10 Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags In 2021

The REI Co-op Magma sleeping bag is highly compressible, light as a feather, and incredibly warm – everything a backpacker needs when hitting the trail. It’s filled with the highest-quality down and provides by far the best warmth-to-weight ratio compared to the other models in this temperature range. As a cherry on top, it’s very spacious and comfortable to sleep in.

Materials and Construction

Made from 15D Pertex ripstop nylon, the Magma sleeping bag for backpacking is ready for any outdoor challenge. Not only will it resist abrasions and damage, but it will also block water so the down inside doesn’t get wet. In addition, the bag comes with a hybrid zipper for easy access, as well as a zipper cover to prevent cold air from getting in.

Insulation and Warmth

The Magma sleeping bag is filled with high-quality RDS-certified goose down with an impressive 850 fill power. Because of this, it can easily retain the heat around your body without adding too much weight to the bag. Weighing under two pounds, this top rated ultralight sleeping bag won’t be too heavy even if you’re very weight-conscious about your gear.

Design and Comfort

For an optimal balance between warmth and comfort, the REI Co-op Magma sleeping bag uses a mummy shape – the shoulders and hips are slightly wider, while the foot box is narrower to prevent cold air pockets. The bag also features an insulated yoke for extra neck coverage, as well as a contoured hood to keep your head protected.

One of the most interesting things about the Marmot Trestles Elite Eco sleeping bag is that it’s made entirely out of recycled materials, which makes it the most eco-friendly option on our list. However, don’t let this fool you – it’s a high-quality sleeping bag that provides exceptional warmth and comfort on cold nights.

Materials and Construction

The shell of the Marmot Trestles Elite Eco is made from 20D ripstop polyester that easily resists tears even if you accidentally place it on a sharp object. On the other hand, the lining is significantly softer and uses 30D polyester taffeta. Of course, both the shell and the lining come from recycled sources.

Insulation and Warmth

With a temperature rating of 20° Fahrenheit, the Trestles Elite Eco is a reliable option for three seasons, and even for milder winters. The fill is made from HL-ElixR synthetic and does a great job at keeping you warm. At the same time, it’s also fairly light so the entire bag weighs just over 2.5 pounds.

Design and Comfort

The soft taffeta lining combines with the lofty fill to bring you impressive comfort even if you’re sleeping on hard ground. To further improve both comfort and warmth, the bag comes with a unique 3D hood construction, while the insulated draft tube keeps cold air out of the bag.

If you’re looking for a warm and cozy model that is a bit more affordable, check out the Winner Outfitters sleeping bag. Despite being the best budget option in our reviews, it comes with a strong tear-resistant shell and features high-quality synthetic insulation that’s ideal for moderate temperatures. 

Materials and Construction

The outer layer of this sleeping bag is made from 350T polyester which handles even rougher use really well. Interestingly, the lining is made from the same material. It’s very skin-friendly and guarantees to keep you cozy throughout the night.

Insulation and Warmth

Insulated with hollow-fiber synthetic fabric, the Winner Outfitters sleeping bag easily traps heat and keeps it next to your body. The fill weight is 200g/m2 which is very impressive for this type of insulation. However, it’s less efficient than down and works best at 35 to 40°F.

Design and Comfort

One of the things that we really like about the Winner Outfitters lightweight sleeping bag is that it comes with a double SBS zipper so you can unzip the bottom and keep your feet cool. Furthermore, the foot area is box-shaped and very roomy.

Open and Packed Dimensions

The Teton Sports Leef backpacking sleeping bag is a versatile model that is excellent for any outdoor activity – backpacking, hiking, and even camping. While you won’t even notice it when carrying it around all day, its soft lining and lofty fill will give you great rest at night.

Materials and Construction

Owing to its 40D polyester shell, the Leef sleeping bag is one of the most durable models that you’ll come across. Of course, the shell has rip protection so it’s very difficult to tear. On the other hand, the lining is made from extra-soft brushed poly-flannel that feels incredible.

