Best sleeping bag 2023: Stay cosy while camping

Experienced campers will all agree that you'll never regret investing in the best sleeping bag you can get. It's easy to underestimate how cold it can get outdoors at night, and trying to nod off when you can't get properly warm is the absolute worst. In this guide, we've rounded up the best sleeping bags for camping, to ensure you stay cosy, comfy, and ready to tackle whatever outdoor adventure you have planned.

So what do you need to know? First, pay attention to how many seasons the bag is designed to be used in, as well as the temperature ratings, to make sure it suits your trip. There are a few names to keep an eye out for. For our money, the best sleeping bag brands include Thermarest, Rab, Vango, Mountain Equipment, Mountain Hardware, Montane, Mammut, Patagonia and Alpkit. These brands will not only have wide ranges to choose from, ensuring you get the ideal spec and sizing for you, but they also have strong environmental pedigrees.

While there are some particularly advanced models on the market, sleeping bags tend to rely less on technology, per se, and more on high quality materials. That said, there are a range of outershells, down treatments and heat-capturing trickery that are worth keeping an eye out for. Filling-wise, the choice is between a down vs synthetic sleeping bag – down is both lighter and warmer than synthetic, but takes more looking after (if it's portability is paramount, you'd be better heading to our best lightweight sleeping bag guide for more specialist options). 

Read on for our pick of the best sleeping bags to buy now. Our handy tool will pull in all the best prices, so you can be sure you're not overpaying. Right now, it's also well worth checking out our guide to Black Friday deals (opens in new tab) and Cyber Monday sales to see if you can pick up a bargain.

Pair your purchase with one of the best camping mats, or even a quality camping bed for ultimate comfort under canvas.

• Kit yourself out with one of the best tents for camping
• ... or one of the best backpacking tents

The best sleeping bags to buy right now

Our recommendation for the best sleeping bag right now is the Rab Solar 2 Ultra, which should tick the right boxes for all but the most intrepid campers. It's a robust three-season mummy sleeping bag that delivers a lot for a very reasonable price; it combines an outer of 100% recycled polyester with an inner triple layer of Recycled Stratus Synthetic Sheet Insulation, and it'll help you keep warm in colder weather with Thermo Ionic Lining Technology, a metallic layer that reflects heat back into the bag more efficiently without adding very much weight.

At 1,140g, it's not exactly featherweight, but it is very portable, and a well-designed compression sack means that it packs down very nicely. Other impressive features include an adjustable hood, a neck baffle to trap heat and a well-sized pocket for your phone. It's a bit of a shame that this isn't an all-season bag, but you do get an awful lot of quality for what you'll pay; get all the details in our Rab Solar Ultra 2 sleeping bag review.

Sea to Summit’s unisex Ascent and female-specific Altitude down-filled sleeping bags are available in several versions, with different temperature ratings. Our reviewer trail tested the Sea to Summit Ascent I (ACI) -4°C unisex version. This 3-season soft down-stuffed bag stands out for its triple zip system, which allows you to unzip the bag around the torso and free your arms to cool down (or sit and make a cup of tea in the door of your tent on chilly mornings), fold the top of the bag down like a blanket or open up the bag fully into a quilt (ideal if you’re not sure if quilt-only camping is for you yet). There’s a variety of shapes and sizes to choose from, too: as well as the female version of the Ascent, the Altitude, there’s also a longer version, which at 198 cm will fit taller campers who are up to 2m/6’6” in height.

The generous filling of the Ascent is Ultra Dry Down 750+ Loft, RDS 90/10 Premium Duck Down, and the shape sits in between a narrow mummy and a rectangular sleeping bag, allowing a bit more wiggle room and for the bag to function as a quilt, and making this a good choice for side sleepers who need that bit more room. Vertical baffles over the chest section ensure the down insulation cannot migrate or shift to the outside of the bag during sleep, thus avoiding cold spots. The wide hood is great too, and can be cinched in snugly around the face, where it stays snug even if you toss and turn.

At 880g this isn’t an ultralight bag, and although it packs down easily into its compression sack and is small enough to fit in a roomy backpack. All in all, Sea to Summit are setting the Ascent up as an adaptable all-rounder bag for backpackers. Sea to Summit also offer the Ascent in two warmer versions, the Ascent ACII -10°C (opens in new tab) (RRP: £370) and the Ascent ACIII -18°C (opens in new tab) (RRP: £420). Check out our full review of the Sea to Summit Ascent ACI -4°C Down Sleeping bag here (opens in new tab).

