Best Budget Sleeping Bag

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Model	Features
Viking Trek 350X Sleeping Bag Read Our Review	This extreme weather sleeping bag has been certified to EN 13537:2012 standards and awarded temperature ratings: Comfort 8°C, Limit 3°C and Extreme -11°C Compression carry bag is 100% waterproof and has a built in hood so your sleeping bag stays dry when carried in the rain, sleet, or snow. Unique anti-snag zipper tag prevents your zipper from getting caught on the material of your sleeping bag liner.
Active Era Professional 300 Read Our Review	Ultra Warm Filling 300GSM (2 x 150g/m2).Water Resistant and Perfect for 3-4 Seasons. Comfort temperature of +10°C to 0°C. Extreme use down to -10°C. Drawstring mummy hood covers your entire head and face to keep warm. Internal pouch for valuables and mobile phones, wind-proof double zipper system and internal drawstring collar for ultimate comfort.
Yellowstone Essential Mummy Sleeping Bag Read Our Review	Full weight sleeping bag Outer- 170T Polyester / Liner - 170T Polyester. Poly cotton Lining Comes with Carry Bag.
Active Era Premium 150 Read Our Review	170T Polyester Outer Shell with 150GSM Inner Filling. Perfect for use indoors at sleepovers or during the summer months. Lightweight and Comfortable design with soft inner fabrics. 210 x 80 x 50cm - Mummy shaped design.
Mountain Warehouse Basecamp 200 Read Our Review	Suitable for summer and indoor use. Easy to pack - Comes with a drawstring bag. Insulated - Hollow fibre stuffing, warm and snug. Easy care - Fully machine washable.

There are many reasons why you might want to buy a quality sleeping bag at a great price. Perhaps you like to go camping and enjoy your time in the wilds, or maybe you and the family need sleeping bags for when you take the caravan touring? You could be a regular walker, rambler or cyclist who stays overnight at different destinations, in which case a sleeping bag is a must. Or, it could be you like to have sleeping bags in the house for when your kids have sleep-overs?

The thing about sleeping bags is they are versatile, portable, and they come in a range of sizes and shapes, and they can be found for adults and kids, and even specifically for men and women. Usually made from a specially chosen material that is designed to keep in the warmth, sleeping bags are a practical alternative to blankets, and those designed for travelling use can usually be rolled up into a very small package.

So, what do you look for in a budget sleeping bag and, with such a wide variety and a vast amount of choices, how do you find the right one for your requirements? We took a look at 10 of the best on the market for you, all at sensible prices and of a requisite quality, so that we can help you decide, but before we go on, here’s a little more about how a sleeping bag works, and why you need one.

The Top 10 Best Budget Sleeping Bags

1: Viking Trek 350X Sleeping Bag

Our first example of budget sleeping bags is this one, from the Swedish firm Viking who have a reputation for quality products at sensible prices. It’s made from very durable material and meets all the standards required for such items, and is rated to 8c for comfort, ad -11c for extreme temperatures. This is a sleeping bag designed for use by hikers, and it comes with cleverly designed zips that will not snag.

This is an adult sized sleeping bag, and weighs under 1.5kg so is perfect for walking holidays. It can be packed away in its own carry bag and will measure just 22x22x29cm when in a compression bag. It’s well made and has many good customer reviews, and is well-insulated. What more can we say than that this is a good place to start, and at the price, is very well placed for a spot on your shortlist.

2: Active Era Professional 300

Active Era is another well know brand in the world of outdoor gear and this model – the 300 refers to the 300gsm filling, the higher the better – is designed for 3-season or 4-season use. That means it is perhaps suitable for the colder nights, but better suited to more mild conditions. It’s a nice sleeping bag in the ‘mummy’ style – that means you get an attached enclosed hood – and is fitted with drawstrings for extra comfort.

