When taking a sleeping bag deep into the backcountry or high into the alpine, you have to balance comfort with portability—you do have to drag them up there, after all. This is not the case with a car camping sleeping bag.
As far as we’re concerned, car camping is all about comfort—save the rehydrated meals and paper-thin foam sleeping pads for the backcountry. And if there’s any part of your kit where you shouldn’t cut corners, it’s your bedding. The scenery always looks that much nicer after a good night’s sleep.
The good news about shopping for sleeping bags in 2025 is that there’s something for every type of camper, but the downside of that abundance is that it can be hard to parse all the models and features to find what you really want. Our testers, a mix of men, women, and children with different sleeping preferences (hot/cold; side, stomach, back sleepers, etc.) put 24 sleeping bags and blankets to the test on cold, windy shoulder-season trips and balmy summer nights. These sleeping bags and quilts came out on top.
Updated April 2025: We added five new sleeping bags to this list, including our new “Best Overall” pick, the Rumple Wrap Sack. We also updated pricing and info on the sleeping bags we previously included and still highly recommend.
At a Glance
- Best Overall: Rumpl Wrap Sack ($199)
- Best Value: The North Face Wawona 20 Sleeping Bag ($130)
- Roomiest: Big Agnes Echo Park ($200)
- Most Versatile: Kelty Supernova 20 ($200)
- Best for Families: Nemo Jazz Double ($350)
- Best Blanket: Mountain Hardwear Stretch Down Quilt ($300)
- Best Wearable Bag: Mountain Hardwear Yawn Patrol 30 F ($275)
- Other Sleeping Bags We Tested
- How to Choose a Sleeping Bag for Camping
- How We Test
- Meet Our Lead Testers
Don’t miss: The Best Tents for Camping in Comfort and Style
Best Overall
Rumpl Wrap Sack Sleeping Bag 20
Weight: 5 lbs
Sizes: Standard
Dimensions: 82” x 35”
Comfort rating: 20-30F
Pros and Cons
⊕ Wide temperature range
⊕ Roomy
⊕ Smart design
⊗ Too cold below 30F
⊗ Clips could be uncomfortable to roll on
This unique sleeping bag is the most comfortable and innovative bag we’ve tested in a while.
The best way to describe the Wrap Sack is a hybrid between a sleeping bag and an adult swaddle. Two wings on either side of the bag offer two different amounts of Rumpl’s proprietary recycled synthetic insulation. Depending on how mild or chilly it is at night, you can wrap one or both of these sides around yourself and secure them via four easy-to-close clips; when it’s cold out, zip the outer layer of the Wrap Sack like a traditional sleeping bag.
This layering design made the Wrap Sack versatile enough to accommodate big temperature swings at night. It proved ideal for summer nights that start out in the 80s and drop down into the 40s, which is common in the parts of far Northern California where we tested. That said, one tester cautioned that the Wrap Sack does not have enough insulation to live up to its stated 20-degree comfort rating. Even with the bag fully cinched, he woke up cold on a 28-degree night on the Scott River in California.
While it’s not a bag for nights that dip below freezing, the Wrap Sack’s ability to handle big temperature swings above 32 degrees and its roominess made it a tester favorite.The rectangular shaped bag allowed active sleepers enough space to toss and turn, and our 6’2” tester had enough room to stretch out even with the Wrap Sack’s hood stuffed with a camp pillow.
Even after over 20 days in the field and two machine washes, the robust, fully-recycled nylon exterior showed no visible wear. The Wrap Sack packs down to the size of a watermelon—not exactly small, but smaller than the Big Agnes Echo Park, the other extra-roomy option on this list.
