As soon as the summer season arrives, most people pack their backpacks, gather up a few friends, and head out for a fun-filled, exciting camping trip. While some prefer a nice, low-key trip near lakes and rivers, others who are more adventurous choose to camp among the mountains and the hills.
In a Hurry? Here are Our Top Choices
As amazing and exhilarating a summer camping trip sounds, there are many things that can absolutely ruin your excursion. Wear the wrong shoes, and you are likely to end up with a twisted or sprained ankle. Forget your sunblock, and you’ll come back with the worst tan of your life. But most importantly, if you bring the wrong sleeping bag for your trip, you’ll find yourself tossing and turning each night, unable to sleep at all.
Since camping is all about outdoor adventuring, you need to have the right gear and equipment, especially when it’s time to sleep. That’s mainly because daytime camping is fairly straightforward, as you’ll probably spend most of your day hiking. It is the nighttime that can really make or break your trip, particularly if you are stuck with the wrong sleeping bag.
The 4 Best Sleeping Bags for Summer Camping
So, for the next time that you plan a camping trip with your friends, we have come up with a list of the best sleeping bags for summer camping that will help you sleep well at night.
1. The North Face Wasatch
This is one of the most popular sleeping bags for summer camping and is ideal for old-school hikers and campers. While it may look simple and old-fashioned, it actually features quite a modern design.
The North Face Wasatch 40F/4C Sleeping Bag is a water-resistant, insulated sleeping bag that is made of eco-friendly insulating materials. The sleeping bag is stuffed with a synthetic fill that mainly comprises of post-consumer recycled fibers. These fibers help make this sleeping bag incredibly light and will probably make you feel like you’re sleeping on feathers.
It’s a rectangular sleeping bag with sturdy, full-length zippers on both sides, a roomy cut, and is built with highly sustainable materials. When camping during the summer in warmer temperatures, you can easily open the zippers for extra ventilation.
Additionally, it offers great comfort, is incredibly spacious, and can even be used as a soft blanket in case you don’t need the covers at all.
Pros
- Provides the maximum amount of ease and comfort
- It is extremely lightweight
- Ideal for summer and spring seasons
- Can easily be opened or closed with the help of the zippers
Cons
- The zippers need a lot of care and caution
2. Vango Nitestar 350 Sleeping Bag
If you’re looking for a good-quality yet low-budget sleeping bag for your summer camping trip, this is a great option for you. It’s a highly durable and reliable sleeping bag that’s ideal for springtime and summertime camping.
The Vango Nitestar 350 Sleeping Bag features embossed polyester and an extremely comfortable double-layer insulation. This helps provide exceptional warmth and comfort as you sleep during the summer nights. It comes with a slightly brushed polyester lining that is really soft and helps relieve pressure on the back.
An interesting feature of this sleeping bag is its horizontal stitching that allows for evenly distributed insulation all across the bag. Other than that, it also comes with a two-way auto-lock zip whose main purpose is to keep the bag in place and prevent it from unzipping itself if you move a lot while you sleep.
As you wake up the next morning, you can even hang the bag up with the help of its hanging loops. Doing this will help keep the bag super fresh and dry.
Pros
- It is really lightweight and durable
- Excellent value for money
- Comes with an internal Velcro fastening pocket to store your wallet, phone, etc
- Provides a balanced weight-to-warmth ratio
Cons
- Feels a tad heavy and bulky
- Some might find it too warm for summer camping
3. Rab Ignition 2 Sleeping Bag
This is a super lightweight sleeping bag for summer camping that comes with a quality synthetic fill that is highly durable and long-lasting. It features a soft-to-touch polyester lining with a protective polyester microfiber insulation that offers maximum comfort and warmth during the night.
The Rab Ignition 2 Sleeping Bag has a classic, tapered, mummy-like shape that amps up the overall design of the bag and allows considerable movement while you’re sleeping. There are also sturdy YKK zips on both sides of the sleeping bag, which means that you can easily zip or unzip the bag from either side, as per your preference.
One of the best things about this sleeping bag is the synthetic insulation that it uses in its design, which is called Pyrotec. This helps compress the sleeping bag so that you can easily pack it into your rucksack. The polyester lining is super light and soft, making this bag ideal for summer or springtime camping.
Pros
- Has a zip-up pocket to store your valuables
- Offers excellent thermal properties
- It’s lightweight and comfortable
- It can be packed up and stored in a rucksack
Cons
- Some people find it to be a little small
4. Sierra Designs DriDown Backcountry Sleeping Bag
If you’re looking to enhance your outdoor summer camping adventures at night, this sleeping bag will do the job for you. It weighs about 2 pounds and 7 ounces and is best described as durable, versatile, and warm.
This Backcountry Sleeping Bag has a unique design with an ‘eye-like’ shape in the middle, which basically serves the purpose of entry and exit. One of its key features includes a built-in comforter that promotes easy temperature regulation. At times when it’s too hot, and they need to vent all the excess heat, campers can move the comforter up or down to regulate the temperature inside the sleeping bag.
It also comes with insulated arm and hand pockets that offer maximum insulation. When you couple that with the sleeping pad sleeve, this sleeping bag makes you feel like you’re sleeping on a fully integrated bed.
Pros
- Offers a considerable amount of ease and comfort
- Excellent for side sleepers
- It’s super easy to pack
- Allows campers to regulate the temperature inside the sleeping bag
Cons
- Doesn’t have any zippers
- The slot for the insert pad is small
What to Look for When Buying a Sleeping Bag for Summer Camping
Sleeping bags come in a variety of different sizes, designs, and colors. While you may be tempted to buy the one that looks the best, there are several other important features and factors that you must consider when buying a sleeping bag for summer camping.
Weight
Camping trips require you to carry as little weight as possible, and you really don’t want to ruin your trip by carrying a super heavy sleeping bag with you. Lucky for you, summer sleeping bags are generally very light, so you must look for one that offers a balanced warmth-to-weight ratio.
Outer Material of the Sleeping Bag
The best kind of sleeping bags for summer camping must repel water and provide protection against abrasion. This ensures that your bag doesn’t get wet, even when exposed to moisture. Therefore, you must check the outer material of the sleeping bag before buying it.
Insulation Properties
For summer camping, it is best to get the kind of sleeping bag that makes use of synthetic insulation. This quality makes sure that the sleeping bag retains an adequate amount of warmth and also absorbs very little moisture.
Our Final Thoughts
No matter how great your camping trip plans are, the wrong kind of sleeping bag will definitely ruin them. Therefore, we suggest that you get your hands on the best sleeping bag for summer camping from the above list and have a wonderful time outdoors with your friends and family!
