Does freezing your toes off sound fun? We didn’t think it would, so you can get on board with us when we tell you how important it is to choose your winter sleeping bags with care. From quality of materials to functionality, we carefully looked at every aspect of dozens of sleeping bag options. What you can find below is the best of the best, each of these bags will keep you warm during cold, dark months.
However, choosing the right winter sleeping bags isn’t as simple as looking for the best thermal protection. We recommend choosing the bag that matches your outdoor plans.
#1 Coleman Mummy 0°F Winter Sleeping Bag
Pros:
- Best budget sleeping bag
- Large size accommodates more body types
Cons:
- Could be lighter
- Doesn’t quite hold up to the temperature rating
The Full Picture
This is the perfect bag to try out if you want to see if a mummy bag is your thing. We know plenty of people who don’t like the more restricted space, but it definitely helps keep you cozy. However, we found this bag doesn’t quite stand up to temperatures below 20-25˚F, so keep that in mind if you are headed to chiller areas. Even at these temps, we added an extra layer of clothes to stay comfortable.
#2 Coleman Big & Tall 0°F Winter Sleeping Bag
Pros:
- Large size with room to roll over
- Can zip multiple bags together
- Great for a family or couple’s trips
Cons:
- Can be a pain to roll up
- Not waterproof
The Full Picture
What we loved about this bag was its versatility. You can use it on its own to keep you warm, and it will keep you toasty in temps around 20-40˚F. Or you can zip it together with another bag to create a larger bag, ideal for couples or friends who want a cozy and roomy experience. Or you can even fully unzip it and use it as a spread to cover your and your crew while you sleep in other bags. However, when your trip is over, expect spending some mental and physical effort to pack it back up.
#3 REI Co-op Frostbreak 5 Winter Sleeping Bag
Pros:
- Quality bag for affordable price tag
- Incredibly easy to use
- Plenty warm for target temperatures
- Three lengths to match your size
Cons:
- A bit bulky
- On the weighty side
The Full Picture
Winter sleeping bags can get crazy pricy, and you will certainly want such a bag if you are climbing Everest. For milder climates though, you couldn’t pick a better bag than the Frostbreak 5. The heavier weight makes it more ideal for car camping, though, so keep that in mind before strapping it to your backpack. Still, you won’t find anything for the same price that will keep you warmer on a winter excursion.
#4 TETON Sports LEEF Lightweight Mummy 0°F Sleeping Bag
Pros:
- Easy to travel with
- Multiple sizes to match your body type
- Easy to pack up into a compression sack
Cons:
- Could be more “lightweight” at 4 pounds
- Getting full compression from the bag is tricky
The Full Picture
This is a great no-fuss winter sleeping bag for adventurers looking for shorter or milder trips. We were able to get in into our backpack without much issue, but it does take some effort the first couple tries. We didn’t have problems with our zippers, but we spoke to some others who did. So, we recommend thoroughly checking your zippers are all smooth and functional before taking it out for a night in the cold.
#5 TETON Sports 101R 0°F Winter Sleeping Bag
Pros:
- Multiple color options make buying it for kids easier (they can each get their own)
- Left zip and right zip options are a nice touch
- Roomy (especially leg room)
- Perfect car camping bag when you have the room for it
Cons:
- On the weightier side (about 5 pounds)
- Slippery materials since it is not real fleece
The Full Picture
The option to have the zipper on the left or right is great. When you are in cold weather, your fingers might not be super dexterous, so being left-handed we’ve definitely stumbled over a zipper before. While it is rated for low temps, we recommend not taking this out for temperatures below 40˚F if you want to be comfortably warm. The odd choice of poly fiber made the bag quite slippery though. Neither a positive or negative, but something you should be aware of nonetheless.
#6 Wenzel Windy Pass Mummy Sleeping Bag 0°F
Pros:
- Oversize dimensions give you plenty of space
- Non-allergenic fill
- Excellent for casual trips at a low price point
- Great for family winter camping
- Easy to pack up
Cons:
- Bulky weight makes it better for car camping
- Not water-resistant material
The Full Picture
If you want to take the family out for a colder weather trip, then this bag can be a godsend. The lower price point allows you to get several for the kids to keep them warm without breaking the bank. However, it is still best for milder winter locations. We found that it does really well down to about 40˚F, but past that it will depend on your natural constitution.
