| Sleeping Bag Model | Temp. Rating | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| REI Co-op Groundbreaker 30 | 30°F | 3.6lbs / 1.6kg |
| The North Face Wasatch 40 | 40°F | 1.5lbs / 680g |
| Lithic 35 | 35°F | 4.0lbs / 1.8kg |
| NEMO Forte 35 | 35°F | 2.1lbs / 960g |
| Kelty Cosmic 40 DriDown | 40°F | 1.8lbs / 794g |
| Marmot Nanowave 35 | 35°F | 2.8lbs / 1.3kg |
| Sea to Summit Traveller Trl 50 | 50°F | 1.1lbs / 510g |
| Big Agnes V Notch UL 40 | 40°F | 1.4lbs / 623g |
| Sierra Designs Synthesis 50 | 50°F | 1.4lbs / 623g |
| Kammock Thylacine 40 | 40°F | 2.6lbs / 1.2kg |
REI Co-op Groundbreaker 30
- Temperature Rating : 30°F / -1.1°C
- Fill Material : Polyester hollow-fiber
- Weight : 3.6lbs / 1.6kg
REI is one of the leading brands in the outdoor industry. Their Groundbreaker 30 sleeping bag is another testament to their eye for design. It has a rectangular shape that can conveniently be unzipped and used as a quilt in warmer weather.
Its best use is as a car campers companion since it is relatively heavy for a summer sleeping bag. You can buy it as a long or a regular, but it is considered a unisex sleeping bag. With a polyester synthetic fill, it keeps you warm in colder weather.
An offset quilt construction limits cold spots and keeps the insulation where it is meant to be. Ripstop fabric is a must for any outdoor adventure, and this polyester is even treated with DWR (Durable Water Repellent) to keep you dry at night. The zipper has an anti-snag strip for easy adjustments.
A stuff sack comes with the REI Co-op Groundbreaker 30.
What we like
- Rectangular shape offers quilt adjustment.
- Offset seam construction limits cold spots.
- Anti-snag zipper for easy access.
What we don't like
- Heavier weight decreases packability.
The North Face Wasatch 40
- Temperature Rating : 40°F / 4.4°C
- Fill Material : Heatseeker Eco synthetic fibers
- Weight : 1.5lbs / 680g
The North Face has made a unisex summer sleeping bag option with a mummy-cut shape to hug you closer on cooler nights. It is made from synthetic material, with a fill that is 30% recycled fibers.
This sleeping bag is much lighter than the REI option, making it a slightly better choice as a backpacking sleeping bag. Still, if you are looking for an ultralight option, there are better.
The shell is made from polyester, without a defined denier rating. Another offset quilted construction keeps the insulation where it should be and thus limits cold spots.
Some people find mummy sleeping bags too confining, but The North Face Wasatch 40 provides plenty of space. Along the shoulders, there are 63” of space and at the hips, 59”. The zipper is on the right side and runs ¾ of the length. A fitted hood pulls close to the head to protect you further.
This sleeping bag comes fitted with hang loops to make it easy to air out or dry after use. A stuff sack is also included.
What we like
- Offset quilted construction keeps insulation in place.
- Wide girth mummy cut for a variety of sizes.
- Recycled fibers increase the sustainability of the bag.
What we don't like
- ¾ zipper restricts adaptability.
Lithic 35
- Temperature Rating : 35°F / 1.7°C
- Fill Material : Silk hollow fibers
- Weight : 4.0lbs / 1.8kg
Lithic is not as typical of a brand, but it has done an admirable job designing its best summer sleeping bag. It is tested for comfort down to 35°F, but its lower limit is 22°F or -5°C. A silk hollow fiber synthetic insulation keeps the sleeping bag warm and soft.
A mummy-cut bag with a contoured hood to surround your head during cold nights can be adjusted with a drawcord for a tighter fit. Zip yourself inside with a no-snag YKK zipper, keeping itself away from the 20D nylon shell.
To keep you comfortable on humid, wet nights, the shell has been treated with a DWR finish. The Lithic 35 Sleeping Bag is made to be budget-friendly and compresses into a stuff sack to be as easy on your pack as your wallet.
What we like
- Budget-friendly summer sleeping bag option.
- Mummy cut keeps you snug and warm.
- Durable water repellent treatment for moist nights.
