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The best sleeping bags are comfortable, well-padded enough for the time of year you're camping and convenient to pack away and carry.
We assembled a small army of testers to try out sleeping bags from Argos, Rab, Decathlon, Vango, Eurohike, Berghaus, Mountain Equipment, Outwell and more to see which they found the comfiest and easiest to use.
We also checked each sleeping bag's stated temperature rating and how well each one stood up to being cleaned.
Several sleeping bags were rated highly enough to be named Which? Best Buys, including some that cost less than £50.
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Sleeping bag | Type | Temperature rating | Comfort | Ease of packing away | Where to buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Excellent | Excellent | ||||
Excellent | Average | ||||
Good | Excellent | ||||
Good | Average | ||||
Average | Excellent | ||||
Average | Good | ||||
Good | Excellent |
Date tested: April 2023. Prices and availability last checked February 2024. We are not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
All the sleeping bags we've tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
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Type Mummy
Packed size and weight 40 x 20cm; 1.62kg
Temperature rating 2-3 season
Need to know Synthetic filling, draught collar, internal pocket, no cleaning instructions provided
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Type Square
Packed size and weight 40 x 18cm; 0.88kg
Temperature rating 2 season
Need to know Synthetic filling, machine washable at 40°C
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Type Mummy
Packed size and weight 23 x 20cm; 1.03kg
Temperature rating Comfort -5°C, limit -11°C, extreme -31°C
Need to know 700FP duck-down filling, draught collar, dry clean only
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Type Mummy
Packed size and weight 49 x 20cm; 1.125kg
Temperature rating 4 season (-1°C comfort, -18°C limit, -26°C extreme)
Need to know Synthetic filling, internal pocket, no cleaning instructions provided
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Type Square
Packed size and weight 40 x 22cm; 1.6kg
Temperature rating 3 season, comfort 5°C, -16°C extreme
Need to know Synthetic filling, internal pocket, machine washable at 30°C
See our reviews of tents, pop up tents, camping chairs and camping stoves.
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Type Pod
Packed size and weight 40 x 27cm; 2.5kg
Temperature rating 3 season
Need to know Synthetic filling, draught collar, internal pocket, no cleaning instructions provided
Available from Argos (£25)
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Type Square
Packed size and weight 35 x 20cm; 1.05kg
Temperature rating 2 season
Need to know Synthetic filling, machine washable at 30°C
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Type Square
Packed size and weight 35 x 25cm; 1.3kg
Temperature rating 10°C comfort, 5°C limit
Need to know Synthetic filling, twinnable, machine washable at 30°C
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Type Mummy
Packed size and weight 35 x 20cm; 1.06kg
Temperature rating Comfort 1°C, limit -5°C, extreme -22°C
Need to know 650FP duck-down filling, twinnable, internal pocket, draught collar, dry clean only
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Type Mummy
Packed size and weight 27 x 22cm; 1.3kg
Temperature rating 3 season (3°C comfort, -3°C limit, -20°C extreme)
Need to know Synthetic filling, internal pocket, draught collar, hanging loops
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We test bestselling sleeping bags from the most popular outdoor brands and UK retailers, including Go Outdoors, Rab, Decathlon, Vango, Eurohike, Berghaus, Outwell and more.
We buy every sleeping bag we test rather than getting free samples from manufacturers, and each of our testers try out every sleeping bag in our selection.
A large group of testers try out every sleeping bag, separately rating them for the ease with which they manage to manoeuvre in and out, whether the zips catch on the linings of the sleeping bag and – most importantly – how comfortable they are once you're inside.
We roll up and stuff each sleeping bag into its carry bag several times, noting how much effort is required to complete the task and how easily the sleeping bag fits into the carry bag it comes with.
Although sleeping bags intentionally vary how well they retain heat, to suit camping in different conditions, we check their temperature-retaining qualities by placing hot-water bottles inside the bags and using an infrared temperature reader to track how much heat they let out over a set time. Every sleeping bag we've tested so far has broadly fallen in line with its stated temperature rating.
Sleeping bags can be a pain to clean, so we take note of any cleaning instructions that come with each sleeping bag we test, and wash them according to those instructions where possible. We praise sleeping bags that are easy to clean and don't suffer damage from washing, and penalise those that are a hassle or have loose threads after being washed.
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Double sleeping bags appeal to couples and to those who like to have plenty of wriggle room when they sleep.
They aren't typically more expensive than single sleeping bags and should work just as well, although if you're camping in cold conditions, you'll likely find that double sleeping bags let out more heat.
This is because the top of a double sleeping bag isn't tightly fitted and there's often no draught collar, leaving gaps for warm air to escape.
Some single sleeping bags are twinnable, which means you can buy two and zip them together.
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Sleeping bags with synthetic fillings are generally machine washable, but if you don't own a washing machine with a large drum then you may need to take it to a launderette. Feather-filled sleeping bags can only be dry cleaned.
However, we'd avoid washing sleeping bags too frequently if you can. In our tests, even those suitable for machine washing often end up with a few loose threads after we've put them through a cycle.
Using a removable liner can help to keep the sleeping bag clean inside, as this can be washed regularly without the hassle of having to wash and dry the whole sleeping bag. We haven't tested these, but the cheapest we've seen are at Sports Direct £9, Decathlon £10, and Millets £12.
You also have to take care to air your sleeping bag after washing it and hang it up evenly to prevent the filling from bunching up too much. Wringing it out should definitely be avoided as that's certain to spoil the even spread of the filling.
If the weather isn't playing ball when it's time to dry your sleeping bag, discover the best heated clothes airers for indoor drying. Our reviews of laundry powders and detergents, and stain removers, will also help with cleaning.
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