The Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags of 2024

There are two big differences between budget and higher-end sleeping bags, and that’s the insulation, and the trimmings. In the Cosmic 20, a lower fill power 550 down means that it’s not quite as thermally efficient as, say, the 950-fill in the Rab Mythic Ultra, but it’s still lightyears nicer to pack compared to synthetic. You’ll mostly notice the difference in packed size with a lower fill power, and while a 10-liter compressed size isn’t bad, higher-performance bags can get down to 7 or 8.

The cut of the Cosmic Down is a classic mummy with a bit of space let in, which helps to shore up the lesser fill-power down, but still isn’t a constrictor. This is where we notice some of the cost-saving measures, however, and notably, the zippers on the Cosmic are lesser than other bags we’ve tested and don’t incorporate any anti-snag sliders. Still, with a careful touch they work a treat, but need to be treated nicer than most.

While the Cosmic is undoubtedly the budget winner in our books, you can get a decently better bag if you’re willing to spend a little more. The Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15 makes use of a nicer 650-fill down, ripstop nylon shell (compared to the taffeta used in this bag), is a bit warmer and is lighter. You’ll need to pay about double for the privilege, but after three seasons on both bags, the Bishop Pass is holding up a good bit better, so it’ll last longer.

Still, there’s plenty of other backpacking kit to buy, and if you just need a bag to get you through (or want to pad out your closet with a loaner bag), the Cosmic Down 20 is well up to the task. For the price, we think it’s the best-budget backpacking sleeping bag on the market.

Its 650 fill-down lofts to 5.5 inches and is protected by a DWR (durable water-repellent) ripstop nylon shell. The 20-denier shell holds up well to abuse, and the 30-denier liner is soft against the skin. At two and a quarter pounds, this bag is an average weight for its class.

We also loved that it can be zipped together with other MHW bags with the opposite side zipper for a larger shared bed for two. While this bag might not be the warmest or lightest in the lineup, it is more durable than some of its thin-skinned competitors. The materials are a bit sturdier, which does keep this bag above two pounds.

One minor complaint is that we prefer a bigger, circumferential draft tube at the neck (like those on the Mountain Hardwear Phantom or Western Mountaineering AlpinLite), but the collar baffle does a decent job of keeping cold air out. Also, it doesn’t pack as small as other bags with higher down fill power, but for the price, it’s well permissable.

As a mummy-shaped bag, the Bishop Pass will be more thermally efficient than roomier bags, but if you know you’re liable to toss and turn, consider a spoon-shaped bag like the NEMO Disco 15. You’ll only need to shell out $30-40 more for it, and the interior space makes it a cross-over-worthy bag that can go backpacking and camping.

If you’re on more of a budget but still looking for a bag that performs well, the Bishop Pass checks all the boxes without compromising too much in terms of quality. It’s a great choice for folks who want the warmth and packability of a down sleeping bag without the high price tag of top-tier models.

Leveraging what the brand calls its Thermo Ionic Lining Technology (TILT), the Mythic Ultra boasts an incredible warmth-to-weight ratio. It achieves this in three ways. First, Rab utilizes a trapezoidal baffle construction that expands outward from the body, meaning that there’s more space on the exterior of the bag. This allows the down to fully loft when you’re inside the bag, trapping as much heat as possible.

Second, and more importantly, Rab coats thin fibers within the bag with titanium. This helps reflect radiant body heat back toward the sleeper, keeping the bag warmer without adding more down. While we initially felt cautious that this might also trap moisture, our worries were unfounded. Because the coating isn’t monolithic, the bag breathes as it should. Across all our testing, we agreed that this bag sleeps 10 degrees warmer than it looks like it should.

Lastly, it uses 900-fill down, one of the best warmth-to-weight insulators you can get in a sleeping bag — something only boutique bag makers like Feathered Friends or Enlightened Equipment will typically use. This also lends a big helping hand in making this bag supremely packable; its easily the smallest bag we could scrunch down in our compression testing.

Available in a 180 (32-degree) and 360 (20-degree) model, you can customize depending on the weather extremes you want to be prepared for. And while this bag is on the upper end of the price range, we believe the construction and materials justify the cost. Our only complaint was that it was very tight to get in and out of. This is par for the course for a lightweight mummy bag, but it is worth considering if you are larger or prefer side sleeping.

