Cold Weather Synthetic Sleeping Bags

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Recent Cold Weather Synthetic Sleeping Bag Reviews

U.S. Armed Forces Modular Sleep System MSS

Great first sleeping system (with two pads). Horrible for backpacking. I recommend the MSS to all my Boy Scouts. A used MSS paired with two foam pads is BY FAR the best value in sleeping gear. Here's what I give all my new Scouts (and parents): A synthetic-fill sleeping bag and two dimpled foam pads are best for most Scouts. Both are cheaper, rugged, easier to wash, and handle wet/dirty conditions better. Both can be used with better and/or cold-weather gear you can buy later. Consider first the… Full review

Wiggy's Ultima Thule

For the price, this is a good bag, well-sewn and durable. It is roomy and comfortable and a pleasure to crawl into. I have an issue with my bag at temps under zero that I was surprised to find. The seam that is opposite the zipper side that runs from head to toe is very thin. Less than 1/4 inch of insulation can be felt along that seam. At 8 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, I experience a cold streak along this side of my bag. As mentioned above, overall for the price I am happy to keep and use this… Full review

Slumberjack Latitude -20°F

OK winter outer bag, as long as you know how to sleep and survive in cold weather. Too big for a standalone bag for me. I used this bag last winter in northern MN while leading dogsledding/skiing trips as an outer bag combined with an old 15 or 20 degree down inner (probably actually 20-25° now) and spent around 40 nights out in it, in temps ranging from -25°F to 30°F. Slept on two Therm-a-Rest RidgeRests under open tarps, in a mid, or in a doglsed. As others have noted, probably not wise to… Full review

Slumberjack Latitude -20°F

Bag lives up to its name. People who contest otherwise are not dressing appropriately (overdressing) and should find other activities than outdoor ones. This bag keeps you warm. Some writers have indicated that it is overrated. ALL bags are rated for ideal conditions and are thus overrated for some activities. ALL. Bag is comfortable, loft holds up well. NOTE: you cannot overdress and use a bag that is designed for this low of a temperature. The more you wear, the more you will actually sweat. Sweat… Full review

The North Face Dark Star -40

If you are crazy enough to winter camp in northern Minnesota (or most places in Canada for that matter) and want an affordable extreme cold-weather bag, this one should be high on your list. Look folks, -40 degrees is cold. I mean COLD. Few of us will ever get to experience it. I came close, though. During a week-long winter camping trip to the BWCA in northern Minnesota the night temps fell to -30°F, and probably a few degrees colder. Our group had two cotton tents, neither heated at night, and… Full review

Big Agnes Yellow Wall SL 0°

I spend most of the year in the hills and have used this bag exclusively for the last five. After owning and using a Big Agnes bag I will not use another brand. The product is well designed. The bag has been great. I have used it for five years, everywhere from Arizona to Oregon. It is the first Big Agnes bag that I have owned and now I will not use any other maker. Big Agnes equipment is built to be used and stand up to the demands of the outdoors. I am proud of all my Big Agnes gear. Full review

The North Face Dark Star -40

Warm. This is a warm bag. It was used on a 5-day trip to Ontario in temps that hovered in the upper negative teens F. When I did not roll off my pads, the bag kept me extremely warm. When not on the pads, it still kept me comfortably warm, but with a slight chill. Not at all uncomfortable. This bag is also quick to dry in the morning. These are the only positives in my opinion. The zipper is unbelievably difficult to pull closed the last 6 remaining inches. The draft tube comes loose easily… Full review

ALPS Mountaineering Echo Lake -20

A very warm and comfortable sleeping bag. While the Echo Lake -20 does the job, there are some things that could have been done better. I bought the ALPS Mountaineering Echo Lake -20 sleeping bag in October for dead-of-winter camping. Unfortunately we've had a very mild winter so far, and it wasn't until this past week that we've seen subzero temps. There's no sense in testing equipment if you're not going to approach or push the envelope, right? This past Monday and Wednesday nights were forecast… Full review

U.S. Armed Forces Modular Sleep System MSS

Personally test, constantly used, tough as nails! I have personally used this sleep system more than a hundred time, both while I was in service and now as a civilian. It was my first purchase (of military gear) the week I had to turn in my Army issued MSS, right before retiring. It's warm, tough/durable, and with the bivy bag it's water tight. Now, a lot of people complain about its weight (being around 10-12 lbs all together), but I am 6' 4" and 255 lbs, and I never even noticed when it was in… Full review