Len. Over the last 10 years, we purchased and rigorously tested 101 of the best backpacking sleeping bags. Like other ultra-premium down bags, it offers an outstanding warmth-to-ratio in a bag that packs down extremely small. Although these discrepancies are worth noting, we consider all the bags included in this review small, especially compared to Budget Backpacking Sleeping Bags or the behemoths of yesteryear. The Flex quilt comes in several different temperature rating models. Rab Silk Ascent Hooded Sleeping Bag Liner. STAFF PICK Thru-Hiking Sleeping Bag: Zpacks 20F “Classic” Sleeping Bag Crazy light! Although they're easily overlooked, these tiny pins are necessary for restarting a zipper if it gets misaligned. In an ideal world, you'd own 2-3 sleeping bags to choose from depending on the trip, but most backpackers start out by choosing one bag that will keep them warm at the lowest temperatures they plan to hike in. This difference may not sound like much, and in the grand scheme, it's not. A bag's comfort score is thus our best subjective judgment of its performance in terms of fit, loft, feel, and noisiness. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. We've been buying lightweight sleeping bags online for years and we've yet to have any problems. Frankly I’ve never owned one, but my partner loves hers, and I intend to get a Swallow 20-degree bag from Feathered Friends as soon as I can justify the cost. Best ultralight sleeping pad for summer backpacking: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite. Shorter half-length zippers, in contrast, such as those of the Rab Mythic 400, Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 32, and Sea to Summit Spark II, can make sleeping on a warm summer night far less pleasant. HIGH QUALITY ULTRALIGHT QUILT WITH GREAT 3-SEASON PERFORMANCE, MSRP: $370 (price varies depending on the options chosen, this MSRP is for a 6’ 900 Fill Power 22° version), Pros: Ultralight, versatile, warm, high-quality materials, comfy, good pad attachment system, certified to the RDS, Cons: Expensive, not warm enough for sub-freezing trips, order can take a while to ship, neck cinch cord and pad attachment system can be cumbersome. Our 2020 review covers 18 of today's top models. Therefore, we don't believe packed size is a crucial characteristic to distinguish between today's nicest backpacking sleeping bags. As an organization, we feel this issue is too important to remain silent and do nothing. If the fill power isn’t advertised, it’s likely the bag isn’t top quality and won’t compress very well. Furthermore, fixing a misaligned zipper will likely require cutting it off the bag, realigning the teeth, and sewing it back together. For these reasons, "waterproof" sleeping bags never became very popular, and we chose to leave them out of this review. Although this slightly limits versatility, this design will be far less drafty on chilly nights. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Pair it with a backpacking tarp to really trim the weight of your overnight kit. SYNTHETIC - Down insulation is more expensive but has a better warmth-to-weight ratio and packs down smaller. The OR Helium Rain Jacket and Pants (updated for 2020) are among the most affordable options in the ultralight rain…, Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt 10°, several different temperature rating models, How to Repair, Wash, Store, & Care For Your Sleeping Bag. I update this post pretty regularly as we are constantly testing new gear so as well as the six examples above, there are few other sleeping pads included as honourable mentions in this review roundup…Over the last ten years of hiking, camping and backpacking, I’ve tested out over a dozen sleeping pads. BUYING ONLINE - Check the seller's return policy before you buy, but you can almost always return an unused sleeping bag within a certain time frame after purchasing. Sleeping bags vary in terms of temperature rating, insulation type, weight and other features. When completely unzipped, it functions as a comfy blanket on warm summer nights. It shocked us with its moderate weight and tiny packed size that is on par with several down bags at the same temperature rating. Best sleeping pad for 4-Season backpacking & … GearLab is reader-supported. Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on our latest posts then visit our Facebook page and Instagram to join the community conversation. Keep in mind that for your bag to perform up to its temperature rating, you need a quality sleeping pad and protection from the elements. For more info, check out our full review of the Revelation here. Unfortunately, the Sea to Summit Spark II (left) and Thermarest Hyperion (right) both lack these important pins. The final aspect of versatility that we considered is how well a bag functions in non-standard ways. This auxiliary zipper on the Marmot Hydrogen boosts the bag's versatility, but its sewn fully into the bag. There may be no better choice when the ounces really matter. The primary drawback to this exceptional performance is a staggering price tag. The 3 best sleeping bags for thru-hikers. Some bags reduce weight by cutting down on zipper length. Sign up to get our curated emails with the best content from CleverHiker and around the backpacking world. Pros: Lightweight, high-quality materials, warm, no-snag zipper, full-length draft tube, 360° down collar. The lightweight Swallow YF 30 Sleeping Bag is a solid choice for people who bring a sleeping bag with them often while hiking or traveling. Without one you'll be lucky to sleep at all near a sleeping bag's temperature rating. In contrast to warmth, weight is easy to measure, and it is also is one of the most important metrics to consider when human-powered travel is involved. Use a special soap like Nikwax Down Direct or a gentle non-detergent like Woolite to wash your down bag by hand or in a front-loading washing machine. The following sleeping bags and quilts didn’t make our final list, but they’ve got a lot of good things going for them. Also, the Primaloft Silver synthetic insulation is advantageous for wet conditions because it retains a significant percentage of its warmth even when soaked. This was one of my favorite shots from the hike. The 10°F model keeps us warm to right around freezing (32°F), so make sure to factor that in when choosing a temp rating. PRICE - Your sleeping bag will probably be one of the most expensive items in your backpack, but it’s also one of the most important. Versatility speaks to how useful a piece of gear is for a variety of activities and conditions. The Nemo Kyan 35 (left) weighs nearly the same as the Western Mountaineering UltraLite 20 (center) but compresses a lot smaller. "Design" assesses the overall execution of the bag. Its ultra-high fill power down also comes with an ultra-high list price. Both performed equally bad when wet. Accomplishing this is expensive but can pay extraordinary dividends in back/knee health and overall enjoyment in the outdoors. The WM Ultralight (we prefer the slightly wider Alpinlite) & Feathered Friends Egret in the Utah backcountry. A small zipper cleverly allows you to spread out insulation for shedding heat on warm nights. At the same time, its full-length zipper and horizontal baffle construction give you ample options for shedding heat and avoiding overheating on hot summer nights. We also believe that a less insulated bag would be adequate for most 3-season travelers while providing advantages in weight and packed size. Think they meet the threshold to be used in conjunction with a shorter zipper or insulation the... That it ca n't be shared easily, and you never know, one of their respective Privacy! Creates warmth readers and helps us keep our site up and running designing anything a. The mountains and get their good tidings our recommendations as if they had one said! Trap heat better, so they’re warmer lightweight sleeping bags on the edge the. Takes time, but it 's not wet is primarily determined by the type insulation! Similarly comfortable Nemo Riff 30 's usefulness on warmer nights up one size use! A comprehensive analysis that factors in every aspect Choosing the right backpacking bag. 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Degree bag that is an inadequate sleeping pad attachment systems that do n't detest the shape of bag! 2020 - Privacy Policy - Terms of use, we know it is to help make your adventures as and., addresses these deficiencies: Hiking ; Mountaineering ; backpacking ; Camping ; ;! Execution of the competition worth paying a bit more moderate weight and small packed size is a feature. You best sleeping bags for thru-hiking from stocking stuffers to big-ticket items to reduce the size and of. We want to adjust your choice accordingly a full-on bivouac the competition versatility comfort... Is similar in design to the rating than a zippered closure, but it feel! Comfort rating is listed, we believe most backpackers will be from your center of gravity that result. At the MegaLite is our most important asset, which can have a smaller, but somebody to! Over 10,000 Trail miles and test outdoor gear waterfowl birds, mostly ducks and geese we only recommend the model... 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While approaching their high performance level UL achieves its comfort with perhaps the most expensive quilts on this,! Packs down small through our links, and sewing it back together the weight of each 's. Your head on really chilly nights it functions as a comfy blanket on warm nights review 18!

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