Coleman Dunnock Review

The Coleman Dunnock, rated by the manufacturer to 20 degrees F, is plenty roomy inside and features a soft, cotton flannel lining. Great for spring and fall car camping, the Dunnock also unzips to make a cozy queen-sized blanket.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

We found that we could get decent sleep with temperatures in the upper 20s if we wore a base layer and hoodie, but this bag is more suited for nights in the mid-30s to 40s. This bag is a sewn-through model - the synthetic insulation is sewn to both the cotton shell and lining fabric in one pass - creating seams that fail to hold warm air inside well. A quite small, two-part draft flap system backs the zipper; we found it tended to fold over and leave the zipper exposed to wind and heat loss. The Dunnock is not as warm relative to its hefty weight.

Comfort

Measuring 81 inches long and 39 inches wide, the Dunnock has more room inside than all but the luxurious Slumberjack Country Squire. Folks that toss and turn in their sleep find these oversized bags less restrictive. While the cotton flannel lining feels good on the skin, we found it both sheds fiber and piles up quickly. Rectangular bags, this one included, generally have the ability to unzip into a large blanket. The two-way zipper also allows you to ventilate at the foot in warmer weather. Unzipped into a big blanket, this bag covers two folks for warm weather camping.

Features

Unfortunately, this bag does not have loops sewn into the foot that can be used to hang it up. This is a feature we value for extended car camping. A nice feature on this otherwise unimpressive bag is the addition of two small toggles and loops along the sides for securing a sleeping pad with a string or elastic strap. And while tape-backed, we found the zipper still prone to snagging. A unique feature to this bag is a cell phone (or watch) pocket inside at the top of the chest area.

Packed Size

A thin cotton wrap, sewn to the top of the bag, secures the Dunnock when folded in half and rolled up, and includes a nice carry handle. While we like the inclusion of a handle, positioning the cotton wrap and tying the cinch strings was a pain. It's our least favorite packing system. Weighing in at 7 lbs 8 ounces, rolled and wrapped in the protective cover, this bag is about the same size as the warmer and heavier Wenzel Grande.

Best Applications

This is a decent cool and warm weather camping bag. We use it for car camping, picnics, and an extra warm blanket in the house.

Value

At $75 the Dunnock is inexpensive, but we feel there are better values at a similar price. We prefer the similar, and cheaper, Wenzel Conquest for warm weather car camping.

Conclusion

The rectangular Coleman Dunnock camping bag is roomy and comfortable, and unzips to form a queen-sized warm blanket.