A sleeping bag decides whether you wake up rested or spend the night shivering. The right one depends on how cold it gets where you camp, how much room you like and whether you carry the bag on your back or in the car.
We’ve reviewed six sleeping bags, from a 680 g bag for warm nights to a big cotton and flannel bag rated to -5°C. Here’s how they compare and which one suits each kind of trip.
Quick picks: the best camping sleeping bags comparedQuick picks
| Product | Score | Price | Rating | Weight | Size | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best overallSea to Summit Boab -1°C | 9.2 | High | 2°C | 1.4 kg | 216 × 76 cm | Check price at Amazon |
Best for cold nightsAdventure Kings Hooded Sleeping Bag | 8.8 | Mid | -2°C | 2.0 kg | 240 × 90 cm | Check price at Amazon |
Best budgetWanderer Single Hooded Sleeping Bag | 8.7 | Mid | 0°C | 1.8 kg | 220 × 80 cm | Check price at BCF |
Best lightweightNaturehike LW180 Sleeping Bag | 8.6 | Low | 15°C | 680 g | 190 × 75 cm | Check price at Amazon |
Best all-rounderNaturehike Y150L Sleeping Bag | 8.3 | Low | 7°C | 1.3 kg | 220 × 85 cm | Check price at Amazon |
| 8.2 | Mid | -5°C | 3.3 kg | 200 × 100 cm | Check price at Amazon |
Price bands are based on what we paid.
Best overall: Sea to Summit Boab -1°CBest overall: StS Boab
The Sea to Summit Boab scored highest of the sleeping bags we’ve tested. The materials feel really nice, it packs away small and it’s much easier to roll up than most bags. The two-way zip runs through the footbox, so it opens flat into a quilt.
It’s the most expensive bag here and too heavy to be a hiking bag, and the Regular is a bit snug to get into, so taller campers should look at the wide version. For three-season camping where you want comfort but can’t spare much room in the car, it’s the one to get.
Sea to Summit Boab -1°C
Scored 9.2 out of 10Our take: A lovely sleeping bag that packs away compact and easy. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Materials feel really nice
- Packs away compact: about 10 litres
- Easier to roll up than most bags
- Comfort rating 2°C, lower limit -1°C
- Opens flat into a quilt
- Two-way zip that doesn’t snag
What we don’t
- Pricey at $215
- At 1.4 kg, heavy for hiking
- Regular is snug at 186 cm
Best for cold nights: Adventure Kings Hooded Sleeping BagCold nights: Kings Hooded
The Kings hooded sleeping bag is the one for cold nights: two layers of fill keep you warm below freezing, and it’s long and wide enough for tall campers to roll over. Buy a left and a right-hand zip version and the two zip together into a double.
It’s heavy and bulky, so it’s for car camping only, and the outer fabric isn’t especially soft. For cold nights in a swag or rooftop tent, it’s the one to get.
Adventure Kings Hooded Sleeping Bag
Scored 8.8 out of 10Our take: A lot of sleeping bag for the money, and a great buy for couples. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Big: 240 × 90 cm
- Two bags zip into a double
- Rated to -2°C by Kings
- Hood with a drawstring
- Tough 210D compression bag
- $80 for a pair
What we don’t
- Heavy at 2 kg
- Bulky: 40 × 26 × 26 cm packed
- 70D shell isn’t very soft
Best budget: Wanderer Single Hooded Sleeping BagBudget: Wanderer
The Wanderer Single Hooded is a pretty simple bag that does what it should for $80. It has a 0°C comfort rating and a hood you can tighten with a drawstring, it’s warm enough even on colder nights, and after many trips over the last year it’s holding up well.
The materials are basic and the zipper feels a bit cheap, so it doesn’t feel premium, and at 1.8 kg it’s a car camping bag. For a warm bag on a budget, it’s the one to get.
Wanderer Single Hooded Sleeping Bag
Scored 8.7 out of 10Our take: A pretty simple sleeping bag that does what it should. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Warm enough on colder nights
- Hood tightens with a drawstring
- Holding up after a year of trips
- 0°C comfort rating
- Machine washable
What we don’t
- Basic materials, feels cheap
- Zipper doesn’t feel premium
- Bulky: 1.8 kg packed
Best lightweight: Naturehike LW180 Sleeping BagLightweight: LW180
The Naturehike LW180 is the bag here for hiking, cycling or travelling light: it’s very light and packs small. The lining is soft and the foot zip lets you cool down.