Best Value
The North Face Wawona 20 Sleeping Bag
$130 at REI $130 at The North Face
Weight: Regular 4.9 lbs (Regular); 5.3 lbs (Long)
Sizes: Regular, Long
Dimensions: 78” x 32” (Regular)
Comfort rating: 20F and 35F
Pros and Cons
⊕ Good value
⊕ Soft liner fabric
⊕ Incorporates recycled materials
⊗ Large pack down size for a single
⊗ Comfort rating is off
⊗ No hood
The Wawona is reasonably priced yet doesn’t feel like a budget bag. Testers gave it top marks for its next-to-skin comfort thanks to a cozy, brushed high-pile fleece that comprised the top interior of the bag. At 78 inches by 32 inches (regular), this rectangular bag is also comfortably roomy.
With only a $10 price difference between the 20-degree and 35-degree versions, we opted to test the Wawona 20 to see how well it performed in lower temps. While the recycled polyester fill proved sufficient in 40-degree temps, testers noted that it didn’t live up to its stated 20-degree comfort rating. The lack of a hood left one tester wishing he had worn a beanie and needing to layer up in a down jacket to make it comfortable during a 28-degree night on the Scott River in Northern California. We would have expected a bag that packs down to no smaller than a five-gallon cooler to have more insulation power.
Still, testers had plenty of good things to say about this more affordable sleeping bag. The 50-denier polyester ripstop outer proved surprisingly durable—it was no worse for wear after we used the Wawona as a blanket on bare, rocky ground for some stargazing. And the hearty YKK zipper (usually the first thing to go on a budget bag) worked just as well after a season of camping as it did at the start. One tester especially appreciated the storage pocket built into the bag’s lining at chest height, where he stashed his essential ear plugs when not in use.
And perhaps the Wawona’s biggest flex: At such a reasonable price, campers could buy two Wawona bags and zip them together to enjoy an affordable double bag.
Roomiest
Big Agnes Echo Park
$200 at REI $200 at Backcountry
Weight: 4 lb 16 oz
Sizes: Regular
Dimensions: 80” x 30”
Comfort rating: 0F and 20F
Pros and Cons
⊕ Good value
⊕ Roomy design
⊕ Integrated pad and pillow sleeves
⊗ Heavy and bulky
While technically a little bit smaller than Rumpl Wrap Sack, the Big Agnes Echo Park is the roomiest traditional bag we tested with a higher temperature rating, making this our top pick for larger campers who want a comfortable, spacious bag that can hack it in lower temps.
The Echo Park comes in 0-, 20-, and 35-degree temperature ratings and uses Big Agnes’ proprietary FireLine Max Eco synthetic insulation. We tested the 20-degree version ($200) to see how it stacked up to the other bags in the same price range (at 0 degrees, the Echo Park bumps up to $230). It proved toasty on a 28-degree night in Northern California, yet testers were also able to dump enough heat via full-length zippers on the either side to stay comfortable on nights that didn’t dip below 60 Fahrenheit. The cotton-polyester blend on the interior felt supple next to skin and as comfortable as our bedding at home.
Big Agnes lists max user height for the Echo Park as 6’6”, which we found to be accurate; a 6’5” tester commented that this was the first bag he’d tested where his feet had room to spare. It is wide without being as boxy as the Rumpl and North Face sleeping bags on this list, with a 74-inch hip girth and a 64-inch foot girth, which feels snug but not constricting like a mummy bag. This lightly tapered design enhances space and comfort while still keeping the bag close enough to the body to help insulate.
On top of being incredibly roomy and high on the creature comfort scale, the Echo Park is packed with features we would expect to see on higher priced bags, making it a great value. The integrated sleeping pad sleeve accommodates pads as wide as 30 inches and successfully kept our pads from moving around at night; the pad sleeve also features a separate pillow pocket to keep your camp pillow in place. While incredibly comfortable, the Echo Park also proved plenty durable—the 40-denier ripstop exterior showed little wear and tear after two months of use.
The large footprint and quantity of synthetic insulation did make this bag a beast to pack down. It doesn’t get much smaller than the size of a carry-on bag, so you won’t fit the Echo Park into a backpack. But if packability isn’t a priority, this comfy, extra-roomy bag is a good buy.