The reasonably priced Kelty Cosmic Ultra is a great all-rounder and will keep you comfortable through three seasons of camping trips. While this isn't a particular specialism, it's reasonably lightweight and packs down pretty small (the stuff sack is 8 x 13in / 20 x 33cm). This mummy-style bag uses 'trapezoidal baffle construction' designed to retain heat, and in our Kelty Cosmic Ultra review, our tester found it cosy and comfy. A PFC-free water-repellent coating is a practical addition, as is the internal zippered pocket for stashing valuables, and it's available in a few shapes and sizes to fit different bodies. There are more specialist options around, for the average camper, this would make a great choice.

Striking just the right balance of weight and performance, the Rab Neutrino 400 is the result of decades of testing and tweaking by one of the outdoors industry's best-known brands, and if what you want is a sleeping bag that'll keep you warm in all but the most extreme cold, and won't weigh you down when you're on the move, it's hard to go wrong here.

It's a low-midweight bag that weighs in at 775g / 27oz and is comfort rated to -1C (with an 'edge of comfort' rating of  -7C / 20F), making it suitable for year-round use. It's hand-filled with 800 Fill Power Responsible Down Standard (RDS) Certified Goose Down that's treated with a Nikwax fluorocarbon-free hydrophobic finish that makes it more water-resistant than standard goose down, but you'll still want to keep it protected from the damp in its waterproof roll-top compression sack. Beautifully designed and made from eco-friendly recycled materials, it's a brilliant all-rounder; learn more in our Rab Neutrino 400 sleeping bag review.

Billed as the ideal backpacking bag for side sleepers, the Nemo Disco has an unusual 'spoon' shape that gives you extra room around the elbows and knees and enables you to roll over in the night (and even curl up a bit) without dragging the entire sleeping bag with you. It's fantastically comfortable with a whole stack of size options; there are men's and women's versions in two lengths, plus two fill weights, and you get some interesting features too, such an a 'blanket fold', a padded flap that runs under your chin and keeps the cold out, and 'thermo gills' around the middle that unzip to reveal a section of less padded fabric, letting you cool down without letting in a draught, as well as giving you a bit of extra room in the middle.

It's not cheap (but then again, it's not riotously expensive), and it's not particularly light or compact either, but its thoughtful features and excellent comfort mean that we can give it a firm recommendation; get all the details in our Nemo Disco sleeping bag review.

The Vango Cobra 400 has all the features you could want in a Spring/Summer sleeping bag, at a wallet-friendly price. The 20D 380T Nylon Outer Shell Fabric will hold up to general abuse well, and Vango has pulled out all the technical stops to create a bag that’ll keep you in comfort below zero, yet weighs less than a kilo. Heat retaining tricks include an aluminimised layer that reflects heat back to the sleeper, a shoulder baffle to trap that hard-won warm air inside, while there’s also a full-length zip (with 3D baffle) for ventilation on warmer nights. 

Vango has deployed many of the modern tricks of the sleeping bag design trade here, with an ‘Arrow’ footbox for comfort, ‘Omega’ shaping on the upper bag (which reduces seams over core areas), as well as 3D mapping – all designed to make sure down is in the right places and giving maximum warmth. The big warming element here is of course the down, which is premium-quality 90/10 700 Fill Power Goose Down – hydro-treated to resist damp – and it is ethically sourced to boot. Overall the Vango Cobra 400 is impressively specced and has a build quality that’ll keep going and going, just like a premium sleeping bag should. Happy camping!

Technically impressive, bewilderingly light and warm, the Rab Mythic Ultra 180 is the best premium sleeping bag around now. Weighing in at 400g, which is only slightly more than a full standard can of Coke, it's no surprise that this model also tops our best lightweight sleeping bag guide. Rab has packed the ultra with high-loft 900+ fill power European goose down, meaning that it’ll pack down extremely well before lofting into a beautifully comfy slumber-hug.

With a comfort rating of zero degrees, the Mythic Ultra 180 takes the warmth-to-weight ratio to new levels. Rab has managed this by dropping a world-first: Thermo Ionic Lining Technology (TILT) adds a titanium coating to the inner lining, which reflects heat back towards your body. This amps up the warmth rating with a very little weight penalty – ingenious and technically impressive. The downsides are a relatively fragile ripstop 7D outer, and a very short 1/8 length zip, both weight-saving compromises that we’re happy to sacrifice to the gods of heaviness.

