Insulation: Synthetic
Buy this bag if: You’re trying camping for the first time — and want to snuggle your dog
Weight: 4 lbs. 2 oz.

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Best Budget Sleeping Bag for Women: Big Agnes Torchlight Camp 35

We love a customizable sleeping bag, and the Big Agnes Torchlight ($180-190) delivers. For what you’re getting in a car camping bag, this is a great value.

Zippers on the sides expand the bag for more room where you need it, when you need it. And when you don’t, just zip them back up. This accommodates a wide variety of body shapes and sleep styles.

The hood on this bag is very cozy, the draft tube and collar work well, and the zippers are high-quality.

The downside of this bag is that even with the zippers closed all the way, the footbox is just roomy enough to get cold when the temps dip down. Otherwise, the bag we tested held up to its temperature rating of 35 degrees Fahrenheit. (The bag also comes in men’s/unisex and a 20-degree version.)

Pros: Price; expands for more room to side sleep, contracts for more warmth
Cons: Cold feet are possible
Insulation: Fireline Pro Synthetic
Buy this bag if: You like being snug some nights and spreading out on others
Weight: 2 lbs. 15 oz. (petite)/3 lbs. 2 oz. (regular)

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Best Double Sleeping Bag: SylvanSport Double Cloud Layer

The SylvanSport Cloud Layer ($300) is larger than a queen-size mattress — what more do we need to say? Best of all, if car camping is your game, pair this luxury bag with two of its purpose-built SylvanSport Cloud Layer Self-Inflating Mattresses.

A removable and washable cotton sheet, paired with a removable outer quilt layer, will give you options to dial in the comfort you need for the weather you’re in. Besides being wonderfully (over)sized, the fleece lining and materials provide comfort that cheats the outdoors from really making you rough it.

Take off the top quilt and you’ve got an extra camp blanket to wrap yourself in around the fire. Obviously, this is a lot more than most campers need. But if you’re snuggling up with loved ones or kiddos and comfort is paramount, the Cloud Layer is as cozy as it gets.

Pros: Queen+ size, removable layers for three-season comfort
Cons: Not packable, requires large (or two separate) sleeping pads
Insulation: Synthetic
Buy this bag if: You have a giant sleeping pad and someone to cuddle with
Weight: 14 lbs.

Shop at Amazon

Best 0 Degree Sleeping Bag: Stone Glacier Chilkoot 0

“To say the Chilkoot is the nicest bag I’ve slept in would almost be an understatement. It’s the nicest bag, period.” —GearJunkie hunt/fish editor, Nicole Qualtieri

Really, what keeps Stone Glacier ($599) from earning top honors is the price. This is not a bag for the masses. It’s a bag for those seeking premium materials and construction for a reliably warm, outdoor-ready sleeping bag.

Specs-wise, the Chilkoot boasts vertical baffles filled with 850+ fill water-repellent down, a windproof Pertex Quantum shell with Pertex Y-Fuse for added tear-resistance and durability, and a nifty, easy-to-toggle magnetic closure to seal in warmth around the hood.

But those specs aside, the Stone Glacier Chilkoot just feels warmer, lighter, and more well-made than its details suggest. It is clearly a high-end bag for serious use. If the price doesn’t scare ya and performance is paramount, check out the Chilkoot.

Pros: Warm AF, cozy, lightweight for the build
Cons: Feels delicate, very expensive
Insulation: 850+
Buy this bag if: You can afford it
Weight: 2 lbs. 11 oz.

Shop at BlackOvis

Best Hunting Sleeping Bag: NEMO Stalker

Our lead hunt editor slept in this bag for the majority of 2020, and it proved a high performer. Extremely durable and flexible, it worked in every situation from summer to late fall hunts.

One brutally cold night below 5 degrees did lead to some especially cold feet. But overall, the NEMO ($520) was comfortable, well made, super-nice, and bombproof in the field.

The brand’s patented Thermogills are an epic add. They extend a very warm bag into a sleeper appropriate for hot summer nights.

And while not the spoon shape NEMO lends many of its bags, the Stalker has stretch material at the knees and elbows to add a little wiggle room (literally). And if this purpose-built collab bag, built with First Lite, somehow succumbs to the demands you place on it, you can rest easy with NEMO’s lifetime warranty.

Pros: Burly construction, Thermogills add multiseason versatility
Cons: Heavy-duty zipper can be tricky, not as warm as other 0-degree bags we tested
Insulation: 800-fill
Buy this bag if: You need a bag to work in the field across multiple seasons
Weight: 2 lbs. 11 oz.

Shop at NEMO

Best All-In-One Sleep System: Zenbivy MotoBed

One of our favorite under-the-radar camp sleep brands is back and better than ever. We awarded Zenbivy in the past and still appreciate its debut sleep system.This year, the underdog brand from Spokane, Wash., launched what it calls its “easiest, fastest, most comfortable camping bed ever.”

How’s that, you ask? The Zenbivy MotoBed ($299) combines a sleeping bag and self-inflating sleeping bad into one convenient, comfortable package. But the MotoBed includes some real versatility to help users dial in the comfort they want.

First, the pad. It has a dual-layer construction, so half is self-inflating foam that you can top off to your desired firmness. The other half is a pillow topper for added softness and warmth.

Now, for the bag, or should we say “bag”? This is actually a fully rectangular quilt you can wear around the campsite.

But when fully zipped onto the mattress, it takes on a tapered sleeping bag shape, with a cinchable foot box. And you can adjust how — and whether — you secure the quilt to the mattress, so you effectively dial in the amount of toss-and-turn space you need.

And it all sets up in seconds — unclip, unroll, and it’s 90% set up. For car camping, this is about as simple as it gets.