#7 Marmot Lithium Down Sleeping Bag 0°F
Pros:
- Filled and finished in the US
- Water-resistant material
- Good amount of room for a mummy bag
- Certified 805+ goose down fill
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Higher price point
The Full Picture
Marmot really knocked it out of the park with this one. Not only is this bag lightweight enough to potentially take backpacking, but it can also keep you warm even in temperatures below 0˚C. The only reason it is this far down the list is the price point can make it quite the investment. It comes in long and regular lengths with options to have the zipper on either the left or right, which is excellent for those of us who are not right-handed.
#8 Kelty Cosmic Down Sleeping Bag 0 Degree
Pros:
- 600-fill DriDown works efficiently and compresses well
- The hydrophobic finish keeps the damp out (and dries any damp that gets in faster)
- More affordable price point for a quality bag
Cons:
- Only has a right-side zipper (good for lefties, bad for righties)
- Not available in size for people over six feet tall.
The Full Picture
We loved this bag and could tell from the material it would keep up plenty warm. The only problem was that we are well over six-feet tall, so it ended up being a little to short for us. However, the treated down is amazing. Not only does it resist getting wet, but it dries incredibly quickly. So this bag is an excellent option if you expect minor amounts of water coming your way.
#9 Western Mountaineering Versatile Sleeping Bag 10°F
Pros:
- Lightweight and packs up easily
- Actually matches its temperature rating well
- Made in the USA
Cons:
- Its popularity occasionally means some options can be out of stick
- Higher price point
The Full Picture
We can say that make sure you are sleeping in this bag only in cold weather. It kept us so warm that even during warmer parts of the night around 40˚F, we started sweating. Not at all a bad thing for a winter sleeping bag though! Unfortunately, its popularity often means that the larger sizes can be sold out, so we recommend snatching one up as soon as your size is available. We loved though that it has a right zip and 6’6” option for those who are taller than the norm.
#10 FARLAND 20℉ Sleeping Bags
Pros:
- Variety of colors and options and colors with
- Both left and right zip options
- Affordable price range makes these great for family trips
Cons:
- For milder temperatures
The Full Picture
Dropping a couple hundred dollars on a sleeping bag is worth it for yourself, but family trips could get crazy expensive real quick. Farland provides a middle ground here with some excellent bag options rated at about 30˚F. Still, we might recommend starting out in warmer temps with these bags to see if your kids stay comfortable in them.
Marmot CWM Sleeping Bag -40 Degree Down
If you are going out mountaineering in the real heart of winter, and we mean that deep cold, then you want this bag. If you scrolled to the bottom because you didn’t see a bag rated for Siberian tundra, then this is the bag for you. Rated to keep you comfortable at temperatures down to -40˚F/-40˚C (yes, both Celsius and Fahrenheit are the same number at this temperature, oddly enough. Is it expensive, sure, but it is worth every penny when every ounce of warmth counts.
Tips for Picking the Right Winter Sleeping Bag
Wrapping Up & Staying Warm
While your sleeping bag is the main tool in fighting off the cold, it is important to keep a few things in mind before going out on your tent trip.
Use Camp Pads
Cold seeps up from the ground like no one’s business. We recommend always using a camp pad when taking most of these bags out just to increase your comfort. And if you are car camping, you do not even need to worry about the extra weight.
Serious Trips Require Serious Investment
If you plan on mountaineering or going out in some serious sub-zero temperatures, there is no way around shelling out for a quality bag. Not only do these professional quality bags keep you comfortable, but they keep you safe in otherwise dangerous conditions. We certainly do not recommend skimping on camping gear in such situations.
Always Test Zippers and Comfort Before a Trip
Even the most expensive bags available are machine-produced, which means there can be room for error. It is important to check for any irregularities or factory errors before taking a bag out. Nothing is worse than being on a trip only to find your zipper snag in freezing temperatures!
