For example, if you’re camping somewhere where temperatures regularly drop into the 20s at night, you should choose a 20-degree sleeping bag or warmer. Throughout our review and testing tent side, we didn’t give these camping sleeping bags any leeway. Regardless of price or prestige, we held all to high standards and the same test methods. We researched and tested for what we would want to know if we were buying these bags for ourselves. In the end, we hope our efforts benefit you in your decision-making and camping gear kit. Traditional camping sleeping bags are known to be a little big-boned, so packed size was not a complete deal-breaker for us.
Looking at the modest price tag of the Brazos, we expected to be quite underwhelmed by its performance. However, its warmth ratings outperformed several of the more expensive bags. Additionally, despite its basic design, the Coleman Kompact also lived up to its cold weather rating. We were also very impressed with the Kelty Galactic — its warmth-to-weight ratio, in particular. The Galactic is one of just a few down-insulated car-camping bags on the market. Its feather interior makes it the lightest bag we tested, yet one of the warmest.
It doesn’t pack down as small as many modern, mummy-shaped backpacking sleeping bags, and it also lacks some of the extra features often provided by car-camping bags. That said, this down-filled sleeping bag packs up small and is lightweight enough for short hike-in trips with ample warmth per ounce. The Kelty Galactic 30 takes the best features of the high-performance mummy and the traditional camping sleeping bag and blends them into one. Its rectangular shape is wide and non-restrictive, and it’s loaded with 600-fill down. These two features offer a near-perfect bag for campers desiring better-performing down insulation minus the cocooning nature of narrow mummy-shaped bags. The Galactic kept us warm down to 30 degrees F, and maybe a touch colder.
OutdoorGearLab Review Editor Jason Wanlass lives in a camping paradise. If not already in the outdoors, he’s certainly busy planning his next adventure. He avidly coleman cabin tent gets after it at every opportunity, whether hiking, backpacking, or canyoneering. He also enjoys the open road and takes car-camping road trips whenever possible.
It’s lined with cotton flannel and enveloped in a cotton canvas shell. It’s also very spacious, eliminating the claustrophobic feeling of narrower bags on the market. The Deer Hunter is constructed of synthetic fabrics that are silky smooth and comfortable, but there is a distinct difference between the two bags. The Deer Hunter simply cannot provide the same comfort level as cotton materials found on the Redwood.
From handmade pieces to vintage treasures ready to be loved again, Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. It’s also home to a whole host of one-of-a-kind items made with love and extraordinary care. While many of the items on Etsy are handmade, you’ll also find craft supplies, digital items, and more. A few other reasons for our lower score include a limited 5-year warranty and a very low resistance to water. Despite a synthetic outer shell, the Brazos soaked up water rather quickly during our water tests. Keep in mind that, for us, five is average on a scale from 1 to 10.
It’s a little slippery on the inside, which makes getting in and out easy, but the outside isn’t slick, so it doesn’t slide around on a cot, sleeping pad or air mattress. The Big Bay also has a cinchable hood, no-snag zipper and plush collar, plus it allows for foot ventilation, just like the Forte. The Big Bay is a mummy-style sleeping bag, starting wide at the shoulders and tapering around the feet. However, close-fitting mummy bags, like those designed exclusively for backpacking and alpine pursuits, can feel claustrophobic for most people because there’s not a lot of room to toss and turn. The open footbox design adds space, and the bag has enough room for me to side sleep and bend my knees. Made using Coletherm insulation for lightweight insulation, the Blue Bandit is machine washable.
The fabrics feel super nice on the skin, but they seem to soak up the cold, creating multiple icy spots outside and inside the bag. We found it a challenge to want to unzip and get up for the day after sleeping in it. When comparing the warmest bags side by side, the Redwood led in warmth. It’s also the only bag on our list with 100% cotton materials, providing a soft next-to-skin feel and by far the coziest experience. Cotton generally offers a more even temperature, resulting in fewer cold spots. Its heavier canvas external fabric also provides a tucked-in feeling that most of our testers love.
In a controlled environment, I ran a heat-retention test using a wire probe thermometer and hot water bottles. I also laundered each bag at home using my front-loading washing machine and dryer. As I was testing, I considered qualities like comfort, warmth, design features, ease of use, durability, packability coleman cabin tent and versatility. At the outset of our review, we wrote down every desirable feature found in a top camping sleeping bag and then narrowed those characteristics into four key performance areas or test metrics. Each metric was then weighted or assigned a factor based on relative importance.
Added up, the Frostbreak is an excellent value for casual winter adventurers. A backpacking sleeping bag is typically in the 2- to 3-pound range. For those looking to travel fast and far, or for those traveling into alpine terrain, a coleman tents lighter-weight bag makes that possible. A bag in the 3- to 4-pound range can be used for backpacking, and these models are often more comfortable to sleep in, but they also take up more space and add weight to an already heavy pack.