This isn't a compact or lightweight option, but if you're car camping and the priority is comfort, the Birch from Scandinavian family camping brand Outwell is the best sleeping bag for you. The Birch is slightly wider and longer than usual, with a generous hood to give to plenty of wriggle room. Shoulder and zip baffles keep the heat in. The two-way L-shaped zip allows for further temperature regulation: you can pop your feet out to cool them down, for instance, or even undo the whole thing and spread it flat like a duvet. Finally, there's a moveable pillow included. If you want even more cosiness, there are three different insulation weights to choose from – the Birch Lux or Birch Supreme are built for colder temperatures.

The MH Lamina range can be a bit bewildering in itself, with a wide range of similarly-built bags with different insulation weights, delivering very different results ‘in the field’. However, the 30F -1C is a particularly strong choice for the autumnal UK adventurer with a downright impressive sub-kilo weight, this is a bag that won’t weigh heavy as the day draws on. Although the three-season rating is technically enough for Autumn anyway, these bags are excellently designed for heat retention. Fully zipped up, tailored hood neatly arranged, draft collar deployed, this little bag can take a deep dive to an extreme temp of -19C - although that won’t feel like any kind of fun.

Even more impressively, this is an artificial insulation bag, which usually means bulkier and heavier than a down equivalent, but does mean that it’ll still keep you warm in damp conditions. UK autumn conditions are almost entirely 'damp’, again making this an excellent choice. Finally, the build quality of the MH Lamina’s is strong – they really feel like tempting places to sleep, silky materials, roomy at the toe, and lots of insulation in the hood all add up to confidence for a good night’s sleep ahead – what more could you ask for?

With the Night Cap, Sierra Designs has somewhat reinvented the whole sleeping bag concept. There's no zip, which sounds like it'd cause issues, but in fact, it's perhaps the comfiest sleeping bag our tester had ever slept in. The innovative origami design folds over at the front and feet to allow you to snuggle up fully or pop an arm or foot out when you need to cool down a bit. It's like a massive comforter that doesn't get twisted or bunched up. The foot section's 'self-sealing' design effectively prevents drafts from creeping in, and the shoulder pockets ensure the top half stays in place around you when it's cold too.

There's also a sleeve in the back to tuck your sleeping mat into, which is great if you like to lie comatose on your back at night but not so helpful if you want to lie on your side at any point. Sierra Designs has integrated recycled materials into the design for an eco-friendly slant, and it's available in 20 and 35-degree versions. Choose between Regular, Long, and Women's specific lengths (be aware the Women's version is for shorter women only – it fits up to 5'6" / 172.72cm). 

Make sure mini campers get a great night’s sleep with Decathlon’s 2-in-1 sleeping bag for kids, which includes both a sleeping bag and a sleeping pad. We like that the sleeping pad can be used separately from the bag or slotted into the bottom of the sleeping bag so that small campers don’t slide off in the night. You’ll get good value for money for years to come with this clever design, as the 2-in-1 bag can also be cinched in or extended with bungees, so the sleeping bag can ‘grow’ with your child (it sleeps children measuring from 115 cm and 155 cm in height). The mat does need a few puffs to inflate it, but then the system is quickly ready for bedtime. This bag is only really warm enough for summer holidays – take it on family adventures and summer holidays, and it all stores away neatly in a carry bag when not in use. 

If you’re after a snuggly sleeping bag designed for car and campervan camping, festivals or summer holidays under canvas, look no further than Kelty’s Tru Comfort. The clue’s in the name – this is a deliciously comfortable three-season sleeping bag. We love the clever two-blanket design, which allows you to zip up two layers of the top of the sleeping bag for extra cosiness or open out one on hot summer nights for more breathability. You can also open a vent in the foot section of the bag, for added temperature control. Bottom loops let you attach this bag to your sleeping pad, which is ideal for restless sleepers. We like the rather jazzy looks of the Tru Comfort, and it's available in a few different versions, too – there's a double version (opens in new tab), and one specifically for shorter female campers, who may find a bag designed to fit their height and body shape helps to keep them warmer and cosier at night than a unisex design.

If you fancy cosying up with your camping partner, there's always the option of doubling up. For summer trips, one of the best double sleeping bags we've found is the Vango Homestead. This 150x208cm square bag has plenty of room for two, and for a low RRP delivers a lot of bang for your buck. The soft lining feels lovely to touch, and it's pleasingly breathable (although be aware that this is strictly for summer adventures). It also looks super smart – as well as campervan or car camping trips, you could use it for guests coming to stay in your home. Head to our Vango Homestead double sleeping bag review to find out more.

