We covered Nemo’s Disco above, which is a nice crossover option for those who like to get out into the backcountry on occasion. 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, coleman chair 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. I love my memory foam mattress at home so I knew I would love the Coleman memory foam sleeping bag. This synthetic sleeping bag has a layer of memory foam for luxurious camping comfort.
We take day hikes and do outdoor activities from our drive up camping spot in the Smoky Mountains. Therefore, I was looking for sleeping bags for camping that offered comfort. I also wanted them to keep us comfortable in cold weather down to degrees. For having a knit liner and far from space-age insulation, the Brazos still managed to come in at a reasonable 4.1lb, which is just a hair lighter than its main competitor on our 2021 list, the $45 Kelty Callisto 30. Packed size, i.e., compressed volume is pretty much negligible with this bag; it’s simply not built for backpacking but rather for camping. That being said, the bag comes with a stuff sack that does a decent job of keeping everything together.
In choosing the proper approximate rating, try to get an idea of the very coldest temperature you’ll be experiencing overnight. Once you have that number, it’s a good idea to build in a little buffer (we like an extra degrees) to avoid getting cold. And keep in mind the temperature rating is closer to a survivability rating rather than being comfortable and warm. Other factors to consider are your age—people typically don’t sleep as warm the older they get—and whether you are a cold or warm sleeper.
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 answer for most campers. Each year we add a few new pieces of camping gear to coleman canopy make our trip more comfy. This year, I focused on finding the perfect sleeping bags for camping. Our kids already had sleeping bags but my husband and I didn’t. We just used bedding from home but I don’t like lugging that around and it doesn’t pack up as conveniently as sleeping bags.
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. All in all, semi-rectangular bags typically offer a good mix of comfort and weight, shaving away excess material while still providing enough space to roll around during the night. For instance, Nemo’s Disco 15 and Forte Endless Promise 20 have roomier fits than most traditional mummy bags, with a noticeable boost in space around the knees and elbows.