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We tested 13 camping sleeping bags from brands like Coleman, Kelty, The North Face, Alps OutdoorZ, and more to find the best models for your camping needs
Over the last 11 years, we've purchased dozens of the best camping sleeping bags, with 13 top models in this review. Our team has spent countless nights in the great outdoors, scoring each bag's details and quirks side by side. Our road trips have landed us under the stars in national parks as well as dozens of common campgrounds from Alabama to Utah. We've spent hours examining each bag, prioritizing warmth, comfort, thoughtful features, spacious cuts, and more. For our take on how each bag ranks against one another, we compiled an extensive review aiming to help lead you to cozy, restful nights in the outdoors.
Our top recommendation is the Alps Outdoorz Redwood. This bag is warm, comfortable, and almost feels like a weighted blanket. That said, it's designed for colder weather camping. Those seeking something versatile for multiple seasons might like the REI Co-op Siesta Hooded 20. It's a lighter weight (yet still warm) bag with a hood for tucking your head into.
If you're on a budget, check out the Coleman Brazos. It's a fraction of the price of many bags in our test and is warm and durable, great for people who only go on a couple camping trips a year.
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 everything from the best camping mattresses to the warmest sleeping bags for cold weather and the most functional backpacks.
Editor's Note: We updated our camping sleeping bag review on January 30, 2025, to share an at-a-glance overview of our favorite bags and to share information about the updated REI Siesta bag.
Claimed Temperature Rating: -10°F | Weight: 11.7 lbs
PROS
Warm and heavy
Cotton flannel liner
Large
Thick canvas exterior
CONS
Huge packed size
Not water-resistant
Too warm for some climates
Lacks a protective storage bag
The Alps Outdoorz Redwood is a massive rectangular camping sleeping bag with a rugged, vintage design. Head to toe, this bag is constructed from high-quality materials designed to keep you warm and comfortable. From first glance, we were impressed, and after months of testing, our experts unanimously selected the Redwood as our favorite. We named it our top bag for several reasons: it's warm, plush, super comfortable, uber-rugged, and stylish. This bag feels almost like a weighted blanket when you slide inside. The general weight of the bag settled around us as if we were being hugged to sleep. The fabrics are soft, void of cool spots, and are virtually silent during nighttime movement. We're big fans of the comfort and warmth of flannel liners in camping sleeping bags, and this model's got it.
Here's the caveat: though Alps Outdoorz lists a -10 Fahrenheit temperature rating on the Redwood, we would not recommend using it at those temperatures. The bag is warm, but not that warm. We assume they're listing the extreme limit for this sleeping bag with this temperature rating. Alps Outdoorz also offers the Redwood in a -25 degree version for just a little more money. The Redwood also has a large packed size, which might be a factor if you have limited space in your home, car, or trailer. It rolls up bed-roll style, so it lacks the added convenience and protection of a separate stuff sack. This also isn't ideal for wet climates and is probably too warm for summer nights at low elevations. If you need a bag that offers more layering options for a range of temperatures and climates, the Teton Sports Polara 3-in-1 might be a better option. For folks who want a super warm and cozy camping sleeping bag to make overnights in the outdoors luxurious, the durable Redwood is our top recommendation.
Lugging our favorite sleeping bag to camp. Although it packs up large, the Redwood is easy enough to throw over the shoulder when the tent is a wee bit from the car.
Claimed Temperature Rating: 20°F | Weight: 5.5 lbs
PROS
Warm
Inexpensive
Durable
CONS
Narrow and short
Not very water-resistant
Interior liner is very grabby
For six years running, the Coleman Brazos has earned the title of our favorite low-priced model. Despite its simple design and less expensive price point, we are consistently impressed by this bag's ability to perform adequately against a long list of competitors. When it comes to warmth, the Brazos can hold its own against bags that cost far more — though no contender could match the Alps Outdoorz Redwood in our warmth testing. It's ideal for families looking for a first-time sleeping bag, price-conscious shoppers, or practically anyone wanting to save a buck.
While the Brazos is a great value purchase, it is a noticeable step down in comfort and quality compared to the premium models we tested. Broad-shouldered and tall campers, take note: this bag is quite narrow and short, so you'll probably want to look elsewhere. A good alternative suggestion is The North Face Wawona Bed 20. It's another great 20-degree bag that has a basic design, like the Brazos, but it's more spacious and of higher quality. But for the thrifty camper looking to spend just a few nights under the stars each year, there aren't a lot of reasons to spend more when you can get the Brazos at such a great price.
