The best sleeping bags for hiking in the UK 2023

Essential accessory for sleeping under the stars or in a tent, the sleeping bag for hiking keeps warm and protected from bad weather. In addition, their comfort and ease of storage are very interesting. But which one to choose? To help you, read our guide to the best sleeping bags for hiking.

Active Era 300GSM 1
8/10

Best value for money

Active Era 300GSM

The best backpacking sleeping bag in 2021

The qualities of this camping and hiking sleeping bag are undisputed, despite some minor defects.

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For camping or hiking, meet the Active Era 300GSM. This blue colored sarcophagus sleeping bag can withstand temperatures down to 0°C. It is also quite light and comfortable. Of course, it will not survive a harsh winter. But for the mid-season, it will be top.

On the practical side, we note that the hood to protect the head from cold and bad weather. However, the closure descends easily. So be sure to mount it to the maximum and close the scratch at the top. Finally, all the coating and padding is well made. Ditto for the very competitive price.

Active Era M150 2
8/10

Best value for money

Active Era M150

The best entry-level backpacking sleeping bag

The Active Era M150 was designed for young people. But it is not suitable for cooler temperatures or larger bodies.

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Another mummy sleeping bag from Active Era, the M150 was designed for young people who want to camp with friends or family. Considering the price, it is obviously not a model made for the high mountains in winter. But it will do the job perfectly in cool weather.

Light but warm, it benefits from very well made finishing touches. As for most of the sleeping bags, we keep our fingers crossed that the zipper will hold. And know that after use, you can easily put it back in the carrying bag. Considering the price, the dimensions and the weight, this bag is a good deal. Especially if you don't plan to use it below 8°C.

Nacatin Mummy 3
8/10

A great choice

Nacatin Mummy

A great value for the money

The comfortable Nacatin can be hooked up with other bags in addition to leaving your hands free. But it does not support heavy use.

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Perfectly waterproof, this sleeping bag offers extra comfort during wilderness activities. However, it does not add extra weight to your backpack, and that's a good thing. The lining is 100% polyester, very soft and high quality. There is also polyester on the outside, 190T to be exact, for durability.

Perfectly waterproof, this sleeping bag offers extra comfort during outdoor activities. However, it doesn't add extra weight to your backpack, and that's a good thing. The lining is 100% polyester, very soft and high quality. There is also polyester on the outside, 190T to be exact, which is very durable.

Sleeping bag for hiking - Terra Hiker 4
8/10

Very good

Sleeping bag for hiking - Terra Hiker

Our top pick

This down sleeping bag offers excellent thermal insulation while remaining light and compact. But it is available in one size of 2.10 m only.

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This down sleeping bag has the claim to resist the great cold while being more robust and less expensive than the models at Decathlon. We would expect nothing less from a model at this price. The 400T 20D nylon with which it was made protects against extreme conditions, whether wind or rain. Plus, the material is ripstop, so it can withstand lacerations from rocks and branches!

Remaining comfortable in temperatures ranging from -6 to 7°C, this sarcophagus sleeping bag benefits from ultra-light 550g of premium quality duck down padding. In total, the package weighs 1.160 kg, which is equivalent to 1 L of bottled water. Compression is quite easy and the compact cover saves space. Note however that this sleeping bag is still bulky, let's say less compact than others although the difference is minimal. But the thermal performance is its main interest.

Buying guide • November 2023

Best sleeping bag for hiking

Any specific needs?

The best backpacking sleeping bag in 2021

The best entry-level backpacking sleeping bag

A great value for the money

Our top pick

Your guide : Samuel

Rate this buying guide :
4.9/54 votes

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Comparison table of the best sleeping bags for hiking

TOP OF THE TOP CHEAP EXCELLENT VERY GOOD
Active Era 300GSM 5
8/10
Active Era M150 6
8/10
Nacatin Mummy 7
8/10
Sleeping bag for hiking - Terra Hiker 8
8/10
OUR SELECTION
Active Era 300GSM
Active Era M150
Nacatin Mummy
Sleeping bag for hiking - Terra Hiker
The qualities of this camping and hiking sleeping bag are undisputed, despite some minor defects.
The Active Era M150 was designed for young people. But it is not suitable for cooler temperatures or larger bodies.
The comfortable Nacatin can be hooked up with other bags in addition to leaving your hands free. But it does not support heavy use.
This down sleeping bag offers excellent thermal insulation while remaining light and compact. But it is available in one size of 2.10 m only.
Perfect for camping and hiking
Polyester shell and filling perfect for temperatures up to 5°C
Sliders for hanging or splicing other sleeping bags
Very good thermal insulation
Some models suffer from finish defects
Cannot stand cooler temperatures, below 5°C
Nylon is still a weak material
Price

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Buying guide - sleeping bag for hiking

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How to choose your sleeping bag for hiking

There are a few common criteria for finding the right sleeping bag. Although each piece of equipment has its own characteristics, depending on the supplier, there are certain standards that must be met to provide comfort and quality sleep at night during an outdoor activity.

#1 - Comfort temperature

This is the first criterion that a sleeping bag must meet to meet the needs of the user in terms of warmth. The material in question must keep the person inside in a temperature that allows him to be comfortable, regardless of the weather conditions.

Therefore, it is imperative that you check that the sleeping bag can provide you with maximum comfort. For example, in winter, the comfort temperature should be around -10°C and in summer consider models between 0 and +10°C.

