Reviews on the best sleeping bags - Marmot - Lafuma - REI - North Face:

Sleeping bags used to be easy to buy, pretty much one type fit all. Things have changed over the years and now there is a wide selection of mummy sleeping bags, ultralight sleeping bags, camping sleeping bags, backpacking sleeping bags, down sleeping bags, and kids sleeping bags. The direction that sleeping bags are headed is for the ultimate lightweight model (usually less than 2 pounds). The biggest complaint with sleeping bags is snagged zippers and cold spots as well as temperature ratings from manufacturers that are not always what you find. The top brand names for sleeping bags are North Face, Marmot, Lafuma, REI, Kelty, Coleman and Western Mountaineering. We have more in depth reviews below, but you can find what other consumers have found online at Climbing.com, Gearreview.com and Outdoorreview.com.

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For a good camping sleeping bag, the Marmot Atom ($250) should do fine. It's considered a summer sleeping bag for temperatures down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. It weighs only 1 lb and compresses down to the size of a "coffee mug" for convenient space efficient packing. The Marmot Atom is a mummy shaped sleeping bag that has a wind resistant shell and it does a great job of keeping your body heat in the bag. Marmot also makes a great all season ultralight sleeping bag called the Helium for $360. This sleeping bag weighs less than 2 pounds, can take temps in the 15 degree range, and has a snap free zipper. A friend of mine has this model and says it is quite roomy and the wind resistant shell helps keep you warm at night. Active sleepers have always had a hard time camping or backpacking since most sleeping bags keep you confined and in a narrow space. The Montbell U.L. Super Stretch Down Hugger #2 ($305) is what all active sleepers need in a quality sleeping bag that stretches as you move around. If you are a side sleeper, then the Montbell is perfect plus it weighs 1 lb 13 oz with a rating of 25 degrees for an excellent 3 season sleeping bag. For those of us less willing to fork out $300 on a sleeping bag that is used occassionally, then we suggest the Lafuma Warm n Light 800 ($135) as a great budget down sleeping bag. The 30 degree Lafuma sleeping bag weighs 1 lb 12 ounces and has 2 full length zippers which allows you to put 2 sleeping bags together and create a double sleeping bag. For a budget synthetic sleeping bag the REI Polar Pod +20 ($80) is what reviewers say is a good bargain bag on the market. It's a relaxed mummy shape with excellent range of movement for active sleepers, can handle sub freezing temps, and weights just a little over 3 lbs.

Child Sleeping Bag - Kids Sleeping Bag:

I remember growing up and using large sleeping bags that were outdated and never fit well (often I would slip down inside the bag because it was too large). Target has an excellent selection for kids, their child sleeping bags offer themed characters which make camping and sleeping in a tent fun for all kids. Their top kids sleeping bag sellers are the Spider-Man Sleeping Bag/Backpack Set ($24.99), Think Big QuickSet Disney Princess Bed ($49.99), Batman Ready Bed ($27.99), Bratz Gal Pal Sleeping Bag ($29.99), Disney Princess Traditional Slumber Bag ($19.99), Elmo's World Traditional Slumber Bag ($19.99), Sesame Street Elmo-Shape Slumber Bag ($29.99), Dora the Explorer Convertible Slumber Chair ($29.99), The Incredibles Traditional Slumber Bag ($19.99), and the Convertible Slumber Bed - Care Bears ($29.99). REI carries some quality kids sleeping bags (beyond your warm weather situations) like the Sierra Designs Cool Cat +20 Sleeping Bag - Kids' ($149), REI Kindercone Citrus +30 Sleeping Bag - Kids' ($59), Big Agnes Wolverine +15 Sleeping Bag - Juniors' ($99), Kelty Little Creek +30 Sleeping Bag - Juniors' ($55), The North Face Tigger +20 Sleeping Bag - Kids' ($69), Kelty Eclipse +35 Sleeping Bag - Junior ($50). A good youth sleeping bag or even a baby sleeping bag are a great investment in getting your kids outdoors and enjoying nature as it was meant to be.

Top Women's Sleeping Bag:

Finding a mid size womens sleeping bag has proven hard until recently when REI established a good line of sleeping bags made just for women. The REI Sub Kilo +15 is priced at about $230 and is shaped to fit a womans body (has added insulation in the feet and chest area). The down bag can take 15 degree temperatures which is ideal for women who tend to sleep colder than men. Other top womens sleeping bags include the Sierra Designs Women's Rock Creek 30° 600 Fill Goose Down Mummy Sleeping Bag Long, Marmot Women's Angel Fire 15° Down Mummy Sleeping Bag Regular, Kelty Light Year Women's 25° Ultralight Down Mummy Sleeping Bag Long, and the Mountain Hardwear Women's Conness 32° Down Mummy Sleeping Bag Regular. I recently bought my wife a great North Face bag that is perfect for her (she's barely 5 feet tall), it's the The North Face 20°F Women's Cat's Meow Polarguard Delta Mummy Sleeping Bag - Long (Old Style) at $129.

Buying Sleeping Bags:

We like the selection on either REI.com or LLbean.com. The top down filled sleeping bags on LL Bean are the Katahdin Sleeping Bags, Down 20° Rectangular ($169), Katahdin Sleeping Bags, Down 0° Mummy ($199), Celia Women's Sleeping Bag, Down 20° Mummy ($159), The North Face Hightail Sleeping Bag, 15° ($359), The North Face Blue Kazoo Sleeping Bag, Men's ($219), Mountain Hardwear Clouds Rest SL Sleeping Bag, 0°($299), and the Mountain Hardwear Phantom Sleeping Bag, 32° Women's ($245). When sleeping in warm weather climates, experts say you should consider a sleeping bag liner like the Sea to Summit CoolMax Sleeping Bag Liner ($49). It helps keep moisture away from your body and evaporates what moisture there is quickly without getting the sleeping bag dirty. REI carries Kelty, Big Agnes, Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, REI, Sierra Designs, Valandre and The North Face. All bags have been tested by true outdoorsmen and are ranked/rated accordingly.

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