Great Sleeping Bags and Pads for Summer Camping

Summer can be a great time of year to get out and camp. Kids are out of school, there are lots of things to do outside and freezing overnight temperatures generally aren’t a concern. In fact, the opposite—warm nighttime temps—may be more likely, though there are still plenty of places in the U.S. where overnight temperatures can be quite chilly.

The best summertime sleeping bags should be lightweight, breathable and have more moderate temperature ratings that allow the user to be comfortable on warmer nights. Rectangular or semi-rectangular sleeping bags tend to dominate this category. They generally offer more room to move around, and with the warmer temperatures, a snug-fitting bag with a built-in hood isn’t always necessary. Narrower mummy bags with a high enough temperature rating also work well, especially for hikers or backpackers who wish to minimize weight—and there are some who like to be snugly wrapped, even in summer.

A sleeping quilt is another great summer option that provides insulation around and atop the body but isn’t fully enclosed, thus allowing for good venting and air flow. With these considerations in mind, what follows is a selection of solid sleeping bags sure to set you up for success in all your summer camping adventures.

SLEEPING BAGS

ALPS Mountaineering Vibe +40

• Dimensions: 80 x 32 inches
• Weight: 2.33 pounds
• Fill: TechLoft Micro insulation
• Price: $79.99

This 40-degree-rated mummy-style bag is a great option for summer backpackers or campers looking to go light without sacrificing comfort. To keep the chill at bay overnight, the Vibe +40 features synthetic TechLoft Micro insulation and insulated chest and zipper baffles to keep in body heat. The polyester ripstop exterior stands up to the inevitable wear and tear one is sure to face while camping, while the soft polyester liner provides a comfortable interior surface. The bag also features a two-layer offset construction and #8 separating zippers for durability and smooth operation. The Vibe +40 is affordable, relatively lightweight at just over 2 pounds and is available in regular and long sizes.

Coleman Montauk 40°F Big & Tall Contour Sleeping Bag

• Dimensions: 84 x 36 inches
• Weight: 5 pounds
• Fill: Coletherm hollow polyester insulation
• Price: $59.99

The Montauk 40°F Big & Tall is a perfect option for large-stature individuals who may struggle to fit comfortably in “regular-sized” sleeping bags. This semi-rectangular bag is designed to accommodate campers up to 6 feet, 5 inches in height. The bag’s Coletherm hollow polyester insulation keeps users warm on chilly nights, and the Thermolock draft tube helps prevent heat loss along the zipper, a place where it commonly escapes. Speaking of the zipper, it is a snag-free design to ensure easy opening and closing. The Montauk 40°F Big & Tall has a contoured head shape to keep your head and pillow off the floor, and the sleeping bag’s Comfort Cuff surrounds your face with a soft fabric. The bag easily packs up courtesy of its Roll Control system, which keeps everything straight when rolling, and its no-tie QuickCord system. The sleeping bag is machine washable and comes with a 5-year warranty.

Marmot Mad River Down 40° Sleeping Bag

• Dimensions: 79 x 63 (shoulder), 57.9 (hip), 48.8 (footbox) inches
• Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Fill: 650 fill power RDS duck down with ExpeDry
• Price: $199.99

The Mad River Down 40° is a packable, less-than-2-pound down mummy bag that’s perfect for serious backpackers. The bag’s 650-fill-power duck down is warm and offers a comfortable retreat after a long day spent hiking or engaging in other outdoor activities. Down has a reputation for becoming wet in humid conditions, but this bag features ExpeDry—a permanent, chemical-free alternative to DWR (Durable Water Repellent) treatments—which helps down dry quickly and retain its loft. A full-length, anti-snag, left-side zipper and a shorter right-side zipper facilitate easy opening and closing of various ventilation options in warmer conditions. The footbox has a wrap-around construction and is built to be roomy and warm, and the insulated draft tube ensures heat doesn’t escape. The bag has an internal stash pocket for a headlamp, flashlight or contact lenses, while the included compression sack makes it easy to pack and carry.

