1) KingCamp Trek 300 Mummy Sleeping Bag	2) Mountain Warehouse Sutherland Sleeping Bag	3) California Basics Mummy Sleeping Bag	4) Your Sleeping Bag by Sho Season 3-4	5) KingCamp Oasis 250 Sleeping Bag
Average User Rating	(4.3 / 5)	(4.8 / 5)	(4.7 / 5)	(5 / 5)	(4.2 / 5)
Outer Material	190T polyester, WP & cire	Ripstop polyester	240T polyester	Ripstop polyester	190T polyester
Inner Material	Polyester & 240T poly	Fleece	Polyester	210T polyester	Polyester
Filling	Warm loft	Hollow fibre	400 GSM	hollow fibre	Polyester comfort loft
Dimensions	215 x 80cm	220 x 98cm	215 x 80cm	215 x 80cm	220 x 75cm
Season	3 - 4	4	3 - 4	3 - 4	3
Temperature Rating	-10°C to 2°C	-18°C to 3°C	-3°C to 2°C	-24.8°C to 0.9°C	-3°C to 12°C
Sleeps	1	1	1	1	1
Weight	1.65kg	3.7kg	1.49kg	2.2kg	1.28kg
Carry Bag
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	6) Coleman Hudson Sleeping Bag	7) Mountain Shack Real Down Sleeping Bag	8) The Body Source Lightweight Sleeping Bag	9) Highlander Challenger Lite Sleeping Bag	10) Ecoopro Envelope Sleeping Bag
Average User Rating	(4.7 / 5)	(4.8 / 5)	(4.7 / 5)	(4.4 / 5)	(4 / 5)
Outer Material	Polyester	Polyester	170T polyester	Ripstop polyester	320D nylon
Inner Material	Polyester	Polyester	Polyester	Polyester	TC cotton
Filling	Soft cotton flannel	Duck down	Hollow fibre	hollow fibre	Polyester
Dimensions	235 x 150cm	220 x 75cm	190 x 75cm	255 x 90cm	190 x 75cm
Season	3 - 4	4	1 - 2	4	1
Temperature Rating	-13°C to 7°C	0°C	-3°C to 15°C	-25°C to 4°C	15°C to 20°C
Sleeps	2	1	1	1	1
Weight	3.7kg	1.5kg	950g	2kg	657g
Carry Bag
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A Guide To The Best Camping Sleeping Bags

If you’re planning to hike or camp overnight then you’ll need the best camping sleeping bag to ensure you keep warm and protected from injuries such as frostbite.  These sleeping bags can fit into a small compression bag so it can either hang off, strap on the outside or fit inside a hiking backpack.

Before you buy a backpacking sleeping bag, be sure to check what’s the coldest temperature the place you’re going to can drop down to.  The last thing you want is to end up buying a sleeping bag that’s not designed to handle really cold temperatures.  Our guide below will explain what features to look out for choosing the best sleeping bag to keep you insulated at night.

Aside from the hiking sleeping bag, you may need to take into account the space required for a camping tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag liner and hiking pillow.  This is if you’re backpacking, if you’re travelling by car or van then you probably won’t need to squeeze everything into a backpack.  If space is a premium then you can make your own pillow by stuffing clothes into the carry bag supplied with the sleeping bag and use that as a pillow instead.

How To Choose The Best Camping Sleeping Bag

Whether you’re camping out in a camping tent or vehicle, keeping warm at night to ensure you get a good night’s sleep so you can recharge your batteries for the next day ahead is very important.  This applies even more to those who are going to be hiking overnight, as walking up the mountains with a backpack requires you to have energy.

In order to ensure you have the best camping sleeping bag, check what features each of the sleeping bags have and see whether it’s suitable for your trip.  Below we’ll explain what to look out for with each of the features.

Season & Temperature Rating

Season – Most sleeping bags will have a season rating, which is a guideline to the most appropriate season it can be used in.  Please bear in mind this is only a guideline, other factors such as the type of filling and temperature rating will also affect how warm it’ll keep you.  A general guideline to the season ratings are as follows:

Season 1 – Ideal for hot summer months or indoor use.

Season 2 – Late spring to early autumn temperatures in the UK.

Season 3 – Autumn and winter nights, suitable for mild nights.

Season 4 – Cold winter nights where the temperature can drop below zero degrees.

Temperature Rating – Temperature range at which the bag would be suitable for, again this should only be used as a guideline.  The temperature range is usually split into comfort levels:

Comfort – When the user sleeps in the sleeping bag at the said comfort temperature then they should feel warm and comfortable.

Lower limit – You’ll feel cold and slightly uncomfortable if used at the lower limit temperature.

Upper limit – If used at the upper limit temperature, you’ll feel quite warm.

Extreme – You shouldn’t really buy a bag with intention to use it at its extreme level.  This is basically the lowest temperature it can be used for the user to survive without getting frostbite, however the user will still feel very cold and very uncomfortable.

Some people are more susceptible to cold weather so if a season 3 sleeping bag has a comfort level of 2°C, it implies the user should feel warm and comfortable when the temperature is 2°C.  However as everyone’s body is different, not every user will feel comfortable as that temperature, women tend to feel the cold more so they would probably feel cold at that temperature.

