You’ve made a note to purchase a sleeping bag for your next camping trip, but you’ll have to ensure that if you’re camping in winter your sleeping bag meets all the right criteria.
A sleeping bag for winter needs to offer you more than just comfort.
What should you look for in a sleeping bag for winter?
It needs to be strong and durable if you’re taking it on a backcountry adventure, while also light enough to carry in spite of its extra comfort.
Tuphen has designed a sleeping bag that’s big on comfort and can handle harsh conditions to which you love to travel for your outdoor adventures.
So, with that in mind, let’s check out the best winter sleeping bag for sweet dreams outdoors, along with four alternatives so your sleep won’t be disrupted by the cold when you’re trying to enjoy a camping adventure. However, if you are not fond of sleeping bags, you can check the other sleeping bag alternatives that will keep you warm when camping.
Quick Overview
- Tuphen sleeping bag: Best Lightweight Winter Sleeping Bag
- Hyke & Byke Katahdin Hydrophobic Sleeping Bag: Best Ultralight Winter Sleeping Bag
- Coleman Big & Tall Sleeping Bag: Best Winter Tent Sleeping Bag
- Bessport Mummy Sleeping Bag for Adults: Best Mummy Sleeping Bag
- Marmot Voyager 55 Mummy Sleeping Bag: Best 0-Degree Sleeping Bag
Best lightweight winter sleeping bag: Tuphen sleeping bag
Tech specs
- Type: Lightweight
- Size: 15 x 10 x 5 inches (38 x 25 x 12 cm)
- Weight: 3 pounds (1360 g)
Benefits
- This lightweight sleeping bag has a nylon cover material that’s waterproof and it’s filled with 100 percent hollow cotton. This type of cotton is actually blended with modified PVA fibers. PVA is useful in sleeping bags because it helps to make it stronger, so this sleeping bag will be durable for what ver adventure you throw at it.
- During camping trips, I like the freedom to sleep in the way I do back home without feeling restricted by a sleeping bag, and this one ensures that. It has a separate zipper at the bottom through which I can push my feet. I can even completely open the sleeping bag if I want to and when doing this it doubles up as a blanket, which is a bonus.
- When carrying a sleeping bag, you want to be able to stuff it into its pouch and unroll it quickly. With this sleeping bag, you don’t have to worry about folding it up – just stuff it into its carry bag and pull its straps. This reduces how much time you spend trying to fit the bag back into its pouch, so it’s the most convenient winter sleeping bag.
- This sleeping bag only weighs three pounds, so it’s really easy to carry around and transport. It will also fit into your travel bag with ease.
Drawbacks
- Although it’s said to be useful for winter and summer, this lightweight sleeping bag is a little too thin to provide enough warmth for when temperatures are really icy.
- It comes in a single size, so it’s not ideal if you want a larger sleeping bag, such as a double sized one for you and your partner.
Extra Features
- This lightweight sleeping bag comes with extra items: a carry bag and a compression sack. This sack has straps to make it easy to store the bag when it’s not in use.
Buying Advice
This winter camping sleeping bag has a temperature rating of between 5 and 25 degrees Celcius, making it the most versatile winter sleeping bag. It comes in six colors and it’s perfect for the whole family and one of the best features about it is that you can adjust how you use it so that you get the most comfortable sleeping position at night, no matter where you are.
Ultralight Winter Sleeping Bag: Hyke & Byke Katahdin Hydrophobic Sleeping Bag
Tech specs
- Type: Mummy
- Size: 16 x 9 x 8 inches (40 x 22 x 20 cm)
- Weight: 4 pounds (1814 g)
Benefits
- This sleeping bag is filled with cluster loft microfiber to provide you with more insulation as well as resist moisture, which is beneficial if you’re camping outdoors in a cold location. In fact, it’s said to have a higher warmth-to-weight ratio than other synthetic sleeping bags on the market.
- It’s built to last. This is thanks to how it has a 400T 20 D ripstop nylon fabric liner that’s also resistant to water.
- There’s nothing worse than not finding a sleeping bag that fits your body size. This one conveniently comes in various sizes so you can find the one that fits your needs perfectly: there’s short (which will accommodate people who are up to 5’6’’ (167 cm) in height), regular (which accommodates people who are up to 6’ (182 cm) in height), and long/tall/xl (which is good for people who are up to 6’6’’(198 cm) in height).
Drawbacks
- Some people who have purchased this winter sleeping bag have reported that its filling tends to move around a bit.
- The bag has a double zipper. While that is good to keep it secure, it does have the tendency to snag at times.
Extra Features
- If you love winter sleeping bags that have extra features, you’ll love that this one has a pocket on the inside that you can fill with your valuables, such as a mini flashlight, headphones, or cell phone. This enables you to have your most important items within easy reach, making this winter sleeping bag perfect for when you’re in a remote location.
Buying Advice
This mummy sleeping bag will make you feel like you’re wrapped up in a warm and insulating cocoon, making it perfect for icy temperatures. You can choose between two colors (grey and green) and both have options for the type of insulation you need.
