Lightweight Sleeping Bags - Backpacking Companion

 

When you’re travelling or backpacking, you don’t just want the best backpacking sleeping bag; you want one of the best lightweight sleeping bags for backpacking.  Along with your backpack (and perhaps a sleeping pad), your sleeping bag is going to be one of the heaviest, bulkiest items you carry and so by having the best lightweight sleeping bag for backpacking; you’ll ensure you don’t waste precious space or carry unnecessary weight.

In these lightweight sleeping bag reviews, I look at a range of sleeping bags from the best lightweight cold weather sleeping bag to the best lightweight summer sleeping bag as well as the best budget ultralight sleeping bag.  Whether you are after lightweight backpacking sleeping bags, the best hiking sleeping bag or the best sleeping bags for travelling in general, I have no doubt, that after reading this lightweight sleeping bag review you will be in a better position to make a perfect choice.

How to Choose the Best Sleeping Bag – Lightweight 

Ok, so firstly I don’t recommend you run out and purchase the most lightweight sleeping bag you can find because it may not be suitable for the environment you will be sleeping in.  There are a variety of factors that you will need to consider to ensure you purchase a suitable sleeping bag.  Before going out to purchase a super lightweight sleeping bag, consider the following factors:

1. Insulation

Sleeping bags are insulated to keep you warm.  The insulation is usually in the form of either down or synthetic materials which is sandwiched between two layers of fabric – shell fabric on the outside and lining on the inside.

Down Insulation

The best ultralight sleeping bags are insulated with down, because down has the best warmth to weight ratio, meaning a smaller amount of insulation is required for the same amount of warmth as is necessary for synthetic insulation.  This results in an ultra-lightweight sleeping bag that takes up less room.  Making down the perfect choice for the best ultralight backpacking sleeping bag as a down sleeping bag can easily fit into the bottom of a backpack.

Despite being the best compact sleeping bag, down is unfortunately far more expensive than even the best lightweight synthetic sleeping bag.  However, down sleeping bags are incredibly durable, and the best lightweight down sleeping bag will last you for years.

Another negative is that down tends to lose its ability to insulate if it gets wet.  To avoid this issue, many manufacturers treat the down with a durable water repellant.

The quality of down is measured by a fill power index from 400 to 900 – the higher the fill power index, the better the weight to warmth ratio of the sleeping bag.

If using lightweight down sleeping bags, it is recommended you purchase one that has been ethically sourced.  That means the animals have not been ill-treated to produce the down for the sleeping bag.  Look for companies that follow the Responsible Down Standard.  You can find a list of companies that follow this standard here.  All the down sleeping bags for backpacking in this review are by companies that support the Responsible Down Standard.

Synthetic Insulation

If you are looking for the best cheap lightweight sleeping bag or the best value lightweight sleeping bag, you should opt for one of the lightweight synthetic sleeping bags.  Synthetically insulated sleeping bags are so much cheaper than down, as well as being quick-drying, and they insulate even if it gets wet.  A synthetic insulated sleeping bag also tends to be better for people suffering allergies.

The negative about synthetically insulated sleeping bags is that it doesn’t pack down as small as down, so not ideal when space is a premium.

2. Temperature Rating

While you want the best light sleeping bag, more importantly, you need one that will keep you warm enough.  Unfortunately, manufacturers don’t use a standard temperature rating system and so choosing an appropriate sleeping bag can be difficult.  Basically, the rating is a guess as to the ideal temperature; the average person will keep warm in the sleeping bag.

The one universal rating method that you may see on a sleeping bag is the EN13537 rating – the European standard for labelling sleeping bags.  This standard expresses temperature ratings in the following way:

• Comfort: This is the warmth level required for a woman to sleep comfortably.  It is based on a woman because an average woman needs more insulation to stay warm than men.
• Limit of Comfort: This is the lowest temperature that a man would feel comfortable sleeping in.
• Extreme: This is basically the coldest temperature you would survive in, not sleep comfortably, but survive without freezing to death.

It is also important to note that everyone’s body temperature is different.  Various factors will affect your body temperature when you sleep, such as:

• Sensitivity to temperature
• Conditioning, fitness and level of experience
• Gender and age
• Sleeping habits
• Hunger and nutritional intake
• Level of exhaustion; and
• Environment

There are other reasons for your level of comfort inside a sleeping bag, such as your sleepwear, sleeping mattress, and prior exposure to wind, rain, snow and humidity.

Many camping experts suggest that when in doubt purchase a sleeping bag rated at least 5-10 degrees below the average temperature you will be using your sleeping bag in.

