9 Best Men's Short Sleeping Bags

Nine sleeping bags. Months of testing. Countless nights sleeping outside. This review showcases the best men’s (or unisex) short sleeping bags out there.

For a thorough test, we doused the bags with water, subjected them to temperature tests, and snuggled up in tents and hammocks under the stars.

The backstory. I’m 5’4″. My first time camping was a cold, 10-degree March night in the north woods of Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. I was using a friend’s sleeping bag that was simply too big for me. I layered all my clothes and packed the bag with gear to fill dead space, but it didn’t work — I was freezing.

When I returned home, I immediately bought a sleeping bag that fit; a short bag with an all-around temperature rating.

Why Buy A Short Men’s Sleeping Bag?

Price: Short bags are almost always less expensive than regular or long bags because they use fewer materials.

Warmth: If your sleeping bag is too big, it’ll have “dead space,” large pockets of air surrounding your body. You waste energy (calories) heating that dead space to keep you warm. A bag that’s too big is simply inefficient.

Weight & Packability: Because they contain fewer materials, short bags weigh less and pack down smaller — a major bonus for anyone carrying it several miles.

What if you’re not that short? Nearly all of the sleeping bags tested have a regular version as well. If you’re over 5’6″ (or 5’8″ in some cases) opt for the regular-size bag.

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Comfy, Versatile Camping ‘Bed’

Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed Elite 39 Degrees, $450

The award-winning backcountry bed finally has a short version. This lightweight, summer bag ditched the zippers and integrated a blanket into the bag to provide a bed-like feel. It’s comfy, versatile, and light. Read the full review here.