Featuring a cozy, lightweight design and vibrant pink and purple color, the Coleman Plum Fun 45 Youth Sleeping Bag keeps kids warm and comfortable when they’re sleeping under the stars. This fun sleeping bag has a convenient interior pocket where kids can store a flashlight or other small item. A two-way patented Zip Plow zipper system coleman sleeping bag plows fabric away from the zipper to prevent snags and frustration. When it’s time to pack up, this youth sleeping bag rolls up quickly thanks to its Roll Control design. And with the included stuff sack, this sleeping bag is easy to tote or store. The Plum Fun Youth Sleeping Bag can accommodate kids up to 5 feet 5 inches tall.
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. For a fun take on warmth regulation and year-round comfort, The North Face’s One Bag features a unique layering system that allows you to swap between three different temperature ratings. During summer coleman canopy months or warm nights, you can use the basic synthetic-insulated bag with its 40-degree limit. Then, as the temperature drops, zip on the 800-fill goose down midlayer (to 20°F) or add the third section on top for winter camping (5°F rating). At less than 4 pounds with all layers connected, the One Bag is streamlined, lightweight, and reasonably packable.
However, that bag doesn’t come cheap at $320, and car campers uninterested in roughing it can save a considerable $100 with the Forte Endless Promise 20. In this case, Nemo opted for synthetic rather than down fill, which translates to a higher weight and bulkier packed size. All told, it’s another thoughtfully made Nemo bag that’s high on comfort and quality.
There’s no fumbling in the night for the zipper pull, and you don’t have to worry about snags or heat loss (if the bag lacks a good draft tube). But in the end, we don’t see the zipper-less concept completely taking over the market. Put simply, the in-and-out convenience and ability to use the bag as a blanket with a full-zip sleeping bag is the better coleman sleeping bag answer for most campers. A final shape worth mentioning is the semi-rectangular bag, which—as the name implies—shares commonalities with both rectangular and mummy designs. In terms of dimensions, they’re typically roomier than standard mummy bags (particularly at the shoulders and hips) but not overly generous like some rectangular models.
That said, we still recommend checking the weight and stuffed size that will be listed in the product specifications to get an idea of just how large and heavy the bags are. Synthetic bags are typically made with thicker fabrics and require more insulation to provide sufficient warmth, which can add up to a surprising amount of bulk. And if you’re considering a double bag (covered in more detail below), you’re talking about packed dimensions listed in feet rather than inches. If weight and packed size become important, a crossover backpacking/sleeping bag like the still-roomy Nemo Disco 15 reduces both. We covered Nemo’s Disco above, which is a nice crossover option for those who like to get out into the backcountry on occasion.