Staying light on all features, there’s just a single 1/8-length zipper. Overall, the Mythic Ultra 180 proved to be the lightest and most packable option we tested. For the ultralight enthusiast, this might be the best backpacking sleeping bag available right now.

It’s that ‘spoon’ shape that really won us over, however, and for those with wider hips, it can be a game-changer. While the middle of this bag tapers a bit (to keep some thermal performance around your core), the footbox expands out to nearly the same width as the shoulders and allows for a number of different sleeping positions.

The 30-denier ripstop shell feels sturdy and held up well in testing on rough terrain. The nylon liner is also super soft and pleasant to sleep against. A final touch we appreciated is the breathable waterproof foot. Down loses warming power when wet and our feet are the first place to get saturated from condensation in the tent. It also touts one of our favorite bonuses: it comes with a compression sack.

Heavier fabric and plenty of fill mean that the Disco weighs in at a hefty 3 pounds, 5 ounces in the regular. This is still way lighter than a lot of bags but a full pound more than some of the ultralight bags tested. If you’re after a bag that doesn’t shortsheet you but still trims the fat a bit, the REI Co-op Magma 15 is available in a full 9 different sizes, making it a mummy-shaped option for female campers.

If you sleep on your side and loathe sleeping on your back, try the Disco 15. This bag is well suited to those who need to dial in their temperature throughout the evening or who need some extra room to stretch out or move around.

Merging the quilt template of their wildly popular Revelation with a completely sewn-closed footbox, the Enigma is designed for the dedicated, weight-conscious backpacker wanting the most dialed, no-frills ultralight setup. While the Revelation offers an adjustable foot box for splaying the quilt out like a blanket, the Enigma eschews the function in search of shaving off some ounces and trapping precious heat.

Having taken both the Revelation and Enigma on extended thru-hikes, we feel like the Enigma does a better job of reducing drafts, packs into your bag more easily, and is just a better quilt for backpacking in general.

Enlightened Equipment is known for the high level of customization it offers for its quilts, allowing the weight, warmth, size, durability, and style to be perfectly dialed for whatever adventure lies ahead. Check out the fully custom Enigma to find your perfect style. Just beware, these have some long lead times.

You can also choose between 7D, 10D, or 20D fabrics for the outside, and 7D and 10D for the inside to adjust the durability of the quilt. We found that a 10D outside and 7D inside held up just fine over months of abuse. The baffles are thoughtfully designed into a continuous U shape which reduces feather shifting, and the stitching between the baffles doesn’t go all the way through the quilt, eliminating cold spots.

The quilt also comes with an elastic strap attachment system for securing it to sleeping pads and a cinch cord at the neck to further eliminate drafts. We wish they had put the pull cord on the side of the quilt, however, as opposed to right in the middle above your face, as it often gets annoying while trying to sleep — really one of our only complaints.

In short, the Enigma 20 Quilt is a reliable, ultralight, and super warm alternative to traditional sleeping bags while backpacking. If the Rab Mythic Ultra intrigues you, but you can’t get past the trim fit, check out quilts like this one. For long thru-hikes spanning months or fast and light forays in the mountains, this thing will keep you toasty without weighing you down.

Thankfully, REI retained all that we loved about the previous version of the Magma: the 850-fill power down, the lightweight 15-denier Pertex nylon shell, and excellent packability are all still standouts, but those added sizings are what really won us over in the new version. We put in evenings in the Medium-Medium and Medium-Long cuts and found them to be sized perfectly.

Abandoning the gendered style of sizing sleeping bags will be a little confusing for some, which is why we highly recommend trying out the Magma in person before pulling the trigger on one. To be sure, the Magma is still a mummy bag through and through, which makes it ideal for backpacking, but accurate sizing is still important for proper fit. Thankfully, an ample vaulted foot box keeps things roomy for your feet.

One of our bigger gripes with the previous iteration of this 15-degree sleeping bag was a decided lack of warmth for such a rated bag — but no longer. REI added an average of 7 extra ounces of down across the size range, and this is now a toasty warm bag. Now, if they can overhaul the included stuff sack (which, unfortunately, has no compression system), we’ll be square.

