CATEGORIES
CATEGORIES
Imagine backpacking with a smaller pack, cutting down trail weight, waking up in your tent without steaming like an overcooked tamale. Sounds pretty fantastic, doesn’t it?
Most of us bank on a 3-season bag year-round, bundling up or unzipping as needed. Not only will a summer bag allow you to shed pack weight and sleep comfortably in warmer temps, but you can also use it as a liner for your 3-season bag for a hardy winter setup.
Find solace in a summer bag – it is, after all, backpacking season.
| EN Comfort Rating: 39F Weight: 1 lb 11 oz (Regular) Fill: 850-fill DriDown Stuff Size: 7 x 14 in) |
If you’ve ever watched faulty zippers tear fabric in their malevolent snaggleteeth, the very thought of a zipper-free bag should bring tears of joy to your eyes. Not only does this design eliminate pesky zips, but it also accommodates fidgety sleepers, thanks to the integrated comforter and wide torso. Though steep for a summer bag, this bag is stuffed with 850-fill DriDown; Sierra Designs’ premiere hydrophobic treated down.
Best For: Hassle-free warmth, tossing and turning sleepers
| EN Comfort Rating: 49F Weight: 1 lb 4 oz (Regular) Fill: Q.Shield DOWN 800-fill goose down Stuff Size: 6 x 10 in |
For the mummy lovers, the Phantom 45 is a hard bag to beat. Barely over a pound, this burly Mountain Hardwear bag motivates backpackers to take to the trail with speed and confidence. Once the Phantom is strapped down in a compression sack, the sleeping bag takes up so little space, it may as well be a ghost.
Best For: ultralight backpacking, long summer treks
| EN Comfort Rating: 49F Weight: 1 lb 14 oz (Regular) Fill: 550-fill DriDown Stuff Size: 7 x 12 in |
If you’re concerned about dropping serious cash on a bag you’ll only use for a few months out of the year, look to Kelty for significant value. Though bulkier than others on this list, it’s a bargain bag at only $139.95. Kelty’s affordable option still weighs in at less than 2 pounds and packs down to 7 x 12 inches – which isn’t a drastic divergence from bags that cost twice as much. If you’re counting dollars instead of grams, the 550-fill Kelty bag is the way to go.
Best For: Saving dough without losing sleep over it
