3-Season Down Sleeping Bags

Recent 3-Season Down Sleeping Bag Reviews

Western Mountaineering SummerLite

I have tested WM Summerlite in the Colorado Rockies (say, above 9000 feet), where you can expect frosty nights at any time. I would not recommend to venture out, even in midsummer, with less than a 20°F bag. BUT 32°F Summerlite did quite well in keeping me comfortable in July. I was dressed very warmly, ofc. (comfortable is the right word here, not warm). I guess this is because of the comtinious baffles; there's an unbroken four-inch layer of down separating the two nylon shell fabrics. This… Full review

The North Face Women's Blue Kazoo

Lightweight and comfortable, packs small. I bought this bag to replace my VERY old (one of the originals) Blue Kazoo bag, which had weathered the Long Trail, PCT, and CDT, along with many shorter adventures. It was a trusty friend. I found the new one to be adequate, but nothing great for the price. Has some nice features, listed in the pros, but overall I found it to be less than I expected given the quality of the original and the price. I had big cold spots when it went below about 40 degrees,… Full review

Mont Highland Hydronaute XT -10ºC

The Mont Highland is a lightweight alpine bag for cold weather. This bag has been excellent for the wet-cold nights in the Tasmanian mountains and the dry-freezing nights in the Himalaya. It is well designed and great for those trying to cut weight without skimping on warmth. WarmthI have found that this bag lacks any sort of draft or cold-spot. Mont really went overboard with the double draft tube and lack of foot zip. I only bust this bag out when it's going to reach freezing or below. The "toaster… Full review

Mont Helium 300 -1ºC

Quality lightweight sleeping bag. Best for warm sleepers and can be used below its -1°C rating sleeping in thermals and using a bag liner. Perfect three-season bag in Australia. I bought this to replace an old Paddy Pallin bag and have used it three times. The main reason for the purchase was the small size, light weight, and claimed warmth—the Mont is about 1/3 the  size and weight of my old bag. The bag is used for bush camping with most of my walking done in winter within three to four hours… Full review

Mont Helium 300 -1ºC

The Mont Helium 300 is a fantastic, lightweight, three-season bag. It's very compressible and light for such a warm bag. This bag has a full hood and with good layering you can take this into a mild winter's night, and contains 300g of 800+ loft white down. The Mont Helium 300 is my three-season bag for wilderness guiding in Tasmania. I am typically a warm sleeper, but with the temperature swings we are prone to here on the island, it is good to have a versatile sleeping bag. Construction:I own… Full review

Katabatic Gear Palisade

Fantastic! I used an unzipped regular Marmot Spire down bag for years, and by necessity, it was a bit overkill on warmth. The hood was often in my face, even though I bought it to match the side I tend to sleep on.  This quilt is a way better concept. No hood in the face, down on top, instead of compressed below (or in my case, wasted in unnecessary width, when spread out). I've been using the quilt for three years, many nights per year. It's super well made. Very cozy at its rated temp, when… Full review

The North Face Men's Superlight 0

When I bought my NFSL in 1974 it carried a lifetime warranty from NF. I sent the bag to NF in the late '70s for repair and it was returned cleaned, refilled, and repaired. Amazing! I still have this bag and only "retired" it this year. A 45-year run for a $106 investment. Hard to beat value that has been one of the best pieces of gear I've owned.  I've always stored this bag in a large laundry bag to help keep the loft high. At the end of the season I would wash the bag by hand in a bathtub. Since… Full review

The North Face Men's Superlight 0

By today's standards it is not super light, but when it came out it was. Dacron weighed about 9# vs. about 3.5# for the North Face Superlight (NFSL). In 1968, I had used a Dacron 88 bag for high country experience and never got a good night's sleep. Froze once—learned lesson. In 1969, bought the NFSL from a local sports store that did rental toward purchase and they suggested it had maybe two more seasons left to it. Bought it for the astronomical price of $95 (New it was $299. At that time I… Full review

The North Face Dolomite Double Down 20F/-7C

Roominess, warmth, possibility for snuggling. Late May Algonquin Park trip. It was my wife's idea to change it up from individual bags to one, double bag. I was skeptical. May in the park can see overnight temps close to freezing and I always associated double bags with fair-weather, car campers. I was wrong. Quite wrong. Not only did this bag keep us both warm, it offered more flexibility in sleeping position and actually lowered the overall weight/bulk of our pack (canoe camping). Full review