Best Sleeping Bags for Hiking in 2022

Hi everyone, and thanks for coming to this blog. I have a new travel blog called Best Sleeping Bags for Hiking and would like to start sharing information about the items that I recommend on the site. I believe that some of you have limited funds and are interested in purchasing items that are useful to them. I have tried to provide a shortlist of key criteria that I am looking for in the items that I recommend, while also providing some reasons to justify the purchase.

The list can be used as a guide for other users who are also shopping for a sleeping bag and sleeping bag shell. This is the first piece of content that I would like to share on the site, and it will be updated periodically. It will focus on sleeping bags. The list below is not complete as more items may be added at a later date.

Let’s review one of the best sleeping bags for hiking in 2022:

1. The Downlight SS 15

This is a microfleece and fleece down sleeping bag with 15 mm of waterproofing. It is well insulated with a combination of 600 fill power down and 600 fill power down fleece. It has two base layers of 800 fill power Pima Alpaca fleece and 700 fill power Pima Alpaca fleece down. The features:

6-piece upper shell
3-piece dual-density down shell with 900 fill power of down
three-inch zip pockets on the lower shell
two side and back zip pockets on the down shell
two lateral zippered vent options
full length zippered down hood with ventilation
high loft covers
a waterproof vapor barrier

This is my recommendation for a lightweight and warm sleeping bag. At $449, the price is on the lower end of the spectrum for a quality brand, but it is still much more affordable than most of the name-brand bags out there.

2. The Merrell Feisty +

This is a mid-weight bag with some weatherization features. It is 600 fill power down and 400 fill power mid-weight synthetic, which is quite a contrast to some of the heavy down bags. The features:

Half-zip pockets in the down hood
two zippered neck entries
two zippered torso entry
zip pockets at the waist on the short sleeve and short sleeve hood
a fleece water-resistant fleece liner
an adjustable and removable head block
low profile hood opening
spider webbing to cover the ankles
a waterproof vapor barrier

This is the sleeping bag I am currently using on my 2012 Camino. I also recently recommended this sleeping bag in an earlier post, Best Sleeping Bags for Hiking in 2021.

3. The North Face Raven Arc

This is a mid-weight bag with an impressive weatherization feature. It has 1.4 oz of 50% down, as well as 800 fill power synthetics, 600 fill power down, 600 fill power down, and 550 fill power down.

The features:

Full-length front zipper with a waterproof membrane
Half-zip, both torso and hood zipper with an optional water-resistant zippered hood
zip pockets in the down hood
aside torso entry with dual exit options
scheduled zippered entry at waist
high loft
Two sets of Velcro-compatible pockets
a waterproof vapor barrier

The price is steep for a mid-weight sleeping bag, but it is the best bag of its kind that I have encountered. It was the most expensive of the three bags I will describe in this post, but it is an excellent value. I like the Merrell Feisty +, but I think that The North Face Raven Arc is a better sleeping bag for hiking in 2022.

4. The Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XTherm

This is the lightest sleeping bag on the list. It has 1000 fill power down and has 900 fill power synthetics down. It has an option for 700 fill power synthetics in the down jacket and 200 fill power synthetics in the shaper shell.

The features:

The total weight is 6 lbs
360 square feet down
Includes a heated sleeping pad pocket
Temp protection shell with 600 fill power synthetic and 550 fill power down
15 x 6 x 8/10″ footprint

The down bag has very little ventilation and will not keep you very warm in a winter storm. However, it can provide some very good warmth if you stay inside of it for warmth. It weighs 6 lbs, but this is because the shaper shell weighs about 1 lb. The 800 fill power synthetic is perfect for a summer hike, but only if you will be sleeping with a warm sleeping pad. I find that I need to layer more in the summer months. I also recommend against the thermal shell, especially for winter hiking. I find that it adds about 5 lbs to the overall weight.

5. The American Hiking Society Reference Point

This is a mid-weight bag with 600 fill power down and is another step up from most sleeping bags in the mid-weight range. It has 600 fill power down in the down jacket, 600 fill power synthetic in the shaper shell, and 600 fill power synthetic in the optional water-resistant liner.

The features:

Full-length back zipper with a waterproof membrane
Zip pockets in the down hood
Two zipper entries, two zippered torso entries
zip pockets in the down torso
zip pockets in the down shaper shell
Two internal zippered bladder pockets
a waterproof vapor barrier
a shaper shell at chest level and lower
a shaper shell at calf level
spider webbing to cover the ankles
Low profile hood opening
3.5 lbs

The warm sleeping bag has a synthetic liner and 1.2 oz of warm fill power synthetic. I feel it is a bit of an overkill for hiking purposes, and would rather save the fill power synthetic for winter hiking. However, for summer camping, this is a great bag. I like the two internal zippered bladder pockets, but I would not recommend them. I would only suggest them if you need to carry a little extra water.

