Warm Weather Down Sleeping Bags

Featured review by Phil Smith

The Western Mountaineering EverLite is a lightweight warm-weather down sleeping bag. A versatile piece of gear, it can also be used as an inner bag or an overquilt.

I bought my Western Mountaineering EverLite sleeping bag about 3 years ago as part of my 4lb summer bag/pad/tent setup, and I’m thoroughly impressed with it. It keeps me warm below the 45°F rated temp, packs down way smaller than I’ve needed, and the tapered design makes it very versatile—it can be used as a sleeping bag, blanket, inner/outer bag to increase the warmth of another bag, and an overquilt for a hammock.  Construction is very high quality, all stitching is even and straight, and the only flaw I’ve found on mine is the hook and loop fastener at the foot was mistakenly sewn as a hook and hook fastener.

Read more: Western Mountaineering EverLite reviews (3)

Featured review by David

This super-lightweight, amazingly compressible, down sleeping bag rated 35 degrees is my go-to bag for just about all of my backpacking trips. While rated at 35 degrees, I'll take it even if it's supposed to get down to 30, and I'll explain that below. I would not take this bag if conditions predicted temps colder than 30 and/or lots and lots of rain. Otherwise, this is a great bag!

Since it's a sleeping bag, let's talk about warmth first. I HATE being cold. I like to sleep warm, and I tend to sleep cold. So, I need to add things to keep me warm when other people would think I'm crazy.  I used this 35 degree bag in 30 degree temps, with wind chills lower due to 30 mph winds. I wore an old Moonstone Stretch Fleece and a Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer along with medium weight Patagonia Capillene long johns and Smartwool Light Hiker socks to stay warm and cozy in my tent.

Read more: Western Mountaineering HighLite reviews (7)

Featured review by Craig Bishop

What can I say about Western Mountaineering, I first heard about these products through an online talk group and I must say I'm impressed. To put it in perspective, I currently own two Rab mountaineering sleeping bags which were handmade for me, however for use in Scotland in the summer, I found they were just too warm. So when I heard about Western Mountaineering, I decided to look up the only United Kingdom supplier of these sleeping bags and found that they were offering the "Caribou" at a sale price of £135 so I decided to order.

Read more: Western Mountaineering Caribou MF reviews (3)

Featured review by StoicFabian

A versatile and quality piece of sleeping gear that can be used in many different ways and provide warmth even in slightly-bellow-rated temperatures. Good option for lightweight backpackers campers and travelers who sleep in various conditions and settings (hammock, tent, hostels, etc.).

Context I live in a tropical country and temperatures here hardly ever go below 30°F, even at the height of the winter and in the wilderness and rural areas where it’s always colder. Therefore, I can do fine with mid-temp sleeping bags, added of other layers like clothes (base layer and others) and a hammock sock (e.g. my Outdoor Vitals Bugnet which serves double-duty as wind insulation and bug protection). Characteristics The Sea To Summit TR1 has proved perfect for my needs. It’s lightweight and compact compared to synthetics, and it can be used in different ways to accommodate for various situations.

Read more: Sea to Summit Traveller TrI 50°F reviews (3)

Featured review by Trevor

A good bag for its intended use: 40 degree evenings. If it's a bit colder outside than that, you might want a baffled design sleeping bag. If the temperature is 30 degrees or less, you will really want more down in a baffled bag unless you have the metabolism of a squirrel. Admittedly, I tend to "sleep cold".The bag is rated to fit people up to 6'3". I am 6'0" and wouldn't want the length to be any shorter.Build quality is as good as any other premium brand. The fabric used for the shell requires some extra care, as it is an extremely light ripstop.

Read more: Western Mountaineering MityLite reviews (3)

Reviewed by Christoph Maurer

This is an ultra-ultralight sleeping bag with a short zip. Use it when you want to save weight and if you are prepared to sacrifice some comfort.

I am 189cm (6'2"). This bag (size long) weighs 428g (15.097oz) without the stuff sack. It is the lightest sleeping bag I could find. Warmth:This is different for every person. I would say the temperature rating is OK. I am a very cold sleeper so I can use this bag even when it is around the lower limit of 8°C|46°F. I don't mind being somewhat cold, but I will rather put on all available clothes and wake up every now and then before carrying a heavier bag. When it gets cold at home, I sleep outside on the balcony to see how low I can go.

