Sleeping Bags and Pads

Recent Sleeping Bag/Pad Reviews

Therm-a-Rest Air Head Pillow

Therm-a-Rest Air Head Pillow—just the ticket to reduce that aching neck.   Therm-a-Rest Air Head Pillow—just the ticket to reduce that aching neck. After countless nights on the trail trying to repeatedly position my head on makeshift bundles of clothing or puffy jackets and still waking up with a neck ache, I was just about to break down and get a pillow. As I am counting ounces I didn’t want to add any “unecessary” items. And along came the Air Head! I tried it in conjunction with the… Full review

Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D

Best pad for car camping I'm not a young chickadee anymore. I bought this pad and I spend a lot of time camping with my son's Boy Scout Troop. My regular Therm-a-Rest from 1998 wasn't exactly doing the job.  This bad boy is big and bulky but feels like your mattress at home. I don't even need a cot. I live in Upstate New York and as added plus this pad is extremely warm and insulating.  Full review

Patagonia Fitz Roy 30°

The Fitz Roy is a well-made, roomy, three-season down sleeping bag. Vertical baffles and a center zipper set this apart from many comparable bags. I particularly appreciated the quiet fabric, well-shaped hood and foot box, and dual baffles flanking that center zipper. True ultralighters may find this too bulky and heavy (short weighs 28 oz., regular 29 oz., long 30 oz.), but this is three-season bag should serve backpackers and car campers well. INTRODUCTION Patagonia is a relatively new participant… Full review

Zenbivy Light Bed 25° Bundle

Everything you need for a stellar night's sleep in the backcountry! The Zenbivy Light Bed 25˚ Bundle provides a hybrid sleeping bag—a capacious quilt and hooded sheet that integrate with an air mattress—that provides various options for users to regulate mobility and temperature regulation. Great for side sleepers, those who move about while sleeping, or anyone seeking a cozy night's sleep without the confinement of a mummy bag.   Zenbivy Light Bed 25˚ (mattress, sheet, and quilt shown) On… Full review

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