Best Sleeping Bag for Backpacking [2022 Reviews]
We've tested, rated, and reviewed sleeping bags to match any backpacking requirement - whether you want light weight, winter protection, room for two, or any other situation we've got you covered!
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Alan is our resident expert on all things wild camping. He loves nothing better than to get out of the house with just his ex-Army sleeping gear and a stove, and head off to the remotest spot he can find near his home on the south coast of the UK.
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As a backpacker, the right sleeping bag for your needs could be your perfect companion on your backpacking adventures.
When it comes to backpacking, you don't only want to settle for a warm sleeping bag but also a lightweight, quick-dry, comfortable, compressible, and portable sleeping bag - and there are many sleeping bag brands to choose from.
You want a packable and compressible sleeping bag that can perfectly fit into your backpack, a lightweight bag that won't slow you down, and a waterproof or quick drying bag to put inside your pack after using it on wet ground.
We put this roundup review together after testing some of the best backpacking sleeping bags out there.
We've categorized them from the best overall, best for side sleepers, best for cold weather, best budget, best for couples, synthetic sleeping bags, and more.
So you are guaranteed to find the best backpacking sleeping bags that best suit your needs and conditions.
Here you go!

Backpacking Sleeping Bag Comparison Table
Image | Product | Features | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Best Overall ![]() | Feathered Friends Hummingbird YF 20 |
| Check Best Price - Feathered Friends |
Best Lightweight/Ultralight | Western Mountaineering UltraLite |
| Check Best Price - MoosejawCheck Price at Amazon |
Best for Side/Stomach Sleepers ![]() | Big Agnes Sidewinder SL 20 |
| Check Best Price - Amazon |
Best for Cold Weather ![]() | Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15 |
| Check Best Price - Mountain HardwearCheck Price at Tradeinn |
Best for Big Guys/Tall People ![]() | NEMO Disco 15/30° |
| Check Best Price - NemoCheck Price at Amazon |
Best for Couples ![]() | Feathered Friends Spoonbill UL |
| Check Best Price - Feathered Friends |
Best Budget ![]() | Kelty Cosmic Down 20° |
| Check Best Price - KeltyCheck Price at Amazon |
Best for Summer Camping ![]() | Marmot Nanowave 55 |
| Check Best Price - MarmotCheck Price at Amazon |
Best Synthetic | Marmot Trestles Elite Eco 20 |
| Check Best Price - Marmot |
Best Down | Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15 |
| Check Best Price - Mountain Hardwear |
Best for 3 Season ![]() | Marmot Hydrogen 30 |
| Check Best Price - MarmotCheck Price at Amazon |
Best Compact ![]() | Feathered Friends Hummingbird UL 30 |
| Check Best Price - Feathered Friends |
Best for Women ![]() | Feathered Friends Egret UL 20° |
| Check Best Price - Feathered Friends |
Best for Versatility ![]() | Kammok Arctos 20°F (QUILT) |
| Check Best Price - Kammok |
Runner Up ![]() | Feathered Friends Swift YF 20/30 |
| Check Best Price - Feathered Friends |
Runner Up ![]() | Western Mountaineering MegaLite |
| Check Best Price - Amazon |
What To Look For - The Factors We Use to Rate Sleeping Bags
We keep these factors in mind when rating sleeping bags to ensure we recommend the best sleeping bag that provides all the features you need for a backpacking trip.
Comfort
Sleeping bag comfort rating refers to the optimum temperature at which the sleeping bag will keep you warm and comfortable when sleeping.
Weight
When deciding on a sleeping bag for backpacking, you should always try to get the lightest one you can afford.
A lightweight sleeping bag that has an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio will be able to keep you warm and comfortable at night and will be easier to carry in a backpack as it will not weigh you down.
High-fill power-down sleeping bags and low denier shell fabrics are lightweight, compressible, and warm enough to keep you comfortable at night.
Warmth
Sleeping bag temperature ratings are among the most important factors to consider when choosing a backpacking sleeping bag. The temperature rating represents the lowest temperature when a sleeping bag can keep you warm.
The temperature rating you choose will depend on the season and the temperature, the temperature of the environment you'll be using the sleeping bag in, and the temperature you'll be comfortable at when sleeping.
Packed Size
As a backpacker, you want a sleeping bag that will pack very small so that it can fit into your backpack without taking too much space.
