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Our backcountry experts tested 15 women's-specific sleeping bags meant for all types of overnight adventures, temperatures, and budgets, and here are the best among them
A warm and cozy sleeping bag is at the top of the list for essential pieces of gear. Whether you're after the lightest and most packable option for high alpine objectives or simply want something durable and spacious to keep you warm while car camping with friends, we've got the down-low to help ensure your body is well-rested for many adventures to come.
Over the last 12+ years, our team of experts has tested dozens of the best women's sleeping bags. We have carried these bags on our backs and spent many chilly nights snuggled up, sleeping under the stars, under a tarp, or inside tents. Some testers spend most of their time outside, exposed to every season and possible weather conditions — soggy, humid, cold, and dry — allowing us to continually scrutinize specific performance metrics like weight and comfort in the field.
Of more than a dozen options we've tested for our current lineup, our favorite women's sleeping bag overall is the Western Mountaineering Alpinlite. The Alpinlite is a wonderfully simple, lightweight, 850+ goose down, mountain-ready design built with open baffles that allow you to adjust the down's placement for customizable comfort and warmth. If you're on a tight budget and want to check out some more affordable options, we highly recommend the Sierra Designs Get Down 20. And if you find yourself adventuring in wet climates and prefer a synthetic sleeping bag, the NEMO Tempo 20 Synthetic is a solid and affordable choice.
A sleeping bag is arguably one of the most important pieces in your camping gear repertoire, and when you're out there on the trails, pair your bag with one of our testers' favorite women's sleeping pads. If you're a taller person looking for a wider variety of backpacking sleeping bags, you should check out our men's/all-gender review on backpacking sleeping bags. We've also tested bags suited for a casual car camping trip that are less technical (and usually more affordable).
Editor's Note: Our women's sleeping bag review was updated on April 17, 2025, to include new award winners from the latest round of testing.
Lightweight, super warm, cozy, versatile, simple, high-quality construction
Lightweight, high-quality materials, comfortable
High-quality down, warm, lightweight
Lightweight, compressible, comfortable
Very lightweight, small packed size, high-quality down
Exterior pillow barn, expandable side panels, short fit perfect for standard female height, comfortable, very packable
Comfortable, warm, roomy
Great price, lightweight, simple
Affordable, feels like down, super comfortable, great fit, key features to enhance warmth, compression sack, pillow sleeve, retains warmth when wet
Warm and comfortable, keeps you warm even if wet
Comfortable, leg room for people who want to bend their knees inside the bag
High quality down fill, decent price
Warm, comfortable
Comfortable, inexpensive, recycled materials
Highly affordable, synthetic fill and DWR treatment provide warmth when wet
Cons
No compression sack included, expensive, no women's-specific features
Expensive, included compression sack is heavy
Sizing not for everyone, fabric is a bit noisy, doesn't include compression sack, down packs out quickly
Expensive, not particularly warm
Tight-fitting mummy bag, not very warm, expensive
Not as warm as bags with higher down fill, no features specific to women, features add weight to the design, cinched hood doesn't stay in place, small zippers on side panels catch on material, compression sack sold separately
Heavy, bulky
Half zip can be claustrophobic, low-quality down
Bulky, heavy, fit may not be best for all body shapes
Bulky packed size, heavy, tight fit
Heavy, not as warm as rated, not all features are useful
Heavy, doesn't come with a storage sack
Very heavy for a down bag, bulky
Heavy, bulky
Tight fit, zipper doesn't remain closed, storage pocket unnecessary, material lacks comfort, heavy, requires more space in your pack
Bottom Line
Minimalism meets luxury in a design that prioritizes warmth, comfort, and low weight with a smart open-baffle system to customize the down fill's placement when needed
Lightweight and packable with unisex sizing that's well-suited for women looking for a soft, cozy three-season bag
Light to pack with high-end materials and construction for a remarkably warm night's sleep, assuming the size of the bag fits you right
An easy-carry option for alpine climbing or fast and light adventures, although not as warm as some may require
This super-lightweight, compact bag is a great choice for fast and light, warm-weather adventures but does sacrifice some comfort and warmth for weight
A feature-rich down-fill design ideal for women who move positions throughout the night and want extra assistance locking their sleep system into position
This middle-of-the-pack sleeping bag is comfortable, warm, and fine for short backpacking trips and car camping excursions
Simple, down-filled design that's light to carry and relatively comfortable, all at a great price
An affordable yet heavyweight synthetic design that mimics the loft and comfort of a down bag, complete with a draft collar and spoon shape to eliminate cold air drafts
An inexpensive and versatile synthetic bag, this product is best suited for smaller people when there's moisture in the forecast
Offers a comfortable night's sleep for car camping, but too heavy to be a great pick for most backpacking trips unless covering a very short distance
Comfy and warm with high-quality 800 fill power down, but surprisingly heavy for what it is
Lots of bells and whistles and impressive warmth make this bag notable, but its extras add too much weight to make it a good choice for carrying over distances
A well-priced, synthetic choice for simple car camping needs
A decent budget option for those looking for a synthetic, DWR-treated bag for car camping
The Western Mountaineering AlpinLite is our favorite women's sleeping bag from all the contenders in our comprehensive review. The responsibly sourced 850+ goose down construction provides a 19-ounce fill weight that combines with an ultralight nylon ripstop that's both comfortable and quiet during nights spent under the stars. “Although the unisex bag does not offer any women's specific features, I found the short length fits me well and is true-to-size for a standard female up to 5 feet, 6 inches tall,” says our lead tester. Also, the versatility created by the open baffles allows users to customize the location of the down to meet their specific preferences, whether moving all of the down to the top for extra warmth or distributing it to the bottom on warmer nights. The simple design lacks any extra features of note, including an anti-snag zipper. But our test team found every component to be reliable and effective. Smart design choices like a beefy zipper that slides easily to open and close thanks to a piece of stiffer, one-inch material that runs along the interior on both sides inspire confidence in the bag's long-term durability. If simplicity doesn't appeal, consider the Big Agnes Torchlight EXP 20. It has every feature you can imagine, from fastening the bag securely to your sleeping pad to expandable panels on each side for more space on warmer nights. The stripped-down AlpinLite is for those seeking to maximize warmth and packability, thanks to the highly compressible design. If you're after a comparably simple design well suited to meet the unique needs of female backpackers, the Feathered Friends Egret UL 20 is a great choice, so long as its standard sizes fit your body well.