What we don't like
- Too heavy for most trekkers.
Nemo Forte 35
- Temperature Rating : 35°F / 1.7°C
- Fill Material : Synthetic
- Weight : 2.1lbs / 960g
Nemo’s Forte 35 has a unique design, which they call the Classic Spoon shape. It increases the room inside the sleeping bag around the elbows and the knees. This design aids the sleeper in adjusting during the evening. They cite that 70% of people are side sleepers, but the typical mummy sleeping bag doesn’t accommodate this position.
Made with 80% recycled material, the insulation is a Primaloft Rise synthetic material. The shell is 30D ripstop nylon with a lining of 20D nylon taffeta. Ventilation is one of the more important aspects of a 3-season bag. Thermo gills in the body of the bag allow you to open it up and cool down.
Aiding the temperature regulation is an external draft collar that they have named the Blanket Fold, including full-length draft tubes. A pillow pocket lets you insert a pillow, a jacket, or extra clothes.
The Nemo Forte 35 is offered in both men’s and women’s sleeping bag options, with opposite-sided zippers on each to allow them to be zipped together and make a double sleeping bag.
What we like
- 80% recycled material goes into the construction.
- Classic Spoon shape makes it more comfortable for side sleepers.
- Opposite-sided zippers for an easy double bag.
What we don't like
- Gender-specific zippers make it difficult for other pairs of campers.
Kelty Cosmic 40 DriDown
- Temperature Rating : 40°F / 4.4°C
- Fill Material : 550 Fill DriDown
- Weight : 1.8lbs / 794g
Kelty makes their Cosmic 40 DriDown bag for 3-season camping adventures. A mummy design is complete with a thermal comfort hood. Along with this is a draft collar for cooler summer nights. Down the side of the bag, a draft tube runs to keep you warm once you are zipped and ready to sleep.
Goose down is the insulation layer in this sleeping bag. It is called DriDown since it is treated to stay drier even on wet nights. When you go to zip yourself in, there is a locking, dual-sliding zipper with an anti-snag design meant to make the transition easier.
The Kelty Cosmic 40 DriDown comes with a compression sack that allows it to pack down and conveniently fit in a trekker’s bag. Its weight aids this as well by staying under 2lbs.
What we like
- Lightweight construction increases versatile use.
- Water-resistant treatment over the down insulation.
- Anti-snag zipper with a dual-slider for easy access.
What we don't like
- Leg room slightly lacking.
Marmot Nanowave 35
- Temperature Rating : 35°F / 1.7°C
- Fill Material : Spirafil High Loft
- Weight : 2.8lbs / 1.3kg
Marmot’s Nanowave 35 is created for a mobile lifestyle. It is compressible and designed with a durable shell of 50D polyester fabric. Although the sleeping bag isn’t under the 2lb mark, it is still light and offers plenty of 3-season protection.
Spirafil High Loft insulation maximizes the warmth and increases the overall durability of the bag, already higher than some others with the increased denier rating. The zipper runs the full length of the sleeping bag, making it easier to ventilate and switch to a camp blanket format. It is locking and features anti-snag technology.
To stay warm on cooler summer nights, pull the hood around your face and draw the drawcords closer. Marmot’s Nanowave 35 does come with a compression sack and two hang loops, so when you are ready to go, so is it.
What we like
- Hang loops make it easier to transport.
- Spirafil insulation increases the loft and comfort of the sleeping bag.
- Full-length zipper allows it to change to a blanket format.
What we don't like
- Heavier than two pounds makes it a little too heavy for trekkers.
Sea to Summit Traveller Trl 50
- Temperature Rating : 50°F / 10°C
- Fill Material : 750+ UltraDry Down
- Weight : 1.1lbs / 510g
Sea to Summit has fashioned their sleeping bag with a cut between mummy and rectangular. At the top, the shape is rectangular without a hood. Towards the bottom, it tapes down to keep your feet warmer, and the rest of you snug.
Weight is perhaps the most desirable characteristic in this 3-season sleeping bag. It is comfortable in moderately cool weather but weighs just over a pound. Even with higher temperature ratings, the 750+ down keeps you comfortable with a fluffy underlayer.
Made from 15D nylon shell fabric on the outside, it reduces the bulk to pack down tight. Drawcords along the shoulders and feet allow you to customize the bag to your size instead of buying the already perfect fit.
