Buy Budget Sleeping Bags, Quilts, and Liners for Backpacking
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Down Sleeping Bags
Kelty Cosmic 20 Down
Specifications:
Lower limit (ISO): 21° F
Comfort (ISO): 31° F
Insulation: 550 Fill Down
Shell: Recycled 20D Nylon Taffeta
Lining: Recycled 50D Polyester Taffeta
Men’s Short
MSRP $159.95
Fits: 5’6″ / 168 cm
Length: 72″/ 183 cm
Shoulder Circumference: 58″ / 147 cm
Hip Circumference: 56″ / 142 cm
Foot Circumference: 43″ / 109 cm
Total Weight: 2 lb, 3 oz
Fill weight: 14.6 oz / 415 g
Packed Size: 7″x 13″ / 18 x 33 cm
Men’s Regular
MSRP $169.95
Fits: 6′ 0″ / 183 cm
Length: 78″ / 199 cm
Shoulder Circumference: 62″ / 158 cm
Hip Circumference: 58″ / 147 cm
Foot Circumference: 46″ / 117 cm
Total Weight: 2 lb 7 oz
Fill weight: 16.4 oz / 464 g
Packed Size: 8″ x 13″ / 20 x 33 cm
Men’s Long
MSRP $189.95
Fits: 6′ 6″ / 198 cm
Length: 84″ / 214 cm
Shoulder Circumference: 64″/ 163 cm
Hip Circumference: 60″ / 152 cm
Foot Circumference: 52″ / 131 cm
Packed Size: 8″ x 14″ / 20 x 36 cm
Total Weight: 2 lb 11 oz
Fill weight: 18.8 oz / 533 g
Women’s
MSRP $179.95
Fits: 5′ 8″ / 173 cm
Length: 74″ / 189 cm
Shoulder Circumference: 58″ / 147 cm
Hip Circumference: 58″ / 147 cm
Foot Circumference: 45″ / 113 cm
Packed size: 13″ x 8″ x 7″ / 34 cm x 20 cm x 19 cm
Total Weight: 3.3 lb. / 1.42 kg
Fill weight: 29.6 oz. / 840 g
Cons
- Slightly heavy and bulky for a down bag
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Durable
- Popular and reputable
My thoughts
I use this bag. It’s a little bulky for a 20° down bag, but it’s great value for the price.
Synthetic Sleeping Bags
MSRP: $64.51
Specifications:
Lower limit: 20° F
Insulation: PolarLite
Shell: 75D 2mm Polyester Diamond Ripstop
Lining: Micro Polyester
Regular
$54.43 as of 5/4/2025
MSRP $56.90
Fits: < 6’2″
Weight: 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg)
Dimensions: 87″ x 32″ (shoulders) x 22″ (foot) (221 x 81 x 56 cm)
Packed size: 14.5″ x 6.5″ x 6.5″ (37 x 16.5 x 16.5 cm)
Short
MSRP $54.99
Fits: < 5’8″
Weight: 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg)
Dimensions: 75″ x 30″ (shoulders) x 20″ (foot) (190.5 x 76 x 51 cm)
Packed size: 13″ x 7″ x 7″ (33 x 18 x 18 cm)
Pros
- Price can’t be beat
- Smooth inner fabric
- Zipper doesn’t snag
- Well-built for such an affordable product
- Reputable customer service
Cons
- Some reputable reviewers say this bag is not as warm as other budget 20° sleeping bags. I don’t know how this is possible if ISO rating is being used.
My thoughts
I haven’t tried this sleeping bag. If some reviewers are correct that it isn’t as warm as some other budget 20° bags, I would pay more for a warmer bag. If you are on a very tight budget, this bag is probably your best option.
Specifications:
Lower limit (ISO): 22° / -6°C
Comfort (ISO): 32° / 0°C
Insulation: Cirroloft
Shell: 380T Nylon Taffeta
Lining: 50D 300T Poly Taffeta
Regular
MSRP $99
Fits: 6’ / 183 cm
Length: 78” / 198 cm
Shoulder Width: 31″ / 78.5 cm
Total Weight: 2.83 lbs / 1.28 kg
Fill Weight: 30.5 oz / .86 kg
Packed Size: 16″ x 9.5″ / 41 x 24 cm
Long
MSRP $109.95
Fits: 6’ 6″ / 198 cm
Length: 84” / 213 cm
Shoulder Width: 32″ / 81 cm
Total Weight: 2.99 lbs / 1.36 kg
Fill Weight: 33 oz / .95 kg
Packed Size: 16″ x 9.5″ / 41 x 24 cm
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Durable
- Popular and reputable brand
Cons
- Same cons as all synthetic sleeping bags: heavy, bulky, and loses insulation performance after repeated compressions.
My thoughts
I’ve never used the synthetic version, but I’m happy with the down version.