**If you are in a hurry I recommend the Outdoorsman Lab Sleeping Bag as the best sleeping bag for hammock camping for its portability and versatility **
Finding a sleeping bag that is going to work for hammocks won’t be hard if you know what you’re looking for. Some bags even attach directly to a hammock or come with their own suspension system. You can attach it to a couple of sturdy trees for an easy set up. But knowing what temperatures the bag can withstand or how well the bag circulates air can be crucial to getting a good night’s rest above ground. Learn which ones are going to match your needs by reading the best sleeping bag for hammock reviews below.
What Makes A Good Sleeping Bag for Hammocks
Temperature Rating
All sleeping bags are going to come with a temperature rating but you want to take this with a grain of salt. When a manufacturer says you can sleep in your bag comfortably in as low as 30 degree temps you will not want to test their claims. Instead, you will want to buy a bag that can go as low as 20 degrees to make sure you are going to stay warm.
The temperature rating is affected by the quality of materials used and the design. You want to make sure there are no flaws in the design that would affect the temperature rating. Openings you can never fully close or zipper designs that prevent warmth loss are going to affect the rating..
Comfort
Sleeping bags can come in three main types: the mummy, the rectangle, and the quilt.
The mummy and quilt have similar shapes and will be tapered near the feet. This is a better way to trap heat but it also gives you less room. So if you toss and turn at night this might get uncomfortable because the whole sleeping bag has to move with you. Instead of being inside a rectangle shaped bag where you can move around inside freely.
Most bags on this list also come with a hooded option to keep your head warm at night. It’s the exact place where people lose most of their heat so it’s important to stay warm while you’re sleeping. Make sure when you put the hood on that you can use drawstrings to adjust the level of tightness and that it fits comfortably around your head.
You also want to pay attention to the height of the bag. Most bags will fit body types up to 6 feet in height but anyone taller will have a hard time fitting inside. There is one bag on this list that goes up to 6’6” just in case you need some extra room in your hammock.
Weight
Many sleeping bags are going to be lightweight enough to be able to carry with you on a long hiking journey. They might even come with a compression sack that you will be able to attach to your backpack. These usually weigh anywhere from 3-6 pounds and are perfect for bringing along to use with your hammock.
If you are needing your bag to be as warm as possible then you will be looking at down-filled sleeping bags. These tend to be heavier and can weigh up to 10 pounds. They are also bulkier so fitting them into a case that you can carry easily with you through the outdoors is going to be challenging.
Insulation
Sleeping bags for hammocks will have two different insulation types that serve a specific purpose depending on the type of trip you are going to take.
Synthetic filled bags will be lighter in weight and are often more weather resistant than their counterparts. They make a good companion when hiking to your site or if you are going to be moving around a lot with your hammock. They won’t keep you as warm but you can usually pack an underquilt or overquilt if you are going 4 season camping.
By comparison, down filled sleeping bags will be much warmer because duck feathers have the ability to capture heat better than synthetic filling. But they can also be much larger and heavier. If you plan on setting your hammock up near a more permanent campsite then you shouldn’t have any problems using these to stay comfortable all night long.
Best Overall: Outdoorsman Lab Sleeping Bag
You’ll be getting plenty of use out of the Outdoorsman Lab Sleeping Bag because the high-quality materials and low price point. At just about 3 pounds you can take it wherever your trail leads you and it can fit anyone up to 6’3”. The carrying case has a couple of straps you can use to carry over the shoulder but it’s also small enough to attach to a backpack.
The Outdoorsman isn’t meant for winter weather but can hold up in temps as low as 29-32 degrees fahrenheit. One of the more unique designs is the straps that hold your sleeping back to a sleeping pad. This isn’t always going to work with a hammock but will be very convenient for tent camping. There’s also a footbox that opens so you can let some air circulate on warmer nights or give yourself some extra room. If you need to store your valuable close by you can use the zippered pocket on the inside of the bag. And there’s a pillowcase built-in to the hood for better head support in your hammock.
If you are looking for a sleeping bag that will fit nicely in your hammock and provide a number of convenient features while you are in nature then the Outdoorsman will deliver.
Best Luxury: Hyke & Byke Antero Hammock Compatible Goose Down Sleeping Bag
The Hyke and Byke Antero Sleeping Bag is another option that was built specifically for hammock camping in any weather. The truly 4-season bag comes with 800 fill power goose down fill made to keep you warm in temperatures as low as 0 degrees fahrenheit. All you have to do is run your hammock line through the top and bottom of the sleeping bag so that you are comfortably enclosed from head to toe. It’s even 4 inches wider than normal mummy bags to give you a little extra space when turning around inside.
Because this sleeping bag was made to keep you warm it is thicker than most. Which means it weighs more than most others on the list at 4 pounds. If you were planning on bringing an under or over quilt then this can actually be a good option to save space. The foot end of the bag has a little opening which can prevent you from keeping in all your warmth at night. But unless you are in extreme temps you should be fine. Otherwise, you will be fully covered by the Hyke and Byke including a nice headcover. It also has a double-sided zipper with an anti-snag slider so you don’t have to worry if you need to make a quick exit in the middle of the night.