Sea to Summit includes a compression sack with their Traveller Trl 50 sleeping bag. It can also be zipped together with other bags for a double sleeping bag when you’re on a camping trip with your significant other.
What we like
- 750+ fill power creates a comfortable loft.
- Tapered shape makes it more adaptable for the camper.
- Double bag capacity via the zippers.
What we don't like
- More expensive compared to its competitors.
- No hood increases the temperature rating.
Big Agnes V Notch UL 40
- Temperature Rating : 40°F / 4.4°C
- Fill Material : Primaloft Hi-Loft Ultra Silver insulation
- Weight : 1.4lbs / 623g
Big Agnes has made their bag work as the minimalist’s bag. It is in a mummy shape and compresses down to 6” x 10” in its stuff sack. This size, paired with its low weight and average 3-season temperature rating, makes it one of the best summer sleeping bags on our list for backpackers.
This bag does come with a hood in the construction, and a drawcord to keep it tight to your face on cooler summer nights. It has a cord lock that keeps it in place and allows you to uncinch it.
A full-length, two-way zipper along the side of the Big Agnes V Notch UL 40 opens the quilt up for a blanket format and temperature regulation. The size and weight savings aren’t the only addition that makes it easy to travel with, but the exterior loops make it easier.
What we like
- Minimalist measurements make it a great option for backpackers.
- Hood construction is easily adjustable.
- Full-length zipper increases ventilation.
What we don't like
- Higher price tag than other products.
Sierra Designs Synthesis 50
- Temperature Rating : 50°F / 10°C
- Fill Material : SierraLoft synthetic
- Weight : 1.4lbs / 623g
Sierra Designs makes their Synthesis 50 sleeping bags to be a good choice for summer camping trips and couch crashing. The design easily converts into a blanket form for warmer nights and sleeping with more than one party.
With a self-sealing foot vent, the foot box stays cozy, and the full-length, dual zipper allows for maintained ventilation. This sleeping bag also comes with a draft dodger collar to stop vents from getting through to your shoulders.
The materials for this sleeping bag are a SierraLoft synthetic material meant to keep you cushioned against the ground. A shell of 20D ripstop nylon makes the bag durable to the common duress from camping situations.
When you are ready to pack up the Synthesis 50 sleeping bag, use the compression sack bag and store it down to 15” x 7.5”.
What we like
- Synthetic insulation increases loft.
- Self-sealing foot vents increase the temperature rating.
- Dodger collar prevents drafts in a sensitive area.
What we don't like
- Foot box can feel restrictive.
Kammock Thylacine 40
- Temperature Rating : 40°F / 4.4°C
- Fill Material : Pinneco Mantle synthetic insulation
- Weight : 2.6lbs / 1.2kg
Kammock is a leader in hammock technology, but sleeping bag construction goes hand-in-hand with their developed technologies. Variable Warmth Technology patented by Kammock allows for temperature regulation via its zip-in insulated liner.
This sleeping bag has a mummy design with wider girths across the shoulders and hips than some others. The reason for this is the personal adjustments the design of the bag allows you to make once you are ready for a long night’s sleep.
Durable construction is augmented by the 15D Ripstop nylon along with the foot box, the 20D ripstop nylon lining, and the Pertex Quantum GL 15D ripstop nylon shell fabric.
All of these are treated with DWR and made with 100% recycled materials.
What we like
- 100% recycled materials increase sustainability.
- Adjustable fit for a more versatile fit.
- Zip-in insulated liner aids in temperature regulation.
What we don't like
- Color options lacking thus far.
Summer sleeping bags buying guide
A 3-season bag doesn’t have as much on the line as a winter sleeping bag does, but buying the right fit for you and your lifestyle is still a priority. If you don’t have a good idea of where to start looking or what to consider, consider these aspects for a summer sleeping bag.
These are 6 things to think about before purchasing a summer sleeping bag.
Rated 30F and above
A sleeping bag earns its temperature rating based on standardized laboratory tests. Once put through these, the temperature range for the sleeping bag is decided, and two ratings are given.
One is the lower limit rating commonly used for men’s bags and warm sleepers.
The other is the comfort rating which tests the temperature range that cold sleepers are comfortable at during the night.
