Summer Sleeping Bags
Having a good sleeping system can make the difference between a successful trip and a restless one. These sleeping bags are built to help you succeed in summer, from roadside camping to high alpine missions.
Mountain Hardwear
Lamina -9 $230 to $275 The Lamina’s synthetic insulation is designed for wet climates, where no matter what you do, the inside of your tent will be damp. It excels on backcountry missions into the alpine for weekend-long climbs. The standard mummy cut construction helps maintain loft and eliminates cold spots. The shaped draft collar blocks the escape of warm air, and the contoured foot box follows natural foot position for maximum comfort. It has a glow in the dark twoway zipper for easy ventilation.
MEC
Camper +10 $85 to $95 Mec has been making must-have sleeping bags for decades, and the Camper +10 is perfect this summer’s road trips and fireside sleeps. The synthetic bag is burly enough that a little dirt won’t hurt it. Unzip it and fold it out like a comforter. The shell is recycled polyester with a dwr finish, it’s lined in dwr-treated polyester, and is insulated with synthetic insulation that’s 50 per cent recycled fibres. Good for you climbers hitting the road.
The North Face
Eco Trail Bed 20 $170 The Eco Trail Bed is perfect for shoulder season camping or high-alpine sleeps. It’s made of 100 per cent recycled fabrics and is intended for night down to -7 C. It has a polyester head liner for a softer feel, a wraparound footbox zipper so the bag can lie flat, a top cinch for warmth and an internal phone/watch pocket. A great choice for van-lifers.
RAB
Outpost 500 $230 Rab is a leader in creating high-quality sleeping bags. The Outpost 500 has an L-shaped zip and rectangular construction, so it works as a down-filled duvet or can zip with a second sleeping bag. The duck down uses a hydrophobic treatment for improved moisture resistance that helps to keep it lofty. The cut provides a lot of space to move your feet and the zipped internal stash pocket is in a great location to access your phone. It comes with two stuff sacks – one for a compact carry and the other for lofted storage at home. Made for nights above freezing temps.
Patagonia
Lightweight Sleeping Bag $250 This sleeping bag only weighs 335 grams, which makes it lighter than some climbing hardware. The 40-gram insulation technology provides warmth when the sleeping bag is used on its own, but it is low-profile, which means this bag can also act as a liner on colder nights. It is hardware-free, which makes it the simplest bag on this list. Medium fits up to 182 cm and is trim at the upper limit, so for more room, order a large.
Big Agnes
Side Winder Camp -2 $220 The Side Winder is a mummy-style sleeping bag built for the side sleeper. The pattern offers a great night’s sleep. It has two layers of quilting that wrap and insulate your body, while the blanket-like hood has hand pockets in the corners, so you can tuck yourself in. The shell is lightweight nylon and the lining is soft polyester, both have a water-repellent finish. The cocoon design holds insulation close to the body, and the horizontal baffles create tunnels of warmth that prevent insulation from shifting. It has an anti-snag locking zipper that can operate ambidextrously.
Sea to Summit
Ascent -4 $450 to $470 Sea to Summit makes a lot of sleeping bags, but this one might be the best for climbers heading into the mountains for a few nights. It’s good to -4C, so it will keep you cozy in the alpine in midsummer and will make for a great camping layer in the shoulder season. It has a versatile three-zipper design, so you can open up the top for movement, customize your ventilation, or turn the whole sleeping bag into a quilt for the fireside. The vertical baffles fit nicely around the torso prevent cold spots.
Western Mountaineering
Summerlite 0C $555 This ultralight, compressible mummy bag is fully-baff led and comes in at 525 grams. The burly design will keep every bit of heat in so you stay cozy all night. The shell and lining are ultralight ripstop nylon and it uses goose down insulation. It has a full-length zipper with draft tube. Despite being such a husky summer bag, it compresses down to fit into an overnight bag no problem. A great choice for mountaineering season.—gripped