It's been many years since I bought a sleeping bag and the options are a little overwhelming. I need something for a week-long ride in August (GAP trail) - most important features are size/weight and price. Suggestions?

I love my Mountain Hardwear Phantom 45 for size and weight. It is tiny and light and I have used it successfully for everything from the mid teens F to hot enough that I didn't need a bag. I find it pretty much the perfect bag for all the conditions I have used it in. The one drawback was that the price was a bit higher than I was planning to spend, but on hindsight I have found it worth it.

If you want to keep the cost down one of the cheap synthetic bags would be fine. Something like the Slumberjack Superguide might suit you.

I think I paid $280 for my phantom 45 and $70 for the superguide. Both worked ok, but the phantom is much lighter and I find it a bit more comfy in a wider range of conditions. It also holds up much longer. My superguide was starting to show its age after one 73 day tour, while the phantom probably has about the same number of nights use or more and is still like new.

If it is just for this one tour I definitely would go for an inexpensive bag. If you expect to use it hundreds of nights then spending more starts to make sense.

Temp rage you will be facing is important too. I have small synthetic North Face bag, only rated to 55F. But it's what I use for warm +60F nights. About the size of a canteloupe and maybe 18 oz.

a Quilt will be a looser fit, you can lift it to cool off if too hot, and synthetic insulation will not lose loft when sweaty .

the sleeping pad is the bottom anyhow ..

When it is hot in the evening, I am really happy to also bring a silk sleeping bag liner for when a sleeping bag is too warm. I can start out the night with just the liner, as the night cools down then I climb into the sleeping bag. For hot weather trips I use a Mountain Hardware Fairview, had it for several years now, I do not know if they still make them.

I thought about getting just a liner but probably not a good idea. I hate the thought of carrying multiple pieces e.g. liner, quilt, bag, etc - just seems like a lot to pack and a pain.

All the suggestions here are great. It's impossible to tell from online pics how small any of these bags pack so I appreciate the recommendations

I have a Field and Stream 40° mummy bag bought at Dick's Sporting Goods. I bought it to save weight with hiking. Not thick, but good for summer camping.

I think the model is discontinued, but there are newer ones. Somewhere in the $50 range?

Oh, and it works well with the Aire Mattress.

https://smile.amazon.com/Sports-Journ.../dp/B007JTL5AY

Teton Sports Journey 40degree. I got one locally for $60 and its a little cheaper in the link.


I am 6'5 but didn't want to get some XL bag that is huge when packed. In cooler weather its paired with a liner because that 40deg claim is hilariously wrong.
I used it 2 nights ago when the temp got down to 55 and it was perfect.

The foot box is square, its not a restricing mummy style. As a result, you can unzip it and use just as a blanket.
Its thin- not much(any?) insulation.
Its just over 2 pounds and when packed its 12" x 6".
Just buy a stuff sack as the one that comes with it is stupidly small and it will destroy your fingers trying to get packed.


No idea on durability, but Ive used it probably a dozen times over the last year and it still looks new. Not a ton of use so far, so take it for what its worth, but its also economical.

How do you fit that air mattress in your paniers?!

I like the idea of this bag and if it only lasts the week of the trip it was worth $55!

It was around 50F at night on July 4 last year in Connellsville. That may be warm weather for some, but not me. I was glad to have a regular sleeping bag. If it's too warm, I just unzip it and use it like a blanket. Also have a silk liner for additional options, both colder and warmer. Packs down to almost nothing.

I use the REI 45 degree down bag for summer and it packs down insanely small.

That brings up a good point. There is a pretty wide range of how warm folks sleep and how warm they want to feel. I find my Phantom 45 plenty warm even if it gets down into the teens at night if I add a layer of clothes and climb in my bivy. I have often been in camp with folks who were in 20 F bags and said they froze during the night while I was comfy in the 45. I think that the message to take away from this is that you need to figure out what works for you.

BTW, If I would have been there that 50 F night I probably would have had the 45 zipped all the way open and left an arm and a leg hanging out to be cool enough.

Pick up a down comforter, at a garage sale, or resale shop. Wash it, dry it, and you are good for a lot. Stuff it in a stuff sack to make it small.

I was looking at getting something like this, anyone have something similar?
https://www.amazon.com/Chinook-Sports.../dp/B00GH7I75U

It really is overwhelming trying to find a sleeping bag with so many options!

When I toured down to Key West in May-June I used a Therm-a-rest Tech Blanket. It's light, packs small, and not pricey.