The packed size will also help you determine the comfort level you'll be carrying in a sleeping bag.
You want a big enough bag to cover you cozily when you sleep and fold to a compact size when packed for carrying a backpack.
A down sleeping bag that comes with lightweight materials will pack very small, and a compression sack can also help reduce the packed size of the bag.
Fill Power
Sleeping bag fill power determines the loft or fluffiness of a down sleeping bag. The higher the fill power of a sleeping bag, the more air the down can trap and the more warmth and lightweight it will be.
Shell Fabric
The shell fabric of a sleeping bag will significantly determine the warmth, weight, price, and durability of the pack. Nylon, polyester, and taffeta are mainly used across all sleeping bags, from budget to high-end sleeping bags. These materials are breathable and soft on the skin. Taffeta is the highest quality sleeping bag fabric but takes longer to dry, making it less suitable for colder weather.
Versatility
A versatile sleeping bag will have the ability to adapt to many different situations while offering you everything you need to stay warm and comfortable at night.
Features & Design
More features equal more comfort and more value for money. Features such as breathability, waterproofness, foot box, lightweight design, and packablility will come in handy for warmth, comfort, and flexibility.
The design of a sleeping bag can also affect its warmth and comfort of a sleeping bag. Mummy sleeping bags are lighter, warmer, and more suitable for colder nights than rectangular sleeping bags.
Female - Specific Features
On average, women usually feel colder than men. There are specific features that women will need in a sleeping bag to stay more comfortable.
Some of these features include more space in the elbows, extra room in the chest, additional fill in the foot box, and enough room to curl, among others.
The 16 Best Sleeping Bags for Backpacking
This bag comes with the slimmest cut in Feathered Friends' lineup and leaves no room to spare, perfect for keeping you going fast and light.
The Hummingbird is stuffed with 900+ goose down fill power and features a 100% lightweight nylon Pertex Quantum shell to create downproof and water beading properties that will last years of use and washing.
- Materials: Lightweight nylon Pertex Quantum shell
- Temperature Rating: 20ºF (-6.67ºC)
- Best warmth to weight ratio
- Packs small even without a compression sack
- Very light and well made
- Incredibly warm
- 3 season use
- Pricey
Key Features

The Hummingbird is pretty lightweight, and with a 9L packed size, you will be amazed how small this bag packs down even without using a compression sack. So you don't have to worry about your sleeping bag taking up too much space in your backpack.
Stuffed with a 900-fill goose down insulation, has a water-resistant 20-denier Pertex Quantum shell, and at a temperature rating of 20°F, the Hummingbird is perfect for 3-season use making it one of the best backpacking sleeping bags.
While it might seem a little pricey, the Hummingbird has a top stitch construction and can last a decade and stay as warm as it was when you bought it, and will be a wise investment for your backpacking expeditions.
Weighing as low as 1 pound and featuring an 850+ fill power goose down insulation and 20 denier shell fabric, the Western Mountaineering UltraLite is the best lightweight sleeping bag.
This light sleeping bag is very compressible to fit in your backpack without accumulating too much space and offers an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio to keep you warm at night without adding to the weight.
The Western Mountaineering UltraLite features a breathable and water-resistant 20 denier shell fabric and 850+ fill power goose down insulation to keep you warm, dry, and comfortable at night.
- Materials: 20 denier shell fabric
- Temperature Rating: 20°F
- Super lightweight
- Excellent warmth to weight ratio
- Packs very suitable
- Breathable and water-resistant
- Durable and high-quality materials
- A bit pricey
Features
The Western Mountaineering UltraLite sleeping bag is one of the best and lightest sleeping bags available.
Featuring a highly compressible 850+ fill goose down, a 20 denier shell fabric, a full-length #5 YKK zipper, and packs small, the UltraLite is Western Mountaineering's premium ultralight offering for thru-hikers, lightweight backpackers, and fast packers.
This ultralight sleeping bag is very durable and comes with a fully baffled construction and a full down collar which helps seal in heat around your neck without adding weight to keep you warm and comfortable at night.
Specifically designed for side sleepers, the Big Agnes Sidewinder SL is pretty long, ultralight, and has ergonomically contoured engineering to ensure warmth, comfort, and ease of use in any sleeping position.