While the extra space inside the chest portion of the Western Mountaineering AlpinLite may add extra comfort for some, it can also increase cold air drafts for others. “I enjoyed the extra room inside the bag to shift positions and sleep on my side, but it also created some space for cold air to permeate the bag,” says one tester. And while our testers were blown away by the performance of this simple sleeping bag, we can't help but acknowledge the caveat of the expensive price tag that goes along with it. Made in the United States and constructed of responsibly sourced goose down, this bag's high-quality materials are built to withstand your most demanding mountain adventures. Another top-scoring option, the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15, is equally worth checking out. Although a slightly heavier design, the Phantom is just as compressible and packable for high alpine pursuits. It also includes a compression sack (albeit a little on the heavy side). The AlpinLite, in comparison, will require an additional purchase to maximize the benefit. After several nights of testing from the high alpine bivies between Chile and the High Sierra, the AlpinLite stood out as our favorite sleeping bag overall.
The Sierra Designs Get Down 20 is a decent down product at a jaw-droppingly low price. It takes home an award for value because it checks a lot of boxes for a down backpacking bag while still leaving enough in your wallet to pick up a few other essentials before your next backcountry trip. The Get Down is lighter and packs down smaller than many other higher-priced down models in this review, and it is just as comfortable or close to it. It's also roomy enough to wear extra layers when things get chilly, something we appreciate. One tester noted, “ For the price, this is an easy bag to recommend — it will deliver a good night's sleep and gives you enough flexibility to build in extra warmth using additional layers should temperatures take a nosedive.” If you're interested in another roomy option that packs down super well, thanks to its 950+ down fill high-quality construction, the Feathered Friends Egret UL 20 is a worthy investment.
The Sierra Designs Get Down 20 is made of lesser quality, lower-performing materials than other options in the lineup. For this reason, it is not as warm as those with a higher down fill power. We wouldn't take this bag out when temperatures dip below freezing. If you're interested in a sleeping bag that will keep your core warm even when the temperatures plummet, we highly recommend the Western Mountaineering AlpinLite or the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15. That said, we think the Get Down is a great option for someone on a budget or who doesn't backpack as often or in cold temps. In a similar weight range, the Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15 is a warmer and roomier bag that only costs a bit more.
NEMO Tempo 20 Synthetic is the warmest synthetic sleeping bag in our lineup, but at 3.75 pounds, it's also one of the heaviest we examined. However, its price is well aligned to match, making it a reasonable option for those who seek a weather-resistant sleeping bag where weight is less important than price. The Tempo has an EN comfort rating of 23 degrees Fahrenheit with a lower limit of 12 degrees F, which kept our testing team warm and cozy, even during a surprise desert snowstorm in late spring. We appreciate the loftiness of this synthetic bag. It's capable of keeping you warm even when wet. Our tester also points out, “The loft mimics the luxurious, cozy feel of down-filled options, and the bag has a soft interior and cut that fit my female body very well.” The design also features a pillow sleeve and a unique draft collar that looks silly, but it does a good job of tucking you into the bag to eliminate any drafts on the inside. While not a contender for anyone prioritizing ultralight gear, this bag is ready to provide cozy comfort while car camping, on a river trip, or for short-distance backpacking trips when you aren't heading too far from the trailhead. Although it has a heavy and bulky design, the Nemo Tempo 20 does include a compression sack to reduce the overall size and increase its packability. Or, if you want to shave more than a pound off your final package and enjoy even more compression in packing, consider going with a down bag like the Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15.
The NEMO Tempo 20 Synthetic is a women's specific bag. Still, it does not include anything notably “female-specific” in the design, except a zipper compatible with Nemo's men's sleeping bags. Its hood is deep but doesn't easily accommodate our backpacking pillow. We preferred to leave it beneath our sleeping bag, even if it was prone to moving around at night. “I found it easier to fit my down jacket inside (rather than a pillow) before zipping the hood and cinching it tight when cold weather rolled in,” says our lead tester. If you prefer a dedicated “pillow barn” that accommodates pillows of more shapes and sizes, we recommend the feature-heavy Big Agnes Torchlight EXP 20. While the Tempo 20 is quite packable, especially considering its heavy and bulky design, you might notice when trying to cram everything in your pack that it just doesn't have the compressibility of down models. To invest in a sleeping bag with a durable yet stripped-down construction that prioritizes weight, packability, and compressibility, you should take a look at the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15, which is among the top-performing down-filled bags that we tested.
