This high-quality bag offers a lot of perks at a very reasonable price point. The value of the Polara and Siestra is more rooted in their features and construction. In the case of the Coleman Brazos, its value stems from an amazing price with rock-solid construction and excellent warmth. Likewise, the Kelty Galactic 30 shows value for offering down insulation at a very reasonable price.
Even better, it can be carried backpack style, which makes it super easy to transport — although we admittedly looked more like we were going paragliding than camping. I cannot believe that I wasted 160 dollars on some junk. By the time we got back from camping the next weekend three out of four sleeping bags had the zippers broken. I’m so disappointed with this product that I advise anyone buying sleeping bags not to even look at Ozark and buy Coleman instead. The frontrunners of our lineup are the Alps OutdoorZ Redwood, Teton Sports Polara 3-in-1, and REI Siesta Hooded 20. The Redwood’s value is sourced from its amazing warmth, size, and comfort.
It also packs up much smaller and lighter than many of the sturdier bags in our review. The Polara is warm, has lots of features and options, and, importantly, it’s reasonably priced. Other advantageous features are useful loops, snaps, zippers, pockets, drawstrings, and a detachable fleece liner. The Polara is a combination of your favorite on-the-couch movie blanket and a hardcore, cold-weather camping bag.
The bag on its own is very comfortable down to the 30-degree range. Comfort was assessed by sharing each sleeping bag with multiple testers to garner diverse opinions. We also conducted specific tests involving ease of movement, bag dimensions, and natural padding. For warmth, we got more scientific with an ice-block test, a laser thermometer, and side-by-side timed tests on the same chilly night. Features and packed size were the final performance areas of interest, and we broke features down into a list and rated each one.
While a small packed size is nice, we ascribed the least importance to this metric. From its rugged outer shell to its warm fleece center quilt, the Teton Sports Polara 3-in-1 is a stylish interchangeable bag that offers a wide range of customizable warmth. Each piece of the Polara is a separate and unique layer that can be added, removed, or interchanged, allowing it to be multiple bags in one. This layering system provides options, letting campers customize their warmth needs in different climates, temperatures, and seasons.
The one that came closest is the Kelty Tru.Comfort 20 Doublewide. This bag employs a hooded design that traps heat around the head. The Nemo Jazz 30 Double is very similar in design to the Kelty and performed about the same.
The Teton Polara and REI Siesta shared the spotlight in this metric. Each has its own unique features that earned it a top score. The Polara stands out for its unsurpassed layering ozark trail canopy system that allows the bag to be customized for warmth. The Siesta’s main draw is its plush hood and several smaller design considerations that help it effectively retain heat.
Whether you’re living the van life full-time or stocking up for your first camping trip, there’s a lot of essential gear to consider. We’ve tested just about everything you could want for your next camp trip and can recommend the warmest sleeping bags and the most functional top-rated backpacks. If you find yourself overwhelmed by our vast selection of gear and aren’t sure where to start, we recommend taking a look at our complete camping checklist. Trailspace’s community of gear reviewers has field-tested and rated the top warm weather sleeping bags. GearLab Review Editor Jason Wanlass lives in a camping paradise. If not already in the outdoors, he’s certainly busy planning his next adventure.
While neither bag matched the performances of our top three, both are still quite cozy and are certainly warm enough for three seasons. I notice this isn’t the first review with this complaint. The zipper broke on my warm weather bag on the second night out. Too bad too because overall I’ve had good luck with Ozark Trail stuff.