Read more: Sea to Summit Spark SP I review (1)

Reviewed by Jake W

The Big Agnes McKinnis is a lightweight, down insulated sleeping bag designed for minimalist trips, bike packing, or any time some extra insulation is needed within your sleep system. Versatile enough to go from your warm weather summer bag to a winter liner, I believe the McKinnis would be an excellent addition to many people's kits. The main point I’d like to see redesigned is the hood shape as it currently doesn’t add much function.

WARMTH No temperature rating is given for the McKinnis so that kind of eliminates the whole “Does it keep you warm at its stated rating?” question. I received this bag for testing at the end of July, so right in the wheel house of this ultra light bag, and have purposely held off on this review until I could test it to its limits….I found the limits….in an uncomfortable way.  If I were to assign the most unscientific EN ratings ever (please keep in mind these are just my opinion and everyone's sleep comfort is influenced by a number of factors), I would give it a comfort rating of around 13°c (around 55°f), and a lower limit at somewhere between 8° and 10°c (46° - 50°f).

Read more: Big Agnes McKinnis review (1)

Featured review by Ashleigh

Surely you have had to deal with the agony of having to crawl out of your warm sleeping bag when it is freezing cold out. Nobody likes it! Sierra Designs has come up with a solution for it by creating one of the most innovative new sleeping bags on the market, The Mobile Mummy. It is a garment style sleeping bag that you can wear while you walk around camp and use your arms to read, eat, or drink a beverage while in your tent. While it isn’t the first sleeping bag with arm and leg ports, it is certainly the most well designed one that I have seen. Weighing in at 1 lb 13 oz, this 800 fill DriDown women’s specific version is rated to a comfort level of 31 degrees and a lower limit of 20 degrees.

About the tester: I am a 5’4” 30-year-old female backpacker from South Carolina. I typically day hike and backpack in the southern Appalachian Mountains, primarily in North Carolina. My backpacking style is comfort-driven. I am not afraid to carry an item that is a few more ounces if it means it will be more comfortable. I prefer big tents, warm and roomy sleeping bags, plush sleeping pads, and packs with very comfortable waist belts and shoulder pads. In other words, “roughing it” is not my style.

Read more: Sierra Designs Mobile Mummy 800 2-Season reviews (2)

Reviewed by Bill S

The Montane Minimus sleeping bag is very lightweight, 3-season bag, well suited for the light backpacker or climber who will be traveling in damp environments (heavy dew, occasional rainshowers) with minimal shelter, bivouacking in the open, or as an emergency backup. Since it is quite waterproof, the Minimus can act as a combined bivy sack and sleeping bag for much less weight and is more compact. Its major flaw is that it is somewhat awkward to get into due to the zipper design.

Background: One of the most critical items for the backpacker, climber, backcountry skier, or snowshoer is the sleeping bag. A good sleeping bag can mean the difference between a good night’s restful sleep and misery. Among the criteria are warmth to match the environment, weight of the bag in your pack, comfort to match your size, durability, and a reasonable cost for what you get. During my life in the outdoors, I have been given, bought, slept in, and divested too many sleeping bags. I started, as most kids growing up in the middle of the Sonora Desert did, with a “bedroll”, which basically was just a wool blanket.

Read more: Montane Minimus Sleeping Bag review (1)

Featured review by Norwegian Cyclist

2-3 season bag that's easy to pack and carry, and is very flexible in use, covering a huge range of above-freezing temperatures.

I used this bag in early 2013 on a 3-month cycling tour of Australia in summer/early autumn. I moved to a new location most days, so there was plenty of packing and unpacking. Conditions ranged from around +2°C (ground frost) at 1,000 m in Tasmania to + 30°C night temperatures at sea level in southern Queensland. I always use a Coolmax liner as it's much easier to wash a liner than a down bag. (I find silk liners to be too clammy.) In the coldest temperatures I was snugly warm in a lightweight merino cycle top inside the liner and with the bag zip fully closed with hood up and foot end closed.

Read more: Sea to Summit Micro MC II reviews (2)