It’s better to feel too hot rather than too cold in a sleeping bag, as if you’re too hot you can do things to cool you down such as unzipping it slightly to let some air in.

 

Material

Outer Material – This will determine how durable the sleeping bag will be and how much it can withstand factors such as rain and wind.  Ripstop fabric is among one of the tougher outer materials used as it’s more resistant to ripping and tearing, it can also withstand rain and wind better.

Inner Material – Most of the inner material will be made from polyester, this is the material on the inside of the sleeping bag.

Filling – The filling is largely responsible for how well your body would be kept well insulated.  It’s the material the bag is filled with, again polyester and other synthetic fillings are amongst the most common. 

Many people realise a 4 season down sleeping bag would be one of the best options to provide them with sufficient insulation, as it’s filled with duck down it also packs down smaller and weighs less but of course it’s more expensive.

 

Other Features

Dimensions – If you’re tall then you need to make sure you have an outdoor sleeping bag that’ll be long enough to cover your whole body.  Mummy sleeping bags are narrower at the bottom, whereas rectangular sleeping bags are the same width from top to bottom.  If you’re unsure which one is better for you check out our comparison of the two types below.

Sleeps – Number of people that can sleep in the bag, double sleeping bags are ideal if you prefer a bit more room to yourself or if you want to share with someone.

Weight – A good quality camping sleeping bag that’ll keep you warm in very cold temperatures will probably weigh more because it’ll usually have more filling unless you go for a duck down sleeping bag which will be lighter.

Lightweight sleeping bags are generally ones that’s designed to be used during spring and summer months as they’re thinner with less filling.

Carry Bag – This will be supplied with all sleeping bags, as you need it to put the sleeping bag inside when you’re on the move.  You can also stuff your own clothes inside the carry bag to use it as a homemade pillow to save the cost but more importantly space of having to buy a camping pillow.

 

Do I Need A Sleeping Bag Liner?

A sleeping bag liner is like a bed sheet for your sleeping bag, but the liner covers all around you so you don’t actually touch the inside of the sleeping bag.  As sleeping bags can be quite difficult to wash, a lightweight sleeping bag liner keeps the sleeping bag cleaner for longer and the liner itself is easy to wash and clean.

Even if you’re not camping, sleep bag liners can still be used at hotels or hostels for protection against unclean bed sheets and duvets.  Below we’ll list the pros and cons, so you can decide whether it’s worth buying one.

Pros:

• Prolongs the life of the sleeping bag.
• Adds a thin layer, keeping the user slightly warmer.
• Can be used on its own in very warm climate.
• Spray the bag liner with natural insect repellent to keep mosquitos away.
• Lightweight and portable.

Cons:

• Although it’s affordable, it’s another cost to take into account.
• If you’re limited on space then it also takes up a little bit of room.

 

Best Sleeping Bag Liner Reviews

If you feel like a sleeping bag liner will be beneficial for you then we’ve put together a table of the top 5 below.  Also remember if you have a mummy sleeping bag then you’ll need a mummy sleeping bag liner.

	1) Yellowstone Envelope Liner	2) Nod-Pod Organic Silk Liner	3) Mountain Warehouse Microfibre Liner	4) JagBag Deluxe Pure Silk Bag Liner	5) The Friendly Swede Travel & Camping Bag Liner
Average User Rating	(4.3 / 5)	(4.9 / 5)	(4.5 / 5)	(4.8 / 5)	(4.6 / 5)
Sleep Bag Type	Rectangular	Rectangular	Mummy	Rectangular	Rectangular
Material	Polyester	Silk	Microfibre	Silk	Polyester
Carry Bag

 

Do I Need A Sleeping Bag Mat?

Another sleeping item to take into account, but it does have a valid purpose.  It’s like a mini camping mattress, that’ll provide you with more comfort and warmth when you sleep on it.  Most people tend to sleep on top of it with their sleeping bag.

Most of them are self-inflating, so when it’s packed away in your camping backpack it’ll be deflated and will take up less room.  If you want one that’s good quality and won’t break the bank then we recommend the Lichfield Self-Inflating Mat, alternatively you can check out our top 5 table.  In this guide we also covered how to choose the right one and pros & cons.

 

Mummy Sleeping Bag vs Rectangular Sleeping Bag

Undecided on what type is the best sleeping bag for you?  It might be a matter of personal preference for some people as everyone sleeps differently.  For those who want benefits such as more warmth from the type of sleeping bag they choose, we’ve listed the pros and cons of each one below:

Mummy Pros:

• Keeps you warmer as it’s narrower at the bottom and when it can fully close only exposing your mouth and nose.
• Generally lighter and less bulky when comparing like for like.

Cons:

• Does not provide you much freedom to move around inside.
• May be uncomfortable in warmer climate as your movement is limited.

Rectangular Pros:

• More spacious inside, allowing you to move around and get into more comfortable positions.
• Will be more comfortable in warmer climate as more air can enter inside.

Cons:

• Tends to be bulkier and heavier as there is more fabric used.
• Does not provide as much warmth as there is more room for cooler air to enter.