L.L. Bean Adults’ Puffer Sleeping Bag

• Dimensions: 74 x 33 inches
• Weight: 3.69 pounds
• Fill: Recycled ColdShield polyester insulation
• Price: $99

Whether you’re camping in your vehicle or a tent this summer, this soft, comfy sleeping bag is a great choice. The 40-degree-rated bag has a lightweight, water-resistant 30D polyester ripstop shell and liner that’s super-soft on the skin. Recycled ColdShield polyester insulation keeps campers warm during cool summer nights, and the drawcord top and full draft tube ensures that heat is retained within the bag. There’s a small, zippered pocket perfect for valuables or a light on the front of the chest, and a two-way, full-length zipper provides easy entry and exit. The Puffer Sleeping Bag is also quite versatile in that you can unzip it fully to transform it into a cozy camp blanket, or even zip two Puffers together to form an ultra-comfortable double sleeping bag. It comes in regular and large sizes, and a kid’s version is also available.

Therm-A-Rest Space Cowboy 45F Sleeping Bag

• Dimensions: 80 x 31 inches
• Weight: 1.75 pounds
• Fill: EraLoft polyester hollow fiber
• Price: $199.95

Whether road tripping or striking out into the backcountry, the lightweight Space Cowboy 45 is the perfect companion. A warm-weather bag with a 45-degree rating, it features a 100-percent recycled nylon ripstop shell and liner, with the shell also being water-repellent. In fact, with its synthetic eraLoft polyester hollow fiber insulation, morning dew and high humidity are no bother at all. The Space Cowboy 45F also has removable ultralight straps (SynergyLink Connectors) that secure the bag to a sleeping bag to optimize comfort and thermal efficiency. It uses an excellent YKK anti-snag zipper to allow easy access and prevent accidental tears, and the sub-2-pound bag packs away tightly in the included storage sack. Available in small, regular and long sizes.

Exped DeepSleep 45°F

• Dimensions: 79.9 x 58.3 (shoulder), 37.8 (footbox) inches
• Weight: 2.13 pounds
• Fill: 100-percent recycled Texpedloft polyester
• Price: $99.95

This compact, roughly 2-pound sleeping bag is ideal for general summer camping and backpacking. It’s a particularly good option for those interested in minimizing their environmental footprint, as the entire bag is made from 100-percent recycled polyester free of PFAS. This includes the shell and liner (both recycled 40D ripstop polyester), as well as the insulation (bluesign approved 100-percent recycled Texpedloft polyester). Its single-material construction also makes recycling the bag itself easier at the end of its useful life. An adjustable drawstring hood cinches down tight to prevent heat loss, and the bag’s 3D footbox has a compartment for storing handwarmers that can help keep feet warm on extra-cool nights. It also has a handy chest pocket for a headlamp or a phone. The DeepSleep 45°F comes in medium and long sizes.

REI Co-Op Kindercamp 40 Sleeping Bag

• Dimensions: 60 x 55 inches
• Weight: 3.06 pounds
• Fill: Recycled polyester
• Price: $69.95

The Kindercamp 40 is a great option for kids’ sleepovers and family camping trips alike. The bag, which accommodates children up to 5 feet tall, has a rectangular shape that provides lots of internal wiggle room. It can also be fully unzipped and used as a quilt in more casual settings. The shell and lining are both recycled polyester with a non-fluorinated durable water repellent coating, with the liner also having bright, fun graphics. Synthetic insulation keeps kids warm when nights are cold, even in damp conditions, and the cinchable, insulated muffler and zipper draft tube help retain that heat. The zipper is easy for kids to use due to its built-in snag guard, and the bag comes with an attached stuff sack for straightforward pack-up.

Teton Gear Celsius 20 Sleeping Bag

• Dimensions: 80 x 33 inches
• Weight: 4.3 pounds
• Fill: SuperLoft Elite single-channel hollow fiber
• Price: $79.99

You probably won’t take this oversized, 4-pound sleeping bag into the backcountry, but it’s great for camping in or near vehicles. The regular bag is already larger than standard rectangular bags, but even wider and longer options are available, as is a kid’s version and a double sleeping bag. An anti-snag zipper and webbing permit easy entry and exit, while a two-way L-zip transforms the bag into a camp blanket. With its offset-stitch, double-layer construction, the Celsius 20 is also quite durable. Synthetic fibers provide insulation, and a mummy-style hood and full-length draft tube ensure heat stays in the bag. While rated for survival at 20 degrees, actual comfort temperature ratings are likely closer to 40 or 50 degrees, making this bag well suited for summer use. If you do get too hot inside the bag, you can also lie atop it and cover up with a blanket, like Teton Gear’s Acadia Camp Blanket.