For easy identification, some manufacturers label their sleeping bags as two seasons or three season sleeping bags:

• 2 Season Sleeping Bags: also referred to as Summer sleeping bags are recommended for warmer weather or from temperatures 32F / 0C. Lightweight sleeping bags for summer are only recommended if you are always sleeping in warm weather.
• 3 Season Sleeping Bags: ideal for temperatures around 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-6 degrees Celsius) and above. Features of a 3 season sleeping bag include cinchable hoods, draft collars and zipper draft tubes.  A lightweight 3 season sleeping bag is generally perfect for all sorts of climates.
• Cold Weather Sleeping Bags: These are the warmest lightweight sleeping bags and are suitable for those camping in extreme climates 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-6 degrees Celsius) and below.

3. Size / Length

Sleeping bags generally come in one of three lengths that are supposed to fit men and women of varying heights.  Usually these lengths are tall (78 inches / 200cm), average (72 inches/ 185 cm) and short (66 inches / 170 cm).

4. Shape

There are a variety of shapes when it comes to sleeping bags with the main ones being the mummy, tapered rectangular and rectangular.   If you are trying to save weight and space, look for a tapered sleeping bag such as the mummy, whereas if comfort is the priority a standard rectangular sleeping bag is your best bet.

Rectangular

Most camping bags are designed with a rectangular shape for maximum comfort and roominess.

The best lightweight rectangular sleeping bag can even be joined to another sleeping bag if one bag has a “right-hand” zipper and the other a “left-hand” zipper, creating a lightweight double sleeping bag. The zippers also need to be the same size, style and roughly the same length to create lightweight double sleeping bags.

Mummy

If maximum warmth is a priority and you’re looking for one of the best lightweight, warm sleeping bag, then a lightweight mummy sleeping bag is the best choice.  A mummy-shaped sleeping bag is wide at the shoulders and narrows down towards the feet, creating less air that needs to be heated within the bag.

Some people don’t find these warm, lightweight sleeping bags very comfortable as they are more restrictive than rectangular shaped sleeping bags.

Tapered Rectangular

The tapered rectangular is somewhere in between the mummy and the rectangular-shaped sleeping bag.  These sleeping bags have a tapered design offering greater warmth and efficiency than rectangular bags, but they’re still plenty roomy for a comfortable night’s sleep.

Women’s Sleeping Bags

Some sleeping bags come in women-specific versions.  Basically, a womens lightweight sleeping bag is designed to match a woman’s contours. When compared to standard lightweight travel sleeping bag, women-specific bags are shorter and narrower at the shoulders, wider at the hips and add extra insulation in the upper body and footbox.

5. Weight

Of course when backpacking, travelling or hiking, along with your tent, your sleeping bag is likely to be one of the heaviest and bulkiest items you take camping, so you want the lightest sleeping bag you can find that still meets all your requirements.  Sleeping bags come in a range of weights from the ultra-lightweight sleeping bags for backpacking at around 1 pound to 3 + pounds (450 g to 1.5 kg).  In the table above, I have listed the weights of all the sleeping bags in this guide.

Just keep in mind that usually, the lighter the sleeping bag, the more it’s going to cost.  I have provided a range of top-rated lightweight sleeping bags in a variety of price brackets to suit all kinds of budgets.

6. Other Features 

Above we have covered the main features of a good quality sleeping bags, but the best light weight sleeping bag will come with many additional features to increase your comfort.

Sleeping bag shell

The outer shell of a camping bag is typically made of ripstop nylon or polyester for durability.

Many synthetic-fill bags feature a shell fabric treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) finish. DWR allows water to bead up rather than soak through the fabric. Linings, on the other hand, promote the dispersal of body moisture, so DWR is not used here.  To tell if a shell has a durable water repellent (DWR) treatment, rub a wet cloth across the surface. If the water beads up, then it has DWR.

The downside to a lightweight, packable sleeping bag treated with DWR is that it tends to be less breathable, trapping perspiration inside the sleeping bag.  Trapped sweat reduces the insulations ability to trap heat so you will be colder in a sleeping bag treated with DWR.

Lining

Polyester or nylon breaths and draws away moisture.  Cotton (flannelette) increases comfort but won’t draw away moisture so you can be left feeling damp.

Zippers

Most sleeping bags have two zippers so you can easily open your bag from the inside and the outside.

Look for sleeping bags with good quality zippers.  Zippers that continuously get caught are a pain and make getting in and out of your bag difficult.  Also look for zippers that go all the way around rather than just halfway you can easily open the bag if you get too hot.

Neck Collar

Neck collars are perfect for a warm lightweight sleeping bag as they ensure the warmth stays within the bag by ensuring heat doesn’t escape from the sleeping bag.

Sleeping bag hood

Camping in colder temperatures you’ll lose a lot of heat through your head. The best lightweight sleeping bag for cold weather will be one with a built-in hood. When cinched with a drawcord, the hood prevents heat from radiating away. Some hoods offer a pillow pocket that you can stuff with clothing to create a pillow.

Internal pockets

Some sleeping bags have small pockets on the inside where you can store small items, such as an MP3 player, watch or glasses, close at hand.

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