The mummy-cut Magma is pretty comparable to the Therm-a-Rest Parsec, but we found that bag to have a more generous cut through the legs, which won over those of us who toss and turn in the night. When you’re checking out the Magma in-store to dial in your fit, make sure that the snug profile is to your liking.

If finding the perfect fitting sleeping bag has you tossing and turning, the Magma 15 offers up a new way. With a recently boosted warmth, trim backpacking mummy cut, and overall light weight, this bag has backpacking chops, and it doesn’t ask you to cram yourself into it to take advantage.

The tradeoff to a lighter fabric set throughout seems to have worked because even though the bag pivots to a slightly lesser 800-fill goose down (the previous version was 850), it is no heavier for it and still hits the same comfort and limited temperature ratings. The climbers and mountaineers among us flocked to this bag during testing, and after returning from far-flung exploits, they provided a unanimous “yea.”

The large foot box and 58 inches of shoulder girth allow for comfortable sleeping, with enough room to stuff a hot Nalgene at your feet to keep your toes warm. We found the 10-denier nylon fabric is tougher than most bags in its class. On cold nights, six inches of down and large baffles keep the draft and cold air out.

We really liked that the neck baffle encircles the entire circumference of the bag, offering protection to keep your body heat sealed in. This bag is offered in short, regular, long, and left or right zip. It also comes with its own compression sack.

Unfortunately, all of this bag’s warmth comes at a high price. Our biggest complaint is that it is not in the budget for many shoppers, but that’s the price you pay for a hyper-specialized bag. A similarly specced option (with a more palatable price) is the REI Co-op Magma, which we’d recommend to folks that the Phantom appeals to but don’t have any big mountain needs.

Overall, the Mountain Hardwear Phantom is a must for any serious climber or backpacker looking for a lightweight adventure bag that doesn’t skimp on warmth or quality.

We found the design of this bag to be thoughtfully made. It eliminated some issues we’ve had with sleeping bags in the past. One of the first things that struck us was the locking sliders on the two-way zipper. This pretty much completely eliminates the annoyance of the zipper snagging on overlapping fabric and getting stuck. A constant frustration we have with traditional bags.

We tested the 20-degree model in similar temps and found that to be an appropriate rating, keeping us toasty at 20 or a little below. The voluminous draft collar prevents cold air from slipping through the zippers, and we loved cowboy camping in windy conditions with it. The continuous baffles allow you to shuffle the insulation around easily, minimizing cold spots.

At 1 pound, 8 ounces for the 20-degree, this is one of the lighter three-season mummy bags out there. The superior warmth and wind resistance match that of heavier models, but the minimal weight is achieved by a pretty slim, simple design, which we found does cut down on overall comfort. This wasn’t too much of an issue for us, as we actually like the close-cut feel of a down coffin, but some may want more room to stretch out or splay their legs.

For those who want a bit more space (but are still after a lightweight bag), the Western Mountaineering AlpinLite is the roomier cut in the WM lineup, and while it’s 7 ounces heavier than the Hummingbird, it’s a good bit more liveable if you’re going to be tucked into it for an extended trip. Know that both of these are bags that prioritize light weights and small packed sizes, and if you aren’t concerned with this, a better all-arounder like the Therm-a-Rest Parsec will serve you better.

As a true 3-season lightweight sleeping bag, the Hummingbird UL 20 stands out as one of the best backpacking sleeping bag choices for those looking to go the distance with as light a base weight as possible. For a more neutral balance between weight and space, be sure to check out Feathered Friend’s wildly popular Swallow UL bag.

We were skeptical of this design, but the more we used it, the more we began turning our noses up at traditional sleeping bags. The ability to easily slide your arms out to grab your phone or Nalgene at night or transition seamlessly from campfire hangs to your Therm-a-Rest does give you a certain elite feeling. The addition of a two-way zipper also makes crawling into and out of the sleeping bag a cinch.

Its allure doesn’t stop at its unique design, though. The 20-denier ripstop fabric boosts durability, and 800-fill power PFC-free DriDown keeps you cozy on wild adventures. We brought this bag on a handful of long backpacking trips and even a five-day big wall ascent of the Nose on El Cap to test its merit — and it passed with flying colors. 