Pros: All-in-one design (pad+mattress), comfortable
Cons: A lot of zippers, feet can get cold
Insulation: Synthetic
Buy this bag if: You’re only car camping and want as little to do as possible
Weight: 8-10 lbs.

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Best Wearable Sleeping Bag: Selk’bag Rainforest

We had an absolute blast in our Selk’bags. “I unironically love it,” said one tester. And the wonderfully ridiculous, limited-edition Rainforest print ($129) made it even more fun.

The kangaroo pocket on the front can hold a phone, a firestarter, a pocket knife, or any other small items you carry around camp. And the removable feet zip off for walking around and on for sleeping.

This wearable, hooded sleeping bag is rated to 48 degrees Fahrenheit, which is accurate while at rest. But we found that while on the move around camp, it can keep you warm enough below that mark.

And if you get it sweaty from silly shenanigans or just want to get that campfire smell out, this thing is machine washable — so easy to take care of.

Our main gripe with the Rainforest bag? Although our 5’5″ tester opted for the large size, which fits people up to 5’11”, she still found the legs/inseam to be too short to be optimally functional. The arms were long enough to completely cover her hands, and there was plenty of room for her hips.

Pros: Fun as hell, warmth on the go
Cons: Temperature rating, legs/inseam too short
Insulation: 150 g recycled synthetic hollow-fiber insulation
Buy this bag if: You’re a fun-loving S.O.B. who enjoys being warm in chilly weather while looking ridiculous
Packed volume/weight: 15 L/2 lbs. 1.8 oz. (small) to 18 L/3 lbs. 4.8 oz. (XL)

Check Price at REICheck Price at Selk’bag

Best of the Rest

The market for camp sleeping bags is massive. There are tons of well-made, comfortable, high-quality bags. Don’t see what you like above? Any of these bags make the grade from our testing and might be perfect for your needs.

Coleman Kompact Mummy 25 (Unisex): $80

This 25-degree Coleman mummy bag comes in only one length, but its price point of $80 is one that casual campers can easily swallow. The Kompact mummy has decent warmth for its weight, although shorter sleepers may find that their feet get cold due to the extra space left in the footbox. (The bag is 82 inches long and fits campers up to 6’2″ tall.)

This bag can get a bit drafty when pushed to its temperature limits, but it’s plenty adequate for summer camping. And the no-snag zipper makes for worry-free in and out.

There aren’t many bells and whistles on this thing — and that’ll do just fine for the right kind of camper. For our female tester, this bag was too roomy in the shoulders and feet to be warm on 35-degree nights.

Pros: Price
Cons: Comes in only one length
Insulation: Coletherm Max synthetic
Buy this bag if: You’re around 6 feet tall and camp a few times per year
Packed volume/weight: 9.4″ x 9″ x 15.4″

Check Price at Amazon

Sea to Summit Ascent

While the Ascent’s 750-fill down means it won’t pack down as small as higher-loft bags, it provides a plush, comfy cocoon for sleeping. Its large hood left ample room for a camp pillow or to shift your head without the bag constricting.

Similarly, Sea to Summit employed vertical baffles along the torso to prevent the down from shifting around when you do. And shift you can, because this bag is roomy!

The Ascent ($350-470) also has a full-length zip on one side and a half-zip on the other. So, those who run hot can flip the front down to vent quickly or leave the sides open to vent more slowly. Plus, a foot zip helps regulate temps by making exposing a few toesies an option.

Pros: Plush and soft, accessory pocket, fold-down front option
Cons: Lots of zippers, may have more features than you need
Insulation: 750-fill down
Buy this bag if: You want to invest in a backpacking-capable bag that’s also great for car camping
Packed volume/weight: 6.4 L/2 lbs. 1 oz.

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Klymit KSB 20

This is a phenomenal bag ($230-350) for warmer sleepers or mid-season. It’s wildly comfortable, affordable, and smart.

Our favorite feature is the toggle system — called Length Locks. These give shorter folks the ability to shorten the bag so heat isn’t lost at the feet. And a mix of synthetic and down adds a nice balance for warmth.

Pros: Great summer bag for cold sleepers, adjustable length, price
Cons: Heavy for its size, won’t double for backpacking excursions
Insulation: Hybrid 650-fill down + synthetic
Buy this bag if: Your feet get cold or most bags are too baggy
Weight: 3 lbs. 2 oz.

Shop at Backcountry

Kelty Galactic 30 Dri-Down

This is a solid bag — especially for beginning adventurers — if you want something for the occasional car camping trip or short hike-in site.

Kelty’s Galactic 30 ($130-140) has one standout feature for cuddly couples — two bags can zip together to turn one rectangular bag into a double-wide snuggle factory. It’s a basic bag otherwise, but at about $130 it manages to pack in value just the same.

Pros: Simple, zips together with another bag
Cons: Not as roomy as other options, heavy
Insulation: 550-fill down
Buy this bag if: You want the occasional snuggle and don’t have long hikes ahead
Packed volume/weight: 13 L/2 lbs. 14 oz.

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Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Sleeping Bag

It’s worth spending a bit of 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.

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

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.

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 Patagonia 850 Down and The North Face The One were among our resident cold sleepers’ favorite bags.

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 ounces and packs down impressively small.

On the other hand, if you mostly plan to car camp, the 8-pound Sierra Designs double sleeping bag 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, many technical sleeping bags resist 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 the 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.

Size

Increasingly, brands offer one sleeping bag model in various lengths, oftentimes short, regular, and long. Some, though not many, even offer width options.

Typically, a regular size sleeping bag will accommodate someone from about 5’7″ to about 6’1″.

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.

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.

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