There’s a 0F and 15F sleeping bag in both colors and these numbers refer to the temperature in which they’re suitable for use. You can also choose a long or regular size bag.
- ClusterLoft microfiber insulation
- Double large zippers
- Comes in Short, Regular, and Long/Tall/XL size
Best Winter Tent Sleeping Bag: Coleman Big & Tall Sleeping Bag
Tech specs
- Type: Tall
- Size: 20 x 11 x 11 inches (50 x 27 x 27 cm)
- Weight: 9 pounds (4082 g)
Benefits
- This zippered sleeping bag for winter is perfect for using in a tent when it’s cold outside. It has a heat-locking flannel liner so that you can remain warm when temperatures hit around 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-12 degrees Celsius).
- It’s designed with a draft tube along the bag’s zipper. This prevents your body heat from escaping the sleeping bag, ensuring you have a cozy environment in your tent at night.
- If you hate sleeping bag zippers that keep snagging, which I do, you’ll love that this bag has a snag-free zipper design. This makes it easy and fast to zip and unzip your sleeping bag.
- You want a sleeping bag that’s easy to roll up and pack in your backpack. I love that this winter sleeping bag has an edge-locking design that keeps the bag together so you can roll it up with ease. It also has a quick cord that snaps and locks the bag into place, so you can pack your bag without needing the help of someone else.
Drawbacks
- Some people who have purchased this winter sleeping bag have reported that it came in the wrong color and size as advertised when purchased from Amazon.
- It’s also worth knowing that this sleeping bag doesn’t come with a storage pouch. However, this might not be problematic for you because of how it’s really easy to roll up for storage in your backpack. Still, if you want a carry bag for your sleeping bag, you should consider the next product on our list.
Extra Features
- As a bonus, this sleeping bag is machine washable. It’s one of the most convenient winter sleeping bags on the market because of this. If your sleeping bag gets dirty you can easily clean it once you get home.
Buying Advice
With its large dimensions, you’ll feel that this best winter camping sleeping bag is spacious and comfortable. It’s currently unavailable on Amazon but you can purchase it from stores such as Walmart.
Best Mummy Sleeping Bag: Bessport Mummy Sleeping Bag for Adults
Tech specs
- Type: Mummy
- Size: 6.73 x 11.85 x 6.1 inches (17 x 30 x 15 cm)
- Weight: 4.4 pounds (1,995 g)
Benefits
- This best budget winter sleeping bag can easily fit an adult whose height is between 6’1’’ and 6’6’’(183 to 198 cm) so it’s the ideal winter sleeping bag to purchase if you are tall.
- This mummy sleeping bag has quilted construction and an insulated foot box so that you can stay warm and comfortable during the night. To further keep you cozy, it comes with a drawstring hood that locks in warm air and keeps the cold air away from your body.
- It’s made out of ripstop polyester that repels water, so if there’s lots of moisture in the air it won’t get into your sleeping bag and make you feel uncomfortable. This layer of ripstop fabric is a double one to give you further protection. Not only does it prevent moisture-related issues, but it’s also resistant to damage, such as in the form of other natural elements.
Drawbacks
- The zipper of this bag looks poorly made.
- Some people who purchased this winter sleeping bag have reported that it’s difficult to pack in a backpack as it fills up most of it.
Extra Features
- The bag is easy to carry when folded up. It also comes with a convenient carry bag which is perfect if you don’t have enough space in your backpack.
Buying Advice
This winter sleeping bag comes in a stylish grey and turquoise color and is suitable for teenagers as well as adults. Not only will it keep you warm, but it’s durable. It will prevent a variety of harsh conditions from interrupting your sleep.
- Very compact and easy to carry (1.62kg/3.6lbs)
- Keeps temperature limits to 32℉ or more
- Durable ripstop fabric
Best 0-Degree Sleeping Bag: Marmot Voyager 55 Mummy Sleeping Bag
Tech specs
- Type: Mummy
- Size: 90 x 62 x 3 inches (228 x 157 x 7 cm)
- Weight: 1.75 pounds (793 g)
Benefits
- If you’re going to a camping location that’s going to be cold and wet, you want to be protected from both conditions. This sleeping bag by Marmot Voyager is a good choice to achieve that goal because it has SpiraFil high-loft insulation. This is a blend of spiral hollow fibers and smaller polyester fibers to give you warmth and softness while you sleep.
- The sleeping bag has an interior lining that’s soft so that you feel like you’re wrapped in a blanket. This is great because, as you probably know, it’s easy to find sleeping bags on the market that feel scratchy. That’s what you don’t want, especially if you’re camping for a long period of time.
- This winter sleeping bag has a locking two-way zipper with dual-hang loops and a zipper garage to make getting in and out of it much easier.
Drawbacks
- This bag is quite narrow. This could make it uncomfortable for you if you have broad shoulders.