Most Versatile
Kelty Supernova 20
$200 at Backcountry $200 at Kelty
Weight: 3 lbs (regular)
Sizes: regular and long
Dimensions: 75 inches (regular)
Comfort rating: 20F
Pros and Cons
⊕ Versatile
⊕ Good temperature regulation
⊗ No hood
No single sleeping bag will be optimally comfortable and functional for every body type, sleep style, and trip destination, but for the frontcountry camper, the Kelty Supernova Down comes pretty darn close.
This summer, lead tester Miyo McGinn brought it on a very loosely planned summer road trip that she knew at the outset might include sea kayaking; backpacking in the alpine; and car camping in the mountains, desert, and beach. At each disparate location she stopped for the night, the Supernova worked beautifully—it fit comfortably in a backpacking pack, and felt light and unrestricting even when fully zipped up. The 550-fill down offered ample warmth for high elevation overnights with temps around freezing, opened up flat like a quilt for mild seaside nights with 55-degree lows, and the zipper allowed for plenty of venting for everywhere in between.
The roomy mummy-ish shape (with some extra space around the knees and hips, in addition to the shoulders, before tapering around the feet and lower legs) is particularly comfortable for side sleepers and anyone with wider hips, without sacrificing all the insulating benefits that a form-fitting cut provides.
The recycled 50-denier recycled polyester taffeta liner fabric felt buttery soft next to skin, and 20-denier recycled nylon taffeta exterior held up well over three weeks of constant use. The Supernova isn’t quite ultralight, nor does it pack down as tiny as some dedicated backpacking sleeping bags, but it still tilts the scales at a perfectly respectable 3 pounds and fits in a stuff sack about as big as a family-sized bag of potato chips.
“Most bedding that’s as luxurious as I want on a comfortable car camping trip is too bulky or too delicate for more rugged adventures, like short backpacking or sea kayaking trips” said McGinn. “But the Supernova was great for all of the above—if it replaced all the other three-season quilts and bags in my gear closet, I wouldn’t miss them.”
Best for Families
NEMO Jazz Double
$350 at REI $350 at Backcountry
Weight: 8 lbs 15 oz
Sizes: double
Dimensions: 78” x 129”
Comfort rating: 32F
Pros and Cons
⊕ As comfortable as home bedding
⊕ Integrated, removable bed sheet
⊕ Passed its comfort rating with flying colors
⊗ Bulky packed size
Thanks to its versatility, the NEMO Jazz Double became test director Joe Jackson’s go-to family sleeper for his crew of three last summer. The 78-by-129-inch double bag was roomy enough to comfortably sleep two adults (5’9” and 5’11”) plus a six-year-old kid. Most impressively, this 30-degree bag—made with a supple, recycled taffeta interior, and featuring Nemo’s proprietary synthetic recycled Stratofiber insulation—worked for all three of their different heat preferences.
The double zipper pulls on either side of the bag are a smart design feature that let campers dump heat from their upper body or from their feet if they get too toasty. The Jazz Double’s incredibly soft, integrated polyester-stretch bedsheet offers an in-between layering option and proved warm enough on its own on milder nights in the 50s. Bonus: The sheet is removable for easy washing.
For a bag this plush, the Jazz Double also impressed us with its hardiness. One tester used the Jazz Double coupled with the NEMO Roamer Double sleeping pad—slipped into the bag’s integrated pad sleeve—on a night on the Scott River that was below 30 degrees and reported that it really did live up to its 32-degree comfort rating. Credit the insulated quilted layer added to the top of the pad sleeve for adding extra comfort and warmth. The bag’s 50-denier recycled polyester outer also survived more than two dozen nights of camping and two washes and dries without breaking down in any visible way.
Our biggest gripe is that this almost-nine-pound bag is extremely bulky. Packed down into its stuff sack, the bag still measures 33-by-16-inches, which took up the entire driver’s side seat of one tester’s Toyota Tacoma during transport.