Claimed Temperature Rating: 0°F | Weight: 8.0 lbs
PROS
Warm
Removable fleece liner
Layering versatility
Water-resistant
Thick padding
CONS
Somewhat narrow, may feel too confining for some users
Polar fleece liner is grabby
Difficult to pack into its stuff sack
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. 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 synthetic materials the Polara 3-in-1 is built from aren't as cozy or comfortable as the premium canvas designs. Compared to high-dollar bags, it won't provide the same cushy degree of luxury. We found the interior liner and fleece blanket soft and warm during testing, but they're grabby compared to the smooth, flannel interior of other options. If you need more room than the Polara offers, the Big Agnes Echo Park 20 is much more spacious. If not, stick with the Polara's versatility of offering three bags in one.
Claimed Temperature Rating: 20°F | Weight 5.5 lbs (size long)
PROS
Large hood
Great features
Comfortable fabrics
Lightweight but warm
Decent price
Machine washable
CONS
Silky shell material prone to snag
Hood cinches unevenly
New Version Available — January 2025
REI updated the Siested Hooded 20 to include a larger variety of sizes. In addition to Regular and Long sizes, they also offer Regular Wide and Long Wide to help accommodate more body shapes and sizes. The new bag is a light green color but otherwise appears very similar in design and materials.
Snoozing in the REI Co-op Siesta Hooded 20 is like sleeping in a giant-sized version of your favorite hooded parka. It's our favorite hooded bag because it offers more features than the other single-person hooded bags on our list at nearly the same price. It also weighs less, packs up smaller, and is more portable. We love that its hood is large enough to fit our pillow from home and that its insulated top flap allows us to quickly burrow our entire head under the covers when temps start to sink.
Previously we lamented that this bag felt a bit narrow for larger bodies, but recently, REI released extended sizing! It's now available in a standard and long length as well as wide sizes for each. We're hopeful that this addresses the issue and glad to see REI including more sizes in their lineup. The weight has increased due to more fabric in the wider bags, but none of the bags in this review were designed for backpacking, so we don't mind the extra weight. Overall, this 20-degree bag is really cool — in a good way. If you prefer a more woodsy look, the Teton Sports Deer Hunter features a hood and a more traditional lumberjack vibe.
Claimed Temperature Rating: 20°F | Weight: 8.8 lbs
PROS
Large hood keeps pillows in place and heads warmer
Extra-wide top quilt
Separate built-in individual quilts
Packs up easily
Easy to use U-shaped zipper system
CONS
Lightweight fabric prone to snags
Expensive
Does not unzip completely
The Kelty Tru.Comfort 20 Doublewide is our favorite two-person model. Many double bags are simply extra fabric, resulting in little more than a super large sleeping bag. However, the Tru.Comfort offers cuddlers an array of features aimed at providing more of a well-designed sleeping system. Individual, built-in blankets allow sleepers the ability to customize personal warmth preferences. A U-shaped, top-side zipper bypasses the foot box, keeping toes warmer, while a massive hood keeps pillows in place and helps trap heat escaping from the top of the head. These features and other add-ons create one of the best systems we have seen to allow two sleepers independent customization of their temperature. This bag is as large as a standard queen-sized bed.
The Tru.Comfort is pricey. You can find two single bags to zip together for a wider two-person system at a lower overall cost, but then you'll be sacrificing the excellent features this bag offers. The taffeta fabrics are very silky and ultra-soft but also seem prone to snags and small tears. Additionally, we feel the built-in individual quilts could be a bit wider. However, this double bag is better than other two-person models we've tested in the past and currently. The REI Co-op Siesta Hooded 20 is a great hooded option if you're sleeping single. If not, the Tru.Comfort is your best option.
Claimed Temperature Rating: 30°F | Weight 2.9 lbs (Long)
PROS
High-performance down insulation
Low weight
Packs up small
Rides fence between backpacking and car camping model
CONS
Minimal features
Higher price tag
The Kelty Galactic 30 takes the best features of the high-performance mummy and the traditional camping sleeping bag and blends them into one. Its rectangular shape is wide and non-restrictive, and it's loaded with 550-fill duck down. These two features offer a near-perfect bag for campers desiring better-performing down insulation minus the cocooning nature of narrow mummy-shaped bags. The Galactic kept us warm down to 30 degrees Fahrenheit and maybe a touch colder. It's lightweight, packs up nicely, and can be compressed even further in a compression sack. Whether you're a car camper or a weekend backpacker, the Galactic is worth a look if you prefer down fill but aren't a fan of constrictive mummy-style bags.
