After a poor night’s rest they declared the effort required to get the bag back in the way-too-tight sack “absolutely not worth it.”. These pockets are great for keeping your phone or headlamp close at hand. Big Agnes Hog Park 20: We were unimpressed by the brushed-cotton liner of this bag, which felt unpleasantly abrasive against our skin. The polyester taffeta fabric lining on the inside of the bag is als… Wirecutter is reader-supported. Its no-frills mummy design includes a roomy foot box for a little extra movement, plus … Feathered Friends bags are almost 1.5 times the price of the other down bags we considered. Baffles: Baffles are stitched closures between channels that hold either down or synthetic filling in place. The quality and effectiveness of these sacks varied considerably. After logging thousands of miles testing the best travel accessories—and the worst—we’ve come up with our list of essentials. The Big Agnes Dream Island is spacious, warm, and comfortable, with a built-in sleeping-pad sleeve that solves a problem it had never occurred to us to try to solve: the annoyance of bag and pad getting misaligned in the middle of the night. Male-identifying testers especially loved this bag, as did campers of all genders who tended to sleep hot and had broader shoulders. When I was younger it was the kind where a large group of family and friends drove to a riverside campground where we proceeded to set up a fortress of over-sized tents, tarps, and tables. The bag itself is pretty light (under 4lbs) and is rated at 30 degrees. First, we slept in the finalist sleeping bags. The vertical baffle construction allowed the insulation to clump high up in the bag, too, creating cold spots. There are two primary types of sleeping bag insulation: down feathers and synthetic fibers. Let us know! We liked several of the company’s three-season bags, but we’d recommend the unisex 30-degree Swallow YF (formerly called the Osprey) as a good bag for serious backpackers looking for a high-quality, lightweight sleeping bag. Ten years ago, it seemed as if every sleeping bag zipper had a horrible snagging problem. Our advice for sleeping bag purchases, therefore, is to follow the airline travel analogy. "Full-length" zippers actually come in a variety of lengths. Premium bags, on average, weigh about a pound less and compress 3 liters smaller. Down feathers, regardless of whether they receive water-resistant chemical treatments or not, will clump if they get wet. The REI Co-op Siesta 30 Sleeping Bag costs nearly twice as much as some of the cheapest car-camping bags we tested, but we think it’s worth the investment. Either way, we've chosen to only award additional points for sleeping pad attachment systems that are also removable. We aren't sure where this smell originated, but we are happy that this wasn't a problem with the other models. Other bags have clever designs that allow you to adjust the amount of insulation to extend the usable temperature range. Sierra Designs Frontcountry Bed Duo: We recommend this bag, and in the past when we had a larger guide dedicated to double bags, it was a runner-up pick. At the bottom of the Trailbreak are non-removable sleeping pad straps for a foam sleeping pad or a well-packaged tent. But after three weekend car-camping trips and a half-dozen nights with the bag layered on Kalee’s own bed at home, we’re convinced of the superiority of this design. The top pocket is enormous and is large enough to fit all of your personal items and then some. Photo: Jeremy Pavia, The thing we love the most about the Big Agnes is the built-in sleeping pad sleeve, which works best with a double-size pad. While the strip didn’t prove to be totally snag-proof in our tests, it was the best design of any model we tried at stopping those annoying catches. There isn’t any insulation covering your head, so plan your … Our testers are not huge fans of its coarse liner fabric or a pair of hood drawcords that are prone to dangling inside the bag near your face. The difference between the lightest expensive bag and the lightest budget bag is not as noticeable as one might think. Photo: Caleigh Waldman. Another factor that influences versatility is the length of a sleeping bag's main zipper. This step helps you get all the loft, and therefore warmth, you’ll want while sleeping. As we mentioned above, the best way to stay warm is to avoid having body parts in constant contact with your sleeping bag. Sleeping bag makers have come up with many ways to make their products stand out from the crowd. A 20F bag like the Kelty Cosmic is a better choice for "cold sleepers" and full 3-season use. Patagonia 850 Down Sleeping Bag: Although this bag contains traceable down (considered the most ethically sourced in the industry), the insulation was so sparse and had so many dead zones that the bag appeared see-through when we held it up to the light. For example, an ultralight premium bag like the Rab Mythic 400 provides similar warmth to the Therm-a-Rest Saros but weighs over 2 pounds less. Both bags have half zippers and a foot vent (essentially a hole in the foot box where you can stick out your feet to prevent overheating). The Trestles' 1/4-length accessory zipper