While the Tempo 20 isn't the lightest nor the smallest sleeping bag that we tested, the affordable design does include a compression sack that further packs the bag into a smaller size, freeing up extra space inside your car or backpack.
Four-chamber hood and neck collar for extra warmth
High-quality design and materials
Built for performance in the mountains
CONS
Expensive
Heavy compression sack
The Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15 is a high-quality sleeping bag built for three-season mountain performance. Although the bag only features 800 fill down, it also includes a substantial neck collar, a four-chamber hood, and a baffle that covers the full length of the zipper, which creates more warmth and increases comfort. The slim-fitting mummy-style bag is another key feature that more effectively traps body heat while eliminating cold air drafts within the bag. If you don't like the sounds of those tighter dimensions, we'd recommend bags like the Feathered Friends Egret UL 20, which offers another four extra inches in the hips. The Phantom is also highly packable, sold with a compression sack that allows you to maximize the space within your backpack, and is relatively lightweight at 2.05 lbs. The 15-denier nylon ripstop interior creates a soft and cozy sleeping environment, while the black interior is designed to harness the sun's energy to dry quickly. The bag also features a DWR finish on the 10-denier nylon exterior, which we found to be a key component in protecting the down feathers on the interior from packing out and losing loft, thereby decreasing the bag's warmth. “This is the bag I would select for the best performance in an alpine setting,” says lead tester Trish Matheny. The beefy two-way zipper has been upgraded to include anti-snag technology as well. This prevents the zipper from getting stuck on the fabric when opening and sealing yourself inside.
Of all the high-end luxury down sleeping bags we've tested, the Mountain Hardwear Phantom is the one we think will perform the best during alpine adventures, thanks to its high-performing DWR treatment. Our leader tester's final assessment was short and sweet: “This design is somewhat minimalist, foregoing additional bells and whistles to keep the bag warm, lightweight, and packable, and the final result delivers where I think it counts most.” We note the included compression sack is a little heavier than others we had in hand. The zipper also includes a glow-in-the-dark pull, which may be design overkill when discussing a minimalist bag. Yet we found it helpful once the sun set, and it does make it easier to slide the zipper up and down the length of the bag. If you're looking for an even lighter bag, check out the Western Mountaineering AlpinLite. It weighs 1.85 lbs and features a higher down-fill at 850+, but it will cost you nearly 20% more. These bags are an upfront investment, yet they both feature top-quality, responsibly sourced materials built to withstand even the most demanding mountain adventures. For a more budget-friendly down sleeping bag option, check out the Sierra Designs Get Down 20.
The Feathered Friends Egret UL 20 is a functional and lightweight sleeping bag with luxurious 950+ goose fill down, protected by a Pertex Endurance UL exterior fabric. There's no doubt that this high-end bag sets a high bar for other down sleeping bag manufacturers as the down fill is much warmer per square inch, requiring less total quantity while saving on weight. It is one of the lightest bags in this review and one of the warmest, a winning combination of warmth-to-weight ratio. “I found the Egret to be very compressible, packing down into a small, easy to carry package,” says one tester. Another lightweight and portable option is the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15, which includes a compression sack for even easier packability. Ultralight options such as the Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 20 are also highly packable and compressible, yet they often sacrifice a bit of overall warmth to achieve those ends.
While it is difficult to find many flaws within the functional design of the Feathered Friends Egret UL 20, our testing team found themselves right in the middle of the two available sizes, lengths designed to fit 5'3" (size small) and 5'9" (size medium). Our 5'6" lead tester reports, “I had to size up, which resulted in extra space inside the bag that created a draft; I especially felt it when exposed to high winds and light rain while camped in an open bivy.” Anyone who lands between sizes may find themselves cramming into the bag or wishing it were less drafty due to unnecessary extra space. There is also generous sizing around the hips. This may work great for some sleepers, but it leaves room for additional draftiness for others — it all depends on body shape and height. We also found the Egret UL 20's down packs out faster than we'd like to see. This can detract from the overall warmth of the bag over time. Its shell material is also more rigid and noisy than other fabrics we've tested. These small complaints aside, this is another excellent goose down-filled option for long trips into the backcountry anytime between spring and fall in most climates. Another bag we love from a small USA manufacturer is the Western Mountaineering AlpinLite. It costs a bit more and is a touch less warm, but it's supremely comfortable and also under two pounds.
The Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 20 is the smallest and lightest package we've reviewed, so it earns recognition as our favorite ultralight sleeping bag for women. It is lighter than any other product by at least half a pound. The Hyperion also has the smallest packed size, almost as small as a 1-liter Nalgene. It is an excellent choice for summer or warm weather fast packing when every gram counts. But if you're only going to invest in one bag and you want the option for year-round use, our lead tester would suggest going a bit heavier: "I look to bags like the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15 or the Western Mountaineering AlpinLite for more flexibility throughout the year, especially since I tend to sleep cold; you will carry a bit more weight in your pack but the exchange is better warmth and versatility."
The main drawback of the Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 20 is that its overall warmth and comfort are sacrificed for one end goal: weight savings. It relies on a half zip and a particularly tight fit to reduce the ounces. This makes it among the least warm and cozy bags in the lineup. But it could be a great choice for those looking to shave those precious ounces off their backs. If you don't mind trading half a pound for much higher comfort and warmth scores, we highly recommend the Feathered Friends Egret UL 20. If ultralight is your thing, we've also tested a variety of unisex options that may fit your dimensions a bit better.
