Author
Leah Balagopal
Image courtesy Therm-a-Rest
Like a trusted rain jacket or trustworthy tent, a sleeping bag is high on the essential backpacking gear cheklist. Single sleeping bags are the norm, even for kiddos, but double sleeping bags are a fantastic alternative for couples (and/or close friends) who want to keep those cozy home vibes going in the backcountry, too.
With more options than ever, suited both for backpacking and car camping, we're here to help guide you towards sleeping bag success. So what is a double sleeping bag? As simple as it sounds, it’s a sleeping bag specially designed to fit two people—or one person and a dog, or one person who prefers plenty of room while they sleep.
For a full breakdown of what to look for when shopping for a double sleeping bag scroll on towards the bottom of this article. For everyone else looking to get straight to the goods, read on to check out our top picks for the best double sleeping bags currently available. Enjoy and happy camping!
[Looking to really maximize comfort on your next camping trip? Try a camping couch.]
The Best Double Sleeping Bags of 2022
Big Agnes King Solomon 35°
Big Agnes is a tried and true brand and their King Solomon 35 is a sure-fire bet for comfort and warmth. Made with recycled materials with 650-fill down insulation and a water-repellent exterior finish—and a packed weight of just 1 lb 6 oz—it's great for car camping, backpacking, even cowboy camping under the stars. Another handy feature is an integrated harness that lets you squeeze two single-person sleeping pads together without worrying about sliding off of them. It also has separate pillow pockets, draft baffles, and a hood you can cinch tight for warmth.
Price: $399 SHOP NOW
The North Face Dolomite One Duo Sleeping Bag
This is the personal go-to bag for one Field Mag staffer. The North Face Dolomite One Duo Sleeping Bag brings an innovative and effective design to an all-season bag. Its removable layers make it modularly customizable for whatever temps you and your partner find yourselves in. With just the blue layer, you can take on the warmer 50-degree temps of summer camping trips. Use just the yellow layer when nights dip into the 30s, and combine all three to be comfortable down to 15 degrees.
Price: $200 SHOP NOW
REI Co-op HunkerDown 20 Double Sleeping Bag
REI Co-op's Hunker Down sleeping bag is made of all recycled materials and is graded for temperatures down to 20F. Maybe the best feature on this bag is the dual side entry so you can climb in and out without disturbing your partner. Both hoods are adjustable individually for as much or as little coverage as each person needs, and there's an interior stash pocket for small items.
Price: $330 SHOP NOW
Kelty Tru.Comfort Doublewide 20
Kelty’s soft and cozy Tru.Comfort Doublewide is the perfect car camping bag for two. Although double sleeping bags all tend to be a bit bulky, the extra weight is worth it for the roominess the Doublewide provides, as long as you don't have to carry it too far. There's room for two-standard size pillows, but the really cool feature are the built-in blankets, which give this bag modular warm from 20 degrees up to warmer nights, too.
Price: $210 SHOP NOW
Marmot Yolla Bolly 30° Doublewide Sleeping Bag
Basic and lightweight, the down-filled Marmot Yolla Bolly is perfect for shoulder season camping. It has a fold-down cover, a hood, stash pockets, anti-snag zippers, and water-resistant down insulation to keep you warm down to 30 degrees.
Price: $439 SHOP NOW
NEMO Jazz 20F Dou Sleeping Bag
The NEMO Jazz Duo 20 degree sleeping bag hits all the marks for comfort and adjustability. We all know that regulating body temperature when cozying up to your partner can be tricky, but this bag has dual action zippers and zippable foot portions as well so you can customize your side of the bag. There's also a built-in sheet that provides temperature versatility but is also nice for washing, and a harness that keeps it stable on a sleeping pad (go for Nemo's super-comfy Roamer). It's over eight pounds, but comes with an oversized duffle for packing and transport. Lastly, Nemo backs this bag with a lifetime warranty.
Price: $350 SHOP NOW
The North Face Eco Trail Bed Double 20 Sleeping Bag
The North Face’s Eco Trail Bed is another no-frills double bag that's worth a look. It's warm and just oversized enough that you can cozy up without feeling squished, but there aren't any real features beyond a top cinch and an internal pocket. Rated for down to 20 degrees, it's perfect for a quick car camping getaway.
Price: $200 SHOP NOW
Sea to Summit Basecamp Synthetic Sleeping Bag
Sea to Summit's bag checks all the boxes for comfortability, versatility, and warmth: it has a zip off outer layer that can be used as a quilt, as well as zippers on both sides and on the footbox so you can hang your toes out at night. The bottom layer is fully insulated and it comes with exterior straps that can be attached to any sleeping pad, ensuring you would be sliding around during the night.
Price: $369 SHOP NOW
Feathered Friends Spoonbill UL 2 Person Sleeping Bag
PNW companies know their stuff when it comes to camping gear, and Seattle-based Feathered Friends is no exception. The Spoonbill bag is a lightweight packable option for a double bag, weighing in under 2.5 pounds thanks to 950-fill down insulation that packs down small and provides big warmth. Although fully separate hoods prevent some snuggling, the bag is still perfect for couples and hits the mark on the warmth-to-weight ratio.
Price: $959 SHOP NOW
Therm-a-Rest Vela Double Quilt
As an alternative to a full sleeping bag that's lighter but still big on warmth, try Therm-a-Rest's Vela Double. If you're thinking, quilt?, know that this is nothing like the duvet at home—it has a tapered design that keeps out drafts, is stuffed with warm down insulation, and its ripstop shell has DWR to keep you nice and dry. Pair it with other Therm-a-Rest products for a fully customizable sleep system.