Weighing a mere 1kg and with a packed weight of 1.2kg, the Sidewinder SL is very light and packs very small. The lightweight feature will ensure that the bag doesn't take up much space in your backpack and provides a smooth and lightweight backpacking experience.
- Materials: Synthetic polyester
- Temperature Rating: 20°F
- Packs small
- Great warmth to weight ratio
- Long and spacious enough to roll from one side to the other at night
- Lofty warmth, compressible, and durable
- It fits well without sacrificing mobility
- The zipper sometimes snags when zipping up
Key Features
The Big Agnes Sidewinder SL is a lightweight backpacking sleeping bag and a side sleepers' dream sleeping bag with features that seamlessly roll from one side to the other at night and from one adventure to the next.
The Sidewinder SL features additional body-mapped insulation that optimizes warmth and minimizes pressure points. The primary fill of this backpacking sleeping bag is a 650 DownTek insulation which repels water while maintaining insulation value.
The body-mapped filling of the sleeping bag is a FireLine ECO synthetic insulation that features low denier fibers that provide a high weight-to-warm ratio, high loft, compressibility, and durability.
There's a down filling throughout the bag, which provides lofty warmth and synthetic insulation in the hips and feet for a more restful and comfortable night's sleep.
Other cool features include a pillow barn that lets you keep your pillow in place, a smooth and quick zip with an anti-snag locking zipper, and a both-handed zipper that stays out of your way when side sleeping.
Lightweight, compressible, and down-insulated warmth with close-fitting construction, the Mountain Hardware Phantom 15 is the best cold weather sleeping bag for backpacking.
The Phantom 15 comes with 850-fill Goose Down insulation to keep you warm on a cold winter night and weighs less than 4oz to cut your loads to do more climbing and less hauling.
The bag features an ultralight and compressible 10D shell and 20D Pertex Y-Fuse fabric that ensures that it doesn't take up much space in your backpack, plus lightweight backpacking that is great for alpine and rock climbing.
- Materials: 10D Recycled Nylon Ghost Ripstop
- Temperature Rating: 15°F
- Super light and compressible
- Very light for alpine climbing, rock climbing, and less hauling
- Compact enough to not take up space in a backpack
- Very warm and comfortable
- Keeps you warm in extreme weather conditions
- A bit pricey
Key Features
For cold nights and alpine adventures, the Mountain Hardware Phantom 15 provides a high lofting warmth and cuts your load weight so you can do more climbing and less hauling.
This backpacking sleeping bag has a close-fitting, high-performance mummy cut with a contoured foot box, an ultralight, and compressible 10D ripstop fabric for comfortable and lightweight backpacking.
The Phantom 15 sleeping bag features dual side zippers with glow-in-the-dark, reflective zipper pulls, a down-filled face gasket to block drafts at the hood opening, a nylon compression sack, and a mesh storage bag.
If you're looking for the best lightweight, compressible, packable, and durable sleeping bag for cold weather, the Mountain Hardware Phantom 15 offers all you need for warm and light backpacking.
The NEMO Disco 30 is one of the most popular sleeping bags on the market with its unique Classic Spoon™ shape, making it the best backpacking sleeping bag for big/tall people.
Featuring a Classic Spoon™ shape with a roomier Silhouette that adds room at the elbows and knees for versatile comfort, the NEMO Disco 15 offers enough space for tall people and side sleepers without adding to the weight.
Weighing as low as 1lb, the Disco 15 is very lightweight and packs very small to fit in your backpack without taking up too much extra space or adding weight for less than $300.
- Materials: Nylon
- Temperature Rating: 15F / -9C
- Comfortable and roomy for a restless sleeper
- Packs down well
- Compact, portable, and lightweight
- Provides maximum warmth and comfort
- the foot box is made of waterproof materials to help protect against tent condensation
- Sells out fast
Key Features
The NEMO Disco 15 is updated with new contours that allow it to reign as the ideal down backpacking sleeping bag for big/tall people offering the plushest comfort on the trail.
The Disco 15 comes with Thermo Gills™ technology that vents your body heat to help regulate temperature without letting cold drafts get into the sleeping bag.
This 3-season backpacking bag features a premium 650 FP hydrophobic, RDS-certified down, which provides superior warmth for cold nights, a Blanket Fold™ draft collar that provides tucked-in comfort, and a breathable/waterproof foot box to withstand tent condensation.