The Big Agnes Torchlight EXP 20 is the perfect down-filled construction for those seeking to customize their sleeping arrangement with every available feature under the sun. The 650 down fill is packed into a 20-denier Recycled Polyester ripstop shell that feels soft and cozy next to your skin. The unisex bag provides no features specific to a woman's body. Yet, it includes expandable side panels on both sides of the bag to create 10 additional inches of space for those willing to sacrifice a degree of warmth for extra space inside the design. Anti-snag zippers on the main opening help reduce friction with the interior lining. At the same time, the exterior “pillow barn” easily holds a backpacking pillow or improvised down jacket in place even when shifting position throughout the night. The bag enables the option to attach a liner to the interior and an extra exterior fastening system to combine your sleeping pad and sleeping bag into one unit and prevent slipping and sliding, even on uneven ground. “I would have loved to have this sleep system when I spent a month in an open bivy while climbing in Chile or on nights I've slept in the alcove on El Capitan,” says lead tester Trish Matheny. For a more streamlined design that's perfect for open bivies in the mountains, we recommend options like the Western Mountaineering AlpinLite or the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15. These will be more minimalist when it comes to features, but the stripped-down designs result in lightweight, packable, and most importantly, warm bags.
Of all the down-filled bags we tested, the Big Agnes Torchlight EXP 20 is one of the few that produced significant heat loss when some features were used. “I couldn't help but notice the warmth that escaped the bag when I opened up the expandable side panels,” says our lead tester. For this reason, we recommend taking advantage of this additional space and comfort only on warmer nights. The Torchlight seems to perform best around temperatures above 32°F, a comfort rating much higher than other bags we tested. And, while this bag is highly compressible and packable, the included storage bag and stuff sack don't allow for maximum compressibility. In comparison, a much heavier, more affordable, and synthetic-filled option, the NEMO Tempo 20 Synthetic, proved even easier to pack due to its highly effective compression sack, significantly reducing the final size of this otherwise much bulkier option. If the price tag of the Torchlight is out of your range, options like the Sierra Designs Get Down 20 may be a better entry-level down option worth considering. But for those who want options to dial in their perfect night's sleep, the Torchlight stands apart from the rest with adjustable features to keep you comfortable.
The Torchlight EXP 20 is the latest iteration of the uni-sex design that offers every feature you can possibly imagine, while combining your sleeping pad and the bag into one unit, especially nice for those who tend to rotate positions in their sleep.
Credit: Trish Matheny
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Open bivies in humid climates created the perfect testing ground for our latest round of sleeping bags.
Credit: Trish Matheny
How We Tested
As is our standard practice, we researched hundreds of sleeping bags for women before purchasing the most compelling models in this review. Then, to create our tests, we needed to identify the most critical factors that contribute to the performance of a women's specific sleeping bag. We identified key performance areas to focus on while testing the bags before spending months taking them out to use in the field. We carried them on rugged backpacking trips in various mountain ranges in the U.S. and South America and snuggled up on car camping trips to the desert, National Parks, and climbing areas. For additional details on our testing, see our full How We Test article.
Our women's sleeping bags testing is divided across five rating metrics:
Warmth (25% of total score weighting)
Weight (25% weighting)
Comfort (20% weighting)
Packed Size (15% weighting)
Features (15% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
This review was crafted by outdoor educator and guide Jessica Haist and mountain athlete and all-around outdoor expert, Trish Matheny. Jessica holds a Master's Degree in Adventure Education from Prescott College in Arizona. Originally from Canada, she moved to the U.S. after growing up in Toronto and later migrating to the mountains of British Columbia before heading south. She now resides in Mammoth Lakes, CA, amidst her beloved Sierra Nevada, where she frequently goes backpacking, mountain biking, climbing, and skiing. As an avid and multi-faceted mountain athlete who has spent time in cold environments, Jessica has a keen eye for the essential features of a women's specific sleeping bag. Trish spent over a decade exploring the Tetons on her splitboard, including many range traverses within the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem during the spring, before moving west to set up a home base in the Sierra Nevada. She now splits her time between Crowley Lake in the Eastern Sierras and Yosemite Valley, California, where she is a Yosemite Search and Rescue Team member. Much of her time is spent living outside in a sleeping bag, whether out of her truck on the road or in her wall tent outside of Camp 4, providing ample opportunities to test equipment and dial in her preferences. Her extensive outdoor experience has taught her the importance of selecting the right gear for the job to maximize your activities and recovery time, even after multiple big days and big efforts in the high mountains.
We would take the Cosmic Ultra on short backpacking trips, it's a little on the heavy side for long ones.
All of these bags would be able to pack smaller with a compression sack, or the use of a smaller compression sack as with the Cat's Meow (right).
The Cat's Meow's half length zipper saves some weight but reduces the overall comfort and versatility of the bag.
We spent many nights inside each sleeping bag that we tested to evaluate their performance over each testing metric objectively.
Analysis and Test Results
Why choose a women's specific bag? It may seem obvious, but physiologically, women are different from men. So, these differences should be taken seriously when choosing something as important as a bag that will keep you warm and well-rested for a big day in the mountains. Everyone wants to find the most suitable product for their needs; for most women, that will most likely mean choosing a bag tailored to their unique physical dimensions and hot/cold tolerances. This is especially true for shorter adults. If you have struggled to find a bag that doesn't have you swimming in extra material, a women's-fit bag will be a great place to start and often delivers more bang for your buck. Almost all the bags we tested in this review have at least the same amount of insulation, if not more, than the corresponding men's models. Women's bags are smaller and have less volume, so they often have more fill per square inch in the final product.