It’s a warm-weather bag, and we used it on mild nights only. The zip can snag and the straps on the stuff sack feel a bit flimsy. For summer and early autumn, it’s very good value.
Naturehike LW180 Sleeping Bag
Scored 8.6 out of 10Our take: The Naturehike LW180 Sleeping Bag is light, compact and good value. The soft lining makes it comfortable in mild weather. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Very light (680 g)
- Packs down to 29 × 12 cm
- Foot zip for ventilation
- Also sold in a larger XL size
- Comfy 240T pongee lining
What we don’t
- Zipper can snag easily
- Best for warmer conditions
- Stuff sack straps feel a bit flimsy
Best all-rounder: Naturehike Y150L Sleeping BagAll-rounder: Y150L
The Naturehike Y150L is a good all-rounder for spring to autumn. The fabric is soft and quiet, the fit is roomy, it unzips flat to use as a blanket and it can be joined to a second bag.
It’s better in the car than in a pack. It isn’t for sub-zero nights and can be too warm in tropical humidity. For most trips between spring and autumn, it’s a comfortable bag.
Naturehike Y150L Sleeping Bag
Scored 8.3 out of 10Our take: A warm, roomy bag for spring to autumn, and a lot of bag for $40. It kept us warm on 8 to 10 °C nights, unzips flat as a blanket and joins to a second bag. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Soft, quiet fabric with a roomy fit
- Unzips flat for blanket-style use
- Joins to another bag for couples
- Good warmth-to-weight ratio
- Packs small for drawer storage
What we don’t
- Not suitable for sub-zero temps
- May be too warm in tropical humidity
- No inside pocket for valuables
Warmest: Coleman Pilbara C-5 Sleeping BagWarmest: Coleman Pilbara
The Coleman Pilbara C-5 is the warmest bag we’ve tested. It’s a roomy rectangle with a cotton shell, a soft flannel lining and a fleece liner you can zip in or leave out. The zip doesn’t snag and the bag is machine washable.
It’s the heaviest and bulkiest bag here, so it only makes sense when the car carries it. For winter nights in a swag, tent or rooftop tent, it’s a warm and comfortable choice.
Coleman Pilbara C-5 Sleeping Bag
Scored 8.2 out of 10Our take: A big, warm cotton sleeping bag for cold nights by the car. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Rated to -5°C
- Big and roomy: 200 × 100 cm
- Soft cotton flannel lining
- Removable fleece liner included
- Snag-free ZipPlow zip
- Machine washable
What we don’t
- Heavy: about 3.3 kg
- Bulky even in its compression sack
- For the car only, not for carrying
How to choose a camping sleeping bagHow to choose
Pick a sleeping bag for the coldest night you expect, not the average one. Australia covers everything from sticky summer nights on the coast to frost in the high country, so where and when you camp decides most of it. Then think about how you travel: in a pack, every gram counts; in the car, a heavier bag with more fill is no problem.
Check the comfort rating rather than the lower limit: it’s the temperature most people sleep comfortably at. Sleeping bags come in three warmth ranges:
- Summer
10°C+
Light and small to pack. For warm nights, or as a quilt in a warm tent.
WeightUnder 1 kgSuitsSummer and hikingLike - Three-season
0–10°C
The all-rounder for spring to autumn in most of Australia.
WeightAround 1–1.5 kgSuitsSpring, summer and autumn - Winter
<0°C
More fill and often a hood, for frosty nights and the high country.
Weight2 kg and upSuitsWinter and the high country
Also check
- Shape and lengthRectangular bags give you room to roll over. If you’re tall, check the length.
- ZipsA foot zip lets you cool down. Left and right-hand bags zip together for couples.
- FillSynthetic fill is cheaper and still warm when damp; down is lighter and packs smaller.
- HoodA hood keeps your head warm on cold nights. On warm nights you won’t miss it.
If your bag isn’t quite warm enough, a liner is cheaper than a new bag: the Coleman Stratus fleece liner is rated to add 12°F, about 6.7°C. What’s under you matters as much as the bag, so pair it with one of the sleeping pads we’ve reviewed. Two of the bags here are from Naturehike, a brand we’ve tested a lot of gear from.
How we test
We buy the gear ourselves and take it on camping trips around Australia to put it to the test in real outdoor conditions, in the 4WD and at camp, and to see how it holds up over a few trips. We weigh everything on our own scale and photograph it ourselves. If we haven’t used something, we say so, and if anything fails later on, we update the review.
Scored out of 10 on
- Ease of use
- Performance
- Portability
- Durability
- Value