Western Mountaineering MityLite 40

• Dimensions: 75 x 62 (shoulder), 59 (hip), 46 (footbox) inches
• Weight: 1.625 pounds
• Fill: 850+ fill power goose down
• Price: $470

Weighing less than 2 pounds and exceptionally packable, this roomy, semi-rectangular sleeping bag is great for road tripping, vehicle camping or summertime backpacking. The bag’s 12 ounces of ethically sourced 850+ fill power goose down offers solid insulation for cold nights, and its sewn-through construction helps it retain heat while also keeping it lightweight. The full-length #5 YKK zipper offers smooth operation and lets users turn the bag into a cozy comforter or zip it to another MityLite to create a spacious double bag. It is a little on the pricier side, but if you’re looking for an incredibly lightweight, high-quality summer bag, this one’s an excellent choice.

Big Agnes Fly Creek UL Quilt

• Dimensions: 70 x 60 (shoulder), 36 (footbox) inches
• Weight: 15 ounces
• Fill: 850 fill power Downtek PFC-free
• Price: $349.95

Offering the flexibility of both a sleeping bag for cooler evenings and a quilt for warmer temperatures, the hybrid Fly Creek UL Quilt is a solid summer bag. Conversion from quilt to sleeping bag, and vice versa, takes seconds with the FlipIt Footbox. The full-length, two-way zipper allows for easy temperature regulation and lets you quickly transform from bag/quilt to a cozy camp blanket. The ultralight ripstop nylon, made from recycled fishing nets, is comfortable and light, and the 850-fill-power Downtek PFC-free down provides insulation, even when wet. Meanwhile, an insulated anti-draft collar and a low-profile cordlock that cinches near the top of the bag both help retain heat. The sub-1-pound bag packs down into a super-compact compression stuff sack and has four sewn-in loops for sleeping pad attachment with your choice of straps. All these features make it an excellent warm-weather backpacking bag, though it’s also suitable for car campers or anyone looking for a versatile sleeping bag.

ZPacks Summer Quilt/Winter Liner

• Dimensions: 74 x 60 (shoulder), 40 (footbox) inches
• Weight: 9.7 ounces
• Fill: 900 fill power Muscovy duck down
• Price: $339

This ultralight quilt is perfect for warm to chilly summer nights. The ripstop nylon shell and liner are treated with a PFAS-free durable water repellent coating to resist rain, morning dew and body moisture, and 5.6 ounces of 900 fill power Muscovy duck down provides insulation. Snaps at the center and neck allow for simple venting, while an elastic cord can be cinched at the neck to seal out drafts or even pull the bag up around your ears. The Summer Quilt has a roomy, envelope-style footbox that fits your feet nicely whether sleeping on your side, back or stomach, and the bag also pairs nicely with ZPacks’ Sleeping Pad Quilt Strap for secure attachment to whatever sleeping pad you use. Beyond summer use, this quilt also works great as a winter liner when paired with a warmer three-season sleeping bag for even colder conditions. It’s available in seven sizes to fit various body types and comes with a two-year limited warranty.

Sea to Summit Spark Down Sleeping Bag 45

• Dimensions: 73 x 61 (shoulder), 40 (foot) inches
• Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Fill: 850+ fill power goose down
• Price: $349

The lightest mummy bag on our list, the Spark Down Sleeping Bag 45 offers ample warmth and comfort at an incredible sub-1-pound weight. Both shell and liner are 10D nylon, with the shell also featuring a non-PFAS durable water repellent treatment to help keep out moisture. The Spark Down is filled, as its name suggests, with 850+ fill power goose down that gets a non-PFAS Ultra-Dry Down treatment for improved thermal performance, and a technical hood and zipper draft tube work to retain warmth. Designed to be light and packable, the Spark Down 45 has a half-length zipper and a sewn-through baffle construction. The warranty offered (Sea to Summit Guarantee) lasts through the product’s lifetime.

The North Face One Bag

• Dimensions: 80 x 66.5 (shoulder), 40 (foot) inches
• Weight: 3.81 pounds
• Fill: 800 fill power recycled down (mid layer); Heatseeker Eco Advanced 80-percent post-consumer recycled polyester (top layer)
• Price: $350

This versatile bag, in essence, offers three bags in one. It has three temperature ratings (40°F, 20°F and 5°F) because of having two layers: a top layer with synthetic insulation and a mid-layer with down insulation. Zip the lighter top layer into the base of the sleeping bag for warm-weather camping or zip the heavier down mid-layer in for cooler temperatures in fall and spring. For colder temps still, zip in both layers for a combined temperature rating of 5°F. The down layer can also be used as a standalone quilt for lounging around camp. The main body for each layer is 20D recycled nylon with a non-PFC durable water repellent coating. As a bonus, the included compression sack has a felt-lined interior, so you can reverse it, stuff it with any clothes you may have and use it as a pillow.