I also recommend the water-resistant liner, especially for summer hiking. It is bulkier than the non-water resistant one, and it could cause problems with a heavier backpack. I put a big hole in my waterproof shell and zipper when I put it in my liner.

6. The North Face Gamow Insulated

The North Face Gamow is a great winter sleeping bag. It is very comfortable and reliable and can keep you very warm. It has 1000 fill power down and has 600 fill power synthetic in the down jacket and 600 fill power synthetic in the shaper shell.

The features:

The total weight is 8.5 lbs
900 fill power down in the down jacket and 600 fill power synthetic in the shaper shell
28”x9.5” shaper shell
1.2 oz warm fill power synthetic
Cozy and zippered shoulder pocket
a rain shells
a waterproof vapor barrier
a stretch mesh hood
a fleece liner in the front (not included)
three interior zipper pockets
a removable bottom in the shaper shell
Three large zippered zipper pockets
a pull cord to pull out the door pocket
aside zippered entrance
a front zipper to get to the chin/chest zippered pocket
5.0 lbs

My personal favorite winter sleeping bag. This is a high-end sleeping bag. I like the fact that it has 1000 fill power down, and that it is a high-quality synthetic. I do not like the space of the liner and shaper shell though. Although this is a high-end bag, it is very light. It is 4 lbs and can be compressed with ease into a small backpack.

7. The Quirk 120 Down with Blue Spray Grip

This is the lightest sleeping bag that I have come across. It weighs 4.6 lbs, has 700 fill power down in the down jacket, and has 200 fill power synthetic in the shaper shell. It has a thermo-resistant membrane and a fleece liner. The spray grip has an odor protector and also has a waterproof vapor barrier.

The features:

700 fill power down and 200 fill power synthetics in the down jacket and shaper shell
300 fill power down in the spray grip
50”x48” down skirt
4.7 lbs

A favorite among our readers. It is very light, but also very comfortable.

8. The Kelty AWN

The AWN by Kelty is a somewhat high-end sleeping bag. It weighs 7.9 lbs and has 900 fill power down in the down jacket, and 500 fill power synthetic in the shaper shell. It has 800 fill power synthetic in the spray grip.

The features:

900 fill power down in the down jacket
650 fill power synthetic in the shaper shell
200 fill power down in the spray grip

Kelty’s true down is very light, and I would recommend the waterproof membrane over the spray grip. If you are planning on getting the showerproof version, I would also recommend the waterproof vapor barrier.

The perks:

It has 700 fill power down in the down jacket and synthetic in the shaper shell
dual zippers for the interior zippered pockets
a waterproof vapor barrier
a fleece liner
a cozy interior
a well designed down bag

9. The Marmot Menzies

The Marmot Menzies is a lightweight, mid-weight sleeping bag. It weighs 5.5 lbs, has 900 fill power down in the down jacket, and has 900 fill power synthetic in the shaper shell. It has a 200-fill power down in the spray grip. It is also available in down and synthetic. The down in the spray grip is synthetic.

The perks:

The down jacket has 600 fill power down
The synthetic can be either 200 fill power down or 600 fill power down
a fleece liner
The shell can be combined with the spray grip
Two internal compartments
Is available in down and synthetic
Does not have a down skirt

10. The Targhee II Air

The Targhee II Air by Marmot weighs 4.6 lbs and has 900 fill power down in the down jacket, and 600 fill power synthetic in the shaper shell. It has the same insulation technology as the Menzies, but a very different exterior.

The perks:

900 fill power down in the down jacket and synthetic in the shaper shell
600 fill power down in the spray grip
The nylon shell is comfy
an insulated front zipper
You can switch the insulation in the down jacket to 600 fill power down, or higher fill power
a synthetic cover-sheet
The perks:
900 fill power down in the down jacket and synthetic in the shaper shell
Has the same insulation as the Menzies
there is the same tech as the Menzies in the down jacket
200 fill power down in the spray grip
6 zippered and 1 external pocket
A roomy liner
Quiet

In conclusion

I’ve picked out these best sleeping bags that would be a great investment if you are starting out hiking. I am not affiliated with any of these companies, but I do recommend them as excellent outdoor companies. It is a wise investment to begin investing in gear as early as possible. Although I would recommend investing as early as you can, so you don’t need to buy everything in the same order. If you have already hit the cash outlay, you might want to wait for the best price on a bag with the greatest features. Or, maybe you have already bought the best sleeping bag and have a hundred dollars left to invest in the rest of the gear. In that case, I hope you’ve enjoyed this post. Happy hiking.

Do you have any gear recommendations? Share them in the comments below.

Best Sleeping Bags for Hiking in 2022 | Reviews + Buyer’s Guide (2022)