Insulation and Warmth

As you can probably expect from a sleeping bag in this price range, the insulation is synthetic (microfiber). However, it does its job really well and allows you to use the bag in temperatures as low as 20°F.

Design and Comfort

A detail we like about this bag is its zipper design – it snag-proof, taped, and comes with additional padding for wind-protection. Other great features include a 3-piece puffy hood and a convenient storage pocket inside.

Open and Packed Dimensions

If you’re tall or have a large body frame, this sleeping bag is going to be excellent for you. It measures 87 x 34 x 22 inches when open, providing plenty of comfort for any body type. Despite the large open dimensions, it measures only 8 x 14 inches when packed.

Packed with 650-fill duck down, the Hyke & Byke Quandary sleeping bag delivers exceptional warmth and loftiness when sleeping. As a bonus, the down features a hydrophobic treatment so it will keep you insulated and warm even if the bag gets wet.

Materials and Construction

Made from rugged 400T 20D ripstop nylon, the shell of the Quandary sleeping bag is guaranteed to last for many years without any problems. The lining is made from the same material and, while it’s not as soft as brushed microfiber or taffeta, it still gives you great sleeping comfort.

Insulation and Warmth

Like we’ve pointed out, the insulation in this bag is 100% down. Even though it’s sourced from duck, it has a great warmth to weight ratio. The bag works best at 15°F and above, and weighs 2.7 pounds (regular-sized model).

Design and Comfort

The down fill combines with the snug fit to make the sleep system very soft and comfortable. The design also includes a YKK anti-snag zipper, a ClusterLoft base for additional warmth, and drawstrings at the hood and shoulders for tweaking the fit.

Open and Packed Dimensions

Unlike most other models, the Quandary down sleeping bag is available in three sizes – short (5 feet 6 inches user height), regular (6 feet), and long (6 inches 6 feet) so everyone can get a comfortable fit. As for the compressed size, it measures 10 x 7.5 inches and even comes with its own compression sack.

If you enjoy sleeping on your side, the NEMO Disco backpacking sleeping bag is the one for you. This is the best backpack sleeping bag for women, and features a classic spoon shape with a slightly more spacious interior so you won’t be limited to sleeping on your back.

Materials and Construction

The NEMO Disco sleeping bag uses strong 30D nylon for its outer layer which guarantees that the bag won’t get damaged on branches or rocks. As for the lining, it’s made from 30D nylon taffeta and features additional DWR coating to prevent the insulation from getting wet.

Insulation and Warmth

For optimal warmth-to-weight ratio, the Disco sleeping bag is filled with high-quality 650-fill down. The model is tested for a lower limit rating 17°F which means that you can backpack with sleeping bag year-round.

Design and Comfort

The spoon shape of the Disco sleeping bag makes it roomy inside, but without too much space where pockets of cold air can form. Both the taffeta liner and the down fill are incredibly soft, which is why this down sleeping bag for backpacking is one of the most comfortable models you can get.

Open and Packed Dimensions

When compressed, the NEMO Disco sleeping bag has a volume of 9 liters and measures 8.5 x 12.5 inches (regular version). On the other hand, the mentioned regular version is 66 inches long when open so it’s best for short backpackers. If you’re taller, you should go with the long version (72 inches).

Thanks to its DWR-coated polyester shell, the REI Co-op Trailbreak sleeping bag does an excellent job of keeping both you and the insulation dry. It’s a well-made bag that balances well between warmth and packability which is why it’s the favorite backpacking sleeping bag for many outdoor enthusiaststs.

Materials and Construction

Even though it doesn’t come with a specified Denier rating, users agree that the polyester shell is very strong. The DWR coating (Durable Water Repellent) is applied to all sides of the bag and prevents it from soaking in the water that ends up on the surface, so it doesn’t reach the insulation inside.

Insulation and Warmth

Instead of down, the Trailbreak backpacking bag uses polyester synthetic insulation. However, it’s very lofty and has a great warmth-to-weight ratio, so it can keep you warm at temperatures as low as 20°F. We also want to add that the insulation is water-resistant so it can’t be compromised.