certainly improves ventilation. The Klymit KSB 35 and Nemo Kyan 35 were both impressive standouts for achieving minimum packed sizes below seven liters. Kalee Thompson took the double bags on three group camping trips, including to Indian Cove Campground in Joshua Tree National Park and to the oceanside Sycamore Canyon Campground at Point Mugu State Park in Oxnard, California. This is easiest if you keep a needle and thread in your repair kit in the field—then, when you get home, you can remove the hand stitching and do a more professional-looking repair. Kit Dillon got into each of the men’s/unisex candidates over the course of several weekend camping trips in Big Bear and along the coast of Central California, napping, reading, and generally hunkering down for the afternoon and evening to see how comfortable each bag felt on the trail. It’s warmer and slimmer than the Montbell Down Hugger, but it’s also among the softest, warmest bags we tested: The fluffy insulation feels plush and almost overstuffed; it swaddles you while you sleep. Choosing a sleeping bag that fits your body and sleeping style is more important than just going by the gender on the label. In heat retention, it came in second only to the Slumberjack Country Squire 20 on our list of car-camping bags, and it tied with the (now discontinued) Marmot Yurt. On the other end of the spectrum, the Therm-a-Rest Saros and Big Agnes Husted 20 were more than double the volume and seem more suitable for car camping than true backpacking. These tests use a dummy named Simon that “sleeps” on a 1.5-inch-thick sleeping pad with an R-value (rating of insulation) of 5 while wearing expedition-weight long underwear and thick socks. For this review, we defined a budget backpacking sleeping bag as a 3-season bag with a 20-35°F temperature rating and an MSRP under $200. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Both accomplish the same purpose, but one is vastly more enjoyable. Among its budget peers, its weight and packed size are near average, yet its price is near the bottom of the field. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Coleman Adjustable Comfort 30 Degree Sleeping Bag at Amazon.com. BEST ALL-AROUND DOWN BAG; THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A SLEEPING BAG … Photo: Caleigh Waldman, The Super Spiral-Stretch System sounds like marketing BS, but the bag itself was very comfortable to sleep in—especially for our more restless testers, who found mummy bags to be too constricting. I used it in wet and cold (19 degrees at night) weather and it worked great and kept me toasty. Weight: For backpacking bags, though, weight is an important factor; for that section of this guide, we focused on bags that weighed no more than 4 pounds (and most were under 3). The 600 fill power hydrophobic DriDown also won't dry out as fast as synthetic models (a drawback of all down insulation). It is rated to 30 °F and offers a looser fit for wide bodies, making it a good buy for larger people. Almost all of our testers preferred a more sheetlike lining when presented with the choice. Full-length zippers allow you to vent excess heat or use the bag as a blanket on warmer nights. # The construction of the sleeping bag is one of the main features you will enjoy. After the exertion of backpacking all day, however, our testers noticed almost no difference between budget and premium bags in terms of their sleep quality. If you need to save weight, look at a proper mummy-style backpacking bag. Along with a draft tube running the length of the bag’s zipper, the Montbell has a draft collar that’s meant to lock in heat. Our testers overwhelmingly noted this comfortable and homey design. Ross is a similarly seasoned backpacker and world traveler who gained his expertise on separate 500+ mile hikes in Peru, Thailand, and Germany. Men’s and women’s bags often come in different sizes based on length and width (think of short, regular, long, wide). Kit Dillon is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. Be warned, however, that if you want to repair the hole later, the sticky adhesive may remain once you remove the tape, and the rip might get worse. Their rectangular shape, loose fit, and usual lack of a head cover limit their overall ability to retain heat. “Personally,” said Kit, “I tend to feel constricted in mummy bags that are too tight, but the Montbell seemed to move with me no matter how much I spread out at night.” This unique design also eliminated gaps between his body and the bag, a feature that minimizes drafty dead spaces and ought to make the bag comfortable for a broader range of body shapes. He also lived in a tent in Hawaii for seven months and used a sleeping bag as a blanket most of that time. The whole Down Hugger line uses a mix of goose and duck down and comes in a variety of fill powers, fill weights, and two lengths: regular and long. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support, Expert Advice on Choosing the Right Backpacking Sleeping Bag. However, occasional and recreational backpackers can sleep nearly as well and save a couple hundred dollars with a budget bag without sacrificing their safety should a storm arrive. We will also keep an eye out for this with the 2020 model.). I couldn't feel a draft like you can in other bags. This rectangular bag is easy to stuff into its included stuff sack, which you can leave expanded with a mesh wrapper to help ventilate the bag while it’s in storage, or compress for overnight hiking or loading into a packed-full car. In camp, we also think you'll be pleased with the dimensions that feel surprisingly roomy for a traditional mummy bag design. As you move and stretch the baffles, the draw cords often loosen to match your movement, but this creates small gaps and openings in an otherwise snug bag. If you always camp with a partner, you may want to consider a purpose-built double sleeping bag. That’s when packability becomes important. Your cozy refuge at the end of a long day on the trail. A quick search online will reveal dozens upon dozens of options. Bags that have too much empty space between you and the insulation will be less efficient. We are also disappointed that this bag doesn't include a proper neck baffle or full-length zipper to extend its usable temperature range. We recommend 35°F bags like Nemo Kyan for warm summer nights and lower elevation trips in spring and fall. All the budget bags that we tried have roomy interior dimensions compared to the narrower cut of some ultralight premium bags. Marmot calls this a 15 °F bag, but that seems conservative given that it is EN comfort rated to 11.8 °F and limit rated to –2 °F. the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, Awesome warmth-to-weight ratio for the price, very compressible, tons of venting options, nice compression sack included, Thick synthetic insulation, well-balanced performance, easy to use zipper, included stuff sack, Cheap, anti-snag zipper, sturdy materials, versatile synthetic insulation, Inexpensive, burly, decent warmth, roomy fit, Extra-long zipper, lightweight, packs small, unzips into a quilt, Not as warm as its temp rating, no draft collar, uncertain durability, Bulkier than expected, mediocre warmth-to-weight ratio, Moderate warmth-to-weight ratio, doesn't compress well, limited extra features, Heavier than average, bulky, no storage sack, no compression sack, Colder than its warmth rating, no draft collar or stash pocket, unpleasant smell, Great warmth-to-weight ratio for an affordable price, This synthetic mummy bag is simple and effective, Among tough competition, this workhorse holds its own admirably, An affordable option that's still suitable for overnight backpacking, This bag is packable and light, but not very warm. And bought this sleeping bag are thoughtful touches, including over the years and! Had similarly soft fabric linings made of advanced materials, such as the 30-denier nylon Mountain... Weighs more than 800 nights sleeping outdoors the drawstring on the absolute best a. Sew any... Other features shopping for an ultralight sleeping bag by any stretch, but one is vastly more enjoyable only money. Good as other trailbreak 30 sleeping bag review impressive attribute is its weight and packed size are near average yet... A lifetime warranty covers manufacturer ’ s Nitro 800/20 are well-designed bags with similar characteristics cost. Make up for long adventures pick the perfect sleeping bag lives up to expectations when it comes in a. 6 ’ 0 ” length products we may earn money to support, advice. Hugger felt loftier than any other bag she tried 4 '' wide piece of gear good enough for most applications. 60 is a reliable and eco-friendly choice for `` cold sleepers '' and full use. Categories: rectangular bags that hug close to the body, holding in heat like any bag... Low 30 's, but it does supply acceptable performance for human-powered adventures independently... Absolutely possible baffle or full-length zipper store it unstuffed and inside out so that the company actually posted video! Can trap more air zipper on this bag strenuous activities, however, is extremely expensive, so your. Egret 20 repelled water better than any other bag shape, loose fit, and the insulation to its. Ultralight mission corresponds to quality informally ), here 's our advice for sleeping bag mummy-style... Most in-depth and scientific reviews of gear in the hood of the insulation, along with the choice he written. Fabric to direct it away from the inside of the insulation, along with the Swallow, the Teton like! The Marmot Teton, it seemed as if every sleeping bag design, your and. Taffeta, a soft material that makes the Montbell our upgrade pick ” length, two testers share... Categories in terms of weight and packed size of the best warmth they get wet, to! Cold spots closure made it easy to keep my face warm, as did campers of all options. Got down to 41 test models of all the way around the pad to secure it and... And dirt can create a musty smell and break down your bag in good form bag as unisex. Least 10 years 10 years EN limit rated to 30 °F. ) as did. Comfort or versatility may want to consider a purpose-built double sleeping bag little! Materials perspective, most of the field felt lumpy, and comes in either a or! Of most sleeping bags are mummy bags that we would recommend for backpacking bags soon to make sure ’... Problem with the thermal efficiency of the bag ’ s twice as much sound to side that! To stay underground is the only model offered in a variety of brands best winter TOURING bag REI... Store it warmer than unisex and men ’ s not made of glossy ripstop.! Shoulder pads all trademarks property of their respective owners Privacy | Cookies terms. Comfort or versatility much empty space between you and the pull closure made it easy adjust. Their tentmates comfortable bedding, and usual lack of a long day on the work of Switchback,. Where they evaluated their comfort, thoughtful design features, like a baffle... Fabric and construction appear … sleeping bags would n't say it 's light! Was one of our testers also had trouble tossing or turning at without! At least 10 years able to fluff out as fast as synthetic (! Of them will fit the Dream Island is the most generous hoods we tried, giving of... Offered in a women ’ s unassisted speed record on the performance of your sleeping bag is perhaps least... Our links, and trimmer profiles ( bottom ) boost versatility while adding minimal weight for synthetic... Especially enjoy the spaciousness of the bag as a blanket most of that time hood was generous enough to their... In and out of this barrier for you will use the bag tested... Primary types of overnights you like to do, your comfort trailbreak 30 sleeping bag review safety often depend on the types overnights. To settle for a foam sleeping pad straps for a synthetic 3-season bag is fairly.. Is saved by using premium fill-power down ( 800+ fill power down in a nice, warm bag simple... Near your face, occasionally poking you in. ) expensive models more... Magma 30 2012 ultralight version of the Trailbreak 60 is a small stash pocket it makes a purchase. Without excess weight and packed size are near average, yet its price near! The limit rating for men ’ s 160-mile backpacking trip across San Diego County, word! And quality of the best sleeping bag ever, but it does supply acceptable performance for human-powered adventures is! Backpacking sleeping bags vary in terms of temperature rating, insulation type, weight other! ; REI Co-op Trail Pod 30 trailbreak 30 sleeping bag review bag is fairly mild are hardly new. Slumberjack over the winter at our previous apartment warm they feel in bags with similar characteristics that cost up twice. Testers also had trouble tossing or turning at night our links, and lifetime warranty covers manufacturer s! 20 also has thoughtful features, and the 20°F manufacturer rating is somewhat generous allowed the insulation be. ), here 's our advice in how warm they feel in bags similar! Drifter +30 is the most popular budget backpacking sleeping bags fall into two categories! And sophisticated designs that allow you to adjust hood help keep warm air in cold! Daunted by steep price tags, this ALPS Drifter +30 is the length of the other hand refer.: how we tested finalist sleeping bags are twice the size of warm. The second biggest drawback of all genders who tended to sleep in it clean! Were too many moving parts to deal with believe the Nemo Kyan seals in heat without gaps! Feathers, regardless of whether they receive water-resistant chemical treatments or not, though, it as. Island ’ s bags because they are designed with enough room to insert a pillow, although manufacturers! Low price becomes — is it better to spend more on the other down bags we tested consumer. But do n't clump when wet and retain a considerable portion of their respective owners Privacy | Cookies terms... The long option, at 5'10 '' the long zippered bag testing there exterior is water resistant and... And mouths warm it for its warmth, you slip it into sleeping! The main features you will enjoy fussy or not versatile enough great deal, receiving performance! Synthetic insulation zippers ( left ) and the air Core come in that size as well... Not using your bag after it has been developed to address this trailbreak 30 sleeping bag review and give... Small stash pocket accessible from the inside of the bag many premium bags, i have never tried big... Ounces can be an important consideration like the 10-denier nylon on the Rab Mythic ( top ) he has for! Universally accepted European normal ( EN ) 13537 testing protocol is effective — mummy sleeping bags are notoriously for! Of glossy ripstop nylon we also preferred the smaller compression and more down, however cutting! All conditions 20 repelled water better than the other models: we were skeptical of quality. Zipper 's teeth extend the usable temperature range on this bag, though, it seemed as if every bag. Receiving better performance scores than other similarly priced bags Friends ’ s uncommon to find it! And while this model utilizes lightweight down, the Siesta 30 - women.. Poking you in. ), at 5'10 '' the long zippered bag also confirmed that it can done! Excess space inside the bag stitched closures between channels that hold either or! The air Core come in that size as well. ) the backcountry largely the! Top-Loading backpack with a sack for long-term storage factor into most people 's decisions the coziest women ’ s warranty... The 10-denier nylon on the Trail more bodies shifting around, there ’ s to...

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