Kelty Rambler 50

• Dimensions: 73 x 29 (shoulder) inches
• Weight: 2.13 pounds
• Fill: CloudLoft synthetic insulation
• Price: $47.96

The Rambler 50 is ready for any warm-weather camping adventure. The affordable, lightweight sleeping bag has a semi-rectangular design and fit, which translates to ample space when sleeping. The no-snag Comfort-Tuck zipper system lets you quickly and easily cool down your feet on particularly hot nights, or you can fully unzip the bag and use it as a blanket. The shell is manufactured from a durable polyester material that holds up to wear and tear, while CloudLoft synthetic insulation helps keep the user warm on chilly nights. For those on the go, the Rambler 50 also packs down to 7 x 11 inches inside an included compression stuff sack.

SLEEPING PADS

Four sleeping pad options for campers looking to sleep soundly during the summer.

While sleeping bags can be used by themselves, a full sleep system that includes a sleeping bag and a sleeping pad offers a more comfortable experience. And this is true whether you’re camping in a vehicle, in a campsite near your ride or setting up shop in the backcountry. Some sleeping pads are more desirable for each scenario, but a few also serve well in both settings.

There are three basic types of sleeping pads: air pads, self-inflating air pads and closed-cell foam camping mats. Air pads are versatile options—available in extremely lightweight versions suited for backpacking or larger, heavier models intended more for camping in or close to vehicles—that rely on air to provide cushioning and support. Self-inflating pads typically combine air and foam and are often a bit heavier and intended more for traditional or car camping (though some are also light and packable enough for backpacking). Closed-cell foam camping mats are, as their name suggests, made of dense, closed-cell foam and are usually much thinner when unrolled or unfolded. While they don’t carry the risk of being punctured, they’re generally less comfortable than the other two options.

That’s a very brief explanation of the basic types of sleeping pads available. Now, let’s look at a few top options.

Klymit Klymaloft Sleeping Pad

This comfy pad ($159.99) combines plush foam with supportive I-beam air chambers to keep you comfortable and stable. While not as lightweight as some of the dedicated backpacking sleeping pads, which are often weighed in ounces instead of pounds, it’s still pretty light at 2.4 pounds and packs down into a reasonably-sized stuff sack. It inflates quickly and easily with an air pump, or you can also blow into it to inflate. It’s super comfortable when paired with a cot, but it’s equally suitable on the floor of a tent or inside a vehicle.

Nemo Tensor Elite Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad

With a minimum and packed weight of 7.6 or 8.5 ounces (depending on model), the Tensor Elite Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad ($199.95–$229.95) is super lightweight, making it perfect for any serious hiking or backcountry expedition. It uses Nemo’s Apex baffle system to ensure even weight distribution and stable comfort and is made from 10D Cordura nylon to protect against punctures. Its single layer of aluminized film helps provide a 2.4 R value, which, while relatively low compared to some other insulated pads, offers plenty of warmth for three-season use. One downside is that it’s only offered in mummy configurations, though this is the type of sleeping bag that many hikers and backpackers use anyway.

Exped MegaMat Sleeping Pad

At around 5 pounds for most versions, the self-inflating MegaMat ($239.95) isn’t going to be taking many trips to the backcountry, but it’s a super-comfortable option for car campers and overlanders. It contains 4 inches of cored foam and works great for both back- and side-sleepers. The mat is made from soft recycled materials and features a 3D vertical sidewall construction that maximizes sleep area and reduces tapering near the edges. There’s also a MegaMat Duo for sleeping two and a MegaMat Max (which also has a Duo option) that adds a couple more inches of cored foam for even more comfort (both cost a bit more).

Therm-A-Rest Z Lite Sol Sleeping Pad

For those searching for a lightweight, affordable pad and are willing to sacrifice a bit in terms of comfort, the Z Lite Sol Sleeping Pad ($49.95) is hard to beat. It’s Therm-A-Rest’s lightest, most compact closed-cell foam pad, and it has a ThermaCapture surface that reflects radiant heat back toward your body. Its folding design is compact, and, because of its material, which is virtually indestructible, it can be strapped to the outside of a pack and carried without worrying about punctures.

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