The AlpinLite is easily topped our list as the overall favorite sleeping bag whether you're on a fast and light adventure or simply sleeping near the trailhead. The “short” length was perfect for our 5'6" lead tester and the loft of the 850+ goose down fill is tough to beat.
Credit: Trish Matheny
After many months of testing, we compiled our assessments, compared specifications, and wrote this review. Our testers' experiences with these bags while car camping, thru-hiking, big-walling, and attempting various summits provide incredible insight into each bag's performance. All scores are relative among the bags we tested. Below, we go through each metric and highlight which products stood out during testing and why. We'll also discuss the value of the different options so you can get a sense of what to look for when purchasing on a budget.
What's the Best Value?
Prices across the sleeping bags in this lineup are widespread. Why is there such a significant disparity? And what is the difference between them that warrants such a price gap? These bags are built using various types of down or synthetic fill. The wholesale price of down can specifically vary depending on the “power” or loft associated with it. The higher the loft, say 850-fill, the more it costs the manufacturer than the same quantity at a lower weight (like 600-fill). There is also a quality and cost difference associated with the down type. Duck down is typically much cheaper and less lofty (and therefore heavier) than goose down. Costs get passed on to the consumer, so you will generally see this distinction reflected in the price. Highly lofted down bags are also warmer for the carry weight and more compressible, meaning more expensive bags often score higher in our testing metrics. For example, the Feathered Friends Egret UL 20, which uses 950+ fill power goose down, has a hefty price tag but has among the highest warmth-to-weight ratios.
Sleeping bags, like the Feathered Friends Egret, are worth their investment as they are constructed from responsible down and durable materials for many adventures ahead.
Credit: Trish Matheny
If you are looking for a bag that performs well but does not cost as much as the Egret, you must sacrifice fill power, compressibility, weight, or some combination of these factors. For example, NEMO Tempo 20 costs comparatively little and does well across most metrics. Still, it is heavier, less warm, and less compressible because of its substantial loft, synthetic materials, and other key features. Its application for longer, faster, or lighter adventures is more limited than the Egret, but it will fulfill your needs on shorter backpacking trips, while car camping, or on an extended river trip.
The NEMO Tempo 20 is an affordable synthetic option that provides ample warmth and comfort, but unfortunately is one of the heaviest and bulkiest bags that we tested.
Credit: Gus Landefeld
Warmth
Most bags in this review, except for the Feathered Friends Egret and the Western Mountaineering AlpinLite, have been EN-tested for their warmth rating. The EN rating can serve as a rule of thumb for deciding which bag you should use for a particular season, and it makes it easier to compare between bags that have this rating. That said, during our tests, whether or not a bag had an EN rating was not a huge factor in determining its actual warmth. Instead, we compared these bags side-by-side in similar conditions to determine warmth. We found that even some with the same EN rating differed in warmth because of the fit and additional features like neck baffles. Consider a winter down sleeping bag if you want something to take winter camping on high-altitude expeditions.
Things to consider when evaluating a bag's warmth are the loft, fit, and insulation location. Bags with higher fill power and more ounces of down fill will generally be the warmest. Of all the sleeping bag designs we tested, the Western Mountaineering AlpinLite stands apart from the rest thanks to a high loft and 850+ goose down fill. The “short” length was perfect for our 5'6" lead tester, who appreciated the snug fit, a substantial collar around the neck for extra warmth and comfort, and a baffle the length of the zipper, which helped eliminate any cold air drafts. If you find the extra space in the chest of this unisex design a little too spacious, this can be reduced by wearing a puffy jacket at night.
The Western Mountaineering AlpinLite features a high loft, goose down fill construction that is one of the coziest and warmest bags that we tested.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Regarding overall loft, the Egret outshines most of the bags we tested, thanks to the 950+ fill power and 17.4 ounces of super-lofty goose down. That being said, our 5'6" lead tester found herself right in between the two women's specific sizes, a size small (5'3") or a size medium (5'9"). This bag also features generous sizing in the hips, plus a shallow hood. While recognizing that the sizing may be perfect for some bodies, our test team found the extra space of the size medium fit created an uncomfortable amount of draft inside the bag, thereby reducing the warmth overall and detracting from a good night's sleep. After spending one month on a climbing expedition in Chile with the bag, often open bivying below the stars, we also couldn't help but notice the toll that the humid environment took on the high-loft design, which felt like it wasn't generating as much warmth towards the end of the trip.
The Egret along with a very intense sunny aspect made sleeping in after a big objective nearly impossible. Without the heat of this sun, our lead tester (5'6") found herself in the middle of the offered sizes which created some cold drafts inside the bag near her hips. Hopefully you fit the Feathered Friends sizing so you can maximize the warmth.
Credit: Paddy O'Mara
A proper fit is essential when shopping for your next sleeping bag. If your bag is too large (like our experience with the Egret), your body must work harder to warm up the extra air-filled space. We found the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15 fit most of our testers very well, with enough wiggle room to wear a few extra layers when it got below freezing, but not so much spare room for cold air to make itself at home. The slim-fitting mummy-style bag is one of the most compelling arguments we can make to purchase a women's specific bag or, in the case of the Phantom, a unisex size small. Although the Phantom is minimally designed to save on weight, the bag features a four-chamber hood, full neck collar, and a baffle that extends the length of the zipper to increase comfort and prevent drafts. So, while the Phantom doesn't feature the highest down fill, the fit and strategically placed baffles made a huge difference in its overall warmth rating.