Best Blanket
Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Quilt
Weight: 1 pound 15.4 ounces
Sizes: 0/S
Dimensions: 82” x 59”
Comfort rating: N/A
Pros and Cons
⊕ Incredibly versatile
⊕ Durable
⊕ Comfortable
⊗ Expensive for a blanket
⊗ Not warm enough in 30-degree temps
Featuring the same sterling materials that Mountain Hardwear incorporates into its highest-end jackets, the Stretch Down Quilt is the most high-tech camp quilt we’ve ever tested.
Weighing in at just shy of two pounds, this 650-fill down quilt offers an incredible warmth-to-weight ratio for a blanket. While we don’t think anyone would be comfortable using it as their sole cover on nights that dip below 40 degrees, this blanket makes a versatile layer for those who camp in milder climates where a sleeping bag would be overkill.
The stretchy 20-denier nylon and elastane exterior meant this 82-by-59-inch blanket had enough give to comfortably envelop a family of three sitting by a campfire and was notably pleasant next-to-skin. Testers also appreciated the corner snaps that let them turn this blanket into a wearable poncho for lounging around the campfire.
For how supple it feels, the Stretch Down Quilt held up admirably after we used it as a picnic blanket on abrasive volcanic rock and rocky beaches that would have shredded lesser exteriors. Its durability is a good thing, too, because at $300, we would hope to get many years out of it.
Best Wearable Bag
Mountain Hardwear Yawn Patrol 30F
$275 at Backcountry $275 at Mountain Hardwear
Weight: 2.1 lbs
Sizes: regular, long
Dimensions: 72” x 62” (regular); 78” x 64” (long)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Convenient temperature regulation; Packability
⊗ More restrictive than some rectangular bags
Most sleeping bags that also claim to be loungewear tend to be more on the gimmicky end of the spectrum. Not the Yawn Patrol, which is a sleeping bag, quilt, and extra long poncho all in one, thanks to clever zipper design.
One smooth-running zipper extends from the top of the bag to the feet to split it into a quilt. Another runs a third of the way down for easy entry and to create sleeves for reading or drinking while inside the bag. Josie Boulding, a Union Bay, B.C.-based tester, loved the bag’s poncho mode. “I could wear the whole thing in camp to stay warm around the campfire,” she says.
Tougher, 45-denier nylon protected the bottom of the bag from dirt, while a lighter-weight 30-denier nylon top shell and the interior were both soft next to skin. When she actually slept in the nearly rectangular bag, the insulated hood with a pillow pocket, phone pocket, draft collars, and 650-fill down kept Boulding toasty and all those zippers gave the bag a huge comfort range, from the 60s to its 30-degree limit. Bonus: At just 2.1 pounds, it can be pressed into service for short backpacking trips.
Other Sleeping Bags We Tested
- Mountain Equipment Xenith II ($520): The Xenith II had the best warmth-to-weight ratio of any bag we tested in this category. But for most car campers, this bag would be overkill, especially at this price.
- Exped Megasleep Duo ($250): We tested the Exped Megasleep head-to-head with the Nemo Jazz Double. We preferred the Jazz for its supple, integrated sheet.
- Therm-a-Rest Boost 650 (from $300): The Boost features brilliant arm holes (which doubled as vents) and a great heat-dumping center zipper, but felt like a better fit as a backpacking sleeping bag than a car camping option.
How to Choose a Sleeping Bag for Camping
Finding the ideal sleeping bag or quilt is a little like finding the ideal life partner. When you start looking, the options might seem overwhelming. But the more you focus on what you really want, the easier it is to narrow down. Here are four aspects to consider.
Seasons and Temperature Rating
Bags generally fall into three temperature categories: Summer (rated 30 degrees F and warmer); three-season (rated between 15 and 20 degrees); and winter (rated 15 degrees and lower—some expedition bags are rated as low as -40 degrees). These temperature ratings are based on “average” sleepers and don’t consider external factors like the thickness and rating of your sleeping pad; climatic factors like wind or humidity; or how quickly your body regulates heat loss or gain. Even if you tend to prefer cold sleeping environments, we recommend erring on the side of buying a higher temperature bag—you can always open zippers, but making a bag warmer requires extra layers.