While this is an extremely niche use, we found the Mobile Mummy to be an exceptionally perfect bag for big wall climbing. It allows you to stay wrapped up while shuffling around on the portaledge, cooking meals, and organizing gear. You can also route a personal anchor system through the arm holes at night and clip it to your harness without having it run awkwardly through the top. A treasured feature we didn’t realize we loved so much until we got on the wall. 

To save weight, it has a bit of a narrow design which may be constricting for some, and it’s the main reason this bag finds itself lower in our lineup. We like a tighter mummy design, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. If you’re after a more accommodating fit (and one that’s just as campfire-ready as this bag), the NEMO Disco 15 has much more internal room — though no fancy arm holes.

While this isn’t the most streamlined, technical sleeping bag on the market, the Sierra Designs Mobile Mummy does provide a noticeable boost in camp comfort and is just downright fun to travel with. The ability to walk around and access your arms without taking your sleeping bag off makes this one of our favorite picks for casual camping trips — or the occasional assault on El Cap. 

The brand designed the 12D shell fabric to be extra breathable, promoting as much loft as possible from the 1 pound 3 ounces of 850 goose down (that’s 5 ounces more than the Feathered Friends Hummingbird 20, for those counting). The result is a finely tuned bag that is super warm and is backed up with a jumbo, 3D-insulated collar that helps seal in as much heat as possible for alpinists and serious backpackers.

The larger-than-normal cut is also a step above most ultralight bags, and can accommodate tucking in some clothes or a warm water bottle beside you. We found that this extra space also makes this bag a bit more versatile when it comes to venting, as you’ve got a bit more room to move around in when you’ve got the zippers pulled down.

This is one of the most expensive bags on our list, but it deserves consideration for those committed to quality. The high loft and down rating may well justify this expense for some, and like Feathered Friends’ sleeping bags, it should be considered an investment from a boutique gear manufacturer.

For most, however, we tend to believe that a more general bag like the Therm-a-Rest Parsec is a better bet. Yes, it’s 7 ounces more than this bag, and yes, it’s not quite as warm, but for the extra $225, you start to hit the level of diminishing returns, in our opinion. To be sure, this is one sweet bag — but be sure you really need all of it before pulling the trigger.

Consider the AlpinLite 20 if you are ready to spend the money on a quality product from a leader in the industry. Also be sure that you are someone who is very careful to take care of lightweight, sensitive gear. If that’s you, it’s one of the best backpacking sleeping bags money can buy.

Though not the most flashy design, a peak under the hood reveals some unique flairs that bump the comfort and useability of this bed-on-the-go. We loved the chevron-shaped baffles and trapezoid box-wall construction, which seem to stabilize its insulation better than traditional horizontal baffles. This gives it a solid warmth-to-weight ratio but does make for a narrow, somewhat constricting design. Shifting around inside isn’t nearly as easy as with other models, and this isn’t the best choice for side sleepers.

Anti-snag zipper guards afford a silky smooth closure and baffles along the zipper and at the neck seal in precious heat. The stellar neck baffle design is among our favorites, with a contoured, yoke-shaped slot on the front that nestles perfectly just under your chin. Cinch cords help with the full cocooning process. Trust us — you’ll bemoan having to crawl out of this cushy capsule when nature calls at midnight.

While we appreciate the included waterproof stuff sack, we feel it is much too big for how small the bag packs down, and it’s hard to compress it to its full potential. At just over 2 pounds, the Neutrino 600 isn’t the lightest on this list but has an impressive weight for a 10-degree F model. The 800-fill down thwarts chilly shoulder-season temps (or biting winter cold with its -10F option), and its hydrophobic finish shielded by the DWR-coated fabric fends off condensation or light precipitation.

This is a fantastic, high-end down bag at more of an approachable price point than others in its class. The design does insist upon a back-sleeping position, which is why it isn’t as highly recommended in our opinion, but technical alpinists and serious backpackers on a budget will appreciate what the Neutrino brings to the table. Considering its premium construction, thoughtful feature set, and streamlined silhouette, we’d say it punches well above its weight.