10 best backpacking sleeping bags for 2022

Backpacking adds certain considerations to choosing just the right backpacking sleeping bag. After a hard day of backpacking, you want to know that you’ll be comfortable and warm at night. But you don’t want to be carrying a lot of weight either! If you’re worried about spending a cold night shivering in what was supposed to be a warm sleeping bag—don’t worry. We’ll walk you through 10 of the best sleeping bags on the market this year, so you can sleep soundly and wake up refreshed.

What to look for in a backpacking sleeping bag

Before you even start looking for a sleeping bag, it’s important to know what you need. Are you looking for a sleeping bag that will keep you warm on a hot summer evening? If so, look for a bag with a higher rating and save yourself weight and space! Is it going to be freezing or snowing during your trips, or have a cold, fall frost nipping at your nose? Look instead for a warmer sleeping bag with enough insulation to keep you warm.

Here are several factors to keep in mind as you shop:

Weight

When you’re backpacking, you want to keep the weight you’re carrying as low as possible. Before you commit to a sleeping bag, make sure you’re getting a bag that will keep you warm but that will also keep your pack light.

Filling and insulation

Most backpacking sleeping bags come with one of two different types of insulation: down or synthetic. Both of them have their pros and cons, and it’s up to you to decide which fits your needs the best.

Down sleeping bags, made from the soft feathers of ducks and geese, are known for being extremely lightweight, compressing well, and being toasty warm. However, they’re typically more expensive, harder to clean, and need to stay dry.

Synthetic sleeping bags are a great option if you want warmth and a more budget-friendly sleeping bag. However, they can be heavier than down bags and typically can’t compress quite as tight.

Quilt or sleeping bag

Did you know there’s different types of sleeping bags too? You can choose between a full sleeping bag, which is your standard, typical bag, or a backpacking quilt. A quilt still has a a pocket for you to slip your feet in to keep them toasty, but where a sleeping bag would have a zipper, the quilt does not. This allows you a lot more room to move around and reduces the “wasted space” of the insulation that would be squished and useless from you laying on it. In cold months, you can tuck or snap it to your sleeping pad to hold in the warmth. During the summer, you can keep it unattached from your mat to allow additional ventilation.

Budget

A warm sleeping bag can get expensive, especially as you get into the lighter and more compact sleeping bags. Don’t let that deter you from getting a great backpacking sleeping bag for you though. You can find great deals by buying through sales, outlets, or even buying used. Find more tips for starting to backpack cheaply here.

Our top ten backpacking sleeping bag recommendations

Now that you understand what makes up a perfect backpacking sleeping bag, let’s take a look at our top ten bags for 2022!

The best warm-weather sleeping bag

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Spark SpI 40 Sleeping Bag by Sea to Summit

The Spark SpI 40 is a perfect bag for those warm summer days when you just want to snuggle into something at night, but not something too hot. And at just 12 oz, why wouldn’t you take it? It’s the perfect size to curl up in the tent with, or rest around the fireside in.

The details:

Temp. rating: 40 F or 4 C

Fill: Down

Sex: Unisex

Weight: 12 oz / 340 g

Pros:

• Perfect for a little extra comfort around a summer campsite.
• Very lightweight.
• Filled with ethically sourced down (Down certified to the Responsible Down Standard [RDS]).
• Compacts very well.

Cons:

• Unisex. Doesn’t have a women’s bag.

Eco Trail Down 35 Sleeping Bag by The North Face

Have a little extra warmth on those summer days with the Eco Trail Down Sleeping Bag by The North Face, and rest easy knowing your sleeping bag is made from 100 percent recycled materials. It is slightly heavier than the Spark SpI 40, but it can take you down to slightly cooler temperatures or you can add an additional layer with a liner to take it even cooler.