Camping vs. Backpacking Sleeping Bags
Car camping, or camping at a campground or near your vehicle, is about comfort: look to prioritize roominess, fabric feel, and features, like pillow pockets and multiple zippers, rather than weight and packability. Cotton, fleece, or flannel-like interior linings will make sleeping that much more cozy than the usual polyester stickiness you experience with backpacking bags. Pockets help corral slippery pillows right where you want them; an additional pocket to keep a headlamp, phone, or watch close at hand is a nice bonus feature. And extra zippers provide options for customizing warmth and lounging in camp.
What Type of Insulation Is Best in a Sleeping Bag?
Down bags are generally warmer for their weight and more compressible than bags with synthetic insulation. But if down bags get wet, they lose insulating capacity and take longer to dry out than synthetic bags. Many manufacturers use down processed with a hydrophobic chemical that prevents it from absorbing as much water. Others keep the insulation dry with a water-repellant finish or fabric.
Pay attention to fill power. That number measures the volume taken up by the amount of down in your sleeping bag; the more loft your sleeping bag has, the more efficiently it will trap warm air. It will also weigh less and pack down smaller than bags with a lower fill power rated to the same temperature. Synthetic bags are more affordable, and therefore an excellent choice for new campers who are unsure how often they want to sleep outside, or backpackers who are headed to wet environments.
How Roomy Should a Sleeping Bag Be?
Bags come in many shapes and sizes—rectangles, mummies, modified mummies, and double bags. Mummies are warmer and lighter-weight than rectangular bags, but can also be claustrophobic. Rectangular bags are excellent for restless sleepers who need to move and don’t have space or weight constraints. Some quilts can be opened up to act as comforters, although they require a warm sleeping pad and don’t come with hoods. Women-specific bags often come in modified mummy shapes to accommodate the curvier parts of a woman’s body. Doubles are simply sleeping bags built for two, although many solo bags can be zipped together to create a double bag.
How We Test
- Number of Sleeping Bags Tested: 24
- Warmest Temperature Tested In: 80F
- Lowest Temperature Tested In: 20F
- Number of Nights Camped: 42
- Number of Testers: 16
In this category, we primarily considered sleeping bags designed for car campers versus backpackers. This meant focusing on more affordable options with comfort-forward features and weeding out the highly technical and expensive bags that would be overkill for most recreational campers.
In the end, we tested 24 sleeping bags that fit the bill on multiple camping trips along the Scott River. We then pitted the top contenders against each other in a head-to-head test in Crescent City, California, where we kept one camp up for an entire month and invited testers to try the different options. We asked testers to rate things like next-to-skin comfort, warmth, feature-set, and packability.
The bags that made this list were rated as the best picks for casual campers who care more about comfort and affordability than packability and performance in cold climates.
Meet Our Lead Testers
Joe Jackson
Test director Jackson has been testing gear professionally for Outside for over a decade. By his best estimation, he has tested more than 100 sleeping bags for this publication. His most trying sleeping bag test took place on an incredibly cold night on Donner Summit, where he intentionally soaked sleeping bags to see how long each wetted bag could keep him warm in freezing temps.
Saylor Flett
Saylor Flett runs the outdoor recreation and leadership program at Feather River College in Quincy, California. He once spent a month sleeping in a cave in Yosemite and has spent hundreds of nights camping out on portaledges and riverbanks.
Josie Jackson
The test director’s daughter is arguably the most mobile sleeper of our 16 testers, and as a seven-year-old, is the least likely to be subject to brand bias—she could care less about who makes a sleeping bag, all she cares about is if it’s warm and comfortable.
Miyo McGinn
Miyo McGinn is an assistant editor at Outside based in Bozeman, Montana. She has camped in a dozen different states and four continents, but Washington state, where she grew up, will always be her favorite place to pitch a tent. Miyo got her start reviewing gear as Outside’s gear editorial assistant in 2021.
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