Manufacturers often stamp their products with the mention 3 or 4 seasons which is also a good indication. The most important thing is to find out about the regions you are going to visit.

#2 - Upholstery

The padding always changes depending on the model and brand of the hiking sleeping bag. The best-known brands have switched to down, a material known for its ability to provide warmth. It also has loft and is lighter.

Other manufacturers use a synthetic material to fill their sleeping bags. It is a very effective insulator to protect against cold and moisture.

#3 - The swelling power

A good quality sleeping bag should have a loft of over 650 cubic inches. This value determines the volume of material used in the bag. A piece of equipment is considered to perform well when its loft is between 550 and 800 cuin.

But to date, no brand has been able to reach this maximum value. However, all manufacturers are innovating more and more, offering consumers sleeping bags with even more enveloping characteristics.

#4 - The weight

It is essential to have a light pack if you want to hike for several miles. The sleeping bag being an essential element, it is thus advisable to be attentive to its weight. Down sleeping bags are the best option, while being very efficient.

However, there are newer models that perform well, both in terms of weight and performance.

#5 - The compressed volume

This last element should not be taken lightly to avoid clutter during long walks. Indeed, if your gear takes up too much space, it may weigh down your backpack.

Generally speaking, down hiking sleeping bags are easy to store since they compress quickly, unlike synthetic bags.

Tips

Have at least 2 sleeping bags.

Buy at least two types of sleeping bags to have one that is suitable for each climate. Choose a down bag for colder climates and a lighter synthetic bag for warmer weather.

Test your sleeping bag before you take it on a hike.

To

test your backpacking sleeping bag, try it out in your backyard for an evening. In cold weather, sleep in the bag under a tent. If it doesn't keep you warm enough, you'll know it.

Put on dry clothes.

Wear

dry clothes to sleep, don't wear the clothes you sweated in during your hike. Wet clothes promote heat loss from the body.

Use a hot water bottle.

Place

a hot water bottle filled with warm water in the bottom of your pack before you go to sleep. If that's not enough, put a second kettle in the middle of your pack. Just make sure they're sealed tightly to avoid burning yourself with the hot water.

Always sleep in a well-insulated bag.

The

insulation of your sleeping bag is very important. So important that in very low temperature locations, it could become a matter of life and death. Bags with R-values between 3 and 4 are for three-season temperatures - usually above freezing - while those with R-values above 5 are for use on frozen ground at below-freezing temperatures. If necessary, add a second foam pad under your sleeping bag or even an air mattress if you sleep on frozen ground or snow.

FAQ

What is the difference between a hiking sleeping bag and a camping sleeping bag?

In general, hiking sleeping bags differ from camping bags in three ways:

  • They are lighter.
  • They are more compressible.
  • They are more efficient, and offer a better weight-to-heat ratio.

The distinction between hiking sleeping bags and camping sleeping bags is not obvious. So, if you do both activities, opt for a hiking sleeping bag, as every gram counts when carrying.

What is an "ISO" or "EN" temperature rating?

"ISO" or "EN" indicates that you can reliably compare two sleeping bags for hiking. These standardized tests mean that you can actually compare temperature ratings between models and brands. The ISO and EN standards are comparable. EN was the old standard and ISO is the new one. The ISO version improves the consistency of test results between laboratories.

Is a temperature rating a guarantee of warmth for a hiking sleeping bag?

The temperature rating is useful in that all brands test bags in the same way, so you can compare hiking sleeping bags from different brands. A more complete assessment of your warmth under varying conditions, however, is provided by the sleep system data.

Should I use a down filling or a synthetic filling?

Padding is what gives a sleeping bag its thermal properties, and there are two types of materials used: down and synthetic. Both materials have advantages and disadvantages. Down offers an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio, especially duck down. On the other hand, this type of filling is sensitive to moisture and can quickly lose its heat retention properties.

Synthetic fill is more affordable than down fill. This is because it does not offer the same warmth ratio. However, sleeping bags with synthetic padding will still provide some thermal insulation even if they are damp.

Sources

Note: Below are some of the sources we have consulted in writing this article. Links to other sites are not continuously updated. It is therefore possible that a link may not be found. Please use a search engine to find the desired information.
  1. , 60millions-mag.com
  2. , bestreviews.com
  3. , thewirecutter.com
  4. , thebigoutside.com
  5. , toptenreviews.com
  6. , katabaticgear.com
  7. , marmot.com
  8. , wexgear.com
  9. , featheredfriends.com
  10. , outdoorgearlab.com
  11. , millet.fr
  12. , rayonrando.com
  13. , go-sport.com
  14. , randoeco.fr
  15. , altituderando.com
  16. , sac-de-couchage.fr
  17. , zeoutdoor.com
  18. , chullanka.com
  19. , randozone.com
  20. , cyclo-randonnee.fr
  21. , i-trekkings.net
  22. , snowleader.com
  23. , rayonrando.com
  24. , altituderando.com
  25. , larandonnee.boutique
  26. , marcheursimbrechies.net
  27. , haglofs.com
  28. , gpszapp.net
  29. , tourdumondiste.com
  30. , bichettevoyage.com
  31. , lacordee.com
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Updates

March 2022 : Translation of this buying guide from our partner meilleurtest.fr

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Our selection
Active Era 300GSM 9
Active Era 300GSM
Active Era M150 10
Active Era M150
Nacatin Mummy 11
Nacatin Mummy
Sleeping bag for hiking - Terra Hiker 12
Sleeping bag for hiking - Terra Hiker

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