Spoiler Alert: Conquerwild named the MalloMe Camping Sleeping Bag as the best budget sleeping bag overall!!
If you’re looking to go for the classic camping experience, then you might want to invest in a great sleeping bag. When you find a quality product, sleeping in one of these cozy slumber sacks can be as comfortable (or even more comfortable) as a mattress. Fortunately, you don‘t always have to spend a ton of money to get a quality sleeping bag.
Taking both price and efficiency into account, I’ve researched 5 products to figure out what the best budget sleeping bag is. Here’s what I came up with:
What We’ll Be Reviewing
- ASOUT Sleeping Bag
- TETON Sports Celsius XXL Sleeping Bag
- MalloMe Camping Sleeping Bag
- Sleepingo Double Sleeping Bag For Backpacking
- REDCAMP Ultra Lightweight Sleeping Bag
ASOUT Sleeping Bag – Best Value Sleeping Bag
For anyone who’s looking for a product that’s affordable, comfortable and versatile, the Asout Sleeping Bag For Adults is a great place to start. It has all the basic needs that one should look for in a good cheap sleeping bag.
Coming in 4 different sizes, Asout has just about every type of camper covered, whether they’re children, plus sized, or couples looking for an intimate experience. The mixture of its Nylon outer shell and polycotton interior makes for a warm and durable sleeping experience. As far as portability and weight goes, this product is pretty average. The regular size weighs about 5.3 pounds, which is somewhat heavy. On the plus side, it’s super easy to roll up and attach to any backpack during a hike.
This thing is rated for temperatures from 32 to 77F (0 – 25C), so it’s a good choice for colder nights (as long as you’re bundled up, of course). With its “mummy” hood, you’ll be able to turn yourself into a camp turtle and shield your face from the elements when you want to. At the same time, a zipper at the bottom allows for sufficient ventilation when you’re in hotter environments. This zipper also allows you to wear this sleeping bag if you want… Sort of like a Snuggie.
I’d definitely recommend the ASOUT for any beginners or campers who want a quality product at a low price point.
Pros
- It’s well ventilated.
- It can be unzipped and opened into a quilt or mat.
- With dimensions of 87” x 33”, the regular size is nice and roomy.
- It’s machine washable (machine wash with cold water and tumble dry on low).
- When you expose it to the sun, the sleeping bag becomes more fluffy (I know, pretty cool).
- It’s easy to roll up and attach to a backpack.
Cons
- It only comes in one color (dark gray).
- It’s on the heavier side at 5.4 pounds.
TETON Sports Celcius XXL Sleeping Bag – Best Sleeping Bag For Cold Weather
This double layer sleeping bag from TETON is definitely a bit pricier than the rest on the list. However, with its high price comes amazing quality. Featuring a poly-flannel lining, mummy-style hood and well-ventilated design, this sleeping bag works hard to make you feel like you’re in the comfort of your own bed.
This product comes in 3 sizes, but it seems that you can’t go wrong with the XXL. It’s great for plus-sized campers, but it’s also a perfect fit for smaller people who toss and turn throughout the night. The TETON claims to be a 3 season sleeping bag, though some would argue that it’s good for all 4 seasons. The thick fabric and draft tubes keep cold air out, even down to temperatures of 0F (as long as you’re bundled up). If it gets too hot, sleepers also have the option of opening up the zipper at the bottom for more airflow.
With a durable taffeta shell, this sleeping bag shows that it is as rugged as it is comfortable. Also, its mummy design helps sleepers to feel completely concealed from their environment.
The TETON wouldn’t be my first choice for long distance backpacking because of its size and weight, but it absolutely kills the game in all the other aspects. I think it’s definitely worth the minor investment.
Pros
- The brushed, poly-flannel lining wicks moisture away, so it’s a great product for sweaty sleepers.
- It comes in black, green and gray- all great camping colors.
- It keeps drafts out with shoulder pads, draft tubes, zipper padding and a fiber fill.
- There are storage pockets for the safekeeping of your belongings.
- With dimensions of 90” X 39”, the XXL version of this product is super spacious.
- It comes with a compression sack, which makes it super easy to pack up and store.
Cons
- It’s the most expensive budget sleeping bag on this list.
- It’s too big and bulky to fit into some backpacks.
- At 7 pounds, it’s quite heavy for a sleeping bag.
