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The 6 best headlamps of 2021, for hiking, camping, or doing housework

Table of Contents: Masthead Sticky

  • Headlamps offer a hands-free way of hiking or camping at night, and can also be used around the house.
  • The best headlamps should offer long battery life, fit comfortably, and have variable light modes.
  • Our top pick, BioLite’s Headlamp 330, is lightweight and comfortable, and has a sweat-wicking headband.

A headlamp is one of the most important pieces of anyone’s outdoor kit. Unlike an ordinary flashlight, which requires you to physically hold it in your hand, headlamps conveniently affix to your head to illuminate whatever’s in front of you. That could be a hiking trail, a dark campsite, or even under the hood of a car – no matter its use case, that convenience can’t be understated.

But not all headlamps are created equal. Some are designed specifically for, say, trail running, built to be lightweight on a runner’s head, while others are more robust, intended to pump out hundreds of lumens for several hours. And there are plenty more that are just useful enough to get the job done, which are perfect for stashing in a camp tote or in your car’s glove box.

As an avid camper for much of my life, I’ve long respected the value of a proper headlamp – it’s literally a night and day difference navigating a backcountry campsite in the pitch black as opposed to wearing a headlamp. But the same headlamp I use while backpacking differs from what I use while car camping, or what I grab to go biking or running. Needless to say, I’ve worn plenty of headlamps – some good, some awful, and many in between.

Just as my needs vary regarding the types of headlamps I need for the kinds of activities I enjoy, so, too, does the design and innovation native to what’s on the market. To find the best, I decided to field test a variety of headlamps from brands like BioLite and Ledlensder. Below are my six favorites, perfect for everything from camping and cycling to working around the house.

I’ve also included some tips on how to shop for a headlamp and what to keep in mind, as well as the testing methodology I used to narrow down which models ultimately made the cut.

Here are the best headlamps:

How we test headlamps

Best Headlamps (amazon; BioLite) 4x3

Amazon; BioLite; Alyssa Powell/Insider

Each of the headlamps featured in this guide went through a number of tests to determine how well they compared across these four categories: Comfort, brightness, battery life, and value. Here’s how each category specifically factored into which headlamps made this guide:

Comfort: Since you’ll be wearing a headlamp on your head for what could be upwards of an hour or more at a time, it’s vital that the one you choose is comfortable. To test for this, we looked at the materials used in the headbands, how it felt to wear the headlamp for an extended period of time, and if it remained comfortable while doing normal tasks like setting up camp or even just walking around. 

Brightness: The best headlamps should have a number of variable brightness settings and some even allow for custom control over the size of the beam. What makes brightness settings so important is that you don’t always want a headlamp that’s on full blast the entire time you need to use it. Having the ability to toggle between a range of settings is an important feature.

Battery life: A headlamp is no good if its battery only lasts a couple of hours. Sure, you could buy one that takes batteries but you don’t want to be lugging around a bag of batteries everywhere you go with it (this is especially true for backpackers). 

Value: The exact value of a headlamp is dependent on how you intend to use it, but at the very least you should look for one that does well in the three categories above. And while there are decent budget options available (we’ve included one in our guide), buying the cheapest headlamp you find isn’t something we recommend doing. Often, it’s best to spend a little more on a product designed to last. 

The best headlamp overall

biolitelamp

Owen Burke/Business Insider

No headlamp I’ve tested has been near as comfortable as the BioLite HeadLamp 330. With a balanced, comfortable fit and a sweat-wicking headband, it’s our favorite headlamp for any outdoor activity. 

Pros: Durable, moisture-wicking headband, balanced with light and battery in front and back, respectively

Cons: Doesn’t take AAA or AA batteries as backup, the lithium-ion battery is not removable (you can’t get a spare battery to take with you and swap out, but a power pack would fix that), 330 lumens is bright, but could be brighter (still, it saves on battery)

Headlamps may seem like lightweight, unrestrictive tools (or toys) but having those extra few ounces bobbing up and down on your forehead for several hours at a time takes its tolls. Not only are some of the heavier and more powerful options a literal drag, but they’re also annoying, even if you don’t realize it. I didn’t.

With the BioLite HeadLamp 330, its 330 lumens of output is a good balance between what most of us need to be able to see in the dark and how long the battery life lasts, which is a respectable 40 hours on the low setting and around 3.5 hours on high. It also makes a good reading light and avoids reflecting off the pages of your book or magazine to blind you.