The Phantom 15 construction includes 800 fill down along with extra panels around the neck and zipper to trap body heat within the specially designed mummy style shape.
Credit: Trish Matheny
We have noticed that more women's products are entering the market with a wide or adjustable fit, like the Nemo Disco 15. These bags will be colder for smaller folks because their body has more internal space to heat up. Draft collars, like the one on the AlpinLite, block cold drafts from entering and help retain body heat inside the sleeping bags.
We tested these bags to the margins of each season from early spring to late fall when the snow started falling.
Credit: Jessica Haist
As women are known to sleep colder, manufacturers are putting extra insulation into their women's models — often in the foot box for our cold feet. The Cat's Meow has most of its insulation on the top of the bag where it won't be compressed underneath you, and the Egret and AlpinLite both have continuous baffles that allow you to move all the down on top of you for extra cold nights (or beneath you on warm nights).
As the EN rating system gains popularity and becomes the industry standard, we've noticed a trend in manufacturers naming their bags deceivingly with numbers that reflect the “limit” rating versus the “comfort” rating - we want to use the bag at its comfort level, not its limit! For instance, the Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 20 has an EN comfort rating of 32 degrees Fahrenheit despite the 20-degree designation in the name — that's a pretty big difference, and we would not take the Hyperion out with forecasts of 20°F. It feels a little misleading, but we think this is a gentle reminder always to double-check what the numerical qualifier on a sleeping bag actually means when shopping for a new one.
Sleeping bag designs like the NEMO Tempo 20 provide the loft and warmth we'd expect from a down-filled sleeping bag. Although the draft collar looks a little silly, it adds a ton of warmth and coziness when tucked inside the hood.
While the draft collar on the NEMO Tempo 20 looks a little silly, when tucked into the hood, it greatly reduces draft inside the bag and feels super cozy next to your skin.
Credit: Gus Landefeld
When planning your backpacking kit, one thing to consider is choosing a sleeping pad that will add warmth, especially if your bag does not have insulation on the underside. The higher the “R-value,” the more the pad will insulate you from the ground and help you stay warm. Check out our sleeping pad review for women for our favorites.
Weight
No matter who you are, all advantages are welcome when it comes to reducing pack weight on a long overnight trek. No backpacker wants to add extra weight to their pack if unnecessary; we all want a sleeping bag with the greatest weight-to-warmth ratio and no extra material. Of course, this metric shouldn't be a deciding factor if you are looking for a car-camping bag. The weight of a bag is the sum of its fill, shell materials, and added features.
Over the past few years, we've noticed that many manufacturers are labeling their products as “ultralight.” We think this word is overused, and none of the bags in this review are what we consider to be truly ultralight. Synthetic insulation is typically denser, as is down insulation with a lower fill power, like the 550 fill duck down found in the Sierra Designs Get Down, since you need a higher amount to achieve the same warmth. A lightweight shell material will lighten up your bag, but will generally be less durable. Bags with sleeping pad sleeves tend to be heavier, even without insulation in the back, because this material is usually heavier than insulation. Features such as double zippers and pockets add weight, so deciding which amenities are important to you before purchasing anything is helpful.
The Therm-a-Rest Hyperion is a great choice for fast and light adventures.
Credit: Ian McEleney
The Hyperion blows the competition out of the water in this category, weighing just 19 ounces. However, it is also the least warm bag in our review, indicating a clear trade-off. The Neutrino and Egret come in around 8 ounces heavier than the Hyperion, but they are much warmer. These bags' low weights result from their high fill power down (800/950), lightweight shell materials, and streamlined features. A little heavier is the Phantom 15, but it remains very compressible, and it's difficult for us to notice the extra few ounces of weight. The Hyperion, Cat's Meow, and Get Down all have half-length zippers that contribute to some weight savings. But if you're not planning on carrying your bag on your back, consider getting something less expensive, heavier, and more comfortable. If this option sounds like something you're after, the Nemo Disco, with its many features and roomy cut, is a good choice. Another way to lighten and tighten your load is to find a lightweight compression sack, as the included stuff sacks can be heavy and bulky.
Remember, every ounce you can shave off your pack saves you some suffering down the trail. Ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal pain over a long trip.
Weighing only 1.85 pounds, the AlpinLite is one of the lightest bags that we tested yet doesn't sacrifice any warmth for those who fit into the uni-sex “short” sizing.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Comfort
You want a good night's sleep after working hard during the day. The most important factors affecting comfort in these bags are the size, shape, and liner materials.
After many nights of evaluating bags, we found that comfort directly correlates with shape and size. Often, the roomier the model is, the more comfortable it feels. Unfortunately, these bags are less warm than tighter-fitting bags, as body heat is wasted filling up the “dead” space. Bags like the Western Mountaineering AlpinLite offer a “short” unisex option that fits well and provides a more spacious version of the traditional mummy-style shape. We found the length perfect, while the chest had more space. While the substantial and cozy neck baffle greatly reduced the draft, wearing a puffy jacket to bed is also helpful, depending on your preferences and body shape.
The high loft of the Western Mountaineering AlpinLite's 850+ goose down fill along with a substantial neck collar and additional baffles along the zipper created one of the most comfortable designs we had the pleasure of sleeping in.