MalloMe Camping Sleeping Bag – Best Pick Overall
The MalloMe Camping Sleeping Bag is a perfect example of the fact that affordability doesn’t necessarily mean “cheaply made.” This low priced sleeping bag could stand toe to toe with even some of the most expensive products on the market.
The 100% polyester makeup of the MalloMe ensures that comfortability and efficient waterproofing are able to meet halfway. A hexagonal weave design paired with an efficient, S-shaped stitching system makes this sleeping bag super durable too. You can use it to sleep on nearly any outdoor surface. Complete with drawstrings for the mummy hood and a roomy interior, this sleeping bag is designed super efficiently.
Convenience is also a strongpoint with the MalloMe sleeping bag. It’s decently lightweight at 4.5 pounds (not exactly weightless, but backpacking with it shouldn’t be terrible). Its machine washability is also a huge selling point for me. Even if you don’t have a washing machine, the polyester material is really easy to wipe down (something I greatly appreciate in the age of COIVD-19).
The fashionable design on this sleeping bag is an added plus. I love the funky little arrows as well as the option to choose between blue, green and orange. All of these factors combined make this easily one of the best cheap sleeping bags on the market.
Pros
- It’s super affordable!
- This thing is super comfortable with lots of padding.
- It has a huge temperature range and it excels between 35 – 85F (1.6 – 29.4C). It‘s great for cold and hot weather.
- It has a water resistant shell.
- MalloMe’s customer service is amazing!
- A compression sack allows this 86.6” x 31.5” sleeping bag to be condensed down into a 12” x 9.5” package.
- An optional opening at the bottom will allow your feet to breathe.
- There’s a velcro securing strap to keep the zipper in place.
Cons
- It’s not great in extreme cold weather (below freezing).
Sleepingo Double Sleeping Bag For Backpacking – Best Sleeping Bag For Couples
If you’re looking to share your sleeping bag experience with another camper, the Sleepingo is a great choice. This double sleeping bag is queen sized. When it’s fully rolled out and ready to go, it’s pretty huge. Even with 2 average sized adults packed into this sack, there’s ample room for tossing and turning throughout the night. If you don’t feel like sharing the bed, you can also unzip this product down the center and transform it into 2 separate sleeping bags.
Double the sleepers means double the body warmth. This rectangular sleeping bag is able to keep that warmth inside with the help of its cotton and tetron (a type of polyester) fill. The 210T polyester shell makes this bag pretty water resistant, so accumulating mist and dew should not be an issue throughout the night.
For me, it’s the attention to detail that sets this double sleeping bag over the top. The inclusion of a zipper on each side of the bag makes it easy for one camper to get up without disturbing the other. Also, the two travel pillows that come with this product are a nice, convenient touch.
When you consider the size and functionality of the Sleepingo, the price is really reasonable. It’s great for couples, parents with small children, or a greedy sleeping bag hog who needs tons of room.
Pros
- It’s huge, with dimensions of 87” x 59”.
- It’s machine washable.
- The zippers are anti snag, so it won’t get caught in the bag’s material.
- It comes with a compression sack which condenses the entire thing down to 15” x 12” for easy transportation.
- It’s rated for temperatures down to 32F (0C).
Cons
- It’s not the most lightweight sleeping bag, at 5 lbs 10 oz (but that’s because it’s a double).
- It’s not the best for extreme cold environments. Bring extra blankets!
REDCAMP Ultra Lightweight Sleeping Bag – Most Lightweight / Best Sleeping Bag For Warm Weather / Most Affordable Sleeping Bag
If you’re looking for ultimate simplicity and convenience in a sleeping bag, then this product from Redcamp may be the best choice for you. This thin, polyester bag is great for warm weather camping because of how minimalistic it is. For campers who are really on a budget, the Redcamp is just about the least amount of money I’d recommend spending on a sleeping bag.
This rectangular sleeping bag is perfect for backpacking because it’s super lightweight (1.8 pounds). You may even forget you have it with you while transporting it. Also, the oxford compression sack will help you condense this bag down to nearly the height of a water bottle! When you open it back up, the bag is about 76” x 30”, leaving more than enough room for most average-sized adults.
The REDCAMP Sleeping Bag is a product that offers convenience and minimalism if nothing else. It’s the best sleeping bag for warm weather and it’s super cheap, so you really can’t go wrong with this purchase.
