Many will also appreciate the thoughtful warmth-trapping extras, including a draft tube to seal out cold around the neck and drawstring cinches to snug things down. Again, it’s not the lightest or most compressible, but the Siesta checks all the boxes we look for in a quality camping sleeping bag . From its rugged outer shell to its warm fleece center quilt, 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 allows users to enjoy a more active role in how warm they want to stay in a wide variety of climates, temperatures, and seasons. It packs up much smaller and lighter than many of the sturdier bags in our review.
And unfortunately, you can’t separate the Jazz into two single bags like you can with Exped’s MegaSleep Duo below, although the top can be zipped fully down for airing things out quickly on balmy nights. The Kompact’s interior brushed polyester liner is nearly one entire piece that sits separately from the insulation and quilted outer shell. This separation allows the liner to hold in heat because it has very little stitching and therefore fewer holes for cold air to sneak through. Although warm, the Kompact lacks a drawstring to cinch the bag around the neck and shoulders. It also has very thin draft tubes, which are designed to keep cold air from creeping through micro holes in the zipper.
The Galactic is one of just a few down-insulated car-camping bags on the market. Its feather interior allows it to be the lightest bag we tested and still one of the warmest. Finally, the bag that disappointed us the coleman tents most in this metric is the Exped MegaSleep Duo. Its microfiber insulation simply did not keep us as warm as we had hoped. The bag is still incredibly warm when compared to its overall size, weight, and volume.
With a 22-degree temperature rating, sub-3-pound weight, and decently packable build , the Forte is fully serviceable for short forays into the backcountry. Just as importantly, it’s supremely comfortable for camping thanks to its unique “spoon” shape, which resembles a mummy bag but with a noticeable boost in space around the knees and elbows. This makes it less restrictive inside, particularly for side sleepers and those prone to tossing and turning. You do pay a premium compared with our top picks at $200, but we think the Forte hits a great middle ground for mixed car camping and backpacking use. To crown the Big Bay the best value sleeping bag, I tested it against 12 other models, including mummy bags, rectangular bags, odd-shaped bags and synthetic and down bags . In a controlled environment, I ran a heat-retention test using a wire probe thermometer and hot water bottles.
Our testers enjoyed snuggling into the uber-comfortable cotton flannel interior of the Redwood. Layers, including two separate, built-in blankets, give sleepers many individual options for warmth. You can leave your dehydrated, coleman 4 person tent salty, and unsatisfying meals at home—today’s camping stoves bring a whole new level of gourmet to your car camping and basecamping adventures. Unlike for backpacking, there’s no need to scour Pinterest for workarounds…