Best sleeping bags

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.

The best sleeping bags

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The sleeping bags we tested

All the sleeping bags we've tested are listed in alphabetical order below. 

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best sleeping bags from our tests. 

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Berghaus Transition 200 Sleeping Bag

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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

Eurohike Snooze 200 Sleeping Bag

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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

Mountain Equipment Helium 600

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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

OEX Fathom EV 400 Sleeping Bag

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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

Outwell Campion Lux Single Sleeping Bag

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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.

Pod 'The Beast' Sleeping Pod

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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

Pro Action Star Print 200GSM Envelope Sleeping Bag

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

Quechua Camping Sleeping Bag – Arpenaz 10

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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

Rab Ascent 500

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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

Vango Nitestar Alpha 225

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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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How we test sleeping bags

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.

Comfort and ease of use

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.

Ease of packing away

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.

Temperature retention

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.

Ease of cleaning

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.

Find your way while camping with our reviews of torches.

Double sleeping bags vs single sleeping bags – which should you choose?

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. 

Compare our air bed reviews and neck pillow reviews.

How to wash a sleeping bag

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.

Sleeping bag types, fillings and temperature ratings explained

Temperature ratings

• Temperature ratings indicate the conditions the sleeping bag is designed to be comfortable in. They either state the number of seasons the sleeping bag is intended for use in, or state specific temperatures the sleeping bag can tolerate.
• The person using the sleeping bag is also a major factor. The size of the camper and how much body heat they naturally generate will influence how snugly the insulation fits to their body, and how much heat the sleeping bag retains.

Sleeping bag fillings

• Synthetic – the cheapest choice, easier to wash and dries out quicker than other filling types.
• Goose or duck down – warmer than synthetic and can often be squashed down to a smaller size when packed away. However, they dry out slowly, are more expensive to buy and need to be professionally cleaned. Down is usually measured in fill power (FP), which is how many cubic inches of space will be filled by one ounce of down filling. Make sure to check for an ethical source of the down fillings before you buy.

Sleeping bag types

• Rectangle – the most basic shape, and familiar from many a childhood sleepover. They’re usually cheap and suit those who like plenty of head and neck room. The downside is that cold air can get in around your shoulders.
• Mummy - these are designed to fit more snugly than a rectangle and are tapered towards the foot. This reduces air movement around your body and helps to build up an insulating layer of warm air. The shape can be restrictive, so you may find them uncomfortable if you move around in your sleep.
• Pod: If you like to curl up or starfish, or find other bag types too tight, the wide oval shape of a pod sleeping bag provides plenty of wriggle room.

Compare our reviews of cooler bags and cool boxes.