The details:

Temp. rating: 35 F or 2 C

Fill: 650-fill recycled down

Sex: Unisex

Weight: 2 lbs 7 oz / 1105 g

Pros:

• J-style zipper for increased ventilation and mobility. 
• Made with 100 percent recycled materials.
• Internal phone or watch pocket.
• Straps to hold it on a sleeping mat.

Cons:

• Unisex. Doesn’t have a women’s bag.

Sleeping bags that will keep you warm no matter what

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Rook 15 Sleeping Bag by Mountain Hardwear

The Rook 15 Sleeping Bag by Mountain Hardwear is the perfect bag for those cold mountain nights. Rated at down to 15 degrees F or -9 C, it’s down filling would easily keep a man or woman warm. It has a water-repellent coating to help keep it dry should your pack get rained on, and the down-filled hood keeps your head warm all night long.

The details:

Temp. rating: 15 F or -9 C

Fill: 650-fill down

Sex: Unisex

Weight: 2 lbs 6.5 oz / 1092 g

Pros:

• Draft collar to keep warm air in, no matter how you toss or turn.
• Two easy-open zippers for easy ventilation to keep you at the perfect temperature all night long.
• Water-repellent finish.
• Compression sack and mesh storage bag included.

Cons:

• Unisex. Doesn’t have a women’s bag.

One Bag Sleeping Bag by The North Face

The One Bag Sleeping Bag by The North Face is unique in that it allows you to have several layers or ratings in just one bag! Staying true to it’s name, this is the only bag you’ll need. Simply choose how many layers you need based on how cold it will be for that particular trip. You never have to worry about carrying more weight than what you need.

The details:

Temp. rating: Ranges from 40 F / 4 C to 5 F / -15 C

Fill: Down and synthetic

Sex: Unisex

Weight: From 2 lbs 3 oz / 992 g to 3 lbs 12 oz / 1700 g

Pros:

• Temperature rating is customizable to what you need.
• Can be swapped back and forth between different bag sizes, weights, and temperature rating.
• You only need one bag for multiple different temperatures.

Cons:

• A bit on the expensive side.
• No women’s bag, though this isn’t a big deal since it can be customized to your comfort level.

The best budget-friendly sleeping bags

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Cat’s Meow by The North Face

The Cat’s Meow is a backpacking sleeping bag that doesn’t trade warmth or comfort for affordability. While it might take up a bit more of your bag, you can sleep comfortably at night. If you need to add a few more degrees of warmth, a liner would also work perfectly with this bag.

The details:

Temp. rating: 30 F or -1 C

Fill: Synthetic

Sex: Unisex

Weight: 3 lbs /1360 g

Pros:

• 50% recycled material makes up it’s synthetic filling.
• Doesn’t trade warmth for affordability.
• Helpful stuff pocket to keep your valuables in at night.
• Comes with stuff sack.

Cons:

• Heavier than many other sleeping bags.
• Bulkier and hard to compress.

Trailbreak 20 Sleeping Bag by REI Co-op

REI’s Trailbreak 20 (available in men’s and women’s bags) comes in at the most affordable price but also the highest weight. This makes it the perfect bag for someone who wants to start backpacking without breaking the bank. Their heavier fill will take a lot of space in your backpack, but it will also keep you warm at night. Even though this sleeping bag is rated at 20 degrees, it usually keeps you comfortable down to 30 degrees.

The details:

Temp. rating: 20 F or -6 C

Fill: Water-resistant polyester

Sex: Men’s and women’s

Weight: Men’s: 3 lbs 7 oz / 1559 g; Women’s: 4 lbs 13 oz / 2182 g

Pros:

• Perfect for people getting into backpacking for the first time.
• Very affordable, even more so than the Cat’s Meow.
• Water-resistant fill keeps you dry through whatever weather you find yourself in.

Cons:

• Heavier than many other sleeping bags.
• Bulkier and hard to compress.

