Best Affordable Sleeping Bags of 2020

There are plenty of good things about outdoor activities. They are healthy, fun, and exciting, but the best thing is, you don’t have to be the world’s richest guy to do them, you just need the essential gear. One of the primary gear for camping is the sleeping bag, therefore, we have gathered up the best affordable sleeping bags for those who are on a budget.

The prices of sleeping bags vary from tens to thousands of dollars, but if you are not planning to go to the Himalayas, you don’t have to spend loads of money on a sleeping bag.

If you have the right guidance, you can buy a pocket-friendly sleeping bag without sacrificing quality.

But before jumping right into the list there are a few things to know about sleeping bags, such as shapes, temperature ratings, insulation types, etc. If you already know what to look for before buying a sleeping bag you can skip the information, and if you want to learn more about sleeping bags you can look at our comprehensive article about Features and Types of Sleeping Bags.

What to Look For When Buying a Budget Sleeping Bag

• Weight
• Compressed Size
• Temperature Rating
• Shape
• Insulation

Weight

Weight is one of the most important things to consider when buying an affordable sleeping bag, especially if you are planning backpacking.

You might end up with a sore back if you don’t choose your gears light and proper. Therefore consider buying a bag under 3 lbs if you are looking for a budget sleeping bag for backpacking.

Shape and insulation are the biggest factors in weight. Down insulated bags are lighter than synthetic bags. And mummy sleeping bags tend to be lighter compared to rectangular sleeping bags. Therefore most of the best ultralight sleeping bags are Mummy Shaped Down Sleeping Bags.

Compressed Size

Packing the smallest yet the most convenient gear is every backpacker’s first priority. Considering the sleeping bag will be one of the biggest items on your backpack, choosing a bag with a small pack size is important.

Down sleeping bags are more compressible compared to synthetic bags. Also, since mummy-shaped sleeping bags have a tapered form and are made with less fabric, they are much more compressible than rectangular bags.

Insulation

There are two kinds of insulation for sleeping bags.

Down: This kind of insulation is lighter, more compressible and provides more warmth, but they are more expensive compared to synthetic sleeping bags. The biggest disadvantage of down sleeping bags is they tend to lose their warmth in damp conditions.

Synthetic: These types of sleeping bags are less compressible than down bags and have a low Warmth to Weight Ratio. But they are much more budget-friendly and durable compared to down insulated bags.

Since you are looking for the best cheap sleeping bag, you should know that most of the pocket-friendly sleeping bags are synthetic.

But don’t worry, If you are okay with carrying a sleeping bag that weighs 3 lbs and can be compressed up to 8” x 14”, a synthetic sleeping bag will be more than enough.

Temperature Rating

Most brands use EN 13537 standard for temperature ratings. There are three rating types for sleeping bags according to EN 13537. Those are Comfort Temperature, Lower Temperature, and Extreme Temperature.

Comfort Temperature: The lowest temperature a woman can sleep comfortably.

Lower-Limit Temperature: The lowest temperature a man can sleep in a hunched position.

Extreme Temperature: The lowest temperature a woman can sleep and survive.

Shape

There are four types of sleeping bag shapes.

Rectangular: This type is the most common sleeping bag type. Rectangular sleeping bags are heavier and less compressible than other types, but since they provide a great amount of space for sleeping, they are extremely comfortable. If you are looking for the best affordable sleeping bag for car camping you should definitely go for a rectangular sleeping bag.

Mummy: This type of sleeping bag is great for backpacking and mountaineering. Mummy bags are lighter and more compressible due to their tapered form, but not the best when it comes to comfort. Since they offer many great features, they tend to be more expensive than other types.

Semi-Rectangular: They are a mixture of mummy and rectangular sleeping bag. They have less Weight to Warmth Ratio than mummy bags but they are more comfortable.

Double Sleeping Bags: As can be understood from the name, these types of sleeping bags are for two-person camping.

Note: Most of the rectangular sleeping bags (and some mummy sleeping bags) can be zipped together to make a double sleeping bag. Therefore, if you plan to go camping without your spouse sometimes, instead of buying a double sleeping bag, buying two rectangular sleeping bags is more feasible.

