Sleeping Bags

What was the camping world like pre-sleeping bag? Some say it didn’t exist. Camping as a recreational activity only took off once the adequate protection was in place. This came in the form of a tent and a sleeping bag. From there you had the cookout stove, the foldable table and chairs, and an assortment of lanterns. But people didn’t really get to camping until they had a tent and a bag.

Early sleeping bag technology was little more than a heavy blanket. As time went on the concept of trapping body heat and using it to heat the body all night long caught on. This required advanced synthetics and materials that camping bags in 2020 have mastered. Need a good bag? Look no further …

REI Co-op Magma 15 & 30

An all-around winner, this bag from REI checks the quality, comfort and price boxes, and is an excellent choice for weekend camping warriors. Weighing in at just over 1 pound, the Magma is lightweight, compact, and features a no snag zipper (don’t laugh, this can be a giant pain). Plus it’s certified to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS).

This is a great bag if your camping is concentrated during summer months. If you’re a winter kind of guy or gal though, there are some other bags for you.

Western Mountaineering Alpinlite 20 Degrees

Speaking of alternative bags for more extreme climates, this bag racks up prizes in the best “warmth-to-weight ratio” category. A fought-after category year in and year out, the Alpinlite takes the cake, and with a full-length tube that covers you literally from head to toe, it’s no wonder this is one of the coziest bags on the market. The only knock on the Alpinlite is its price. At $570 you’re beginning to cross the line on the “am I comfortable dropping this kind of cash on a sleeping bag” scale. Yet, if you’re hitting extreme conditions, you could do a lot worse.

Kelty Cosmic Down 20 Degrees

We’ve done a lot of “best of lists,” and the one category everyone enjoys (or secretly skips to first), is the best budget (sleeping bag in this instance) category. Again, if camping is a hobby that you might indulge in say 15 nights a year, the Cosmic Down bag will only set you back $180, and while not as compressible as other bags on this list, still a very quality product for the price. This bag from Kelty weighs more than most, but you’ll be saving cash, so who really cares.

NEMO Disco 15 Degrees

Some folks need a bit more wiggle room in their bag. If this is your case, the Disco 15 Degrees is the smart choice. Upon first sight, it’s easy to look at this bag and then look the other way. It’s incredibly bulky, has a bizarre shape, and looks to take up a ton of room. Well, it does do all that, mainly because it’s a bag for a bigger guy or gal. It’s also a great bag if you’re a side sleeper or fidget around a lot in the evening. Weighing in over 2 pounds, this hot-seller from NEMO features cool “thermo gills” that help to vent heat when the nights get cold. There’s a lot of extra space here, and some skinnier folks like to pile two bodies into the NEMO as well. It’s versatile!

If you’re lucky, you can camp year-round where you live. Even if you can’t, get prepared. Camping is a fantastic experience, affordable, and fun for the whole family. Grab a bag today!