8 Best Ultralight Sleeping Bags - Greenbelly Meals We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. This may make things a little too toasty in warm summer conditions.
The 5 Best Ultralight Sleeping Bags of 2023 | Tested by GearLab Mummy bags are narrow at the feet, widen at the hips and shoulders, and usually have a hood that extends over the head and cinches tight around the face to seal out cold. You can buy a separate inflation sack to help, and some pads even come with one. Finally, if you dont think youll use it, you might want to opt for a model with no rear closure (also called a top quilt).Sleeping Pad Attachments The Outdoor Vitals StormLoft Down TopQuilt 15F is a good value for someone's first foray into quilts, given its stated limit temperature rating, and the 800+ fill power down it comes with. To put it in perspective, our top-ranked Hummingbird contains almost twice the amount of down as the Spark, which is a welcome addition on cold summer nights (40F is the Sea to Summits Lower Limit). On the upside, the 40-degree Micron is packed with features, including hydrophobic down, an internal pocket, and a full-length zipper that extends through the footbox. Montbells Seamless Down Hugger is truly a work of art. This thing is awesome!" - PCTOregon.com THE BEST ULTRALIGHT SLEEP SYSTEM FOR A THRU-HIKE See the Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 20. 3 oz.Fill: 12.5 oz. We assembled an all-star crew to put these ultralight sleeping bags to the test, including Andy Wellman, Ethan Newman, Justin Simoni, and Jack Cramer. Our old Mountain Hardwear Mtn Speed 32, for example, had a #3 YKK zipper that rarely shut without issue, eventually resulting in a large rip in the shell fabric beside it, leaking down, and broken teeth (thankfully, Mountain Hardwear repaired the sleeping bag under warranty and replaced the zipper with a thicker #5 YKK). The Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20 provides top-notch performance with the fairest price tag. For 3-season use, the Hummingbird UL is our favorite ultralight sleeping bag on the market. A hoodless sleeping bag isnt for everyone, but for diehard ULers who want to save weight without compromising warmth, its a really cool solution. Sleeping pad insulation power is rated on a scale called R-value. Most tested quilts aren't designed to enclose the user fully but instead attach to an insulated sleeping pad to form a warm envelope. True to form, the 20-Degree Quilt holds nothing back, with top-of-the-line 1,000-fill-power grey goose down and a thin 7-denier micro-ripstop nylon shell with DWR finish. But theres no denying Katabatics premium build quality, andsimilar to the Enigmayou can further customize the Palisade in terms of sizing and down fill (including hydrophobic varieties). Zpacks is one of the biggest names in ultralight gear, widely known for their Dyneema tents and backpacks. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Its tough to categorize the Flicker UL, but at the end of the day, its both quilt and sleeping bag, which is quite an impressive feat. of 850-fill downWhat we like: Extremely lightweight for warm temperatures and low elevations.What we dont: Pricey and low on down fillthis truly is a summer quilt. These are lightweight, but often have a lower R-value than inflatable pads and dont provide as much protection from the ground. Temperature rating: 30F (also available in 20 and 40 models)Weight: 1 lb. With this in mind, we tested these bags by sleeping in them a lot. Most sleeping pads are given an R-value, which is a measurement of how well the pad can insulate you from the ground. But no gear is ultralight without some amount of compromise, and we think the Tanager pulls it off better than most. If youve been known to saw off the end of your toothbrush or use trekking poles to pitch your tent, this bag has your name on itRead in-depth reviewSee the Feathered Friends Tanager 20. In the ultralight realm, the Down Hugger lineup from Montbell is a great choice, featuring spiral baffles that allow for stretch in the fabric. With premium 900-fill hydrophobic down, its light and packable for its weight, but the comfort-first design is whats truly impressive. We weighed these bags on an independent scale to determine the weight and then assigned the scores comparatively. If you commonly travel as a couple, it can be worth considering a two-person quilt. Be sure to pay attention to both numbersa higher fill power doesnt always indicate a warmer product, and fill weight is the lesser-advertised but perhaps more important spec of the two. And then theres the challenge of sharing the load of a double sleeping bag, which cannot be split between two packs. Got feedback? Backpacking quilts are the bread and butter of Minnesota-based Enlightened Equipment (EE), so its no surprise to see their Enigma at the top of our list for 2023. The UberLite packs down to around half the size of what was previously the best ultralight pad on the market, while knocking about three ounces off its weight. Although this is quite a bit heavier than all of our ultralight options above, for a hardwearing, cold-weather sleeping bag, staying under 3 pounds is impressive. On the other hand, partial-length zippers or zipper-less designs mean your ventilation options are severely limited. GearLab is reader-supported. None of the other top models of sleeping bags/quilts we tested had outstanding comfort scores. MS: I sleep much better on inflatable pads. of 800-fill downWhat we like: A high-quality down