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Reddit Reviews
runslowgethungryI have a Nemo Jam, which is shaped like the Disco. I'm a side sleeper and I absolutely love it. I don't think I could sleep in a mummy bag.
The Nemo spoon shaped bags, TR Boost or BA Torchlight are all nice and accommodating for flamingo type sleepers (I am one as well.) Also consider a quilt!
LitFan101I sleep like you and it’s been the bane of my backpacking experience for the last 40 or so years. A few years ago, my husband bought me a Nemo side sleeper sleeping bag for Christmas. I was a little skeptical, but it actually helps a lot. I can’t remember what it’s rated to. It’s definitely not for extremely cold nights, but I don’t know if there are options in that. For car camping one of the main things I do is carry a wider pad. That way when I pull my knee up into the side, it at least stays on the pad and isn’t on the cold hard ground. As someone else mentioned, I also keep some extra gear in a stuff sack, and use that underneath my knee, which helps for warmth and back comfort.
DetroitWagonJust got back from Algonquin where the temps dropped to 3 degrees C. I was comfy in my fairly new -9 degree C Nemo down bag wearing long base layers only, but I felt if it got below freezing I would need some additional layers. Other commenters are giving good advice when they say a good sleeping pad makes a big difference, especially if the ground is already cold (not just air temps dropping at night). Don't trust temp ratings of cheap bags and aim for something with a rating 15 degrees below the coldest you could expect it to possibly get.
Over-Tech3643Nemo down 15F is my favorite. I felt warm sleeping when outside was below 30F. Wait for the next sale in REI you can snag it for nice discount.
Nemo down sleeping bag. My most expensive and by far my favorite sleeping bag.
purplekdogI love my down 15* Nemo bag. It's a huge warmth difference compared to my synthetic 25* Nemo.
Next-Lynx3303I can vouch for Nemo Equipment bags (I have 3 down ones and one synthetic for different temperature ranges). I can also vouch for Marmot down coats (for in-town use not for winter backpacking or camping) but I have never used a Marmot sleeping bag. My 3-season backpacking bag is a Nemo down 15F version that is probably 10 years old now and it is great except for in extreme heat and extreme cold at night. I have an old Eddie Bauer Flying Squirrel Sleeping Bag (modified with velcro) that I use for extreme heat and other Nemo down sleeping bags for winter backpacking. Nemo has a lifetime warranty on their equipment.
Suitable_Sentence_46I like the Nemo sleeping bags that have the gills. You can open them when it's warmer and zip them up as the temperature drops. Works much better for me than just opening the side zipper, which I find let's too much heat out.
I have a cot also but would never sleep on it without a pad when it's cold. I need the insulation. I really like the Nemo spoon shaped bags to be able to move around but why not pile up thick blankets for your first time out before dropping the money on a good bag.
Apart_Box_356BLUF: Test fit at a store or use the 30 day return policy. Only you can determine what length you need as there are multiple factors that go into that. Cost is based off several things and comfort isn’t usually one of them. A few things. For determining length: Most camping stores or stores that sell sleeping bags will let you try them on at the store, plus there is usually a 30 day return window. I’ve noticed a difference in actual bag length both from the same brand and definitely between brands so doing a test fit is always beneficial. Finally, how do you sleep? Do you keep your feet at a 90* angle from your legs like you are when standing and measuring your height? Do you relax them or point them away from your head (some side and most stomach sleepers)? Do you put your “pillow” in the hood of the sleeping bag or leave it outside? Do you put your clothes in the bag with you to keep them warm for the next day? All of these things will determine what the right length of bag for you is while remembering that large unfilled space will require you to heat it or fill it. Bag temp should be based off of night time temperatures. Yes, you can use a colder rated bag when it’s warmer, but people often can’t figure out why they are cold in a 10-15* bag when it’s only in the mid 30s and think they need a 0* bag. Price could be due to better materials, insulation (lots of different qualities between the various “synthetic” insulations, type of down and it’s fill count), “compressibility”, brand, and quality of product. Finally, comfort is entirely subjective. Lighter is definitely better when you have to carry the sleeping bag; however, lighter may mean it’s a tighter mummy fit which may make you more comfortable or may make you less comfortable. As a side sleeper/rotator, while I could sleep in a mummy bag, once I tried the NEMO spoon shaped bags I started sleeping so much better and will now only rock a mummy when I’m really worried about weight or when the temps are in the low teens and below. Also, how noisy is the sleeping bag? How noisy is your sleeping pad and bag? And how does the sleeping bag slide on your pad? Some of the fabrics over the years have not only been very noisy, but also very slippery and both of those can cause issues. Once while on a week long backpacking trip, I was ready to kill my hiking buddy because his new sleeping pad was so F***ing loud that anytime he moved during the night it was like someone getting into a fight with a bag of chips and I would wake up. He also had the problem of the two fabrics being extremely slick and so if we were on anything but perfect level ground he was sliding downhill. Needless to say he never used that very nice and very expensive sleeping pad again.
Rankings by Use Case
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