I took the HeadLamp 330 fishing at night, hiking to camp, hiking just to hike, and generally just stumbling about in the dark behind my father’s woodshop, which is, for all intents and purposes, a treacherous deathtrap of wood and metal scraps. Yes, dearest reader, I take my job, and your safety, extremely seriously. I’m glad to report that, throughout the testing process, there was not a single visit to the emergency room.

In all seriousness, the best thing about the HeadLamp 330 is how well balanced it is. With the light in front and the battery pack in the back, you don’t feel the strain of a light and a battery pack dragging your forehead down.

The most notable spec about this headlamp is that the light and battery are separate, which puts a lot less weight on your forehead, and the light itself. The whole kit, I might add, weighs only 69 grams, or less than 2.5 ounces.

One common problem we see a lot with headlamps is that the joint where the light meets the base loses its threads or just breaks altogether, especially when the batteries are in the same pivoting unit as the light. BioLite does away with any such worry.

Speaking of pivoting, the light pivots up and down between four positions, which is, in my opinion, just enough. There’s also a red light, which makes it a lot easier for your eyes to readjust after you flick it off.

The small on/off button (gray, left of center) can be a little hard to find at first, but you’ll learn to love it because you’ll find that you won’t accidentally activate the epileptic test strobe in your hiking partner’s face, and it’s actually positioned right where you want to be (at least, if you’re adjusting it with your right hand). — Owen Burke

The best budget headlamp

Vitchelo headlamp

Vitchelo

The Vitchelo V800 Headlamp is affordable and reliable, ready to illuminate objects both near and far even in adverse conditions.

Pros: Durable and weather-resistant, affordable price, white and red strobe functions

Cons: Easily turns on by accident, no floodlight setting

The Vitchelo V800 headlamp punches well above its weight. For a light that costs only around sixteen bucks, it has attributes you’d expect from a unit valued at double that price, or more. It has three brightness settings for its white light and a strobe feature, which can be valuable during an emergency when you want to be spotted by responders or when you’re assisting with emergency response and need to stay in touch with your team. The headlamp also has a solid and flashing red light.

Thanks to an IPX6 waterproof rating, this headlamp should be impervious to damage from rainfall or even a quick drop in a puddle or stream — just don’t wear it while you scuba dive. And at its low output setting, the white light can shine for up to 120 hours with fresh batteries, so you’ll have ample time to work, search, travel, or conduct other activities.

One reason I would not recommend this for a backpacker or camper is that the buttons are easily pressed by gear tumbling in your bag. A headlamp shining in a pack all day might mean dead batteries when you need it at night. That’s not much an issue when the unit is stashed in a nightstand or in your emergency prep kit, though — just make sure it’s not on when you close the drawer or the bag and you should be good.

The best high-power headlamp

Ledlenser H7R Signature headlamp

Rick Stella/Insider

The H7R Signature from Ledlenser delivers up to 1200 lumens, has seven light settings, including an SOS function, and can even be controlled with Bluetooth via a smartphone.

Pros: Seven different light settings, including an SOS distress signal that blinks in Morse code, offers up to 1200 lumens, rated IP67 against water and dust, has Bluetooth capability with a compatible smartphone for custom light settings

Cons: Expensive

Just about any Ledlenser headlamp could slot into one of the categories in this guide, but the H7R Signature gets the nod thanks to its incredible light output of up to 1200 lumens. Now, of course, you likely won’t need that much power all the time, but when you do, it’s incredibly handy to have it at your disposal. 

The H7R Signature impresses across the board, too, not just regarding its power. It comes with an easy-to-adjust head strap that stays comfortable, even after prolonged use (though, it may start to feel a little heavy due to a heavy-ish, rear-mounted battery). It’s clear Ledlenser took the time to properly balance it, as well, so even if that battery is a little heavy, it never feels awkward or like your head has to tilt too far to one side.

One of the best features of the H7R is its 7 different light modes, which include Power, Low Power, Boost, Blink, Position, SOS, and Strobe. The SOS function is particularly interesting, as it flashes a strobed distress signal that sends an SOS in Morse Code when activated. Many of the other light modes, like Position and Strobe, are also designed to alert people of your position.