Best Affordable Sleeping Bags

5 Best Affordable Sleeping Bags Comparison Table

TETON Sports TrailHead

Best for: Best Affordable Cold Weather Sleeping Bag for Backpacking

• Shape: Mummy
• Weight: 2 lbs 14.4 oz
• Pack size: 6.5″ x 14.5″
• Size:  87″ x 32″ (at the shoulders) x 22″ (at the foot)
• Insulation: Synthetic
• Temperature Rating: 20˚F
• Outer Shell: 75D Diamond Ripstop
• Inner Lining: Double-Brushed P5 Poly Hi-Count

Teton Trailhead is a mummy shaped synthetic sleeping bag. Although it is an inexpensive bag, it provides almost every feature of an expensive sleeping bag.

Some of those great features are a draft tube to reduce the heat loss through the zipper, an adjustable hood, an interior pocket, a well-designed foot-box to increase the comfort and warmth in the feet area.

Overall, TETON Sports TrailHead is one of the best budget cold weather sleeping bags for backpacking.

Outdoor Vitals Atlas

Best for: Best Affordable Down Sleeping Bag

• Shape: Mummy
• Weight: 3 lbs 13 oz
• Pack size: 8″ x 11″
• Size: 75″ (Length) x 64″ (Shoulder Girth)
• Insulation: 500 FP Down
• Temperature Rating: 15˚F
• Outer Shell: 30d 320t Nylon DWR Coating
• Inner Lining: 50D 320T Polyester Pongee

Outdoor Vitals Atlas is a down insulated, mummy-shaped sleeping bag. If you are on a small budget, and still want the features a down bag provides, it is perfect for you.

The great thing about this bag is, even though it is much cheaper than any other down sleeping bag it still offers almost every feature that an expensive down bag does. Such as; great compressibility, lightness, high Warmth to Weight Ratio.

If you also travel with your loved one sometimes, don’t forget that if you get one right zip and one left zip Outdoor Vitals Atlas, you can zip them together to make a double sleeping bag.

TETON Sports Celsius

Best for: Best Budget Backpacking Sleeping Bag for Comfort

• Shape: Rectangular
• Weight: 5 lbs
• Pack size: 10″ x 15″
• Size:  80″ x 33″
• Insulation: Synthetic
• Temperature Rating: 0˚F
• Outer Shell: Tafetta
• Inner Lining: SuperLoft Elite Hollow Fiber

TETON Celsius is a rectangular-shaped, synthetic insulated sleeping bag. If comfort is your first priority and if you don’t mind compromising on weight, we strongly recommend Teton Sports Celcius. It offers the comfort of a rectangular bag but weighs only 5 lbs and can be compressed up to 10″ x 15″.

Sleepingo Double Sleeping Bag

Best for: Best Budget Double Sleeping Bag

• Shape: Double
• Weight: 6 lbs
• Pack size: 12″ x 15″
• Size:  87″ x 59″
• Insulation: Synthetic
• Temperature Rating: 50˚F
• Outer Shell: 210T Polyester
• Inner Lining: Textile Combination of Tetr

Sleepingo is a synthetic insulated, double-wide sleeping bag. If you are planning an outdoor trip with your loved one and if you are tight on the budget you should definitely go for Sleepingo Double Sleeping Bag.

Most of the double sleeping bags are extremely big when compressed and weighs more than 10 pounds. The best thing about this bag is; unlike most of the double sleeping bags, this bag can be compressed up to 12″ x 15″, and weighs 6 pounds. All those features make it one of the best affordable sleeping bags for camping.

If you are planning a trip in winter with your “significant other”, you shouldn’t choose this bag since its comfort temperature is 50˚F. In that case, you should increase your budget a little bit and go with TETON Sports Mammoth Queen-Size.

Hyke & Byke 0 Degree

Best for: Best Budget Sleeping Bag for Cold Weather Camping

• Shape: Mummy
• Weight: 3 lbs 6 oz
• Pack size: 8″ x 11″
• Size: 78″ long x 28″ wide at the shoulders
• Insulation: 625 FP Down
• Temperature Rating: 0˚F
• Liner: 400T 20 D Ripstop Nylon 

Hyke & Byke is a down insulated, mummy-shaped sleeping bag. Most of the cold weather sleeping bags are extremely expensive due to the costs of insulation material and heat loss reduction features, but this bag features everything you need for cold weather camping.

It has great compressibility and a high Weight to Warmth Ratio, which makes it one of the best affordable sleeping bags for backpacking in winter.