Once you have that number, it’s a good idea to build in a little buffer (we like an extra degrees) to avoid getting cold. And keep in mind the temperature rating is closer to a survivability rating rather than being comfortable and warm. Other factors to consider are your age—people typically don’t sleep as warm the older they get—and whether you are a cold or warm sleeper. Most campers stick to the warmer months for their outdoor adventuring, and as a result, most of the sleeping bags on this list are rated in the degree range. For a fun take on warmth regulation and year-round comfort, The North Face’s One Bag features a unique layering system that allows you to swap between three different temperature ratings. During summer months or warm nights, you can use the basic synthetic-insulated bag with its 40-degree limit.
If you need a double sleeping bag on a regular basis. Most of the picks on our list are geared toward three-season use, but for campers who like to get out year-round, a cold-weather bag is essential. In this category, REI Co-op’s Frostbreak 5 stands out for its excellent warmth at a very reasonable price. Other functional additions include a well-insulated hood, draft tube, and differentiated drawcords (one round and one flat) that make it easy to adjust the aperture in the dark. Added up, the Frostbreak is an excellent value for casual winter adventurers.
I cannot believe that I wasted 160 dollars on some junk. By the time we got back from camping the next weekend three out of four sleeping bags had the zippers broken. I’m so disappointed with this product that I advise anyone buying sleeping bags not to even look at Ozark and buy Coleman instead. Mummy-style sleeping bags require that you purchase one left-hand zippered bag and one right-hand zippered bag, in order to zip the two together. Mummy-style sleeping bags mate side-by-side, with the right/left zipper arrangement making this possible. With mummy-style sleeping bags, you determine the side zipper by laying in the sleeping bag face up.
The compromises in choosing the cheaper fill type are relatively minimal for camping. With a car or camper to transport all of your gear, the larger stuffed size and extra weight are much less of a concern than when your sleeping bag has to be crammed into a pack and carried on your back. And should the insulation get wet, synthetics continue to keep you warm, unlike down feathers.
Put simply, the in-and-out convenience and ability to use the bag as a blanket with a full-zip sleeping bag is the better answer for most campers. Kelty’s popular Cosmic Down 20 has been a mainstay in their lineup for years and remains a popular choice among campers and backpackers alike. For starters, you get a respectable weight of 2 pounds 10 ounces, which is the lightest three-season option on our list (Kelty’s own Galactic 30 below weighs around the same but is far less versatile).
Day one, night one…the zipper tore and cord in hood broke. Day 2 …it was closer to 6 degree and I froze…I had to hike Ozark Trail Sleeping Bags into town, replace the bag. I could have gotten better quality from a teenager’s home ec project and lighter weight.