The H7R features a rechargeable internal battery, so you won’t have to worry about lugging any batteries along with it, and it’s also rated IP67 against dust and water. Bluetooth capability also allows the headlamp to be controlled and customized via a compatible smartphone.

Perhaps its lone downside, however, is the fact it costs $175. Though this isn’t a dealbreaker, it is a lot to spend on a headlamp. The H7R is designed to last for several years (if not upwards of a decade), so the investment is a sound one, especially if you’ll be using it often.

The best rechargeable headlamp

BioLite_HeadLamp750_Front

BioLite

The Headlamp 750 from BioLite is as good as rechargeable headlamps get, offering up to 750 lumens of output, a fit that stays comfortable for hours, and a Run Forever mode that lets it operate as you charge it on-the-go.

Pros: Comfortable headband, 8 different light modes that can all be individually dimmed, Run Forever mode lets you charge it while it operates, low profile design

Cons: Expensive

The BioLite name is synonymous with quality portable lighting and its new Headlamp 750 continues that tradition in an impressive way. Much like our best overall pick, the Headlamp 330, the 750 takes traditional headlamp tech and adds more to it than you ever thought you needed. 

Want to charge it while you’re using it on-the-go? The 750 can do it. How about 8 different light modes, each with the ability to dim? It has that, too. The 750’s strength is in its versatility, and it’s the kind of headlamp that you’d want to bring with you on weekend camping trips, multi-day backpacking treks, the occasional nighttime hike, or literally anything — it works as well for getting under the sink or working on your car, too. 

As mentioned, the 750 offers up to 8 different light modes to choose from: Red flood, white spot, white flood, spot and flood, white strobe, 30-second burst, rear red flood, and rear red strobe. Not only will you be able to have complete control over what the headlamp illuminates and how it illuminates it, but you’ll also be visible to whoever’s around you. 

Then there’s its Run Forever feature that allows you to plug in a portable power bank to keep the headlamp charged even while it’s running. Though the idea of lugging around a power bank only to have it hanging off the back of your head doesn’t sound comfortable, sticking it into a backpack or opting for a lightweight battery pack is recommended. 

It’s also extremely comfortable. BioLite’s 3D SlimFit construction means the headlamp’s components are built into the band itself, reducing what can unnecessarily snag (and making it incredibly low profile in the process). The power unit built into the back of the headlamp also distributes its weight evenly to avoid it bobbing up and down on your head — something many headlamps have a hard time actually doing but the 750 seemed to do it well during our tests.

At $100, it’s certainly not a cheap headlamp but if it holds up as well as it did during our time with it, you likely won’t be spending much more on a headlamp for quite some time. It’s highly durable, comfortable wear, and packed with useful features for just about any use case. 

The best headlamp for cycling

Hleane Rechargeable LED Zoomable Headlamp

Amazon

Wearing the Hleane LED Zoomable Headlamp is like strapping a headlight to your head with its maximum brightness setting of 1800 lumens.

Pros: Amazingly bright light, great price point, long operating life

Cons: Only two output settings and it’s rather heavy

The top setting of the GRDE Zoomable headlamp is so bright you won’t even use it in many situations. But when you’re on a bike at night and contending for space with cars and trucks, or while you’re pedaling your way down a mountain trail, you’ll love the awesome output power of this lamp. The 1800-lumen beam fully illuminates the trail or road far ahead of you, and it’ll be almost impossible for an oncoming motorist to miss seeing you.

This headlamp is heavier than I’d recommend for use by a climber or distance trekker but for the cyclist or for use on a shorter hike where gear weight isn’t much of an issue, it’s a great choice.

Its beam can be focused and adjusted to best suit the conditions ahead of you, though the limited brightness settings — which are high or low — are a drawback. This is not the light to strap on as you hide out in a hunting blind hoping to stay unnoticed by attentive wildlife, for example.

The GRDE headlamp can be operated using regular batteries but is also plug-in rechargeable, and can be juiced back up using a wall’s AC outlet, a car plug adapter, or a USB cable. It is rated to last for up to 100,000 hours of operating life.

The best headlamp for home projects

COAST_FL75

Coast

The Coast FL75 Focusing headlamp can throw 405 lumens of brightness but best of all, you can use its focusing ring to narrow or widen the beam. 