Pros
- It’s the most lightweight sleeping bag on this list, weighing less than 2 pounds.
- Its polyester exterior makes it water resistant.
- The buckled compression sack will allow you to shrink this sleeping bag down to 7.9” x 4.7”, making it super easy to backpack with.
- It’s the most affordable sleeping bag on this list.
- Stuff pockets on the interior make storing small objects super easy.
Cons
- This sleeping bag is not fit for cold weather.
- It’s thinner than the average sleeping bag, so it doesn’t offer too much padding.
- It isn‘t meant to be machine washed.
Choosing The Best Cheap Sleeping Bag For You
With so many different products out there, it can be tough to sort through all of the factors that go into an efficient sleeping bag. There are a few key aspects I’d always recommend examining in each product before making a final purchase.
Material Is Important
Just like any blanket or piece of bedding, the material composition of your sleeping bag can make or break it. Nobody wants their night of sleep to be ruined by an uncomfortable, itchy or rigid sleeping bag.
Let’s first point out that there is a difference between the outer shell, the lining and the fill of a sleeping bag.
The Shell, or the exterior of your sleeping bag, is the main thing separating you from the environment around you. For this reason, it’s important that the shell of your sleeping bag is tough enough to match your surroundings.
When it comes to budget sleeping bags, polyester and nylon are some of the best materials out there. They’re affordable, breathable and water resistant. This makes them suitable for most moderate sleeping conditions.
Nylon is slightly more durable and lightweight than polyester. I also love it as a shell material because it’s pretty slippery. This makes it easier to slip into the carrying sack. On the more expensive side of things, taffeta is also a great material that’s durable yet soft to the touch.
Remember that the higher the thread count of your shell, the more durable it is and the less it’s likely to rip. Thread count is abbreviated with a “T” (for example, “210 T polyester”).
Some sleeping bag shells have a waterproof coating to ensure that no moisture seeps into your bag. If you’re camping in dry conditions, this won’t really be necessary.
The Lining may be the single most important factor in sleeping bag comfortability. This is the layer of fabric that coats the inside of your bag and it’s the part that your body will be in contact with throughout the night. It’s important to find something that doesn’t make you feel itchy or irritated.
Cotton is a great choice for lining because of its soft and breathable nature. When it comes to moisture, however, cotton takes a long time to dry. Polyester and nylon also work as liners, though they can sometimes feel cold against the skin. Polycotton (a mixture of polyester and cotton) works well too.
Polyflannel is another great choice that’s super comfy and also does a good job of wicking away moisture.
The Fill of a sleeping bag is what’s in between the shell and the lining. This is what’s going to provide you with cushion and insulation. Some sleeping bags have a down fill (meaning that the insulation is made from some type of bird feather) and at Conquerwild we DO NOT support those types of products.
Synthetic fills can be made of cotton, nylon, polyester or other similar materials. In general, common sense suggests that sleeping bags with a thicker fill are better for cold weather.
Temperature Rating
Most of the best budget sleeping bags out there will have a temperature rating. This is a temperature range which the product can be used in. Some 3 / 4 season sleeping bags have temperature ratings that go down to 0F!
Even if a sleeping bag is rated for low temperatures, you‘ll still have to bundle up. It‘s not some magical shield that repels all cold weather.
The bag I currently own is from The North Face and, while it‘s treated me well on most of my camping trips, it doesn‘t do too well under 55F. I‘m definitely due for an upgrade soon… On my last camping trip, I had to sleep wearing 2 pairs of socks and with the hood of my sweatshirt covering my entire face.
Some budget sleeping bags for cold weather have draft tubes inside them for insulation. These are great for keeping cold weather out and heat in.
Temperature ratings typically don’t go higher than 80F. When it comes to warm weather sleeping bags, the thinner the better.
The Shape
Each of the products in my sleeping bag reviews fall into 1 of 2 shape categories: mummy or rectangular.
As the name implies, mummy sleeping bags (like the one that I own) have a sort of a sarcophagus shape. They usually come with a hood that has adjustable strings for tightening. These types of bags give more of an enclosed feel, if that’s the type of thing you like. They’re usually better for cold weather.
Rectangular sleeping bags are in the shape of -you guessed it- a rectangle! They’re more open and free by design, but they also tend to be less warm. If you’re a constant tosser and turner, then the rectangular sleeping bag is probably the way to go. They’re usually more lightweight than mummy bags.
