The Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags of 2022
A good sleeping bag is one of the most important investments an avid outdoors person will make. It will keep you warm, cozy, and rested. To evaluate the best backpacking sleeping bags, we took key performance factors into account, including warmth, packed size and weight, materials, extra features, and value.
Our Buyer’s Guide at the end of this article details the performance features we suggest considering when narrowing down a choice. Also, be sure to check out the backpacking tent review to make sure you get the best gear for your needs.
Here, we break down the best sleeping bags for backpacking, which means a focus on weight and compression size. If you’re looking for more all-around comfort-oriented sleeping bags, check out our roundup of the best sleeping bags for camping.
Every bag on this list is among the best backpacking sleeping bags on the market right now, so be sure to read through the features and click through to find the best bag for you.
Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15

The best overall backpacking bag this season is the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15 . Our testers agreed that this 15-degree rated bag provides the versatility for almost any adventure. Its lower limit of testing is 11 degrees, making it suitable for everything from high altitude mountain adventures to remote desert trips well into the fall when temperatures dip below freezing.
The large foot box and 58 inches of shoulder girth allow for comfortable sleeping, with enough room to stuff a hot Nalgene at your feet to keep your toes warm. We found the 20-denier nylon fabric is tougher than most bags in its class. On cold nights, six inches of 850-fill down and large baffles keep the draft and cold air out. Read More...