Pros: Bright and crisp light quality, easy to change the shape of the beam, clips for securing band to hat or helmet, extremely long beam throw

Cons: Limited brightness settings, short battery life, no strobe option

I own and often use a Coast FL75 and it’s my first choice for any project around the house I work on after dark — like cleaning the grill in the evening, checking on my scarecrow sprinkle set up, or adding some extra air to the tires of my bike.

Like all Coast lights, this headlamp creates a remarkably clear, crisp white light that makes it easy to see what you’re doing. It’s a great choice for illuminating anything that’s close at hand, though most people will likely be more interested in its long-distance throw capacity.

If you need to see objects or terrain more than 400 feet in front of you in a total darkness scenario, the Coast FL75 headlamp is a good choice. In fact, its beam is rated to stretch out 459 feet at its top 405-lumen output. Even the lowest setting of this light is still bright, rated at 53 lumens.

Here’s the thing: That’s a drawback, not an asset. This light’s low setting is far too bright for many uses, such as viewing a map or reading at night when you want to preserve your night vision and avoid disturbing others (or attracting attention to yourself). The Coast FL75 only has three output settings and they could reasonably be called Pretty Bright, Really Bright, and Whoa OK That’s Super Bright.

If you only plan to use a headlamp as you work, during power outages, or as you survey the scene of an accident as a first responder, then you probably don’t have the need for a dim setting but you do have the need for bright, crisp light. This one certainly offers that.

And, if you want something a little beefier, consider the FL85, with 615 Lumens and a 183-meter beam.

How to shop for a headlamp

First and foremost, a headlamp has to be bright enough for the task at hand. But the type of beam a light creates is every bit as important as its sheer lumen output. While the tendency is often to check the lumen rating of a headlamp and treat that like the most important metric for judging a headlamp, the type of beam is a better deciding factor than the intensity of the light alone. For example:

  • A cyclist needs a powerful lamp that throws a beam dozens of yards ahead, letting him or her see plenty of the roadway or trail.
  • Mechanic benefit from a wider beam pattern that illuminates a broad swath of the area close at hand.
  • If you’re camping, consider a headlamp with variable light settings, a red light option, and one that offers long battery life (especially for backpackers). 

You also have to consider features such as strobe effects, a red light option, battery life, and weight. The way those and other secondary attributes assist you in your hobbies or work should help you choose the headlamp best fit for you from our guide. 

Read the original article on Business Insider

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The 8 best sleeping bags to keep you warm while camping or backpacking

Table of Contents: Masthead Sticky

  • A sleeping bag is a vital part of anyone’s camp kit, no matter if they’re backpacking or car camping.
  • The best should be comfortable, provide enough warmth when needed, and have either down or synthetic insulation.
  • Our top pick, REI’s Co-op Magma 30ºF, has a great weight-to-warmth ratio and packs down small for easy transport.

Whether you’re camping with your car or trekking across the Himalayas, your sleeping bag might be the most important piece of gear in your kit. A proper sleeping bag keeps you comfortable throughout the night, ensuring you get a good night’s sleep. Conversely, the wrong sleeping bag leaves you feeling tired and miserable, which makes for a long next day on the trail.

Because of their importance to not only your well-being but to the success of any camping trip, picking out the right sleeping bag is vital. Since many of the best options aren’t exactly cheap, it’s important to not go through much trial-and-error.

Having crawled into a sleeping bag in just about every setting imaginable – in the backcountry, at a campsite, on an overlanding trip, and even in my backyard – I’ve developed, through much trial-and-error, a keen sense of what makes a quality sleeping bag. And with as much variety as there is, narrowing down a selection deemed “the best” isn’t always an easy task – but nevertheless, I’ve rounded up 8 of my absolute favorites below.

The following sleeping bags are great for a range of use cases, too, whether you prefer shoulder season camping, braving the frigid conditions of winter, or just want some casual to relax in while roughing it. At the bottom of this guide, I’ve also included some tips on how to shop for a sleeping bag and what to keep in mind, as well as some insight into the testing methodology I used in deciding which bags to feature.

Here are the best sleeping bags:

The best overall

Big Agnes sleeping bag

REI

The REI Co-op Magma 30 offers an excellent weight-to-warmth ratio, good all-around comfort, and packs down small, giving it outstanding value for the price. 