The Spoonbill UL is another best backpacking sleeping bag from Feathered Friends that is ideal for couples looking to save weight when climbing or skiing.
The Spoonbill UL is an award-winning design and allows you and your partner to share the benefit of being in the same sleeping bag while maintaining the efficiency of an independent contoured hood and an adjustable collar that doesn't impact your partner.
Although it is pretty expensive, costing around $960, the Spoonbill is worth the investment and is the perfect solution for couples looking to lighten their load without compromising on comfort or performance for two.
- Materials: Pertex® Endurance UL, Dyneema® non-woven floor
- Fill Type: 950+ FP goose down
- Saves weight without compromising on comfort and performance
- Awesome design
- Well made and very warm
- Suitable for year-round backpacking
- It offers the best warmth to weight ratio for couples
- Very expensive
Features
The Spoonbill backpacking sleeping bag came from the light and fast climbing styles of Feathered Friends' top athletes and has now become a favorite across many outdoor pursuits and one of the best backpacking sleeping bags.
The sleeping bag features a lightweight Pertex Endurance fabric and a NEW Dyneema floor fabric that offers excellent warmth to weight ratio, comfort, and performance.
The Spoonbill UL has half-length zippers on each side that provides access to the bag without disturbing your partner, an integrated collar and hood for each user, and ergonomically designed hoods with separate drawcords.
Lightweight, packable, versatile, breathable/water-resistant fabric, with great warmth to weight ratio, the Feathered Friends Spoonbill UL can be a wise investment for couples looking for the best sleeping bag for backpacking.
With all the essential features of a backpacking sleeping bag at a reasonable price, the Kelty Cosmic Down 20 is the best budget-friendly Ultralight sleeping bag for backpacking
The Cosmic 20 is a 3-season backpacking sleeping bag that provides a hard-to-beat warmth-to-weight ratio at a reasonable price point.
This best-budget sleeping bag features a 550fp DriDown insulation that is lightweight, compressible, packable, and warm enough to keep you comfortable at night.
- Materials: 20D 400T Nylon, Poly Taffeta
- Temperature Rating: 20°F
- Super warm and comfortable
- Packs down well
- Stuffs easily into the pack
- Lightweight
- Perfect for more extended backpacking expeditions
- Compresses nicely
- Not ideal for side sleepers
Key Features
The Cosmic 20 is very lightweight, compressible, warm, comfortable, packs very small, and offers the essential features of the best budget sleeping bags.
The bag comes with a Trapezoidal baffle construction to retain heat and keep you warm at night and a 550 DriDown insulation that is easy to use, pack, dry, and toasty.
The bag is durable with good craftsmanship and features two slidings, locking zippers with an anti-snag draft tube that you can unzip from the bottom.
The Cosmic 20 features a PFC-free durable, water-resistant (DWR) fabric that makes it breathable and waterproof and a zippered internal stash pocket where you can store your headlamp, cell phone, and other items.
The Marmot Nanowave is a light, synthetic sleeping bag that packs small, ideal for summer camping where space and weight are a concern.
Featuring a synthetic SpiraFil High Loft Insulation to keep you warm even when things get wet, full-length zippers for ventilation, and a two-way zippers plus a Snagless draft tube, the Nanowave offers you the comfort you need on a summer night
This mummy bag offers the perfect low weight, warmth, and comfort. It comes with an anatomically optimized fit in the head to foot for better insulation and comfort at a lower price, way less than $100.
- Materials: 50d 100% Polyester 1.3 oz/yd
- Temperature Range: 55°F (15°C)
- Cheaper
- It offers superior ventilation that is ideal for summer camping
- Provides the perfect combination of lightweight, warmth, and comfort
- Pleasantly soft on the inside
- Highly compressible
- Quite thin
Key Features
The Marmot Nanowave is durable and lightweight and features a Spirafil High Loft Insulation for maximum warmth and durability.
The sleeping bag features a 50 denier 100% ripstop outer materials that are breathable and windproof to allow maximum ventilation while preventing dust from getting into the bag.
The Nanowave sleeping bag can be used as a cover and features a draft collar and hood, bilateral full-length zippers, 2-way closure, and pinch protection ideal for summer backpacking and trekking.