Price: $360 SHOP NOW
Features to Look For in a Double Sleeping Bag
The features to look for in a good double sleeping bag depend on the situations in which you will use it the most. Consider how much warmth you need, whether you prefer down or synthetic insulation, and how much space you have for it in your backpack or camping bin.
Temperature Rating
Sleeping bags are generally grouped into three temperature rating classifications: summer, three-season, and winter. The temperature rating refers to the minimum nighttime temperature that the sleeping bag should be able to keep you sufficiently warm and comfy in.
Summer sleeping bags are usually recommended for use in temperatures of 30°F or higher. Three-season sleeping bags are suitable for spring, summer, and fall and typically fall in a temperature rating range between 15 and 30°F. Lastly, winter sleeping bags provide enough insulation and warmth for cold weather from 15°F and down.
Keep in mind that warm is a relative term here. If you're a cold sleeper, you may still want extra layers of clothing if you plan on using your sleeping bag in temperatures near its lowest temperature specification. Or, consider a sleeping bag with a temperature rating between 10 and 15°F lower than the temperatures in which you will use it most often, to give yourself some extra warmth.
Sleeping Bag Shape
Just like single sleeping bags, double sleeping bags come in different shapes. There are rectangular sleeping bags, which provide slightly more space to move around; there are mummy sleeping bags, which have a tapered and closer-fitting shape, and there are semi-rectangular sleeping bags, which fall somewhere in between.
The more air there is in a sleeping bag, the more body heat it takes to heat up that air. Rectangular bags are larger and therefore more spacious inside but also allow for greater airflow and more space for cold spots. Mummy bags are the opposite—more restrictive, but also smaller and more packable.
Size and Weight
Regardless of the shape, double sleeping bags take up more space than their single-person counterparts, and you may need to consider the size of your tent and sleeping pad when choosing which sleeping bag size to get. Some larger double bags may take up the entire floor size of a two-man tent, or be too big for an air mattress or double sleeping pad. Check the bag's dimensions, and consider buying the sleeping bag and sleeping pad from the same brand to be sure both work together as a unified sleep system.
Double sleeping bags are, obviously, bulkier than their single sleeping bag counterparts. But packing one double sleeping bag can provide weight and space savings versus packing two separate bags (you just have to decide who gets to carry it). Double sleeping bags come with a stuff sack or carrying back, and lightweight and ultralight options do exist for backpacking, but most double sleeping bags will work for car camping since you don't have to hike in your gear.
Materials
Sleeping bags typically come with down and synthetic fill, which provides insulation and keeps you warm while you sleep.
Down sleeping bags tend to be more expensive but they weigh less, provide more warmth, and pack up smaller than synthetic sleeping bags. When shopping for down-filled sleeping bags, you'll notice something called fill power. A down sleeping bag with a higher fill power number will provide more insulation and warmth per gram. Common fill power ratings range from 600 to 900. Down sleeping bags don't do well in damp or wet conditions because the insulation can saturate and clump, losing its loft and ability to provide warmth, though manufacturers are finding ways to make down water-resistant.
Over the past decade, synthetic insulation has made large strides, becoming lighter, warmer, and more packable. Synthetic sleeping bags are still typically heavier than down bags (though it depends on what models you're comparing) but work better in wet or damp weather. Synthetic sleeping bags dry quicker than down bags and are less expensive but take up more space when packed.
The outer shell of a sleeping bag is usually constructed with nylon or polyester ripstop, and often coated with a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) to make it water-resistant. Inside, many brands use a softer polyester taffeta.
Additional Features
Two-person sleeping bags might also come with various additional features to make your next camping trip more comfortable.
One example is draft tubes, which are additional tubes of insulation fitted around the zippers of your sleeping bag to stop cold air from seeping in through the zipper. Some double bags also have hoods designed to keep your heads warm in freezing temperatures, or pillow pockets for keeping a cushion in place, or small stash pockets for essentials like a phone.
How to Wash Your Double Sleeping Bag
Dirt, sweat, and body oil can cause your sleeping bag to become musty and damage the liner. One way to slow this process is to sleep in clean clothes or use a sleeping bag liner. These liners are easy to clean and lengthen the lifespan of your sleeping bag, while also providing additional insulation and warmth.
When it does come time to wash, hand-wash or wash it in a front-loading washing machine that doesn't have an agitator on the delicate setting. Don't use fabric softener. Do use a technical fabric soap like Nikwax's Down Wash Direct for down-filled bags and Nikwax's Tech Wash for synthetic ones.
Air-dry your sleeping bag away from direct sunlight. If you absolutely need to, you can place it in the dryer along with some tennis balls or a towel. Remember not to use the heat setting when you do this, as the heat could shorten the lifespan of your sleeping bag. Don't dry-clean your sleeping bag.
How to Store Your Double Sleeping Bag
Keeping your sleeping bag in its compression sack for long periods could affect its loft and, therefore, its ability to provide insulation. Fluff out your sleeping bag after it has been packed away, and store your double sleeping bag by either hanging it or lightly folding it inside out inside the larger mesh sack that it comes with. This helps to eliminate any smells that could get trapped in the liner and preserve the filling.
How to Repair Rips & Tears
If your bag does get torn during an adventure, the quickest fix is a specialized patch that you can easily apply yourself—our favorite is Tenacious Tape. We know that duct tape is like a dirtbag's badge of honor, but it won't last as long as a patch and will wear away over time, leaving a nasty, gluey residue all over your bag. Zipper failures and other more technical repairs are often covered in warranties, so check with the maker to see if you can get a fix for free.
Published 05-05-2022
