Here at the Strategist UK, we like to think of ourselves as crazy (in the good way) about the stuff we buy, but as much as we’d like to, we can’t try everything. Which is why we have People’s Choice, in which we find the best-reviewed products and single out the most convincing ones. (You can learn more about our rating system and how we pick each item here.)
And while we’ve written about bedding before — including the softest, most dreamy sheets, and cloudlike pillows — here, we’ve taken it outdoors and rounded up the very best selection of sleeping bags, as praised by the most enthusiastic reviewers on Amazon.
Best-rated overall sleeping bag
Touted as suitable across three seasons — spring, autumn, and early winter (stress on the early) — this sleeping bag might be the one for all your camping endeavours throughout the year, bar the dead of winter. It has 865 reviews, and a star rating of 4.5. Thirty-three reviewers mention that the sleeping bag is ‘comfy’ or ‘comfortable’ (five went so far as to say it was snug). It has an all-round zipper, form-fitting hood, and a water-resistant polyester shell, insulated with 250g/m2 (gsm) hollow fibre. (The GSM rating is the amount of weight per square meter in an insulating material. Usually, the heavier, the warmer. But not all filling materials are created equal, so some will trap more heat at lower weights, too).
With a whopping length of 190cm, one reviewer said this was the one for tall folk, explaining that his five-foot-seven daughter disappeared in it, with a whole forearm’s length of space still left at the top. Another said that the padded hood made an extra pillow redundant. This isn’t the best option for colder months though, with multiple reviews pointing out that it doesn’t hold up when freezing, or at the manufacturer’s claim of minus-five degrees, though reviewers felt it performed well overall at the 5 and 15 degree marks.
Best less-expensive sleeping bag
With a pongee lining (sounds fancier than it is; it’s just a lightweight, woven polyester) and all the standard snug features, like the cocoon shape and drawstring hood, more than ten reviews say this sleeping bag kept them at a good temperature for a comfortable sleep. Just over 10 percent of reviews described it as ‘lovely,’ and commented on the bright colour options. Reviewers also found it useful in the home – one said that her child with special needs found weighted blankets too heavy, but this sleeping bag offered the snug fit her child likes, without the weight. Many who purchased it for themselves said it did the job for their Glastonbury, Sonisphere, and summer festival trips, kept them warm and was easy to carry.
One reviewer said they were sucked in by the neon colour options — which they called “sexy” but turned out to be more muted in reality — though still gave the sleeping bag five stars for keeping their size 10, five-foot-five frame dry and comfy at Glastonbury. It’s apparently a big hit with the kids, too, with some parents thrilled with their purchase after Brownie and scout trips. Another said their child had nicknamed it the caterpillar bed. On the caterpillar note, one reviewer actually purchased the lime-green option for their 8-year-old’s caterpillar fancy dress costume. One adult even said it made them feel like a big hungry purple caterpillar, too.
Best extra warm sleeping bag
With a satisfying cocoon shape that helps to keep you cozy, this ice-blue number — with just over 2,300 reviews and an average of 4.3 stars — has a relatively warm filling of 300gsm, but it’s still probably not great for extreme cold. But it’s suitable for at least three seasons, and possibly all of winter too. Its drawstring hood allows you to tighten or loosen the fit, whatever takes your fancy. And it comes with practical additions, like internal pouches for valuables (it’s basically a very warm onesie with pockets) and a double-zip system. It also comes with a compression carry bag that makes swifter work of just stuffing it in and being on your way.
The overall verdict on warmth is a thumbs up, including somebody who purchased it for their son’s Duke of Edinburgh trip (as did 25 other reviewers) where the cold was wretched (yes, wretched). Almost 300 reviews specifically mention the sleeping bag being ‘good’ or ‘great’ value or ‘value for money,’ along with over 100 that describe it as ‘good quality’ or ‘warm and comfortable.’ Though a few reviewers felt the manufacturer’s claim of its suitability at minus-ten degrees was (really) pushing it, including somebody that went trekking in Iceland for almost two weeks. And a few ran into annoyances with the zip.