The Trestles Elite Eco 20 is one of Marmot's best-selling and most sustainable sleeping bags that didn't sacrifice performance or durability.
The Trestles Elite Eco 20 is cozy and designed around sustainability, with recycled materials throughout the bag, including a PFC-free durable water repellent (DWR) on the shell and recycled Hi-loft insulation.
The bag is very durable and comfortable with wave construction for maximum loft and warmth and a blanket construction bottom for the best warmth and comfort under your body.
- Materials: Shell, 40d 100% Nylon 1.6 oz/yd
- Temperature Rating: 20°F (-7°C)
- Super soft and packs down nicely
- Very durable construction
- Excellent warmth to weight ratio
- Soft feel and high loft
- Offers optimal warmth and comfort
- The zipper sometimes snags
Key Features
The Trestles Elite Eco 20 is one of Marmot's best-selling and most sustainable sleeping bags that didn't sacrifice performance or durability.
The sleeping bag features Marmot Upcycle®, PFC-free, recycled shell, fill, and lining. The HL-ElixR synthetic insulation of the bag uses a unique blend of three fibers for maximum warmth, high loft, and soft hand feels.
The bag comes with an anatomically 3D foot box that increases the room and insulation for your feet for more warmth and comfort and a fold-down secondary zipper that provides ventilation and easy access to the bag.
The Mountain Hardware Bishop Pass 15 is the best down backpacking sleeping bag with an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio.
The Bishop Pass 15 is specifically for backpackers and climbers who are always on the move and constantly shifting focus and need a down bag that can keep up.
This backpacking sleeping bag features a 650-fill Down RDS Cert/Fluorine Free down for lightweight warmth, compressibility, and high-performance warmth to weight ratio.
- Materials: 30D Plain Weave Nylon 49 g/m²
- Temperature Rating: 15°F (-9°C)
- Traps your body heat in preventing it from coming out of the head area
- Lightweight and packs down well
- Very warm and comfortable
- It offers a lot of versatility
- Durable and smartly designed
- Not the lightest down bag considering the 650 fill
Key Features
Versatile, warm, and lightweight, the Bishop Pass 15 gives you everything you need in a best-down sleeping bag for backpacking.
The Bishop Pass 15 is a snug mummy bag with a very efficient cut which is better than a generally cut mummy bag because rather than getting bound up, half of the pack moves with you and the other half stays behind.
The Bishop Pass 15 features a draft blocking baffle along the zipper, a good draft collar and adjustable down-filled face gasket to keep warm air in and cold air out of the bag, and a contoured foot box for maximum warmth and comfort.
The Bishop Pass 15 also features a #5 YKK zipper with an anti-snag slider and construction for easy on and off, a two-way zipper for ventilation, and a durable water-resistant (DWR) finish to keep you dry and comfortable on a wet surface.
Featuring an 800+ Fill Power Goose Down insulation and 100% nylon ripstop fabric, the Marmot Hydrogen 30 is very lightweight, warm, versatile, and durable for 3 season backpacking adventures.
The bag offers enough warmth and comfort for cold-weather adventures and backcountry excursions while keeping base weight at a minimum for fast and light travels.
The Hydrogen 30 is made with a Pertex Microlight fabric on the exterior and features a lofty 800-fill-power goose-down insulation and water-resistant treatment to keep you warm and dry.
- Materials: Ultralight Pertex Microlight 20D, 100% Nylon Ripstop DWR
- Temperature Rating: 30°F (-1°C)
- Perfect for 3-season ultralight backpacking
- Handles damp very well
- Light and versatile for ever-changing climates
- Extremely lightweight, warm, and durable
- Compressible and packable
- Big people may feel a little bit tight in the shoulders
Features
The Marmot Hydrogen 30 is very durable and lightweight. It comes with an anatomically designed foot box with wrap-around construction to increase warmth and a down defender to improve water resistance in wet conditions.
The bag features a fold-down second zipper that provides additional ventilation and easy access, a central zipper anti-snag slider to reduce snagging, and a smooth curved baffle to reduce downshifting and limit heat loss.
Warmth, lightweight, breathable, compressible, and packable, the Marmot Hydrogen 30 offers you all the features you need in the best 3 season sleeping bag for backpacking.