The Size
Before you purchase your sleeping bag, always make sure that you’re choosing the right size. Many products come in regular, large, kids and double sizes. Buying the wrong option can make for a super uncomfortable experience.
If you’re unsure of whether you’re small enough to fit into a certain size, I would definitely go for the larger option. It’s always better to have too much room than not enough room in a sleeping bag.
Is It Portable?
The most efficient discount sleeping bags out there are lightweight and compact. This allows for easy transportation and convenience on backpacking trips. A bulky sleeping bag in your backpack is a waste of space when you’re trying to carry lots of equipment.
Sleeping bags over 5 pounds aren’t really the best for backpacking long distance. It’s also important that your bag is easy to roll up and store. When a cheap sleeping bag is designed poorly, it can be a hassle trying to squeeze it back into the sack that it came in.
Many sleeping bags come with a compression sack. These can be lifesavers when it comes to saving space, as they’re able to really shrink your bag into a much smaller package.
The Price
We all want to save a little bit of money when shopping for camping equipment, don‘t we? The price of your sleeping bag is largely based on the materials used, the size, the temperature rating and sometimes even the brand name.
It‘s definitely not a good idea to pay less than $15 for a sleeping bag, because the quality will probably be bad. At the same time, you shouldn‘t waste money on a bag that boasts features that you won‘t need. Each of the products I‘ve listed above are reasonably priced in my opinion.
Efficient Zippers
Although it may not seem like an important feature, the zipper on a sleeping bag can make a huge difference in the quality of the product.
Zippers are mostly found on mummy sleeping bags. They can be full zip, half zip or ¾ zip, and it all depends on your preference. A full zipper is great for hot weather camping as it’ll allow for more ventilation. Some products also have a separate zipper at the foot of the bag. This will help your feet get some fresh air throughout the night.
Some zippers have an extra layer of material around them which helps keep cold air from getting into the bag.
It’s also important to make sure that the zipper itself functions smoothly. Nobody wants to constantly fumble with a zipper that keeps snagging on the fabric of the sleeping bag. Many products come with anti-snag zippers which are usually easier to operate.
The Added Sleeping Bag Bonuses
Some sleeping bags have special features that set them apart from the basic products out there. The following bonuses aren’t always essentials, but they can be nice to have.
Storage Pockets
If you have lots of small items that need safekeeping, you might want to consider finding a sleeping bag that comes with storage pockets. I find that sleeping with stuff in your pants pockets is super uncomfortable, so these can really go a long way.
Combining Bags
Some affordable sleeping bags can be combined with other sleeping bags if you zip them together. This is great for couples or families who are trying to maximize body heat. It‘s sometimes better than buying a double sleeping bag because you’ll have the option to separate if you want to.
Velcro Zipper Stop
If you’re concerned about your zipper opening on its own throughout the night, you should find a product with a velcro zipper stop. These tiny patches of velcro will help keep your zipper in place while it’s in the closed position.
Sleeping Bags With Multiple Uses
Many sleeping bags out there can be used for more than just snoozing. Rectangular bags can usually be opened up and turned into a quilt or blanket. This is perfect for picnicking and stargazing.
Also, some bags have a zipper at the bottom which allow you to stick your feet out. This means that you can actually stand up and walk around while wearing your sleeping bag. It‘s an amazing feature for cold weather camping as you’ll be able to walk around your campsite without freezing to death.
Conquerwild’s Conclusion
At the end of the day, we all have our preferences, body types and sleep routines that set us apart. This makes it kind of hard to generalize about which sleeping bag is the best overall. Finding the best product for you means analyzing what you value most when sleeping in the wilderness.
There are definitely products that stand out above the others when it comes to quality, reliability and affordability. While each of the 5 sleeping bags I‘ve reviewed are super efficient, there‘s one that seems to balance all of the essential components in the best way.
Our Top Pick Is…
The MalloMe Camping Sleeping Bag!!
From its durable nature to the massive temperature range, this sleeping bag is just about the best you can hope for in such an affordable product. It’s water resistant, versatile, well ventilated and (most importantly) super comfortable. In my eyes, the MalloMe is easily the best inexpensive sleeping bag for the average camper.
The TETON Sports Celcius is another great choice if you’re willing to invest a bit more money into a heavy duty sleeping bag.
