And if the bag has a tough exterior shell, you can use it as an outdoor picnic blanket in a pinch. Some bags, like The North Face’s One Bag, feature unique warmth-tailoring systems that allow you to customize the amount of insulation depending on conditions. To be sure, most of these additions won’t be deal-breakers for many, but they can be helpful in deciding between similar models (and we’ve called them out in the write-ups above whenever possible). Anyone have any experience wit s, as a budget option? We don’t camp a lot, but we live in CA, so being forced from our home is always in the back of our mind (earthquake, fire, etc). When it comes to packed size, the Brazos lands right in the middle out of all of the bags we tested.
When I found my perfect picks, Coleman provided samples in order to facilitate review. The Big Bay is a mummy-style sleeping bag, starting wide at the shoulders and tapering around the feet. Mummy bags are becoming more popular because they’re lightweight and packable, and they’re easier for your body to heat up and keep warm (a sleeping bag is not inherently coleman canopy warm—your body heat gets trapped inside). However, close-fitting mummy bags, like those designed exclusively for backpacking and alpine pursuits, can feel claustrophobic for most people because there’s not a lot of room to toss and turn. The open footbox design adds space, and the bag has enough room for me to side sleep and bend my knees.
Even though that’s only an extra few ounces, when you’re hiking over challenging terrain, you start feeling that added weight very quickly. If you want to use the Big Bay to test out backpacking on a one- or two-night trip, it’s manageable. It’s not cheap outfitting an entire camping setup, and for those who plan to add backpacking into the mix, the cost can get out of hand quickly. If this sounds like you, choosing a crossover camping/backpacking bag is a viable way to save.
Below we rank our top picks for 2023, and if you need some background information, our comparison table and buying advice dive into topics like fill type and temperature rating. To complete your camping kit, we’ve also tested and written about camping mattresses and camping tents. Our annual family camping trip does not involve hiking and then camping so we weren’t looking for tiny sleeping bags. We take day hikes and do outdoor activities from our drive up camping spot in the Smoky Mountains.
For those looking to travel fast and far, or for those traveling into alpine terrain, a lighter-weight bag makes that possible. A bag in the 3- to 4-pound range can be used for backpacking, and these models are often more comfortable to sleep in, but they also take up more space and add weight to an already heavy pack. Anything above 4 pounds is generally best for car camping and recreational use.
But in the end, we don’t see the zipper-less concept completely taking over the market. Put simply, the in-and-out convenience and ability to use the bag as a blanket with a full-zip sleeping bag is the better answer for most campers. Drifting off to dreamland is better than even when you have one of our Coleman (R) sleeping bags! Colorado-based Kelty has been in the camping business for a long time, and we like what they’ve come up with in the Galactic 30. What makes this bag unique is its combination of quality 550-fill-power down with a rectangular shape.
Refunds are issued to the original form of payment, unless returned in store
where some exclusions may apply. In the event you wish to send a product back to us, you may return most unused items for a refund or exchange, minus shipping, within 90 days from the date of purchase unless noted below under exceptions and exclusions. Refunds are issued to the original form of payment, unless returned in store where some exclusions may apply. The reason we picked the Brazos for our Best Buy on a Tight Budget is because it perfectly balances cost with basic necessities. For the price, it really holds its own against bags that are much more expensive, especially in the areas of warmth and durability. In the end, the Brazos scored the lowest for comfort out of all the bags we tested.
With this Coleman Warm Weather Sleeping Bag with Wrap N Roll, you’ll have no problem handling the heat and the warmth while still maintaining comfort. In fact, it’s great in cool weather too, ensuring that you’re properly wrapped up and protected from the outside weather. And when you’re camping, nothing’s more important than a good night’s sleep. We do live in Georgia and humidity is high even in the winter time so in another climate 30 degrees may be comfortable in this bag. I liked that it is very comfortable sleeping on the ground with one of the most comfortable interiors of any sleeping bag i have slept in. This sleeping bag has a quick cord for convenient one-person packing.
In terms of dimensions, they’re typically roomier than standard mummy bags (particularly at the shoulders and hips) but not overly generous like some rectangular models. All in all, semi-rectangular bags typically offer a good mix of comfort and weight, shaving away excess material while still providing enough space to roll around during the night. For instance, Nemo’s Disco 15 and Forte Endless Promise 20 have roomier fits than most traditional mummy bags, with a noticeable boost in space around the knees and elbows. Kelty’s popular Cosmic Down 20 has been a mainstay in their lineup for years and remains a popular choice among campers and backpackers alike. For starters, you get a respectable weight of 2 pounds 10 ounces, which is the lightest three-season option on our list (Kelty’s own Galactic 30 below weighs around the same but is far less versatile).
In our opinion, the zipper is not needed because the bag has an average packed size. More importantly, the zipper itself doesn’t work anyway because we found the stuff sack to be too tight to begin with. The polyester face fabric is durable, so it doesn’t need to be treated as delicately as some premium bags that require special care. You can wash the Big Bay in a front-loading washing machine on gentle with mild liquid detergent and run it through a low-heat dryer cycle.