With the slimmest cut in Feathered Friends' lineup and featuring the Pertex Endurance fabric with 950+ fill power down, the Hummingbird UL 30 is Feathered Friends' lightest mummy bag ever.
The Hummingbird UL 30 offers an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio in a lightweight package.
The bag is very compact and packs very small, so you can easily pack it in your backpack without taking up too much space or adding much weight that will drag you down when climbing or trekking.
- Materials: Pertex® Endurance® UL, Flite 15 denier ripstop nylon
- Temperature Rating: 20ºF / -6.67ºC
- Very compact
- Offers excellent warmth to weight ratio
- It holds heat exceptionally all well and is warmer than what it's rated for
- Super light and uses high-quality materials
- Very slim cut with no room to spare
- A little bit narrow at the arms
Features
This super-compact backpacking sleeping bag is very versatile with a very slim cut that leaves no room to spare, which is perfect for going fast and light.
The Hummingbird UL features a breathable/water-resistant fabric to keep water away and provide ventilation and a passive collar that provides an extra cushion down around your neck to trap heat and keep you warm at night.
This mummy-shaped sleeping bag comes with a #5 YKK two-way separating zipper with locking sliders and a generous draft tube that prevents cold air from seeping past the zipper.
The bag also comes with 3D contoured hoods that open wide for warmth and cinches tight when the temperatures start dropping.
Best for Women - Feathered Friends Egret UL 20°
If you are a woman, you'll love this Feathered Friends' most popular women's backpacking sleeping bag.
The Egret UL is tailored for the female form and features an extra fill in the foot box and around the chest to give you enough room to curl your knees when you sell and pull it over your shoulder like a soft comforter.
This backpacking sleeping bag is also a favorite among women looking for a warmer foot box, more room in the elbows, alternative lengths, or extra space to draw their knees up in the bag.
- Materials: Pertex® Endurance® UL, Flite 15 denier ripstop nylon
- Temperature Rating: 20°F (-6.67°C)
- Tailored for the female form
- Extra room in the chest and foot box
- More space in the elbows
- Super light and compressible
- Warm and comfortable
- A bit pricey
Key Features
The Egret UL 20 is super light, warm, packs very small, and features a Pertex Endurance 10 denier breathable/water-resistant fabric.
This bag is very durable with a Pertex Endurance fabric and goose-down insulation to keep you warm. It features continuous baffles that let you position the insulation where you need it.
This mummy bag comes with a #5 YKK two-way separating zipper with locking sliders for ventilation and a passive collar that provides extra cushioning around your neck to trap heat in cold weather.
The Egret is very spacious, comes in small and medium sizes, and features a trapezoidal foot box that allows your feet to curl in a natural pose without compressing the sides making it one of the best women's sleeping bags.
With hands-free poncho mode, zippered foot box, and ultralight tapered design, the Kammok Arctos 20 is the most versatile backpacking quilt.
The Arctos 20 is tailored for comfort and fit and comes with Aura UL 10D ripstop nylon 100% Recycled fabric and 850 fill power DownTek.
If you are a long-distance hiker, ultralight camper, or camping in temperatures down to 20°F, you'll love this backpacking quilt as it is very versatile and lightweight and offers you the warmth and comfort you need.
- Materials: Aura UL 10D ripstop nylon 100% Recycled
- Temperature Rating: 20ºF / -6ºC
- It makes hammocking snug and enjoyable
- It can turn into a sleeping bag for extra warmth
- Wearable sleeping bag-type poncho to have around and hang out any time
- The most versatile sleeping bag
- Super lightweight, warmth, packable, and durable
- None
Key Features
The Arctos is versatile and comes with a hands-free poncho mode that allows you to wear it hands-free to move around while setting up camp, stoking fires, or around the campsite.
There's a zipper poncho opening lined with a down-filled draft collar which provides extra comfort and protection around your neck to keep you warm while you sleep or move around.
The Arctos features a zippered foot box that you can use to create a secure seal against air on cooler nights and minimize heat loss at the toes.
This versatile backpacking quilt is for ultralight hammocks and includes a conversion kit to create a hammock under the quilt. The quilt comes with an ultralight tapered design that follows the contours of the human body and is wide at the hips and shoulders for extra comfort and provides enough wiggling room for side sleepers.