The best lightweight sleeping bags

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Disco 30 Sleeping Bag by NEMO

The NEMO Disco 30 Sleeping Bag comes with sleeping bag options for both men and women. Their hourglass shape gives you more room in the shoulders and hips, making it the perfect option for side-sleepers or people who want more wriggle room. A big bonus: the men’s bag only weighs 1 lb 15 oz, and the women’s bag weighs 2 lb 5 oz. If you love the design of the Disco 30 but want something that can handle colder weather, they also have the Disco 15 sleeping bag.

The details:

Temp. rating: 30 F or -1 C

Fill: 600-fill hydrophobic, RDS-certified down

Sex: Men and women

Weight: Men’s: 1 lb 15 oz / 835 g; Women’s: 2 lb 5 oz / 1048 g

Pros:

• Designed to give you more room to move and shift in the bag without sacrificing warmth or weight.
• Filled with ethically sourced down (Down certified to the Responsible Down Standard [RDS]).
• Integrated pillow pocket to tuck clothes, jacket, or pillow in.
• Water-repellent coating to keep your bag dry and the moisture out.
• Men and women’s bag can be zipped together.
• Covered by NEMO lifetime warrenty.

Cons:

• Expensive.

Hyperion 20 Down Sleeping Bag by Therm-a-Rest

Though pricey, the Hyperion 20 Down Sleeping Bag earns its keep by being lightweight, easy to carry from site to site, and strategically layering insulation to keep you warm. You’ll barely know this bag is in your pack, but you’ll appreciate it when you sleep soundly all night. Plus, the hydrophobic down combined with the water-resistant shell will help your bag stay dry no matter what season you’re in.

The details:

Temp. rating: 20 F or -6 C

Fill: 900-fill, RDS-certified down

Sex: Unisex

Weight: 1 lbs 3 oz / 538 g

Pros:

• Very lightweight for a sleeping bag.
• Filled with 900-fill power hydrophobic down.
• Uses zoned insulation to keep you warm where it matters most.
• Filled with ethically sourced down (Down certified to the Responsible Down Standard [RDS]).

Cons:

• Unisex. Doesn’t have a women’s bag.
• Zoned insulation doesn’t work well for side or stomach sleepers. 
• Expensive.

The best backpacking quilts

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Revelation by Enlightened Equipment

If customization and comfort is your goal, the Revelation quilt by Enlightened Equipment is your go-to backpacking quilt. Enlightened Equipment gives you the ability to customize your quilt to your heart’s content. While they have several options in stock (giving you options in color, temperature, fill, etc), you also have the ability to create an entirely custom quilt. The Revelation quilt is also known for being extremely lightweight and easy to pack.

The details:

Temp. rating: Options ranging from 50 F / 10 C to 0 F / -17 C

Fill: 850 or 950 down

Sex: Unisex

Weight: From 12.44 oz / 352.66 g to 26.99 oz / 765.15 g

Pros:

• Completely customizable to what you need and want.
• Extremely lightweight and a favorite of long-distance hikers.
• Because of it’s versatility, it can be used in almost any season.

Cons:

• Can be expensive depending on what options you choose.
• When cinching the footlocker closed, there does remain a small hole.
• No women’s-specific option

Moondance 25 Top Quilt by Featherstone Outdoor Products

The Moondance 25 Top Quilt by Featherstone Outdoor Products is a perfect budget-friendly quilt for those who want the flexibility of the quilt and the warmth of a sleeping bag. If you don’t want the process of creating your own quilt (such as with the customizable Revelation), the Moondance is a great pre-made option. 

Two added benefits include a draft collar at the top that cinches up with a bungee cord to prevent cold drafts, and a cam buckle that can attach the quilt to an inflatable sleeping pad. 

The details:

Temp. rating: 25 F or -3 C

Fill: RDS-certified down

Sex: Unisex

Weight: 1 lbs 7 oz / 652 g

Pros:

• Great budget-friendly option.
• Very lightweight and compressible.
• Filled with ethically sourced down (Down certified to the Responsible Down Standard [RDS]).

Cons:

• No women’s specific option