Best Budget: ASOUT Sleeping Bag
The best thing about the ASOUT Sleeping Bag is how versatile it can be. You can take it outdoors with you in temps as low as 32-77 degrees fahrenheit and still keep warm. But you can also unzip the entire bag to double as a quilt or bed topper. It can comfortably fit any body types up to 6 foot in height. And even comes with a zipper near your feet so you can open the bottom for better circulation or more room. It only weighs 4 pounds and comes with a compression sack that you can shrink down to fit nicely on a backpack. This will make it easy to take with you hiking.
You can even throw the sleeping bag in the washing machine but make sure to give it a little sun exposure so that it remains fluffy. You’re not going to want to take this in very cold weather and it doesn’t attach to hammocks like others on this list. But if you are looking for a bag you can use for a variety of reasons the ASOUT is going to come in handy. Perfect for the camper who needs more than one use from their cover at night.
REDCAMP Ultra Lightweight Sleeping Bag
The cocoon like REDCAMP is made for hammock sleeping in the outdoors. You can set up your own hammock and simply use the sleeping bag on top for some extra warmth and comfort. Or, you can use the suspension kit to tie to a couple of sturdy trees and use the sleeping bag as its own hammock. The double-sided zipper makes it easy for you to adjust how little or how much you want to be enclosed by your bag. You can even give your feet some breathing room while the rest of your body stays warm.
It also fits pretty easily into its carrying case and only weighs a couple of pounds so it’s perfect for taking on trips where you’re going to do some hiking and need a quick set up. The REDCAMP claims to keep you warm up from temps as low as 55-64 degrees. This means you probably don’t want to take it with you some winter trips or when it’s starting to get colder outside. It does have plenty of room inside so you can toss and turn at night without moving your whole bag. The lining is also stitched in place to the outside fabric so it won’t bundle up and get uncomfortable while you’re moving around.
The REDCAMP is one of the few sleeping bags that are built intentionally for hammock camping. So you won’t find many others who have as many features for sleeping above ground in the outdoors.
Coleman North Rim Mummy Sleeping Bag
Possibly the warmest sleeping bag on this list, the Coleman North Rim is a great choice for four-season hammock camping. Taking temps as low as 0 degrees makes it perfect for most winter weather. And the semi-sculpted hood can tighten using drawstrings to hold in heat around the most important part of your body when it’s cold. It takes body types up to 6’2” in height and even has a footbox you can zipper open for more circulation.
It’s a pretty snug fit compared to some others on this list so you’re not going to have a lot of wiggle room when it’s zipped up. But that’s the true nature of a mummy bag and you can trap a lot more heat this way. It also has the ZipPlow technology that moves away fabric to prevent snagging. The 6 pounds makes it a little too bulky for hiking but its a great choice for setting up in a more permanent campsite. There are other choices on this list that actually attach to hammocks or act as their own hammock. But the Coleman North Rim is a great choice if you are looking for some more versatility.
VENTURE 4TH Backpacking Sleeping Bag
The VENTURE 4TH Backpacking Sleeping Bag is light and compact enough to take with you anywhere on your hammock camping trip. At 2.9 pounds you can fit it into the compression sack that is 12 inches in height and hike several days with no problem. There’s a two-way zipper for easy access in and out when you need to get up in the middle of the night.
The 5’11” height recommendation is a little shorter than others on this list so if you’re nearing 6 foot then this probably won’t be your top choice. You don’t want to bring this hammock sleeping bag for cold weather. It can only hold up in 40 degrees fahrenheit so bring a underquilt or overquilt if its going to get colder. For its portability, the VENTURE is worth taking with you on your hammock camping trip. Just make sure it’s not too cold outside.
Coleman Big Basin Big and Tall Adult Sleeping Bag
This is the biggest sleeping bag on the list so if you’re having trouble wondering if you might fit in some of the others, this is built for you. The Coleman Big Basin can fit individuals up to 6’6” so if you are using it with a hammock you want to make sure you’re going to have enough room. It does come with an adjustable hood with drawstrings to change how bundled up you need to be. And it will keep you warm in temps as low as 15 degrees fahrenheit so it’s going to get a lot of use on your camping trips.
The bulks size and 10-pound weight makes it very difficult to take with you on a hiking trip. There just isn’t a great way to attach it with your bag because of the size. But put it on the top of your hammock and you won’t have any trouble feeling warm and comfortable at night. If you are smaller in height there are other options that might be better but for taller campers, this is a great choice.
Summary
My choice for best sleeping bag for hammocks is going to be the Outdoorsman Lab Sleeping Bag because of its portability and versatility. Only 3 pounds and a compression sack included makes it easy to attach to your backpack and bring on a hiking journey. The footbox opens up to give more circulation at your feet and you can even zip it to another Outdoorman to create a double sleeping bag. For the price, it is perfect for the hammock camper who needs a portable and reliable sleeping bag.