It is rare to find a rectangular bag with down insulation. The Galactic is excellent for campgrounds and one you can pack for the backcountry. The drawback is its down insulation and increased capability cost more money. The Kelty Catena 30 we also tested is less expensive and just as warm, but it uses synthetic insulation instead of down. If down is your thing, stick with the Galactic. However, you should know it doesn't pack down as small as many modern, mummy-shaped backpacking sleeping bags, and it also lacks some extra features often offered by car-camping models. Still, this down-filled sleeping bag packs up small and is lightweight enough for short hike-in trips with ample warmth per ounce.
Go long! This down bag is warm and cozy, and it can pack down to about the size of a football.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
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We love going on location for side-by-side testing. It just makes us happy.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
How We Tested
At the outset of our review, we wrote down every desirable feature found in a top camping sleeping bag and then narrowed those characteristics into four key performance areas for our testing metrics. Each metric was then weighted or assigned a factor based on relative importance. We 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. Comfort was evaluated by sharing each sleeping bag with multiple testers to garner diverse opinions. We assessed the features that added comfort, like cozy materials (or lack thereof), as well as features that made bags more user-friendly, like snag-free zippers and small storage pockets. We also evaluated how small each bag could be packed down into a stuff sack. For full details on our testing process, see our How We Test article.
Our testing of camping sleeping bags is divided across these four key metrics:
Warmth (35% of overall score weighting)
Comfort (30% weighting)
Features (25% weighting)
Packed Size (10% weighting)
We camp and test in some beautiful locations to help bring you the information you need to do the same!
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Why Trust GearLab
GearLab Review Editor Jason Wanlass lives in a camping paradise. If not already in the outdoors, he's certainly busy planning his next adventure. He avidly gets after it at every opportunity, whether hiking, backpacking, or canyoneering. He also enjoys the open road and takes car-camping road trips whenever possible. Jason has hiked or backpacked throughout the Western U.S., including Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, California, Washington, Oregon, and Arizona. He more recently has turned his interest to exploring backwoods areas of the Deep South. When not on the trail, Jason enjoys the convenience and added luxury of car-camping and often enjoys a few days lounging about in campgrounds near the backpacking trails he's recently completed. In the last few years, he has turned some of his attention to the international scene, logging thousands of hours on trails in Iceland, Nepal, Slovenia, France, Switzerland, and the Patagonia Regions of Argentina and Chile. In total, he has 20 years of experience and extensive knowledge of camping and backcountry gear, including sleeping bags and sleeping systems.
The gruesome aftermath after three days of campground testing.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
During his most recent testing, Jason shoved the bed of his truck full of camping sleeping bags and hit the highways for several road trips throughout Utah, including Bryce Canyon National Park and Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats. Springtime in Alabama was also on his list, as he spent several days camping along the beautiful rivers and waterfalls of the South. He also spent some time testing products with family on many weekend warrior campouts in campgrounds, public lands, and even the back of a truck in the middle of Utah's high deserts.
Headed for nowhere on Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats.
Camping out in the foothills above home in order to test out a few of our most recently purchased sleeping bags.
Breaking camp in Bryce Canyon National Park.
From salt flats to sagebrush to hoodoos, we love to be on the road and setting up camp to test sleeping bags.
Analysis and Test Results
The individual metrics we used to assess each sleeping bag are important to a good night's sleep. They serve as a solid foundation in determining which bag is right for you. However, these metrics become the most helpful when you have a clear idea of the type of camping you plan to do. For example, the warmest bag may not be as important to you if you only camp in the summer or at lower elevations where the air is warmer. In the end, the best camping sleeping bag for you is the one that gives you the most value by matching your specific needs.
What's the Best Value?
Our testing confirmed that shelling out three figures will generally get you a higher-performing bag. Most of the top bags we reviewed all fit in this price profile. So, what exactly does the extra dough get you? In general, more warmth (i.e., more insulation), more features, and more comfort (i.e., higher quality materials and typically more spacious dimensions). All these things usually add up to costing more overall.
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. 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. Value can be interpreted in many ways. 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.
Glamour shot of our study group. Each has its own unique pros and cons, but the ones who more effectively balance performance, quality, and price generally retain the most value.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Warmth
Of the four metrics we used for testing, we devoted a large amount of our attention to determining each bag's warmth and comfort scores. When the sun goes down and the cool mountain air begins to settle, we are most concerned with whether the sleeping bag covering us is warm and comfortable. A bag can have lots of style and tons of different bells and whistles, but if it doesn't keep you toasty or swallow you up like your favorite down comforter, what's the point?