Credit: Trish Matheny
While the Phantom 15 does feature a slim-fitting mummy-style design, we found the soft and plush 15 denier nylon lining to be cozy and quiet when we moved around to get comfortable. The baffle neck collar and baffle along the length of the zipper create a luxurious and tucked-in space for you to get a good night's sleep. Speaking of being tucked in, the draft collar on the NEMO Tempo 20 was especially cozy, while the unique spoon shape fit was the perfect amount of interior space for our lead tester to rotate positions at night.
The draft collar combines with a baffle that extends along the zipper to reduce draft and increase comfort inside the synthetic bag design.
Credit: Gus Landefeld Gus Landefeld
The Egret also provides comfort within the 950+ goose down construction. The sizing is generous, providing more space in the hips and enough room for your feet to move around. The only drawback was the noisy, Pertex Endurance UL material, which can keep your climbing partner awake should you adjust your body's position frequently during the night.
Open bivies don't get much more comfortable than this, the Egret features a lofty 950+ fill goose down that's specifically designed for a woman's shape.
Credit: Paddy O'Mara
Lately, manufacturers have been going to great lengths to figure out how to make the traditional mummy design more comfortable. The Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15 has a “Performance Plus” mummy shape that is roomier than a traditional one. Many bags also have added features for comfort, like the expansion panels on the Big Agnes Torchlight EXP 20 that you can zip open or closed to tailor the size of the bag to you, or Nemo's “spoon shaped” bags that allow you to sleep in a corkscrew position with a knee up. Shell and liner materials are also essential factors for comfort. We love the soft, silky material of the Rab Neutrino against our skin.
The Big Agnes Torchlight EXP 20 design features an exterior pillow barn that cinches down your pillow or down jacket, and is just one of the key features that enhance the overall comfort of the down-filled construction.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Packed Size
When it comes to your sleeping kit, size matters. This is especially important if you plan to carry everything on your back for multiple days on end. You will not only want to focus on the bag's weight but also how small the bag compresses to make space inside your pack or haul bag for other essential items. A lightweight and compressed backpack also helps to provide better balance and maneuverability in technical mountain terrain.
It's a general rule that, per ounce of insulation fill, down fill is much more compressible than synthetic insulation. The down-filled Hyperion has the smallest packed size by far, followed by the Rab Neutrino, and both of these bags have only 15 ounces or less of down fill. This means there is less volume to compress; therefore, each is less warm than much of the competition. In comparison, the Western Mountaineering AlpinLite has 19 ounces of 850+ down fill, and the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15 has 20 ounces of 800 down fill. Yet, in both cases, the bags compress to a similar package size as the Neutrino while providing far more loft and warmth overall. The Feathered Friends Egret UL 20 is another with an impressive weight-to-warmth ratio (950+ down fill), although it does not slim down quite as well for packing.
The Phantom 15 includes a storage sack and compression bag that easily pack down in side, allowing space for other essentials inside your pack.
Credit: Trish Matheny
The synthetic Marmot Trestles Elite Eco 20 is the bulkiest model we tested. The REI Trailmade 20 is another large-to-pack synthetic option. But since it remains warm even in wet conditions and is sold at a highly affordable price, we think it's a reasonable entry-level option that will work for many. Another synthetic bag, The North Face Cat's Meow, proved less difficult to pack than we might have expected given its warmth, yet it still ended up among the larger among most of the down bags we tested. The final packed size of these two bags improves if you put the compression sack that comes with your purchase to work. Note: All of the products in this review come with a stuff sack, but most are not compression sacks. We generally prefer compression sacks for squeezing the bags into the smallest bundles possible. A few of those that include compression sacks are the Therm-a-Rest Hyperion, Mountain Hardwear Phantom, the NEMO Tempo 20, and the NEMO Disco.
While the NEMO Tempo 20 is one of the heaviest and bulkiest designs that we tested, the affordable synthetic bag mimics the loft and coziness of down, and comes with a compression sack that further reduces the size of the bag, creating more space for essentials in your car or backpack.
Credit: Trish Matheny
When you purchase a new bag, consider getting a separate compression sack that will reduce your bag to the smallest size possible.
Remember that compressing your down bag shortens its lifespan, so most manufacturers include a large cotton or mesh storage sack with your purchase. Unfortunately, Kelty does not provide one for the Cosmic Down Ultra. Always store your bag as uncompressed as possible to ensure the longest lifespan.
We appreciate bags that include a compression sack so we can pack them down small and free up space in our packs.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Features
We evaluated shell material, zippers, pockets, baffles, drawstrings, sleeping pad sleeves, and other added features for this metric. We also note what features are necessary and useful, rather than superfluous features that make the bags heavier or more awkward. We like the streamlined features of the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15 because they are designed with weight savings in mind. The bag is soft, made of lightweight fabric, and has high-quality 800 fill with no other frills, making this our favorite simple-featured bag designed to perform in the mountains. The AlpinLite and Egret are also very streamlined.
The anti-snag zipper adds a little extra weight in exchange for convenience and durability.
Credit: Trish Matheny
We can't talk about sleeping bag design features without highlighting the Big Agnes Torchlight EXP 20, which offers seemingly any feature you can think of. From expandable side panels for a more spacious interior to an exterior sleeve for your pillow or the ability to fasten your sleeping bag and pad into one unit, this bag takes the cake for features and versatility.
The Torchlight is a unique down-filled sleeping bag construction that's perfect for those who are after a versatile and customizable design that's loaded with features.
Some sleeping bags opt for a stripped down and lightweight design that's highly packable while other options are versatile and offer any feature you can possibly think of.
An exterior pillow sleeve along with fastenings on the interior hold your pillow in place no matter how many times you rotate positions.
