Sleeping Bag Buying Guide

These lightweight bags are suitable for use on the warm nights experienced during the summer.

Perfect for late spring to early autumn temperatures, these bags are aimed at those who like to camp during the warmer months of the year. 

Designed for use from spring through to autumn, these versatile bags offer the comfort and warmth needed for colder nights.

With the increased insulation necessary to cope with the potentially bitter temperatures of early spring and late autumn, these bags provide extra comfort when the thermometer drops below zero.

Winter-specific models designed for the coldest months; these bags will keep you comfortable in sub-zero temperatures and harsh conditions.

Specialist bags for high-altitude mountaineering and use in the world’s harshest environments.

If you tend to sleep cold or are heading somewhere with low temperatures, a good hood is essential. Look for one that’s fully adjustable and seals well around your face. The best designs use multiple contoured baffles to provide a snug fit and minimise heat loss.

Also known as a draught excluder or shoulder baffle. This is an insulated tube sewn into the neck area that creates a barrier around your shoulders and neck, helping to trap warmth and block cold air.

Similar to the neck baffle, this is an insulated flap that runs along the inside of the zip, preventing heat from escaping through the zip seam.

Sleeping bag zips come in full, three-quarter and half lengths. Shorter zips save weight and reduce stitching, while full-length zips are easier to use and offer better ventilation. Two-way zips are especially useful, allowing you to vent from the top or bottom of the bag for personalised temperature control.

The outer fabric of a sleeping bag can vary from ultralight and highly packable to heavier and more durable, depending on its intended use. In damp or humid environments, a shell with a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatment is a definite plus.

The two main types of insulation are down and synthetic. Down is lightweight, highly compressible and offers an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio, while synthetic insulation performs better in damp conditions and is generally more affordable.

Many bags feature a trapezoidal or comfort foot box, allowing your feet to rest in a natural position. This gives you enough space to keep your feet pointing upwards, which is often appreciated after a long day of walking.

Sleeping bag lengths vary between brands and styles. If you’re tall, look for a ‘long’ version. A well-fitted bag should cover you comfortably—if pointing your toes causes the hood to lift off, it’s worth sizing up.

Mummy-shaped bags are wider at the shoulders and taper towards the feet, striking an optimal balance between warmth, weight and comfort. The tapered design removes excess bulk while still allowing your shoulders to lie flat. Expedition bags follow a similar shape but are often oversized to accommodate down clothing layers inside—ideal when maximum warmth is needed.

Rectangular sleeping bags offer more room and allow a relaxed sleeping position, but they’re less efficient at retaining heat. They’re a great option for summer festivals, car camping and sleepovers where packed size and weight are less of a concern. Many rectangular bags can be fully unzipped to lie flat and used like a duvet.

Women’s sleeping bags are designed with female physiology in mind. As women typically sleep colder than men, these bags include extra insulation in key areas prone to heat loss—usually around the hips and foot box. They also tend to be shorter in length and narrower at the shoulders, reducing excess space, minimising heat loss and saving weight.