quilt at a very low price.What we dont: A bit heavier than most other 30-degree quilts here. 5.2 oz. My shelter system consists of an ultralight bivvy, a tarp, and stakes. Hybrids For a sleeping bag to qualify for the test, however, it must have a hood. No matter how fast and light you go, eventually, you'll have to stop and rest. Lastly, we looked at how packable a sleeping bag was. Fill: 15.5 oz. Comfort is better than ever with advanced baffling and cell designs, weight and packed size continue to drop, and you For thru-hikers, bikepackers, or anyone looking to travel light and fast, an ultralight sleeping bag or quilt is a no-brainer purchase that can shave noticeable weight and bulk from an overnight kit. If it dips into the 30s, you will not be toasty. To achieve this impressive weight, it eschews baffles for a sewn-through design to keep the insulation in place. The unique designs of the Sierra Designs Cloud 800 do take a fair bit more material and stitching when compared to other bags we've tested. But if youre looking for the best quilt money can buy, the Hyperlite is it. The Hyperion achieves this warmth for weight with down thats concentrated where it counts: 70% on the top and sides and 30% on the back. The most common features found on these bags are zippers, draft collars, cinch cords around the neck, face, hood, or feet, and in the case of quilts, pad attachment systems. These hybrid options are super versatile ultralight sleep systems that cross over from cold to warm better than most, but keep in mind that the full-length zipper does add some weight. In practice, it does an excellent job keeping out drafts, whether youre on your back, your side, or moving between the two. Most often, a simple drawcord replaces the draft collar at the neck opening, cinching tight to trap warm air below. We loved the adjustability of the pad attachment straps on this pleasant evening. Back then, the main complaints about the NeoAir was the low air-flow valve that resulted in upwards of 30 breaths to inflate the pad, and the potato-chip -bag crackling noise that erupted from the insulation whenever you rolled over. We recommend unpacking your bag well before crawling into it so that it has time to regain its loft (and therefore maximize its warmth). Along with a full zipperless design, the Cloud 35 has an interesting footbox vent, and an oversized quilt useful for either keeping loose on warm nights or tight on colder ones. of 950-fill downWhat we like: Extremely well-built and warmer than the temperature rating suggests. However, you dont get the option of opening your quilt up into a blanket. How can we improve GearLab? Temperature rating: 30FWeight: 1 lb. While we love quilts for their versatility and spaciousness in warmer weather, our testing revealed that in cold weather, they don't seem to seal off as well and didn't keep us as warm as mummy-style bags. Both duck and goose down are measured in terms of their fill power, which describes (in cubic inches) how much space is filled by one ounce of down. Increased popularity in ultralight backpacking and bikepacking has led to a great deal of innovation in lightweight gear. Sure, the Spark cant compare with most of the picks here in terms of warmthwe only recommend it for balmy summer nightsbut these specs undeniably are impressive, even for a 40-degree bag. Typically, ripstop nylon is used for both the outer shell and inner lining, and the thickness of this nylon is specified in denier or "D" (the thickness of each thread used to create the material). 10.4 oz., compared to the Accomplices 2-lb. 2.7 oz.Fill: 13.7 oz. First, cinch the straps to the pad for a secure attachment. And like many cottage brands, Hammock Gear offers an array of customizations, allowing you to choose temperature rating, length, width, footbox design (zippered or sewn), colors, and even extra down fill.
The Best Camping Hammocks of 2023 Fill: 11.5 oz. The 5 Best Ultralight Sleeping Bags of 2023 | Tested by GearLab Hiking & Camping Reviews Ultralight Gear Reviews Overview Compare Buying Advice How We Tested The 5 Best Ultralight Sleeping Bags of 2023 However, for seasoned ultralight enthusiasts, you get what you pay for with the Marmot Micron. In terms of warmth, you get a generous 10.5 ounces of 850-fill down (2 oz. I have used some iteration of this sleeping pad since my Appalachian Trail thru-hike in 2015, and its been a go-to in my sleep system arsenal since. of 850-fill downWhat we like: High-quality materials and a great price. These numbers, however, rely on the honesty of the manufacturer, and marketing departments usually aren't known for their honesty. Comparing and testing mummy bags in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming, we found that the Vireo had by far the most spacious fit through the torso, and was also really light! Pair this with the right sleeping bag and liner and youll be comfortable even on moderate winter nights. Written by. How does the Tanager accomplish this? Beware the power of the "sleep aids" legal in Colorado. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. One of the nice things about quilts is how easily they function as blankets to keep one warm while hanging out around camp. There's nothing worse than loathing getting into a subpar sleeping bag or quilt, which is why comfort is important enough to make it 20% of the overall score. We get moving fast and light with ultralight sleeping bags from Feathered Friends, ZPacks, Western Mountaineering, and more to find the best option for you.