The North Face Gold Kazoo is a solid choice for 3-season requirements, it’s got some different design cues to mark it out from the crowd, and neat touches that will keep you warmer and happier than a cheaper competitor. The ethically approved 700 fill ProDown is hydrophobically treated, keeping it drier and warmer for longer, while anti-compression pads are designed to keep you more insulated from the ground – a cunning plan, as that’s where you lose most heat. A well-thought out fitted hood and zipper baffle combine with a draft collar to combat heat loss for minimal weight too, and there are even pad loops to connect the bag securely to a pad, making it ideal for springtime bivvying.

Bag the best deal using one of our The North Face discount codes. 

Counting your pennies but still want to go camping? While other more expensive models might offer more warmth and comfort, for a good night’s sleep for under £30 you can’t go wrong with the pleasingly roomy Pod. The wide egg shape of the Pod is designed to help you spread out in your sleep, and is ideal for anyone who feels a bit claustrophobic in a traditional square or mummy sleeping bag. It also works well when used on extra wide or double camping mats, and there’s space to slide your pillow from home inside. The Pod may be summer-only, but on a warm summer’s night in a campsite or at a festival, it’ll help you kip in comfort thanks to that welcome space plus a soft cotton-y lining. Older kids and teenagers will also enjoy the fun shape for holidays or sleepovers. 

The Thermarest Hyperion is squarely aimed at those covering ground, where weight is of vital importance. Lightweight and with the pack size of a large water bottle, this is one for the fast and light crowd, as well as anyone who doesn’t like lugging heavy loads. Why else does it top our best sleeping bag buyer's guide? Well, the massive 900 Fill Power ethically sourced Nikwax Hydrophobic Goose Down ticks all the boxes, while a RipStop shell and inner lining, which also has ThermaCapture Lining to trap more heat all add up. Finally, neat touches like the synergylink connector, which straps the sleeping bag to a camping mat, really make this particular wonder stand out.

It’s not a new sleeping bag, but the classic Mountain Equipment Iceline has graced many an expedition to very cold places, and rightly so. Designed to keep you warm down to a 'good night's sleep temperature' of -30°C degrees, with 994g (minimum fill power 800) of 90-10 Russian Goose Down, and all wrapped in a rain-resistant and breathable Gore Thermium 10D outer shell. All that makes this the best sleeping bag for cold weather camping. 

Mountain Equipment has gone to town with the baffle design, packing in a variety of shapes in different areas to maximise loft to keep you warm. An anatomically shaped hood hugs your head, and a neck collar provides a snug yet soft fit. The fact that the Iceline comes ‘expedition fitted’ (so it’s roomier than usual) is another reason why this serious bit of camping gear is top of our best sleeping bags list. When you’re done using it, just roll the bag into the supplied waterproof roll-top stuff-sack.

The Snow Peak Bacoo 550 packs in the warmth with a solid 800 fill power of duck down (cut with 10% feathers, unfortunately), which is how it gets a -7C rating. That’s a solid winter rating, and usually there’d be a caveat here about mixing down and UK wetness, but Snow Peak have used waterproof and breathable fabric for the outer, heading off down-clumping unpleasantness. 

This combination could well prove to be a real winner, giving a winter-warm bag at only slightly over a kilo, which is pretty light for the warmth. The breathability should mean that moisture-laden air can also escape, keeping that down in premium condition all night. Other neat touches include separate shoulder and hood drawcords, and a headlamp pocket, which will also be useful to stop phone or GPS batteries from freezing and discharging overnight. 

How to choose the best sleeping bag for you

The best sleeping bag for you will depend on a variety of factors, the big two being how warm it needs to be, and how lightweight it needs to be. Usually, the warmer the bag, the heavier it is, although the latest and best technical sleeping bags manage to deliver warmth for very little weight.

However, there will be compromises. For example, lighter weight materials will often wear out faster and need more care and attention to keep them undamaged in normal use. While a winter sleeping bag (for the UK) should be comfortable well below zero, spring and summer bags can have a comfort rating of zero and up, although bear in mind it’s usually easier to fix being too warm rather than being too cold at night. 

Not all sleeping bags need to be super-light, especially if you’re car-camping for a night or two, but if you're trekking or hiking to your campsite – or wild camping – then shaving those extra grams off will pay dividends. If hiking with your sleeping bag is on the cards then looking at packability is sensible – you'll need something that fits comfortably into your hiking backpack, with all your other gear. Cheap synthetic sleeping bags being the most bulky, and expensive goose down compressing for travel the best. 

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