Sleeping Bags and Pads

Recent Sleeping Bag/Pad Reviews

Trekology Aluft Pillow 2.0

Near perfect backpacking/camping pillow at half the price. We have all done it. Stuff your T-shirt or drysack with clothes to make a pillow when camping/backpacking. Admit it.  And, like most of you, I got tired of lumpy, uncomfortable, and often smelly "pillows."  (yeah, I stuffed with used clothes more than once.  So have you.) So, the search starts for a decent inflatable camp pillow.  And you know what is out there. Sea to Summit, Thermarest, Exped, etc... Now, if you want to spend $50 on… Full review

Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Extreme Insulated

Super comfy, heavy, large. I am a confirmed side sleeper (left side down). Bought this mat because I desperately needed a high R-rating pad for camping in single F digits. Thought at the time it was too expensive. Used it recently for multi-day backpack in Sierra high country. It is more comfortable than my two Warbonnet hammocks (including a Bridge), my Therm-a-Rest hammock, my Hennessy hammock, even my Select Comfort mattress at home! And...it reflects heat back at you so it feels like you have… Full review

Hummingbird Hammocks Starling Inflatable Pillow

A good pillow, while not critical, can make for a good night’s sleep, which in turn is crucial for restoration when camping or backpacking. The Starling is an inflatable camping/backpacking pillow made by Hummingbird, a brand more famous for their ultralight parachute fabric hammocks. The Starling is soft, silent, lightweight, and compact, all qualities I look for when searching for a decent camping pillow. If they can improve it in some areas, it’ll come even closer to a top choice. For decades… Full review

Sea to Summit Ascent 25

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… Full review

NEMO Tensor Ultralight

A comfortable, compact, and lightweight inflatable sleeping pad. Especially in the chosen size/format (regular wide). Like most other lightweight pads, requires care and attention to avoid damages and leaks. The 2.5 R-Value means four-season usability for my tropical settings, even without supplemental insulation. Since I resumed using my 1P tent for camping a few months back, I decided to go for a higher R-Value sleeping pad. Nothing wrong with my beloved Ether Light XT air. It’s long, wide,… Full review

EcoTek Outdoors Hybern8 Sleeping Pad

I found myself a reasonably priced sleeping pad that is lightweight, compact, and most importantly, gives me a good night's sleep. I've put together a video review of the ECOTEK hybern8 sleeping pad. This sleeping pad is inexpensive, lightweight, and rolls up into a small package that takes up little room in a backpack. I bought the three-season version with an R rating of 2.2, but this company also manufactures a colder weather version that features an R value of 4.7.  I found it to be very comfortable. Full review

Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor Extreme Liner

Not a vital piece of gear, or one I tend to use much (being honest). But it’s versatile: can be used alone, in the intended form (to sleep in), or even wrapped around an inflatable sleeping pad, to add a few °F of warmth and also some comfort and convenience (to keep sleeping bags and pads cleaner). Sleeping comfort is very subjective and personal. But if the concept of “layers” applied to sleeping system insulation makes sense to you, a sleeping bag liner can be a very effective and versatile… Full review

Ozark Trail Air Mattress Velour Top

I'm very disappointed with this bed, Ozark Trail Air Mattress. I bought it from Walmart three weeks ago and I'm not getting any enjoyment out of this bed at all. When I wake up the bed is completely deflated, flat on the floor, no air!! If I inflate it at 7 o'clock by 10 o'clock I have to inflate it again. By now the company knows that this is not a good product and they should stop selling it, or find a way and fix the problem especially since they are well aware of the problem, so many people… Full review

Kelty Cosmic DriDown 20

The Kelty Cosmic 20 is one of the most affordable sleeping bags you can find that's filled with down insulation. Although it's not exceptional in any particular aspect, it provides decent comfort and warmth in a package that is small and light enough for some 3-season backpacking. Unfortunately, its 550-fill power down doesn't offer impressive loft or substantial benefits compared to synthetic insulation. Sliding into a fluffy sleeping bag after a long day of hiking is one of the most satisfying… Full review