I'll second the quilt idea. There are several companies making down backpacking quilts, enLightened Equipment for one. I bought a 19 oz 30 F quilt for $180 for a bike tour a few years ago and it was the best gear purchase I've made in years. I stayed comfortable down to its temp rating in a couple nights of wet snow in the North Cascades, and it was OK for those 95 degree nights during a Midwest heat wave when it would cool down to 75 by morning, if lucky. If you can live without a zipper or a hood you can save some weight and money. Another unexpected benefit was how clean it stayed, since I never actually slept on it.

A word or two on quilts...
Some folks love them, but when I did a comparison, for me they didn't make the cut. No doubt they work great for some. I found that the notion that they were lighter because there is no insulation under you didn't actually hold true in the ones I compared because they needed more size to not have drafts under the edges.

Then there is the adjustability of a quilt. I find that I do the same thing with a bag by zipping it open and using it like a quilt when it is warm and progressively, climb in, zip up, use the hood, and pull the hood tight with only a small hole to breathe through as it gets colder.

Given all that I found that my Mountain Hardware Phantom 45 was comfy for a super wide range of conditions, was lighter, and packed as small. It packs to about the size of a water bottle and weighs a little over a pound (mine is 17 ounces, but the current model is listed at 19 ounces). Add two pairs of socks and one layer of clothing and I am good down to the mid teens or so. I have not found a quilt that matches that size, weight, performance, or flexibility.

Your biggest choice is down or synthetic. If expense is not an issue but lightweight is, then down is the better choice. I just picked up a marmot atom 40 for summer camping.

Still that bag retails for around $300 (less on sale). You can pick up a summer weight synthetic bag for a lot less. Two good sources for bags on sale are REI outlet and Sierra Trading Post.

REI currently has a 25% off sale on its outlet items. I'd nab a bag from them with the discount.

Okay, I know this will sound crazy but for for warm weather camping anymore I just use the rainfly from the tent. It acts as a great insulator and will keep you dry as well. By the time you stuff yourself into your tent you will find, especially August in the mid Atlantic states that you will be toasty and warm to start with and you probably won't want much of a sleeping bag. I've been on the road now since mid June and I think I used the sleeping bag once only. Some nights I have slept without even putting the rainfly over me. I've only set up the tent three times in almost three weeks. Last night was one of them since I was in a very buggy area. Tonight I may get just as unlucky and have to set it up. Otherwise I figure over the next week or two I probably won't use the sleeping bag or set up the tent. Learn to rethink what your equipment is to be used for and then you can redesign how you use your equipment and save yourself both money and weight.

One of those light, cheap fleece sleeping bags? Coleman makes 'em. I have one that I've used in my VW camper but not yet on a bike trip. Works fine for summer temps.

They probably wouldn't be warm enough if the OP was talking about a trip with high altitudes where freezing temps are possible, but I can see where it would be great for Summer on the GAP and C&O.

Over many decades i have used most every type of down sleeping bag for backpacking, kayak touring and bike touring. Each had a specific use and construction for the purpose. In 2000 I learned about down quilts and ordered one and eliminated all the sleeping bags. In 2012 I tried a synthetic quilt and have been using it for my usual activities and like it very much.

The Climashield Apex synthetic insulation breathes well, washes easily and compresses well although not quite as well as my down quilt. I have been comfortable below its rated temperature minimum. And the synthetic quilt over the down one works well in moderate winter cold conditions to keep the down dry from sweat condensation. Moisture seems to condense in the synthetic outer quilt which is easier to dry.

The reason for this preamble is to say how easy it is to make a quilt using this Apex insulation. It needs no stabilizing stitching to keep the insulation in place. You just sew the top and bottom nylon covering together around the perimeter of the insulation. The cost of materials can easily be less than $100. Thru-Hiker has the insulation bats (the 2.5 oz version is rated at 40F) and the nylon material for the covering. Even if you only have minimal sewing skills this project is doable quickly. I hope this helps in your search for a summer bag or quilt.

Not crazy at all and goes to the personal preference issue. My son rode cross country last year and by mid June he quit using his tent and just used sleeping bag. I joined up with him in California and while he was sleeping out in the open I was in a tent and sleeping bag. I worry less about being cold then hot and after riding with a not-so-small bag packability is really important. Trial and error seems to be the consensus

I use a Marmot nanowave 45. I've used it as cool as 30* (wearing a beanie to bed, wool socks, and base layers). It packs up extremely small for a synthetic bag and it still insulates well when the bag is damp . Best of all, I got it on sale for around $45. Id give it an 8/10 and highly recommend it. Used it for my tour from Vancouver to San Diego.

Winner! While not as good a deal as yours, Campmor had these and a 20% off coupon. This bag's by far the lightest I've looked at, at just under 2lbs. Thanks!