From pillow sleeves to pad attachments, the Torchlight has all the features to meet your specific needs
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Almost every down bag in this review comes with some form of hydrophobic down. It seems that manufacturers are on a level playing field in this department. Each company has a proprietary hydrophobic down; Mountain Hardwear has Q Shield, Rab uses Nikwax, Sierra Designs uses DriDown, etc.
Down-filled constructions will feature DWR treatments that prevent the down from being soaked during inclement weather although they do not typically withstand substantial rain, thereby reducing their overall warmth when wet. If you find yourself camping regularly in a rainy environment, a synthetic bag will provide the best performance.
Credit: Trish Matheny
The effectiveness of hydrophobic down is difficult to test. Folks attempting to demonstrate the effectiveness of manufacturers' treatments to the down have tackled the task in various ways, from getting in the shower to jumping into frozen lakes. While some tests may look promising for realistically gauging the performance of the treated down fill, skepticism still exists about how beneficial such treatment really is. Another consideration is that this coating can add around an ounce to your bag's weight. It may also create potentially harmful chemicals that off-gas while you sleep. When Feathered Friends was asked about why they don't treat their down feathers, here's what they had to say:
"We consciously decided not to treat our down with a water-repellent coating. Although waterproof down has recently become popular in the outdoor industry, we find it compromises the down's effectiveness and longevity while providing little real-world benefit. We also have concerns about the widespread and excessive use of PFCs, which negatively impact the environment. Because we take such pains to source high-quality down and take such pride in the quality of our products, we don't have any plans to use down treatments, and, as far as we know, neither do Western Mountaineering, Arc'teryx, or other purveyors of high-quality down products. However, we use a DWR on all of our fabrics, which should effectively keep out moisture from condensation, ice, or light precipitation."
Anti-snag zippers are all the rage, the Egret features a substantial #5 YKK two-way zipper that is easy to use and built to last.
Credit: Trish Matheny
A trend we've noticed recently is burly “anti-snag” zippers and other extreme measures taken so zippers do not get caught on the bags' shell material. We prefer these zipper pulls to having stiff material along the zipper line to prevent snagging.
We've spent hundreds of nights in the backcountry testing out these bags for you.
Credit: Ian McEleney
How to Choose a Women's Sleeping Bag
Generally speaking, women sleep much colder than men, especially outdoors. Our unique female anatomy distributes our body fat more evenly, so we typically have a layer of fat that men do not. While this allows us to conserve body heat better, there is a downside: our cores tend to pull heat from our extremities to protect the temperature and function of more important internal organs. Metabolic differences can also be key in women's bodies running colder than men's. For these reasons, we recommend considering a gender-specific sleeping bag, especially if you are shorter and/or tend to run cold. Women's bags will generally be designed to account for these functional needs.
Do you prefer a down or synthetic sleeping bag? A women's specific fit or a “short” uni-sex option? Our brief article below is here to help.
Credit: Gus Landefeld
Female Specific Features
Three main design adjustments are accounted for in a women's specific sleeping bag: a shorter length and fit that accommodates smaller female shape with curves, more insulation per square inch, and extra insulation in key locations where body heat tends to be lost (near the feet, around the neck, and the core). We highly recommend selecting a bag tailored to your height and body shape to maximize all features. Some bags we tested are only available in short or medium lengths, which left our testers in between — either too small or too big, with pockets of cold air significantly reducing the bag's warmth. Anyone who tends to run cold should consider purchasing a bag with additional insulation per square inch or simply more insulation overall to help maintain their body's temperature while sedentary overnight.
Women's specific bags will often have unique design features that cater to our physiology in order to maximize warmth.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Down or Synthetic?
You'll notice that our review includes various sleeping bag materials and fills. Typically, down-filled sleeping bags offer the most loft and luxurious feel and extra warmth. Synthetic bags are often heavier and bulkier, putting them at a significant disadvantage. The caveat to a down sleeping bag? Wet and humid environments can damage the loft and reduce the bag's warmth and overall performance (although most feature treatments are meant to prevent this). For this reason, synthetic bags are often preferred for wet and humid climates or frontcountry camping where weight is not an issue. Down sleeping bags will particularly shine whenever you aim to travel fast and light in a dry climate.
Down sleeping bags feature a ton of loft with along with a coating to protect the down from wet and humid climates.
Credit: Trish Matheny
What Activities Will You Pursue?
Deciding what activities you'll be doing is another key factor in determining the best sleeping bag to meet your specific needs. We tested several styles and designs to provide better information about what's available. From ultralights built with simple designs that maximize warmth at limited weight to heavy-duty sleeping bags perfect for cozy nights in a campground tent or the back of a truck, and all of your backpacking needs — we've tried them all. We tested options well-suited for side sleepers, considered the needs of women who move around a lot in their sleep, and examined those featuring a “barn” to keep your pillow in place. We even looked at bags with an extra zipper to expand or contract the design for better thermoregulation based on conditions. There are a ton of options out there, so it's helpful to hone in on what will make you most comfortable on your next overnight outside.
Are you planning an open bivy high in the mountains or car camping near the trailhead?
Credit: Paddy O'Mara
Conclusion
With so many women's products saturating the market, we've weeded through a broad assortment of the most compelling options, sifting through the industry hype to help you determine what works best for your needs. We hope you feel empowered to select just the right sleeping bag for your upcoming adventures.
Whether you're going on a river trip or planning a backcountry bivy under the stars, we hope our testing notes and perspectives help you select the best option for you.