Summer, or 3-season sleeping bags, should receive a rating of 30°F or above. These bags are not created to endure frigid nights. Instead, their focus is on comfort or packability.
Those rated at 30°F, like the REI Co-op Groundbreaker 30, combine temperature rating with comfort. Some, such as the Big Agnes V Notch UL 40, are comfortable and lightweight for the perfect bag for summer trekkers.
Read More : Sleeping Bag Temperature Ratings Explained
Down vs. synthetic insulation
Most summer sleeping bags are created with synthetic insulation since it is easier to gain loft and to treat with water-resistant treatments. Down does have a higher warmth-to-weight ratio than synthetic materials typically do, though.
Down is often more expensive to use than synthetic materials are as well. Companies try to keep their cost and price point down focus on using synthetic materials. Kelty Cosmic 40 DriDown features a treated down insulation to increase water resistance.
An example of a bag with an average summer rating and weight but with synthetic materials is the Lithic 35 Sleeping Bag. The synthetic material makes it easier to use recycled materials in creating their bags.
Read More : Down vs Synthetic Insulation – Which One Is Better?
Shape and fit
As you probably noticed in the above product list, there are multiple fits and shapes a sleeping bag can take. Mummy, rectangular, and tapered are the most common. Depending on the type of sleeper you are, you want to find the best fit.
- Mummy style bag works best for back sleepers since it often comes with a cinching drawcord hood. The North Face Wasatch 40 makes their mummy bag wider in girth than most, but comfortably fitting a larger person in one of these shapes can be difficult.
- Rectangular bags accommodate any sleeping position but let in drafts in through the shoulders than mummy bags. Sea to Summit Traveller Trl 50 maximizes the adjustability with the rectangular shape by adjusting typical girths.
The Nemo Forte 35 is an interesting combination of shapes, with more of a spoon design for their bag. Although it is not common, it gives you extra space near the knees and the elbows to better accommodate side sleepers.
Packed size and weight
There is a wide variety of different packed sizes and weights in summer sleeping bags. Depending on the type of activity you intend to use them for, you need the sleeping bag to accomplish different things.
On a bag with greater insulation and loft, the packed size and weight are typically higher, such as in the Lithic 35 Sleeping Bag. Backpackers and lightweight trekkers need something closer to one pound or less.
Sierra Designs’ Synthesis 50 bag is only 1.4lbs and packs down to 15” x 7.5”.
Read More : How to Store Sleeping Bags at Home
Durability
Durability is mostly determined by the strength of the lining and shell material. The other weak point of a sleeping bag is the seams.
One thing that a producer can do to increase the durability of the fabric is to get it treated with a waterproof substance. DWR, or Durable Water Repellent, is the most common treatment and increases moisture prevention exponentially. Down can also be given a hydrophobic treatment to increase its durability.
To keep seams from coming apart, many producers overlay them with fabric. It stops the abrasion from wearing them down quickly. Double stitching or backstitching can also help increase its longevity.
Read More : How to Thoroughly Wash Your Sleeping Bags
Extra features
Each sleeping bag differs from another, some by quite a bit. Extra features help to augment designs that have already been nearly perfected.
- Extra pockets. Interior pockets help to keep your materials safe, especially if you have already tucked in for the night. These pockets are extremely useful in situations when you are camping without a tent.
- Cinching hoods. Make it even cozier with a pull on a drawstring. Most rectangular-shaped bags do not come equipped with a hood. It is most common in mummy sleeping bags and the design varies. A good hood decreases the temperature rating.
- Full-length zippers. Zippers come in half-lengths, ¾, and full-length. Since ventilation is a necessity in summer bags, those that have full-length zippers, like the Marmot Nanowave 35, help. It also signifies their capacity to become a blanket on hotter nights.
- Thermo gills. Speaking of increased ventilation, even if your bag doesn’t have a full-length zipper, don’t despair. Thermo gills along the side of a bag can be unzipped to let more air in. Having these also helps add extra girth. They are often placed around the knee area and can make sleeping on your side more comfortable.
Amanda Williams
Amanda Williams is a writer, plant-nerd, and outdoor enthusiast. She has traveled extensively, around the U.S., throughout Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Everywhere she treks, she takes time to enjoy the outdoors. John Muir is her hero. She aspires to inspire people to live better as he did.