Pros: Warm, comfortable, and provides high value for the price

Cons: Small stuff sack, 30ºF temperature rating might be generous

Very few sleeping bags offer as versatile a combination of features as the REI Co-op Magma 30º. Warmth, comfort, packability, value; it manages to do it all and at a reasonable price, to boot.

Made with 850-fill hydrophobic goose-down insulation surrounded by a water-resistant Pertex shell, the Magma 30º is a sleeping bag built for use on the trail. It manages to perfectly balance performance and weight, while also providing plenty of interior space. There’s even a customizable hood for added comfort and heat retention.

The bag does feature unique bio-mapped baffles which often provide more insulation in the torso area and less in the legs and feet. This could very well lead to some cold toes on frostier nights. 

One of the Magma 30’s best features is an easy-pull zipper that runs the length of one side. This provides campers the option to unzip the bag for improved venting in warmer weather, allowing them to stay more comfortable in a variety of environments.

When the mercury takes a plunge, the bag fully zips in order to keep things warmer. This holds true despite the fact REI gave the Magma 30 a generous amount of interior space — which is nice for all-around comfort but sometimes leads to cold air sneaking in.

There were a few times when this bag didn’t quite live up to its 30ºF temperature rating but to be fair to REI, it does say it’s best used at 39ºF and above. It can be used in colder temps in a pinch, though — and we’d recommend layering up if you need to.  

The REI Co-op Magma 30 is a great all-around sleeping bag with plenty of features and good performance. It’s lightweight, comfortable, and doesn’t take up much room in a backpack, all of which are features that should make it a popular option for backpackers and car campers alike. 

The best budget

Kelty sleeping bag

Amazon

The Kelty Cosmic 20 isn’t only affordable, it also offers solid all-around performance, making it the best option for backpackers and campers on a tight budget.

Pros:  Very affordable for a 20ºF down bag

Cons: Not as durable or well constructed as more expensive options

Make no mistake, you can buy sleeping bags that cost less than the Kelty Cosmic 20. However, they won’t offer anywhere near the same level of performance. Finding a down sleeping bag for under $200 has always been somewhat of a challenge but Kelty managed to accomplish this feat, bringing a great entry-level option for those who don’t have a large sleeping bag budget.

To hit the Cosmic 20’s $170 price point, there were a few compromises that had to be made. Kelty used 600-fill down in the bag to keep costs down, although that insulation is still highly water-resistant. The bag’s outer shell is made from a soft 20D nylon material and while this is adequate, it doesn’t exactly scream high-quality.

The Cosmic 20 is also fairly heavy at 2 pounds, 13 ounces and doesn’t offer the same level of compressibility you’d find in more expensive bags. 

With that said, this sleeping bag still manages to provide plenty of comfort and functionality for campers on a budget. It performs reasonably well in cooler conditions and even delivers on its 20ºF temperature rating. It also features PFC-down and fabrics, which are better for the environment and your health, proving that even budget outdoor gear can be eco-conscious. 

Having spent a few nights in the Cosmic 20, I can tell you it’s a perfectly good sleeping bag that comes at an outstanding price. There are other bags that offer better performance and build quality, but those run nearly twice the price. If you don’t have a lot of cash to spend on your outdoor gear, you’ll be extremely pleased with what Kelty delivered. 

The best for backpacking

Therm a rest sleeping bag

Amazon

The Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 32 weighs less than a pound, yet still delivers excellent performance for those who like to go light and fast in the backcountry. 

Pros: Extremely lightweight, packs down incredibly small, includes sleeping pad attachments

Cons: Not particularly warm, narrow design, expensive

Backpackers who count every ounce need the Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 32. This bag weighs a mere 15 ounces, making it one of the lightest sleeping bags on the market. That alone should make it a favorite for ultralight hikers, although the Hyperion 32 dazzles with its compressed size and all-around comfort, too. It even comes with a built-in sleeping pad harness that helps keep your pad and bag from separating while you sleep. 

In order to get the weight of the Hyperion 32 down so remarkably small, Therm-a-Rest went extra light on insulation. The company used 900-fill hydrophobic down but only in limited quantities. As a result, the bag isn’t quite as warm as some of the others on this list. It also has a narrow, somewhat confining cut, which won’t endear it to side-sleepers or those who aren’t fans of mummy bags.

Thanks to its focus on being extremely lightweight rather than warm, the Hyperion 32 is best used in warmer weather conditions. From my own experience, using it from late spring through early fall is a fantastic option for backpackers looking to shave ounces off their pack. At other times of the year, it won’t be warm enough to meet the conditions — though most ultralight sleeping bags have this exact common criticism. 

