GearLab is reader-supported. We use cookies to make sure we give you the best experience on our website. This one is bulky and fairly heavy. Once or twice a year? A good all-purpose sleeping bag that will keep you warm on various hikes. The Marmot Col -20 weighs 4.08 lbs, dedicating 21.3 oz to its tough, highly weather-resistant 30-denier Pertex shell fabric. It’s a good all round sleeping bag that will keep you warm and comfortable. Some of these links may be of an affiliate nature, which means we earn small commissions if items are purchased. What elevates its score is the super comfy 66" cut in shoulders and its 30 ounces of 850 fill down, making our favorite balance of warmth, weight, and comfort for winter camping in the lower 48. If you don't need to hike too far, this comfortable and warm bag is great for a chilly evening under the stars. Looking for a four season tent? The regular Blaze weighs around 5 pounds so it is a little heavy for long-distance backpacking. Small storage pocket for headlamp or batteries, Narrow cut for thermal efficiency and weight savings, Impressive warmth falls noticeably short of heavier models, Comfortable for many different sleeping positions, Not as warm as other bags rated to the same temperature, Super wide cut for storing boots, water, or extra clothing, Reinforced inside the toe box to resist damage from boots. BEST FOR: FALL/EARLY WINTER CAMPING; The North Face One. Coleman Heritage Sleeping Bag. High-tech shell fabrics allow for weather resistance and durability, even in light, 12 denier shells. The Snowbunting and the Cosmic Down have shallow hoods and relatively narrow (but thermally efficient) cuts. If you are carrying your own gear, you want gear that packs down into the smallest size and weighs as little as possible. Though the cut of the Phantom 0 is standard compared to most of the top-performing down bags, larger folks may find it a little tight, especially if they're spending multiple days in a base camp situation, keeping a liter of water, a set of clothes, or even their boots in the bag with them. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Most modern winter sleeping bags are a “Mummy” shape – looking a little bit like a sarcophagus. A key piece of gear in every person's overnight winter kit is their sleeping bag. The Marmot Col is incredibly lofty with 44 ounces of down fill. It’s easier to peel off and unzip the bag if you are a bit hot, but getting caught on a very cold night can be serious. The Snowbunting packs 25.3 oz of 900 fill down into a 2.85 lbs package. Due to the variety of conditions that can be encountered on a climb, a sleeping bag must be able to withstand wet weather. Down filled bags are significantly more expensive, they hate getting wet, and dry slowly. Western Mountaineering Kodiak MF Winter Sleeping Bag More expensive than a synthetic bag or other, more entry-level down bags but you’ll notice the different as the mercury starts to fall. This is a consideration for winter backpackers on unsupported treks. The best option for families who often camp together! We feel this is an interesting feature but do not like the fact that if the zipper breaks, you are now in a 20F bag regardless of how cold the night time low is. Some bags had stash pockets, which are useful for storing batteries or a watch but also can be annoying if you roll over on them. If you tend to sleep “cold” at home, when you are not exhausted from 7 hours on the trail then I would suggest you opt for the warmer bag, rated 0°F. Others will find the compromise in terms of warmth and thermal efficiency is just too much. Hiking in frosty conditions or at altitude is hard, and after a strenuous day, getting a good night’s sleep is difficult enough – without being cold as well. If your trip is a one-off and you are unlikely to use it again, then perhaps you might consider something a little cheaper and less high-spec. This bag is a budget down sleeping bag that performs well. Stay warm and dry, no matter the weather with this brilliant bag. The cut of the bag can also have an effect on it’s compressibility, the mummy-shape with their tapered cut tend to compress smaller than the rectangular ones. They were just that waterproof. I would recommend this only if you are on a very tight budget. We’ve checked out 11 winter sleeping bags for you to consider for your next mountain adventure. This is an ideal sleeping bag for any women who like a bit of winter wild camping. Each of these bags has similar weights, but the Kodiak MF is warmest because it has the highest quality down and lightweight shell materials. It is very lightweight, barely weighing more than the heavier down bags. With a sleeping bag rated 15°F (-10°C) it is advisable to take a good sleeping bag liner, to keep you comfortable on freezing mountain nights. Its burly, waterproof shell absorbed zero water, even in our submersion test. The Western Mountaineering bags have the largest storage sacks so that you can store them at the maximum loft. That’s not to say that the most expensive winter sleeping bag is necessarily the warmest. I have seen this sleeping bag on Kilimanjaro and on an Everest Base Camp trek. As with most things, you get what you pay for. Alternatively, in some conditions stuffing the bag directly into the backpack can yield the best results. Extra space can be useful for accommodating additional layers you may want to wear or items you want to keep warm with you through the night, like water bottles, radios, headlamps, phones, white gas, stoves, boot liners, and batteries. Some of the bags feature specially treated hydrophobic down. The Versalite isn't as weather-resistant as some of the heavier bags in this review, but it packs down smaller and weighs less than every bag in its class. The lower scores in the comfort metric go to the Feathered Friends Snowbunting and the Kelty Cosmic Down 0. The problem with these temperature ratings, apart from the definitions involved in “standard”/”average” people, is they also take no account of other factors in your sleep system. The best bags for cowboy camping just have excellent shell fabrics. It’s versatile, comfortable and will keep you warm and dry on the trail. No bag is designed to withstand full submersion, but many of the bags proved highly water resistant. They are an attempt to standardize the conversion from an insulation value to a temperature range. Get it as soon as Tue, Dec 29. The Kelty Cosmic Down 0 is as warm and lofty as the Rab Ascent 900, but you'll pay with your legs, back, and the space in your pack. This results in a total loss of insulating properties. The Rab Neutrino 800 and the Rab Ascent 900 feature down with a hydrophobic treatment. The North Rim Extreme Weather sleeping bag is a highly reviewed and highly affordable option in … Slightly heavier and