Runners Up
The Swift YF is the most spacious sleeping bag from Feathered Friends and a favorite among backpackers looking to add extra space around the chest while retaining the efficiency of a classic mummy bag.
The bag is filled with a premium 900+ fill power traceable goose down insulation and packs down efficiently to accompany you in your backpacking adventures.
The Swift YF features a lightweight Pertex nylon taffeta fabric that uses yarn with Y-shaped filaments for increased down-proofing and water-resistant properties that can last for years of use and washing.
- Materials: Pertex® 20 denier nylon taffeta
- Temperature Rating: 20ºF (-6.67ºC) / 30ºF / (-1.1ºC)
- Lofty, light, and simple design
- Perfect for 3 season backpacking
- Very spacious
- Soft and comfortable fabric
- Packs down efficiently
- A little bit pricey
Key Features
The Swift YF is a wider-width mummy shape sleeping bag that uses a Pertex Quantum 20 denier fabric with a durable water repellent (DWR) finish to provide wiggling room for side sleepers and water bedding properties.
The bag features a passive collar that provides extra cushioning around the neck to trap heat and a trapezoidal foot box that allows your feet to fall in a natural pose without compressing the sides.
The Swift YF comes with continuous baffles that allow you to position the insulation where you need it and also comes with 3D contoured hoods open for warm nights and draft tubes to prevent cold air from seeping into the sleeping bag.
The MegaLite is a 30 degree rated backpacking sleeping bag with a broader design, packs small, warm, and comes with breathable materials that make it perfect for 3 season backpacking.
The bag features an 850+ goose-down insulation, ExtremeLite shell fabric to keep weight at a minimum, and a wider cut to suit large people and provide wiggling room for side sleepers.
- Materials: ExtremeLite shell fabric
- Temperature Rating: 30°F
- Wider cut that offers roll-around room and extra comfort
- Extremely lightweight, warm, and packable
- Stain and water repellent
- Well constructed and exceptional quality
- Lets you adjust the fill to suit your needs
- It comes with a passive collar instead of a draft collar that doesn't work as well as a cinch-able collar.
Key Features
The MegaLite is all about saving weight, providing extra space, compressibility, warmth, comfort, and versatility.
Like all Western Mountaineering down bags, the MegaLite features a packable, breathable ExtremeLite shell fabric for a minimum weight and 850 fill power goose down insulation to provide high warmth to weight ratio and excellent compressibility.
The MegaLite comes with horizontal baffles that allow you to shift the down to suit your needs, a #5 YKK zipper and top collar for warmth, and a passive collar that extends from the zipper across the neck to seal in your body heat on cooler nights.
Why Should You Trust Us?
We are experienced campers, hikers, and backpackers with nearly a century of combined experience under our collective belt!.
We've tested some of the most popular sleeping bags and have written countless guides, roundup reviews, and tutorials around sleeping bags and other camping gear, including backpacking quilts, camping tents, bivy sacks, and more.
All our articles come from first-hand experience from our own reviewers or our partners, plus intensive research to provide you with the most accurate information and help you make an informed decision.
Backpacking Sleeping Bag FAQ
Are Sleeping Bags Machine Washable?
Most sleeping bags are machine washable as long as you use a top-loading machine without an agitator or a front loading washer. Most home front loaders are usually small and energy-efficient and may not give enough room for the sleeping bag to tumble and clean thoroughly.
What Is a Good Weight for a Backpacking Sleeping Bag?
A backpacking sleeping bag should be very lightweight and weigh 2 or 3 pounds to carry in your backpack without adding a weight that can drag you down.
Should I Get a Down or Synthetic Sleeping Bag?
Down sleeping bags are lighter than synthetic bags and tend to be warmer and last longer. As a backpacker, you should get a down sleeping bag because it will save you a lot of weight and stay warm and comfortable at night.
Are Sleeping Bag Liners Necessary?
Sleeping bag liners are not necessary but will help protect your sleeping bag from dirt, sweat, and body oils which can affect the insulation, feel, and durability of the sleeping bag.
What Is the Best Lightweight Sleeping Bag?
Western Mountaineering UltraLite sleeping bag is the best light sleeping bag. The bag weighs a mere 1 pound, is very durable, and comes with the essential features for comfort, warmth, protection, and versatility that you will need in the best sleeping bag.