Of course, ultralight gear does come at a price and the Hyperion 32 is no different. The bag sells for $340, which is on the spendy side for something with this temperature rating. When you factor in its weight-to-warmth ratio, the value of the Hyperion comes into focus. It’s a sleeping bag that appeals to a specific crowd but those who buy it will undoubtedly appreciate what it brings to the table. 

The best for kids

Big Agnes duster sleeping bag

Amazon

Kids will love the Big Agnes Duster 15º sleeping bag because it’s warm and cozy but it’s the parents who will be most impressed with its clever design that allows it to grow as their child does.

Pros: Made specifically for kids, unique design allows bag to grow with the child, affordable

Cons: Not as warm as it should be, relatively heavy, doesn’t pack as small as some bags

One of the biggest drawbacks of buying outdoor gear for kids is that they outgrow it after only a few uses. The same holds true for most sleeping bags, although the Duster 15 from Big Agnes looks to change that.

The designers at Big Agnes set out to create a sleeping bag that could somehow grow along with the kids using them. It came up with a system of hooks and loops that give parents the ability to shorten the length of the bag when their kids are smaller, while gradually increasing the length as they grow. As a result, the Duster 15 is made to accommodate campers who fall between 4’5″ and 5’6″ in height, providing a level of versatility not found anywhere else.

Just because this bag is aimed at kids doesn’t mean it doesn’t the same features you’d find on an adult bag. For instance, Big Agnes included a no-draft collar, zipper, and wedge, which help to keep cold air out. It also comes with built-in liner loops and the ability to attach it to a sleeping pad. A contoured hood offers a comfortable fit to go along with added warmth, while the bag is built to keep insulation close to the body, even when adjusting to a growing child. 

Unfortunately, the synthetic insulation may not be efficient enough to actually live up to the Duster’s 15ºF rating. Considering how easy it is for kids to get cold, it’s likely they’ll start to feel uncomfortable even at warmer temperatures. 

Compared to other sleeping bags for kids, the Duster is a bit heavier and doesn’t pack down quite as small. This is due largely to its ability to resize, however. Considering that feature keeps you from buying a new bag every year, it seems like a decent trade-off. The $109.95 price tag is also quite affordable, particularly since the Duster should be useful for many years. 

The best shoulder-season

GetDown1

Sierra Designs

The Get Down 35 from Sierra Designs is a comfortable and lightweight sleeping bag that works well for shoulder season camping when temperatures aren’t quite warm but not entirely frigid.

Pros: Made of 20D polyester ripstop for durability, features 550 fill power down, warm in temperatures down to roughly 26 degrees Fahrenheit, has a cinchable hood for added warmth, packs down easily, lightweight

Cons: Might be too warm for summer camping

Shoulder season camping is one of the most desirable times to rough it for a number of reasons; there are likely smaller crowds at popular camping sites and the weather should be a comfortable mix of not too hot and not too cold. However, considering just how unpredictable weather truly is, a shoulder-season camping trip could start out sunny and 65 but end with pouring rain and temps hovering around 40 degrees.

This makes packing for a shoulder season camp trip difficult — do you bring your summer bag and chance it, or pack a thicker, winter-specific one and potentially sleep warm? The happy medium, I’ve found, is a bag like the Get Down 35 from Sierra Designs. It stays warm enough on cool spring nights and can cinch up tight to create a cozy interior when temps drop. 

The Get Down 35 features 55 fill power down, is made with durable 20D polyester ripstop nylon, and has a soft polyester taffeta interior liner. It weighs roughly 1 lb. 13 oz. making it lightweight enough for backpacking trips and easy to throw into a car when camping at a campsite. 

What I liked most about this bag is its versatility (i.e. performance during random shoulder season weather). With a comfort rating of 35 degrees Fahrenheit and an ISO limit rating down to 26 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s able to handle fluctuating spring weather with ease. Even if it got a little warm, I’d just unzip the bag a bit to let in some air and never felt too hot. 