As expected, the Alps OutdoorZ Redwood handily outperformed the competition, followed closely by the Teton Polara 3-in-1 and REI Siesta Hooded. When comparing the warmest bags in our side-by-side tests, the Redwood took the lead for warmth. It is incredibly cozy, and it was hard for our testers to want to unzip and get up for the day after sleeping in it — so consider yourself warned. It's also the only option in our lineup featuring a 100% cotton flannel liner, providing a soft next-to-skin feel and by far the coziest experience. Cotton generally offers a more even temperature, resulting in fewer cold spots. The Redwood's heavier cotton canvas external fabric also provides a tucked-in feeling that most of our testers loved.
Sleeping in the Alps Redwood is like wearing your favorite cotton flannel shirt. It's soft, comfortable, and very warm.
Soaking in the last few minutes inside our favorite bag.
Cotton is softer, cozier, and warmer to sleep against because it more evenly disperses body heat.
The Big Agnes Echo Park 20 is new to our lineup. It performed very well in all of our warmth tests. So did The North Face Wawona Bed 20. These bags were slightly bested by the Kelty Catena 30, a somewhat basic, inexpensive bag that performed better during our controlled body-heat tests.
Checking the interior temperature of the Kelty Catena.
Hanging out at camp. Despite its basic, no-frills design, the Cantena is quite warm, and perfect for summertime camping.
We laid in each bag for 5 minutes and then used a laser thermometer to record the internal temperature. Surprisingly, the Catena had one of the higher temps of the whole bunch.
Despite having twice the amount of body heat, we were surprised to see none of the double bags we studied could match our warmest single bag's warmth. 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. While neither bag matched the performances of our top three, both are still quite cozy and are certainly warm enough for three seasons.
Folding up like a potato bug. The Nemo's massive hood and top quilt make it easy to hunker down in colder temps.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
A bag that surprised us was the budget Coleman Brazos. Looking at the modest price tag, we expected to be quite underwhelmed by its performance. However, its warmth ratings outperformed several of the more expensive bags.
Staying cozy and warm in our Coleman Brazos during a chilly Fall morning in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Comfort
Ever felt trapped and uncomfortable in a sleeping bag? When you're already far from the comforts of home, it's appreciated when your sleeping bag can increase your comfort level, not compromise it. That's why we put all these sleeping bags through multiple comfort tests.
We squirmed back and forth in each bag for weeks to find out which ones allowed for the easiest tossing and turning, which fabrics felt the best against our skin, and which bags had the most natural plush padding. We combined all of our data to determine the most comfortable contenders.
Our testers enjoyed snuggling into the uber-comfortable cotton flannel interior of the Redwood.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
The Alps Redwood is by far the most comfortable out of the single bags. We also liked the Polara 3-in-1, with its removable layers of padding and soft fabrics, as well as the Big Agnes Echo Park, Teton Deer Hunter, and Teton Celsius XXL. Other top performers here include the The North Face Wawona Bed and REI Siesta Hooded.
From its neck baffle to its zipper draft tube, the Teton Polara's entire lining is soft, squishy, and comfortable.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
However, the Redwood and Deer Hunter were our favorites out of the single bags we tested. Both are over-sized, traditional canvas bags with ample space and padding. When comparing side by side, the Redwood is more comfortable due to its fabrics. It's lined with cotton flannel and enveloped in a cotton canvas shell. These materials are weighty, soft, and very comfortable. It's also spacious, eliminating the claustrophobic feeling you get with narrower bags. The Deer Hunter is made from synthetic fabrics that are silky, smooth, and comfortable, but there is a distinct difference between these two models. The Deer Hunter simply doesn't offer the same comfort level as cotton materials found on the Redwood.
Chillin' like an old cowboy. The Deer Hunter is over-stuffed, very comfortable, and it stows like a vintage pack roll, making it perfect for an afternoon snooze.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Of the two-person bags we tested, the Nemo Jazz 30 Double was our favorite for its plush comfort, followed closely by the Kelty Tru.Comfort. Both bags are similar in design, but in the end, we simply preferred the Nemo's interior and exterior fabrics over the Kelty.
Catching some late autumn rays as well test out the comfort level of our Nemo Jazz. Even when placed directly on hard-packed mud, it's still quite cushy.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Features
Car camping bags tend to have many features, which we found to be true with the models we tested. We inspected everything from the zipper function to how well they rolled up. Generally, bags with the coolest additions received the best scores. However, even basic bags have features that are often missed, like recycled materials, cool colors, or unique insulation. We accounted for these characteristics as well.
