Everybody needs a sleeping bag at some point, but for very different reasons. Some festival-goers will need a cocoon for sleeping off the mother of all hangovers. Others will find that they’ve been roped in to accompany their kid’s DofE expedition at the last minute. A few may even be looking for something to keep them alive during a two-day expedition to bag a tricky Munro.
With so many bags on offer at so many different prices, we’ll save you some sifting time with our recommendations of the best sleeping bags for a variety of different budgets and situations.
Of all the sleeping bags we’ve looked at, this is the most versatile and it doesn’t cost the earth either. It’s marketed as a three-season sleeping bag, but it’ll serve you well in wintertime too if you add a Snugpak liner (sold separately, £15-£45). You can also make it larger with the aid of Snugpak’s expander panels (£28-£35). The reinforced foot lets you sleep with your boots on without the risk of damaging the interior, while the drawstring hood will help protect your head from the cold. Above all, it was the high-quality stitching that impressed us, still something of a rarity even at sleeping bags of this price.
Buy from Amazon | From £100
This budget bag is a smart choice if your camping ambitions don’t extend further than making it to the end of Glastonbury in one piece. It offers far more than its bedfellows at this end of the price spectrum – it’s double-layered with excellent stitching and a hood that won’t just keep you warm, it’ll also put some welcome padding beneath your head. The internal security pocket will certainly come in handy at festivals and the zip isn’t prone to snagging. But putting it back in its bag is a slight hassle. Oh, and do not expect this to keep you warm in sub-zero temperatures.
Buy from Halfords | £35 (currently reduced to £10)
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The Rab Neutrino is, in our opinion, the don of sleeping bags (although it really should be at this price). Given the warmth the goose down offers, it’s astonishingly lightweight. The zip action is ultra-smooth, and the double drawcords in the internal collar and hood are useful, especially if it does get bitterly cold. So yes, this is an excellent choice if you’re a truly intrepid type who’s not averse to a cosy place to sleep at the end of your day’s adventuring. Perhaps best of all is the Polygiene odour control treatment, which works very well indeed. Whoever’s sharing your tent will certainly be grateful.
Buy from Snow + Rock | £480
Looking for a sleeping bag you can share with a partner? This one from Danish brand Outwell may be a little pricier than other doubles, but it’s also a little more spacious, has an adjustable width and a soft, fluffy, duvet-like feel. The soft hood lining, a zippable pillow pocket and an internal fleece foot pocket are just the cherries on top.
Buy from Amazon | £99.99
This sleeping bag is so light that you’re liable to forget you’re carrying it once it’s tucked into your backpack. It’s also extremely compact when stuffed into its storage sack. This is a two-season sleeping bag, which means it’s intended for spring and summer, although we’re pretty confident it will also keep you toasty through milder autumn nights. The sleek, body-shaped profile and neck baffle will help with heat retention, while the lightweight hydrophobic down will keep moisture out, should the rain get through the ceiling of your tent.
Buy from Amazon | £198, plus £11.50 delivery
Tall campers will love this mummy-style sleeping bag from Vantage. Or those that need a little extra wiggle room to enjoy a good night’s kip. In fact, the Latitude 300 fits anyone up to 6.7in and keeps them toasty warm in temperatures as low as -1C. Vantage has kitted the sleeping bag out with a soft and breathable fabric for maximum comfort while the synthetic double insulation does a great job at keeping the heat locked in. That’s great for camping in spring through to autumn but we’d advise that you invest in a warmer bag to see you through winter.
Buy from Go Outdoors | £75