It also has a reasonable price tag. Often retailing for around $160 for the regular length version (the long length is $180), it’s not that far off from the budget pick in this guide which sells for $150. That means you’re getting a quality bag without the typical premium price tag. — Rick Stella, fitness and health editor

The best for comfort

Zenbivy sleeping bag

Zenbivy

Great for side and stomach sleepers, the Zenbivy Bed offers unmatched comfort and versatility by mimicking the bed you have at home. 

Pros: Very comfortable, great for side-sleepers, sleeping pad integration, versatile

Cons: A little complicated at first, doesn’t pack down as small as other options

The result of a successful Kickstarter campaign, the Zenbivy Bed brings comfort and versatility to the backcountry by mimicking the bed you have at home. It does this by using a unique design that incorporates both a top quilt and a sheet designed to fit over a sleeping pad. This creates a sleep system that allows campers to freely move about in their sleep and to settle into more natural positions — it’s unlike anything else on the market. 

When using the Zenbivy Bed, campers attach the included sheet to their sleeping pad and then independently connect the blanket to the sheet. This allows each piece to act separately from one another, while still working together to provide comfort and warmth. The end result is a sleeping bag that offers more freedom of movement, while still retaining solid overall performance. 

Having used the Zenbivy Bed on multiple occasions, its biggest drawback is that it takes a bit of practice to get everything to work together. Once you’ve done it a time or two, it gets easier but the first time you set it up just might leave you scratching your head about how everything works. Once you bring it altogether, you end up with a sleeping bag that’s quiet, comfortable, and cozy. And since you’ll feel less constricted and confined, you might just wake up more rested the next day. 

Zenbivy’s innovative design lends itself well to increased versatility, too. Just like the blanket on your bed back home, the Zenbivy bed’s blanket can be turned down or bundled up as needed, allowing it to stay warmer in colder temperatures or vent excess heat when temperatures rise.

It even opens at various points to improve airflow in general, allowing it to be used in a surprisingly wide range of climates. 

The best women-cut

Sea to Summit bag

REI

Built specifically with female campers in mind, the Sea to Summit Flame Ultralight 15º sleeping bag is contoured to work efficiently with a woman’s body, while providing extra warmth and comfort where it’s needed most.

Pros: Female-specific design, cozy, good weight-to-warmth ratio

Cons: Expensive, short zippers

It used to be extremely difficult for women to find a sleeping bag that met their specific needs. Thankfully, those days are long gone and it’s now possible to find a number of options built from the ground up with female campers and backpackers in mind. The Sea to Summit Flame Ultralight 15 is a good example of this, as it takes into account a woman’s shape, as well as their need for more warmth, to deliver a comfortable night’s sleep.

The bag uses high-quality 850+ fill-power hydrophobic goose down as its insulator, which not only makes it warm but soft and lofty, as well. But it takes more than just good insulation to make a sleeping bag comfortable in cold conditions. In order to achieve that, Sea to Summit did extensive research to learn exactly where the down should go, using body-mapping techniques to improve performance. 

The Flame Ultralight’s design was influenced by body mapping in other ways, too. For instance, the bag is narrower in the shoulders compared to most men’s sleeping bags. It’s also shorter overall and offers more room between the hips and knees in order to facilitate side-sleepers. These simple yet well-thought-out changes help keep cold air from reaching the interior while also providing a generous amount of space.

If there’s a knock against the Sea to Summit Flame 15, it’s definitely the price. At $529, it’s quite a hefty investment, even though it’s a sleeping bag that should continue to perform at a high level. If you can get past the price tag, you’ll be buying one of the best women’s sleeping bags ever made. 

The best for winter camping

Nemo sonic sleeping bag

Amazon

Extremely warm and comfortable, yet still lightweight with a relatively small pack size, make the Nemo Sonic 0 a great option for cold-weather outings. 

Pros: Warm and spacious, has innovative features such as “Thermo Gills” to help improve temperature control and venting, good for side-sleepers

Cons: A little bulkier than most other bags and it’s expensive at $500

If you’re camping in a cold environment or during winter, you’ll need a sleeping bag designed to keep you extra warm. That’s exactly what you get with Nemo’s Sonic 0, a sleeping bag that offers a blend of traditional sleeping bag features with unique design elements that provide a high level of versatility. 

The Sonic is insulated with 800 fill-power, hydrophobic down that provides plenty of warmth in temperatures dropping as low as 0ºF. The bag also comes with integrated draft tubes and a newly-redesigned draft collar, both of which help to keep cold air out and warm air in.

