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Sleeping Bag Weight, Compression Sack

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In this review:
  1. Cheap Sleeping Bags, Best Cheap Sleeping Bag
  2. Mummy Bags, Rectangular Sleeping Bags
  3. Sleeping Bag Weight, Compression Sack
  4. Sleeping Bags Reviews
  5. Best Sleeping Bags
  6. Discount Sleeping Bags Features Comparison Table
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Sleeping Bags Features (continued)

Sleeping Bag Weight.

The weight of budget sleeping bags varies significantly.

The Guide Gear Double bag weighs in at more than eight pounds, for example, and the Everest Mummy weighs about half that. If you're planning to carry the sleeping bag on your back, you'll want a lightweight sleeping bag, but that quest may push you into higher-priced models filled with goose down. Among the cheap sleeping bags we researched, the Kelty Cosmic 50 Degree and Santa Fe Wenzel mummy bags weigh the least (just under three pounds each). While the one-person version of the Guide Gear Portage sleeping bag is roomy and comfortable, you'll pay for that luxury in its five-plus-pound weight. The discount rectangular Coleman sleeping bags tend to be on the heavy side, as well; the Brazos Cold-Weather and Clear Lake Warm-Weather bags weigh about five pounds each. As the experts at Trails.com explain, bags this heavy are too cumbersome to fold efficiently or carry on hiking trips; they're at their best for indoor or car camping.

Sleeping Bags Temperature Rating.

Sleeping bag manufacturers use temperature ratings to signal that a bag will provide warmth down to those temperatures. If you plan to use your budget sleeping bag for camping trips, pay attention to this number. Experts recommend summer-use sleeping bags should be rated at a minimum of 40 degrees and winter-use bags should be rated at zero degrees or lower. Some cheap rectangular Coleman sleeping bags have temperature ratings that range from 20 degrees to 60 degrees; the Coleman Brazos Cold-Weather Sleeping Bag is said to keep users warm down to 20 degrees and the Clear Lake Warm-Weather bag should be good down to 40 degrees. Mummy bags often boast lower temperature ratings, although the Kelty Cosmic mummy bag, which holds barely a pound of fill, is only rated at 50 degrees. Among the other discount mummy bags we researched, the Everest Mummy is the coldest-weather sleeping bag with a five-degree temperature rating, followed by the Coleman North Rim bag with its 10-30 degree rating and the Wenzel Santa Fe at 20 degrees. Note though, that some campers say these bags really aren't warm enough for such cold weather.

Indeed, the manufacturer's temperature rating is only an estimate, despite claims about independently certified ratings. Your own sleep preferences must be factored in. As our research found, users don't always agree with the stated temperature ratings of the cheapest sleeping bags.

Review continues below

Sleeping Bags Zipper.

An efficient, no-snag zipper is an essential part of a sleeping bag. If possible, test the zipper before you buy to make sure it zips up and down with ease. This is one dimension in which cheap sleeping bags often fall short; many earn a fair share of user complaints for problems like breakage, misaligned feet and teeth, fabric snags, and generally middling performance. For users of the Coleman Brazos Cold-Weather bag, the zipper proved decisive in their reviews on Amazon, where they say the zipper gets stuck and caught in the nylon shell. The Wenzel Santa Fe bag comes with a self-repairing zipper, which is a stand-out feature in a discount sleeping bag.

Sleeping Bag Frills, Compression Sack.

A compression sack, a.k.a. "stuff sack," is especially convenient if you hike with the bag or have limited storage space while on the go. The Everest Mummy comes with a compression sack, although some users say the sack is too small and rips when you try to stuff the discount mummy bag inside. The Coleman North Rim and Wenzel Santa Fe, also discount mummy bags, likewise come with a polyester stuff sack. Both the single and double rectangular Guide Gear Portage bags come with a carry sack. Rectangular Coleman models are usually rolled and secured; the two on our list feature the QuickCord, a proprietary no-tie system.
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Best Cheap Sleeping Bags

Coleman Clear Lake Warm-Weather Sleeping Bag
Gold Medal

Coleman Clear Lake Warm-Weather Sleeping Bag

 This cheap, durable rectangular sleeping bag keeps users warm when the temperatures sink to the 40s. Campers like its no-fuss features, including a cotton-flannel liner and three pounds of insulation, but say it's too bulky for backpacking. Read more »
Sleeping Bags Deals
Everest Mummy +5F/-15C Degree
Gold Medal

Everest Mummy +5F/-15C Degree

 This mummy-style sleeping bag keeps adventurers cozy on frigid nights with a double-layer construction for extra warmth. The low price combined with its performance in freezing temperatures makes this a smart choice for cold-weather camping. Read more »
Sleeping Bags Deals

Good Budget Sleeping Bags

Coleman North Rim 0-Degree Mummy Bag
Gold Medal

Coleman North Rim 0-Degree Mummy Bag

 A mummy-style bag with more than three pounds of fill, the Coleman North Rim may not keep you warm enough on the very coldest of nights but seems to work for temperatures well below freezing. Campers like the comfort and price, although some say it's a bit too much bag for backpacking. Read more »
Sleeping Bags Deals
Guide Gear Portage 30 Degree Sleeping Bag
Gold Medal

Guide Gear Portage 30 Degree Sleeping Bag

 With comfort rating of 30 degrees F, the Guide Gear Portage is a three-season rectangular sleeping bag that's roomy, soft, and provides reliable comfort. A double version (big enough for two) starts at $40. Read more »
Sleeping Bags Deals
 
 
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Think Twice Budget Sleeping Bags

Coleman Brazos Cold-Weather Sleeping Bag

This rectangular sleeping bag might keep you warm on chilly nights but problems with zippers and the lining leave users in the cold. Coleman makes other cheap sleeping bags that garner better reviews. Read more »

Wenzel Santa Fe 20-degree Mummy Sleeping Bag

This three-season mummy bag is cheap enough, but users say it doesn't deliver the warmth they expect and can be a challenge to stuff into its sack. Read more »

 
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