Many ultralight sleeping bags are as lightweight as backpacking quilts, making them a viable component in an ultralight backpacking sleep system. Sleeping bags also have the advantage over quilts in that they are draft-free because they can be zippered closed at night and have no pad attachment straps to mess around with in the dark. Many ultralight sleeping bags are also available without mummy hoods. They can be easily vented, providing all of the comfort advantages of backpacking quilts for people who prefer hoodless sleep insulation.
| Make / Model | Weight | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Feathered Friends Tanager 20 | 18.9 oz / 536g | $489 |
| Western Mountaineering Flylite 34 | 14.25 oz / 404g | $540 |
| ZenBivy Ultralight Bed 25 | 20 oz / 567g | $428 |
| Western Mountaineering Summerlite 32 | 19 oz / 539g | $515 |
| Enlightened Equipment Convert 40 | 22.8 oz / 646g | $415 |
| Feathered Friends Flicker 40 | 18.5 oz / 525g | $549 |
| Western Mountaineering Highlite 35 | 16 oz / 454g | $435 |
| Cumulus xlite-200 | 12.3 oz / 349g | $319 |
Here are the 10 best ultralight sleeping bags that we recommend:
1. Feather Friends Tanager 20 Sleeping Bag
2. Western Mountaineering Flylite 36
3. ZenBivy Ultralight Bed 25
4. Western Mountaineering Summerlite 32
5. Enlightened Equipment Convert 20 Sleeping Quilt
The Enlightened Equipment Convert features a full-length zipper and a fully adjustable and ventable footbox, which allows it to be completely closed (like a sleeping bag), completely open (like a blanket), or somewhere in between. It’s available with 850 or 950 fill power down, a draft collar, multiple lengths and widths, and a wide variety of colors and fabric weights. For example, a 20-degree 950-fill power read-to-ship Convert Sleeping Bag weighs just 22.8 oz. Read the SectionHiker Convert Review.
6. Feathered Friends Flicker 40
7. Western Mountaineering Highlite 25 Sleeping Bag
8. Cumulus X-Lite 200 Sleeping Bag
Ultralight Sleeping Bag Guide
Here is a list of key considerations when deciding between different ultralight sleeping bag options.
Mummy or Rectangular (Hoodless) Sleeping Bags?
Ultralight sleeping bags are available with mummy hoods or hoodless rectangular bags, similar to quilts. Which you choose is a personal preference, but a mummy hood can be a bonus in colder temperatures when more head insulation is warranted. When sleeping in a hoodless sleeping bag, you’ll want to use some head covering, like a fleece or down cap, or sleep in a puffy down jacket with a hood to keep your head warm and seal out drafts at the top of the bag.
Must-have Features
Ultralight sleeping bags should have a draft collar, zipper draft tubes, and snag-free zippers at a minimum. Partial-length zippers, continuous baffles, and even water-resistant down are all nice-to-haves, but you can get by without them to save on cost or because they’re not strictly necessary.
Draft Collar
Most high-quality ultralight sleeping bags have draft collars which is an important feature on bags rated for 20 degrees F or colder. A draft collar is a tube of insulation that drapes over your chest and neck, sealing in the bag’s warmth. Without it, the warm air inside the bag will rush out around your neck when you move. The simplest draft collar is a down tube that covers the front of your chest. Higher-end bags feature a second draft collar that encircles the back of your shoulders and neck, providing additional control to tighten or loosen as needed.
Zipper Draft Tubes
Draft tubes are down-filled tubes of fabric that cover the side zipper, preventing your legs from coming into contact with it (because it’s cold). They also prevent cold air from leaking into the bag through the needle holes that are created when sewing the zipper to the bag. Most bags have at least one zipper draft tube, although some have two, one on top and one on the bottom, that fall into place when you zip up your bag.
Snag Free Zipper
Snag-free zippers prevent the side zipper’s teeth from tearing the shell fabric of your bag and spilling its insulation. The zipper is usually bordered by stiff fabric tape, to keep it away from the down baffles and prevent it from getting snagged on the bag’s outer shell.
Nice-to-have features
Water-Resistant Down
Water-resistant down is a nice-to-have, not a must-have, in an ultralight sleeping bag. The truth is, most people can keep their sleeping bags dry. If you notice moisture on the outside of your sleeping bag in the morning, it doesn’t mean that the down inside is wet. Simply drape it over your tent in the sun while you eat breakfast, and it will dry in no time.
Continuous baffles
Continuous baffles usually run horizontally across a bag. They allow you to shake the down in the baffles and move it to a different location. For example, if you’re too warm, you could shake the down so it falls down the sides of the bag, rather than keep it on your chest. While continuous baffles let you customize the distribution of down for different needs, many people prefer baffles that keep the down in one place reliably and permanently. It’s one less thing to worry about.
Partial length zippers
Partial-length zippers are often used as a weight-saving feature; however, they can reduce use across a wider temperature range by limiting your venting options.
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Montbell half bag plus a puffy = great warmth, lower pack weight
I’m surprised Katabatic quilts didn’t make it on this list.
Quilts aren’t sleeping bags.
Mmm, surprised Zpacks not in the list particularly the Classic…..
Ill only buy Down with a water repellent treatment applied to it. After sleeping many nights at altitude its the best way to stay warm. After night one your body releases water vapor thus lowering the bags rating and making for a cold sleep. Been proven many times. Folks say that those water resistant treatments don’t last but my experience proves otherwise.
Hope this helps.