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 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.
Testing our Siesta's drawstrings. We loved that its sizable hood and top quilt can be cinched tightly around the neck and shoulders. This keeps body heat in and cold air out.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
We were quite impressed with the Big Agnes Echo Park 20's unique features. It has a great hood, wide dimensions, and a built-in sleeping pad sleeve. One of our favorite features is this bag's massively roomy footbox. Our feet were never cramped.
Bigfoot's piggies would be perfectly happy inside the Big Agnes's massive foot box.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Our two double-person bags scored almost evenly in this metric. Both the Nemo Jazz Double and Kelty Tru.Comfort are chock full of extras, including storage pockets, optional layers, spacious hoods, and over-sized top quilts. We scored the Nemo Jazz slightly higher because we absolutely grooved on its generous pillow sleeve that runs the entire width of the bag. No more searching for your pillow in the middle of the night.
Testing out the Nemo's huge pillow sleeve. We enjoyed knowing exactly where our pillow was at all times.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Finally, the Kelty Galactic 30 is a more basic bag that offers a stand-out feature worth mentioning. The Galactic's 550-down insulation sets it apart from the other bags on our list. Although there are a few more on the market, rectangular down bags are still a novelty, which is why we still gave this bag top scores for this metric despite its relatively simple design.
Go, go, gadget, Galactic. This bag's down insulation goes from packed to pillowed in just a few minutes. Just unpack and let it sit. The down features expand and do the rest.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Packed Size
Traditional camping sleeping bags are known to be a little big-boned, so packed size was not a complete deal-breaker for us. However, space is rarely unlimited, so we rated each bag according to its stowed size. We also factored each bag's packed weight and the overall ease of stuffing it into its stuff sack.
The lightest and most compact in our test is the Kelty Galactic 30. Weighing just 2.9 pounds for a size long, the Galactic is very lightweight among the rectangular, traditional car-camping models. It's not exactly built for backpacking, but it also packs down small enough that we would certainly consider it for short hike-in campsites if we didn't have another option.
That's one small drink-a-water. The Galactic has the smallest packed size of any rectangular sleeping bag we've ever tested.
The outdoor gear market is flooded with lightweight sleeping bags for backpacking, but if you don't own one yet, the Galactic is small enough and light enough to lash onto your pack when your in a pinch.
Showing off our Galactic. It packs up super small for a rectangular bag, and its down insulation is warm and lightweight.
Nothing on our list really compares to the Galactic regarding packed size or weight. However, those that did their best to compete are the Big Agnes Echo Park, REI Siesta Hooded, and The North Face Wawona Bed. In particular, the Echo Park packs down smaller and lighter than the Siesta or Wawona because its entire back side lacks insulation, which saves on weight and volume. The sleeping bag sources all of its bottom insulation from whatever sleeping pad you put beneath you.
The Big Agnes Echo Park is one of the more spacious bags we've slept in, but it also packs down small and is lightweight.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
We realize that in real life, not everyone wins a trophy; however, if we had an honorable mention award for packed size, we would certainly give it to the Nemo Jazz 30 Double. Yes, it received the lowest scores available for this metric. Indeed, its stuff sack is nearly 3 feet long. But, thanks to its over-sized duffel, it packs up easier (not faster) than many of the smaller bags we tested. 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.
Ready for take off. Although we absolutely loved the Nemo's backpack stuff sack, we were often mistaken for a paraglider, BASE jumper, or skydiver.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Lastly, the Teton Celsius XXL, Kelty Catena, and Coleman Brazos all packed up well enough to get on the board with above-average scores for this metric. Of the three, the Kelty is the easiest to pack, thanks to its larger stuff sack.
Our last day in Bryce Canyon National Park. How did each bag stack up against each other? We committed hours and hours testing each bag to find out.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Conclusion
Throughout our review and testing, we didn't give these camping sleeping bags any leeway. Regardless of price or prestige, we held all to high standards and the same test methods. We researched and tested for what we would want to know if we were buying these bags for ourselves. In the end, we hope our efforts benefit you in your decision-making and camping gear kit.
If you find yourself overwhelmed by our vast selection of gear and aren't sure If you're not sure where to start, we recommend taking a look at our complete camping checklist. You'll find information and tips on everything from camping stoves for all your outdoor cooking needs to the top-ranked camping tents to nestle into at the end of the day.
