3-Season Down Sleeping Bags

Featured review by Hikeon

This bag is high quality, very versatile, compresses to 6x6 inches with a compression sack. Very comfortable to sleep in, not like most other mummy bags. Can be used well below 30 degrees, or up to the 70's. Well-made and a long-term investment.

I've had this bag for 17 years and have used it in a wide range of temps in tents, tarps, and shelters. I've been toasty down to 15 degrees F. and comfy up into the 70s. The bag's extra girth means you can wear fleece or whatever to extend the range for lower temps, or in the summer if it's warm you can unzip it and use it like a quilt. A really nice bag that is still like new (except for where I snagged the Pertex with the zipper and had to make a 1" field repair which has held for a few years so far).

Read more: Western Mountaineering MegaLite reviews (12)

Reviewed by Sheila Bergin Goss

As a long-time camper and backpacker, I have used quite a few sleeping bags over the years, some of which I found less than ideal in comfort and performance. I am now primarily a canoe camper, who also sometimes camps in campgrounds in a pop-up trailer, and I think I have finally found the ideal sleeping bag! This Ascent 25 Sea to Summit bag is the most comfortable bag I have ever used; an Ultra-Dry Down bag, it packs compactly, is lightweight, has various ventilation options, and I have found it suitable for a wide range of temperatures from 25 degrees (f)(-4C) to temperatures in the 60's and 70's (15's and 20's C). I can highly recommend the Ascent as a three-season bag for campers, backpackers, or canoe campers, based on my experiences using it for five camping trips so far. It will continue to get more use as the summer progresses.

I have quite a collection of Sea to Summit gear in my canoeing kit, mostly dry bags and camp kitchen gear, but this is their first sleeping bag I have tried. It is also the first down sleeping bag that I have owned.  So far, I am very impressed with the quality and design of the Ascent 25 bag. Though Sea to Summit identifies its primary use as a 2.5-season backpacking bag, I have used it for remote canoe camping and front-country camping on five trips since early May of this year. I rely on a good sleeping bag to keep me comfortable in my tent when canoe camping and in my pop-up tent trailer (Sylvan Sport GO) between May and November.

Read more: Sea to Summit Ascent 25 review (1)

Reviewed by David Link

The Torchlight UL 20 is a fantastically cozy and versatile backpacking mummy bag. Super spacious when you want, but snug when you want that, with customizable zipper options. The ultralight 850 fill power Down-Tek makes it a great choice for ounce-counting backpackers.

I have been using a Mont-Bell UL SS Down Hugger #4 sleeping bag for about ten years. It has served me well, being very lightweight (1.5 lbs), and warm enough most of the time (rated 34°). It also has stretchy elastic baffle stitching, which made it easy to fit my extra girth. It is starting to look its age though, and sometimes I push the temperature rating or get a little nervous when camping in a wet environment. I was on the lookout for something new when the opportunity to try the Big Agnes Torchlight UL 20° sleeping bag came up.

Read more: Big Agnes Torchlight UL 20 review (1)

Featured review by Mike Mineart

The Western Mountaineering Versalite is just an overall great sleeping bag. While a bit on the pricey side, the Versalite is a well thought out sleeping bag design that is roomy, provides great warmth for its weight, and utilizes quality materials and construction. The Western Mountaineering Versalite is a great choice for anyone who has reached the point where they are looking to invest in a sleeping bag that will provide great performance in a very lightweight design.

Overview I’ve owned a number of sleeping bags over the years since I first got into backpacking back in the 1970s and really had no complaints with any of the bags I have owned. After I retired a number of years ago and started to get back into backpacking again I had picked up a Summit 20 sleeping bag made by Outdoor Vitals. The Summit 20 was a low cost and reasonable lightweight bag that I’ve used for the last five or so years and it does its job and I have no complaints. As I creep up towards my mid 60s I’ve been tweaking my gear to save weight where I can as I’ve found the lighter my pack is the more I enjoy my trips.

Read more: Western Mountaineering VersaLite reviews (8)

Featured review by Backpacker At 60

A fabulous bag for summer mountain backpacking. Great 3-season bag.

Summary - You can't go wrong with this bag for summer mountain backpacking. Warm with low weight. Anti-snag feature on zipper makes that midnight bathroom run a bit easier. And the way I like to re-hydrate with lots of warm tea after dinner, I cannot say enough about the zipper design. Also the shoulder collar (see pic) which is separate from the hood, does a great job in keeping any cold draft out, and on warmer nights, it can be left open. Ventilation on feet with the 2-way zipper is great when you need it.

Read more: Western Mountaineering Apache MF reviews (4)

Featured review by Vikki N

I've owned the Marmot Angel Fire bag since 2004/5(?) and it has been my primary bag. Excellent compression, durable exterior, no defects/issues for over 12 years with an average of 8+ trips a year. Pros: lightweight, small pack size. Cons: mummy style can be difficult to sleep comfortably in as a side sleeper, but this is user preference.

The only reason I didn't repurchase this bag is that my personal dimensions have changed over the last couple of years and the mummy bag style just isn't as fitting to my physique as a more generous bag. However with that being said, this is an incredible bag and under the same conditions I would buy it again. I purchased it new in 2004 or 2005. I never had trouble with the down leaking, excess moisture retention in humid conditions, or warmth. For me this bag was almost too warm at times and I would sleep with it unzipped.

Read more: Marmot Angel Fire reviews (4)

Featured review by Paul England

Great lightweight three-season bag.

I bought this bag after taking a nice 30-degree bag on the John Muir Trail in mid-September. We hit some cold weather with nights dipping into the teens. To stay warm, I had to put on every piece of clothing I had and wear it in the sleeping bag. For about 4 oz of additional weight, the Western Mountaineering AlpinLite solved my problem. It is light, super high quality, and fits me great. I got the long version because I am 6'2". One problem I always have with mummy bags is the width at the shoulders.

Read more: Western Mountaineering AlpinLite reviews (4)

Featured review by Mike E

Good blend of performance, weight, and price.

Spent WAY too much time searching for a sleeping bag that hit my top three "must haves" Lightweight Warm Not constricting Tried Big Agnes, North Face, a very attractive offering from Thermolite, REI's own brand, etc...  Finally decided on the Trek TKII after a test of the TK I version at my local REI.  It met my top three musts closely enough to earn a top rating. The Good: This is a semi-rectangular bag, not a mummy bag. That means is the shape is mummy like, but the footbox is much wider than a traditional mummy bag.

Read more: Sea to Summit Trek TK II reviews (2)

Featured review by David Williams

Massive bang for the buck...

Four and a half stars, so far. I bought this bag a short while ago before leaving for my job as a medic in a summer camp in Maine. That being said, the mercury has hit between 90 and 101 everyday for about a week, so this bag with a European temperature rating of 19 degrees has not seen much use except as a bed throw. Even during early chilly nights I mostly used it as a blanket. By today's standards, 600 fill duck down is not the greatest, but back in the day, any down rated at 600 was the bomb.

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Featured review by Jeremiah Johnson

Lightweight, comfortable bag that's super warm. Highly recommended.

I've had this bag for about 6 months and have used it extensively on every outing I've done (including the entire John Muir Trail in Aug 2013). I don't think I've been below 25° yet, so I can't honestly attest to its lowest rating, however I have never been even close to being cold in this bag. Even sleeping inside it naked at 28°F in snow conditions I felt HOT all night. I haven't noticed any drafts at all. The (Large) fit is roomy for my 6'0", 170lb frame. The zippers work perfect and NEVER jam because of a protective stripe of material near the zipper.

Read more: Western Mountaineering UltraLite reviews (8)