bulkier, synthetic sleeping bags are an excellent choice for those allergic to down or for travels in wet conditions. Care for it, though, and this high-quality model could last decades of winters. CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON. Our testers found they could even change clothes inside the bag. Remember, there is often no other heat source except for your body heat in most winter trips; building fires isn't always an option. Best for Budget: Mountain Hardwear Lamina Z (not as low-cost but much better value than the Coleman). A bag with higher quality down filling (800 or more) can achieve a lower temperature rating at a lower weight. Featuring 850-fill power down in a 10D recycled nylon shell, this highly compressible, sub 3-pound bag is perfect for winter backpacking trips and overnight ski tours. The Mountain Hardwear Phantom is a solid sleeping bag for the price point. The Marmot Col is a great bag for expeditions, where you'll likely spend days on end inside your sleeping bag, staying warm and waiting for good weather. It comes with plenty of room and great insulation. The Nemo Sonic has a ventilation system employing two zippered gills on the top of the bag, so you can cool off when using the bag in warmer weather. We'd bet on it. For very high elevations or if you tend to sleep cold, then you might find that this bag isn’t as warm as the more premium-priced synthetic bags. This is a rugged down sleeping bag manufactured from good quality fabric that will keep you warm when the temperature drops. We then got an accurate idea of how each sleeping bag compressed in the same stuff sack, as well as how they compressed in their own stuff sacks when the manufacturer included them. The manufacturers claim hydrophobic down absorbs less water and maintains its loft better, and dries out faster than untreated down. Testers loved that they could sleep on their stomach, side, or back without skipping a beat AND hold all of the gear that needs to be insulated, all while staying comfortable. Top Pick: RAB Ascent 700 or Mountain Hardwear Phantom Flame. Goose down is superior to Duck down in terms of its compressibility and warmth-to-weight ratio, though for most of us, we won’t notice the difference between a premium quality duck-down sleeping bag and one filled with goose down. Most winter sleeping bags will state that they are 15°F or 0°F – although as we’ve seen, there are a number of variations within these ratings. Coupling it with a good sleeping bag liner would likely improve it’s rating to nearer 0F. When choosing whether to take a 15°F bag, do bear in mind that altitude and exertion can both conspire to make you much colder than you would normally be. Tip: if your bag doesn’t come with a compression sack, then get yourself a waterproof one. If not, this bag is worthy of falling in love with. The last type is the winter sleeping bags which are perfect for temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. 99. Best for Budget: Coleman North Rim (do me a favor, only buy this one if you are on a serious budget and cannot afford anything better. All trademarks property of their respective owners See our full, What About Your Sleeping Pad? A major consideration is always going to be weight and compressibility. Other bags had "gills" to allow you to vent at the base of the climb, where you may not encounter conditions even close to 0F. Whether you choose to buy a 15°F or a 0°F will depend on (a) your budget (b) your expectation of future usage (c) how cold or warm you tend to be at night. Western Mountaineering bags are the gold standard, but they're expensive. If you sleep with a few layers of clothing, then the extra room might suit you. The Kelty Cosmic Down is the least expensive bag and among heaviest bag we tested, weighing 3.8 lbs, almost the same as the Marmot Col -20, but not even close in terms of warmth and weather resistance. Let us know! A big trade-off in this category is the quality of the down fill and the loft it provides. With a compression sack, all the bags pictured here packed down even smaller. Our testers found they could sleep comfortably in this bag in any position, even in the classic "can opener" position, due to the slight stretch in the middle. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. 1. Say you were to rip a hole in your tent or break your leg far away from the nearest help, your sleeping bag will likely be the difference between getting rescued or becoming hypothermic waiting to be rescued. You definitely want zippers that do not catch and snag on the shell material. Meeting the cold head-on for 2021, our experts have tested 27 of the best winter down sleeping bags over 8 years. Our testers feel like the Sonic isn't as warm as some of the other 0-degree F bags in our review, most notably the Western Mountaineering Kodiak MF. The bag compresses down into a small space (although we don’t like the stuff sack it comes with) and is not too heavy, even if you are doing an unsupported hike. This can be at the expense of comfort, as you may not like the feeling of being restricted. WM has been quietly churning out this bag to a devoted following of adventurers for years. Shivering all night and surviving is one thing, but slumbering into a deep sleep to wake up refreshed is another. The variety of shell fabrics on the market make some down sleeping bags suitable for use out in the open, others made for the shelter of a tent. Without the extra expense of a down sleeping bag, this one will perform well in damp conditions. Maybe not. Here our lead tester is psyched to get up and go skiing. Coleman makes a pretty great zero to ten degree F sleeping bag. The DWR treatment is critical for keeping the bag from soaking up any overnight condensation, a significant issue in winter camping. We’ll say it again: A good sleeping bag can be one of … This sleeping bag offers a lot of features including cinchable hoods, zipper draft tubes, and draft collars. These adventures take him deep into the backcountry, where he appreciates a sleeping back that is light and warm. thehikingadventure.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The bag's fill power, the fill weight of the bag, and the cut of the bag most dramatically affect how warm a sleeping bag is. These bags didn't score very high here but are by no means uncomfortable - simply average. These days it’s possible to get very durable high-tech shells that are super-light, but they’ll cost you more money. But, to save a few hundred dollars (or more), you might be willing to haul a tad more weight and sleep with your puffy on (which is more than likely with you on any winter trip). Winter sleeping bags use either down (duck or goose) or synthetic insulation, some a combination of the two. 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