Most traditional camping bags stick to synthetic fill for cost savings, but lofty down clusters offer a premium feel and warmth that polyester just can’t match. And as we’ve come to expect from Kelty, the Galactic is solidly built and priced pretty affordably at $170, which is around $30 less than REI’s similarly intentioned Hunkerdown above. This Ozark Trail Sleeping Bag comes in a sealed compression bag that makes it easy to take with you when you go when camping or hiking.
Notable extras worth calling out are built-in pillows or pillow sleeves (the NEMO Forte boasts the former), which are a nice luxury for those annoyed by camp pillows that tend to move in the night. Additionally, integrated blankets, interior pockets for stowing small items like a headlamp, and draft tubes at the collar for trapping warmth are becoming more ozark trail tent common. This is only a 30-degree sleeping bag and may get cold on late fall or winter camping trips. This sleeping bag does not unzip all the way around and cannot be connected to other sleeping bags. For convenience and ease of storage, the sleeping bags feature a stuff sack and elastic straps so you can bundle them into a manageable compact size.
For those who run cold or simply want to bring their bag into lower temperatures, adding a sleeping bag liner can help keep you cozy without breaking the bank. Liners are made of soft materials like fleece, wool, polyester, or silk and typically add around 5 to 15 degrees to the warmth rating of your bag. They also serve as a barrier between you and your bag’s interior, which can help boost lifespan (you ozark trail tent can wash the liner after use rather than getting your bag dirty). Liners typically cost between $30 and $60, and a couple of our favorite options are Sea to Summit’s Thermolite Reactor for mummy bags and their Silk-Cotton Blend Liner for rectangular models. To be clear, liners are totally optional and not everyone needs one, but they do offer added warmth and comfort and help keep your bag in good shape.
You do pay a premium compared with our top picks at $200, but we think the Forte hits a great middle ground for mixed car camping and backpacking use. In the end, the temperature rating does have value and you should use it as a basic guideline. In choosing the proper approximate rating, try to get an idea of the very coldest temperature you’ll be experiencing overnight.
Along with a healthy dose of 550-fill down, the bag offers cozy warmth and good compressibility. And considering the typical price of a down bag, the Cosmic Down’s $165 MSRP really stands out. I bought the zero degree bag and nearly froze to death.
I notice this isn’t the first review with this complaint. The zipper broke on my warm weather bag on the second night out. Too bad too because overall I’ve had good luck with Ozark Trail stuff. Too bad the buyer at Walmart has gone to sleep on quality control on this product. Inside the sleeping bag, the manufacturer skimped on the softer inner lining, by making four inches around the interior zipper, and about two feet from the interior bottom of the bag, a rough cheaper vinyl or nylon fabric. And every time you move your feet you get to hear the crinkle of the fabric on the bottom.
Both Ozark Trail and Coleman offer a variety of sleeping bag options depending on your need. However, Coleman is notably best suited for casual car campers. Ozark trail has more options in terms of insulation and is thus suitable for camping in cold weather. The Ozark Trail 40 Sleeping bag is not only a great looking bag, but offers warmth and comfort on a cool summer’s night.
When it is very cold I also use a comforter over the sleeping bags. We wear warm clothes to sleep in, including a beanie. Hand warmers in our socks and body warmers in our shirts are helpful as well. Our sleeping bags zip together, allowing us to take advantage of the shared body heat. Pairing these strategies together made it reasonably comfortable at that temperature.
Mummy bags typically have a ¾-length side zip that requires some wriggling to get in and out of and can’t be opened up completely should you want to zip the sleeping bag together with another compatible bag. That’s why Ozark Trail Camping Chairs for camping, we prefer a bag that fully unzips. Not only is it easy to create a large and comfortable space for two if you zip it to another bag, but unzipping the bag on its own opens it up for use as a blanket.
Mummy bags are popular for both camping and backpacking, but rectangular bags are roomier and can offer an even better sleeping experience. Our top pick in this category is REI Co-op’s Siesta Hooded 20, which replaces the Siesta 25 for 2023. For a reasonable $139, you get a high-quality bag with a useful 20-degree temperature rating, which is great for three-season car camping in a variety of conditions.