Design and Comfort

As you can see, the REI Co-op Trailbreak uses a mummy shape which makes it very effective at retaining the warmth that your body created. Additionally, the bag also features a 3-panel contoured hood, as well as a full draft tube and a face muffler for extra warmth.

Open and Packed Dimensions

The Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass backpacking sleeping bag is the number one option to get for backpacking in extremely low temperatures. Rated for 0° Fahrenheit, it’s the perfect bag to carry on your winter adventures. At the same time, the bag weight is very low considering the amount of insulation.

Materials and Construction

Similarly to many other models we’ve featured, the outer layer is made from 20D nylon. This material is very tough and resists water well, providing good protection. The liner is made from 30D plain weave nylon which is a lot softer than the shell to boost the comfort rating.

Insulation and Warmth

The insulation is probably the most interesting thing about the Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass bag. It’s filled with a mix of 80% down and 20% feather, and comes with a 650-fill power. This results in incredible insulating performance, so you can use it on the coldest nights.

Design and Comfort

The anatomic shape of the bag makes sure that you feel cozy with a snug fit around your entire body. The special foot box design increases the foot warmth, while the 2-way zipper allows you to undo the bottom part if your feet are too warm.

Open and Packed Dimensions

As you would expect from a winter sleeping bag, the packed dimensions are slightly bigger (9 x 17 inches). Finally, the mummy bag is available in two sizes – 72 inches (regular) and 78 inches (long).

A great thing about the Kelty Big Dipper backpacking sleeping bag is that it’s specially designed for kids, which makes it a great option if you’re backpacking with your little ones. As a bonus, it even comes with a foot box extension so you can easily adjust it as your child grows.

Materials and Construction

Both the shell and the lining of this backpacker sleeping bag are made from 66D polyester taffeta which has impressive durability. Of course, it’s also water-resistant to protect the insulation from getting wet.

Insulation and Warmth

With a lower limit rating of 30° Fahrenheit, the Kelty Big Dipper is a great 3-season sleeping bag for children. It uses CloudLoft synthetic insulation that not only retains heat well, but also comes in a double-layer offset-quilted construction that prevents any cold spots.

Design and Comfort

Shaped like a mummy, the Kelty Big Dipper summer bag offers both warmth and comfort. Besides the adjustable foot box, the sleeping bag also features top and bottom vents, an elasticized hood, and an anti-snag zipper that even a child can open and close without any issues.

Open and Packed Dimensions

Since it’s a children’s mummy bag, the Big Dipper is designed for shorter users (up to 5 feet tall). However, the bag isn’t particularly compact when compressed due to the amount of synthetic insulation, and measures 10 x 16 inches when packed in its colorful stuff sack.

The lightweight and compact Stoic Groundwork packable sleeping bag is a great 3-season sleeping bag. It's one of the best options for warm weather, but won’t make you cold even when the temperatures drop a bit. Its synthetic insulation will keep you cozy when sleeping, while the water-resistant nylon shell promises to keep you dry.

Materials and Construction

The shell of this bag is made of nylon that performs very well in outdoor conditions. It has a 20 Denier rating which makes it highly resistant to abrasions and tears. As for the inner lining, it’s made from 20D plain weave nylon that feels very soft against the skin and improves sleeping comfort.

Insulation and Warmth

As we’ve pointed out, the Stoic Groundwork sleeping bag uses Thermolite synthetic insulation to keep you warm. It’s lofty, lightweight, and certified to keep you warm at 20°F.

Design and Comfort

Like most modern backpacking sleeping bags, this model uses the mummy bags shape which gives you a snug fit and makes heat retention better. Furthermore, the collar and hood are extra-lofty to prevent drafts and give you additional warmth.

Open and Packed Dimensions

When open, the Stoic Groundwork synthetic sleeping bag fits a person that is up to 6 feet tall. In addition, it has good shoulder and foot width, so an average-sized backpacker will really enjoy it. Considering that it comes with synthetic fill, it’s very compact when packed and measures 15.5 by 10 inches.