REI Co-op Siesta Hooded 25 Review

We don't have a lot of negative critiques to offer on the Siesta Hooded Sleeping Bag. It covers all the bases — from quality draft tubes to offset-quilting construction — and covers them well. The one design feature that truly sets this bag apart is its generous rectangular hood. We like that it's large enough to fit regular bed pillows, giving the Siesta an added layer of home-away-from-home comfort.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

REI didn't just silkscreen a 25-degree label on the Siesta and call it good. The manufacturer added several key design features to ensure this bag performs as close to its warmth rating as possible. The first being its most recognizable feature, a massive hood. Most traditional sleeping bags are rectangular designs with an open top; however, this bag offers a spacious hood that matches the width of the bag. In addition to trapping warm air, it's large enough to fit your bed pillow from home. The hood also is equipped with a locking cinch cord to more effectively cover the top of the head when temperatures dip below freezing.

The Siesta has a thick, full-length, zipper baffle, which does a great job of stopping cool air from sneaking in through the zipper. This bag also boasts locking drawstrings that can cinch the shoulder baffles tightly against the neck, trapping even more heat inside. Lastly, the Siesta's off-set quilt design keeps body heat in and cooler air out. Whether running warmth tests or simply catching some shut-eye, we were always warm in the Siesta as long as temperatures didn't fall below 30-degrees F.

Comfort

The Siesta's shell and lining check two big boxes with us: They are very comfortable and are Eco-friendly. Both are made from recycled polyester, which is soft and silky and pleasant to burrow into when the sun goes down. This bag feels wide and the nature of its materials, allow for easy tossing and turning through the night. We seldom woke up with the Siesta twisted around us. During our testing, we often took advantage of this bag's large rectangular hood by bringing our own pillow from home. The hood holds an average bed pillow in place perfectly, adding a whole new level of comfort and earning this pillow high scores in this metric.

Features

As with many past REI bags we've examined, the Siesta offers a thoughtful mix of features that add to its convenience, comfort, and warmth. In particular, we like the reinforcing fabric guard that runs the full length of the zipper. We found it very effective at protecting the bag's softer shell from snags. The two-way zipper head also makes zipping a breeze, allowing the foot box to be opened independently to vent specific sections that are too warm. The zipper draft tube is thick and runs the full length of the zipper, preventing cool air from biting at toes and rear ends.

Additionally, the bag has a dual zipper system. It boasts the luxury of a second, quarter-length side zip, which allows sleepers to fold down the top section of the bag, like real bedding. This is a nice feature that adds comfort. Lastly, it can easily be zipped to a second Siesta, creating a spacious, double-hooded, two-person bag. Of course, not all of the Siesta's features are zipper-related. As mentioned previously, we absolutely love its massive rectangular hood, which easily fits most pillows from home. It also has easy-to-use drawstrings, which separately cinch the shoulder baffle or hood. The Siesta also has a convenient internal storage pocket to stow a headlamp or phone, keeping their batteries warm at night.

Packed Size

The Siesta packs up easily but it packs up large, earning it lower scores in this area. We never had a problem stowing this bag into its stuff sack. The silky nature of its polyester shell allows the average person to easily stuff the Siesta into place with minimal effort. Once stowed, its packed size matches many of its peers, earning it middle of the round marks. This bag is solely for backyard campouts, car camping, or RVing.

Value

After assessing the quality and function of the Siesta, we find the price to be absolutely fair here. We love the thoughtful features as well as its comfort and warmth scores. For campers looking for a little more luxury for a decent price, the Siesta is well worth the cost.

Conclusion

The REI Co-op Siesta Hooded 25 is a slam dunk for tent sleeping, RVing, or a backyard camp out. Its all-encompassing design includes many features that effectively keep the warm air in and cold air out, making this a great three-season bag. Rarely do you see a full-size hood on a traditional, rectangle bag. This feature alone allows the Siesta to stand out from its peers.