- The bag also makes it a bit difficult to turn in, so if you’re a restless sleeper then this bag might not be the right one for you. You’d be better off choosing a bag that you can unzip to give you more room, such as the Tuphen one we’ve already featured.
Extra Features
- This sleeping bag comes with a stuff sack that compresses the bag so you can store it with greater ease and convenience.
Buying Advice
This sleeping bag costs depends on the size you choose. It comes in two sizes: long and regular.
While you can’t always control the weather, you can control how much you’re affected by it – and this sleeping bag will be your faithful sidekick no matter what mother nature decides to throw at you, ensuring greater comfort so you can sleep comfortably inside your tent.
- Interior length: 90 inch/228.6 Cm
- Pack volume: 200.2ci/3.28 liters
- Spira Fil high loft insulation
Winter Sleeping Bag FAQ
Now that we’ve looked at five quality sleeping bags in our winter sleeping bag reviews, we can move on to explore some common questions about sleeping bags and how to use them.
What is a winter sleeping bag?
A winter sleeping bag is built to provide you with warmth and comfort for when you’re using it during colder seasons.
When compared to regular sleeping bags, winter sleeping bags will have extra features that are designed for use when the temperature takes a dive, such as draft tubes, zipper guards, and warmer fabrics.
Some of these bags, such as the tuphen sleeping bag we featured in our buying guide, are also waterproof. This is important because you don’t want moisture to seep into your sleeping bag and cause you a lack of sleep or reduce your comfort.
What do you wear in a winter sleeping bag?
You should wear a dry base layer of clothing when you go to sleep in your winter sleeping bag to help you to stay warmer when the weather is really cold.
Just make sure that your clothing is loose-fitting as that will prevent you from sweating or losing circulation in your extremities. You also need to ensure you can move around in the sleeping bag. If you feel too warm, unzip your sleeping bag so that you can get some air inside it.
While you might think you can sleep naked in a winter sleeping bag, this is best avoided because on its own it probably won’t be warm enough, especially if you’re dealing with extremely cold temperatures.
Should I get a 0 degree sleeping bag?
A 0-degree sleeping bag does have its benefits – it’s versatile for use as an all-rounder. However, it’s worth mentioning that if you’re camping in snowy or frosty conditions it won’t do much to keep you warm.
It will be like having a duvet on your bed. So, it’s best to reserve it for when you know the temperature is not going to take a serious dive in your camping location.
That said, you can find 0-degree sleeping bags that will give you greater protection against the cold and wet – an example is the one by Marmot Voyager on our list as it wicks away moisture so that you can be more comfortable in your sleeping bag.
What is the warmest sleeping bag?
A sleeping bag you wish to use in the colder seasons should tick certain boxes. These include:
- Being filled with warm materials. The warmest sleeping bag will be made with down or synthetic materials. A winter down sleeping bag keeps things light and is easier to pack, but synthetic material helps to wick away moisture and it’s kinder to your camping budget.
- Having extra features. There are things to consider besides the sleeping bag material. An important feature to look for in a sleeping bag is a hood. This helps to lock in the heat around your head and neck, which is essential because you lose most of your body heat through your head. The Bessport mummy sleeping bag on our list of reviews has a drawstring hood to keep you as warm as possible.
- Offering the most comfortable temperature. A sleeping bag’s temperature rating refers to the lowest temperature at which it will keep you warm. For the winter season, you’ll want to ensure you get a sleeping bag that has around 15 degrees or lower in its rating. The Tuphen sleeping bag on our list offers temperatures of 5 to 25 degrees, which is what makes it quite versatile.
Bear in mind that you should also ensure that you choose a sleeping bag that comes with a temperature rating that’s a few degrees cooler than the lowest temperature of the location in which you’re camping. This will ensure that you stay warm enough.
Are mummy sleeping bags better?
One of the things you might wonder when choosing the right winter sleeping bag for a camping trip is if you should opt for a mummy sleeping bag or a standard rectangular one.
What’s great about a mummy winter sleeping bag is that it is lighter in weight because it fits you snugly. It makes you feel like you’re wrapped up in a soothing cocoon! This has the added benefit of making it easy to pack in your backpack.
FYI, standard rectangular bags are warm but they’re not form-fitting and can be heavier. However, rectangular sleeping bags do have the benefit of not restricting your movements.
Conclusion
Your sleeping bag is one of the most important items you’ll pack when heading off to a camping trip during the winter.
A standard one just won’t do – you need one specially designed to keep you as warm and comfortable as possible. Honestly, it’s a misconception to think that staying warm and cozy in a sleeping bag is the only thing to consider when you go shopping for a winter camping sleeping bag.
You need a sleeping bag that will go the extra mile, such as the Tuphen one that provides you with durability, warmth, and separate zippers so that you can sleep in the most comfortable position.
However, there are other sleeping bags that will fulfill specific needs you might have that are worth considering, such as if you need a taller fit, in which case the Hyke & Byke sleeping bag is a solid choice.
Sweet dreams!