The designers at Nemo took things even further by using both waterproof and breathable fabrics, along with a thin layer of synthetic insulation. This provides extra comfort and protection from the elements, and the result is a sleeping bag that doesn’t have any weaknesses in its armor when it comes to protecting campers and backpackers from the cold. 

Other unique design elements include the brand’s Thermo Gills and the Toaster foot box. Both were created in order to maintain a high level of comfort. The Thermo Gills are the most impressive as they help vent excess heat so efficiently that it actually raises the Sonic’s temperature rating up by as much as 20ºF. The Toaster foot box was incorporated in order to improve warmth and breathability around the feet — a common cold spot in most other bags.

Priced at $500, most campers may find the Nemo Sonic 0 to be on the high end of their budget or out of their price range altogether. But that price is fairly competitive for a cold-weather sleeping bag that offers this level of performance and innovation. If you like to backpack during the winter, this is the bag you’ll want.

How to shop for a sleeping bag

When it comes to selecting a sleeping bag, there are a number of factors to consider, including weight, size, and temperature rating. Most sleeping bags come in different sizes to accommodate different people. Generally speaking, those sizes are small, medium, and large, and most manufacturers charge different prices based on size.

For instance, if you’re taller, there’s a good chance you’d pay more for a tall-specific bag. Larger sleeping bags also tend to weigh a bit more, although in most cases the differences are negligible. 

Temperature ratings and insulation

A sleeping bag’s temperature rating is arguably more important than either size or weight when it comes to comfort. The rating is an indicator of the absolute lowest temperature the bag should be used in. In other words, if a sleeping bag has a rating of 35ºF/1.6ºC, it’s generally safe and comfortable to use in weather conditions that drop to those temperatures. Anything below that and you run the risk of being too cold and uncomfortable. 

Temperature ratings also have an impact on a sleeping bag’s weight and size. The lower the temperature rating, the more insulation it needs to maintain comfort levels. As insulation is added, the bag gets heavier and thicker, adding bulk to a hiker’s backpack at the same time. That’s the trade-off that comes with having a warmer bag for use in more extreme conditions.  

Insulation types

Down

Another consideration when searching for a sleeping bag is whether or not you want down feathers or synthetic insulation. Down is widely considered to be the warmest and lightest form of insulation, providing plenty of warmth while staying fairly light. It also compresses down to a relatively small size, meaning it won’t take up much space in your pack.

The downside, however, is that when down gets wet, it tends to lose its loft and much of its performance. The introduction of hydrophobic (aka water-resistant) down has changed this a bit but there are still plenty of traditional down options on the market. 

Synthetic insulation

The other popular sleeping bag insulator is synthetic insulation. Bags with synthetic insulation don’t perform as well in cold conditions but also don’t lose any performance when they get wet. These types of insulations are also less expensive, though they do tend to be heavier and less compressible.

How we test sleeping bags

Each sleeping bag featured in this guide went through a series of tests to judge how well they compared based on these four categories: Comfort, warmth, portability, and value. Here’s how each of those categories factored into which sleeping bags ultimately made the guide:

Comfort: You wouldn’t want to sleep on an uncomfortable mattress at home, so why settle for anything less in your sleeping bag? No matter if you need an ultra-warm four-season bag or something lighter for the warmer months, the sleeping bag you choose should be a comfortable place to catch some Zs at the end of a long day. This category was particularly easy to figure out, too. Is it comfortable or not? 

Warmth: Warmth isn’t exactly something that every bag is able to compete in as some are made specifically for shoulder seasons or the heat of summer. What we were able to judge in this category is if the bag lives up to its specific rating. If it says it’s able to keep you warm down to 25 degrees, then it should certainly not start feeling cold at 30 degrees.

Portability: Even if you’re just car camping, it’s still ideal to have your sleeping bag excel in terms of portability. Thankfully, most (if not all) modern sleeping bags come with their own pack bag that makes for easy storage and hauling. For backpackers, the choice sleeping bag is one that not only comes in its own bag but can pack down extremely small so as to nestle nicely into the bottom of their bag. 

Value: Quality sleeping bags aren’t cheap though most are certainly worth the investment for what they can offer, namely comfort and protection in the backcountry. It’s better to spend a little more on a product designed to perform than to either spend less on an inferior product that negatively affects your cam trip or doesn’t hold up in terms of durability.

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