Best-rated double sleeping bag
Overall, reviews rate the material’s light weight, ‘coziness,’ and extras like internal storage pockets most highly. One person said they use it for warmth at night indoors, instead of central heating that dries out their sensitive skin. A few reviewers, including the most critical, did not take to the carry bag, though. They felt it was flimsy in comparison to the actual sleeping bag. Also, according to reviews, the claim of it being a three- to four-season sleeping bag is a bit too bold.
An even smaller few were not thrilled with the zip design, because there’s one zip for the bottom and one for the side, rather than an all-around zip. Oddly, there’s not much mention of its size capability, though there aren’t many complaints about it being too big (bar one), small, or not true to size. Though the few reviews that do mention its size were pleased with it, with one reviewer a very happy camper after returning from his fishing trip, branding it super-comfy, warm, and sizable (but not too sizable).
Best-rated sleeping bag with a guarantee
An envelope design, with foot zip and side zip, complete with compression carry bag, this sleeping bag is pretty standard specification-wise. Though it does come with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a lifetime warranty. But the reviews really sell it as an unlikely all-rounder when it comes to adults, teens, and kids. It has over 1,300 five-star reviews, several of which mention its high quality.
While it’s probably not a solid option for winter, generally the reviews rate its heat retention as good. There are also a few reviewers that described their kids as snug as bugs in this sleeping bag, while adults using it for themselves were also relatively satisfied. One six-foot-two reviewer said it works for tall people, too.
Best-rated for kids under 6
About 20 percent of the reviews for this sleeping ba mentioned how thrilled their kids were with the outside design pattern or colour — there are a number of options to choose from. Quality-wise, it’s also a hit, with one reviewer who was initially worried about cheap quality saying it didn’t disappoint. It’s got a cocoon, mummy-like shape for a snug fit, hollow fibre filling that’s most suited to warmer weather, and a polyester-cotton blend lining.
It’s worth mentioning that reviewers who bought this sleeping bag for children over 6 were most likely to say it was too small. Likewise, those who purchased for kids 6 or younger were typically pleased with it. One reviewer who bought the sleeping bag for her 6-year-old’s Beavers trip said it was easy for him to pack away and that he loved the hood feature because he could hide his thumb-sucking from his friends. Be careful when selecting your pattern though, as one reviewer warns that some of them don’t cover the same range of seasons as the listing title suggests.
Best-rated summer sleeping bag
A lighter-weight sleeping bag for warmer months, and possibly early winter, this compact sleeping bag with a square silhouette has an antibacterial lining and a built-in mosquito net. Reviewers have praised it for its ultracompact shape when packed, and described its warmth factor as satisfactory (for warmer weather). One said the inner fabric felt particularly good against their skin, though another found the non-removable mosquito net a bit of an inconvenience.
The top critical reviewer said they got way too hot when sleeping during a trip to a jungle in Thailand in July (pre-pandemic), but was very pleased with the mosquito-net feature.
Best ultralight sleeping bag
The reviews for this sleeping bag are full of (mostly) happy music revelers and backpackers. Its lining is cotton, and its compact size makes it easier to carry around, while still being suitable for anyone over 5, according to the seller. The top reviewer says they purchased two and survived two months of backpacking, including three weeks of trekking in the Nepal Himalayas. Though the same review mentioned sizing differences between the different colour options as a minor inconvenience, they still describe it as specially designed for space saving. It even got a thumbs-up from a veteran scout and camper, too, who said it was tiny when packed away.
From reviewers who camped in Barcelona, to those who sent their kids on school trips to the south of France with them, the overall verdict is great value for money, super easy to pack away and travel with, and good temperature control in warmer climates.
The Strategist UK is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Read about who we are and what we do here. Our editors update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.