It is water-resistant and comes with a number of internal pouches, a nice touch for putting away your valuable items, and is another that packs down into a compression bag. This one, when not in use, measures 40x20x20cm, and weighs under 1.4kg. It’s a nice bag that comes with many satisfied user testimonials, and at the price is very much worth a second look.

3: Yellowstone Essential Mummy Sleeping Bag

This bag comes with 170t polyester linings and outer fabric, which makes it very comfortable, and is another in the mummy style. It’s got the drawstrings for protection, and is made by a brand with decent reputation for budget outdoor goods. It’s also very, very light at just 800g, and measures 210cm long when in use so is a decent size. It’s nice, it’s usable and perfect for hiking – but perhaps not in anything other than the milder seasons.

We say this because although it’s ideal for on the move – it packs down, as usual, to a very compact 38x19x19cm – it is not very thick in terms of the filling (hence the lightness and compactness). The makers claim it is usable at between +25 to +11c, which means summer nights, and perhaps milder ones in spring and autumn, but not winter. Nevertheless, if that suits you, it’s a very cheap item indeed.

4: Active Era Premium 150

Another from the vast and highly regarded Active Era range, this is another very nice sleeping bag with excellent credentials. However, whereas the model we reviewed above from this brand was a full 3 season design, this one is only for summer months. It’s filled with 150gsm filling, and lined with polyester as is usual, and is waterproof and very well made, but it’s not going to provide insulation suitable for colder nights.

It is, however, rated from +18 to 10c – with extreme use at 5c – and is equipped with all the drawstrings and comfort features you expect. It’s 210cm in length with a width of 80cm, slightly larger than standard, and packs down to a very compact 40x20x20cm for carriage. As it weighs just 800g you are not going to notice it, so is perfect for those summer hikes and nights in tent or, as many people buy them, for summer festivals. At a great price, too.

5: Mountain Warehouse Basecamp 200

This sleeping bag is best described as a basic model. That’s not to say you should dismiss it, as at the price it is very competitive, but that you should consider it only if you want a simple non-mummy type of sleeping bag that is suitable for summer use. It’s not suitable for anything other as it is rated only to a comfort level of 15c, with extreme rating of 5c. So, great for camping and caravans, and ideal for sleep-overs.

It’s from a brand known for simple products at great prices – and fits that bill perfectly – and is nicely made from appropriate materials. It measures only 175cm in length – billed for adults and kids, we reckon it would easily suit the latter but the former may struggle – and it weighs around 1kg. It can be rolled up but doesn’t come with a compression bag. Worth a look if simple is what you want.

6: Active Era Premium 200

We make no excuses for including another from the vast and highly regarded Active Era range, and this is another very nice sleeping bag with excellent credentials. This one is for summer months and perhaps mild spring and autumn. It’s filled with 200gsm filling, and lined with polyester as is usual, and is waterproof and very well made, but it’s not going to provide insulation suitable for colder nights.

It is, however, rated from +15 to 10c – with extreme use at -3c – and is equipped with all the drawstrings and comfort features you expect. It’s 190cm in length with a width of 80cm, slightly larger than standard, and packs down to a very compact 40x20x20cm for carriage. As it weighs just 950g you are not going to notice it, so is perfect for those summer hikes and nights in tent or, as many people buy them, for summer festivals. At a great price, too.

7: Andes Nevado 300 Mummy

This is a brand we haven’t looked at yet and it’s certainly a nicely made sleeping bag, and one with many good customer reviews. It’s a mummy-style bag so you get all the comfort and fully enclosed area for the head, and it is made from very durable materials with a 300gsm filling. That makes it a 3-season bag with comfort levels at 8c and extreme at -10c, so good for the winter and colder months.

It’s excellent for hiking and camping, measures 230cm long so will even suit the tallest of people, and when folded packs down to 35x15cm in its waterproof carry bag. It weighs just 1.4kg, which is light for a full-sized, heavy duty bag such as this, and is equipped with protected zips so you will not snag them on you or your clothes. This one goes high on our shortlist, especially at what is a very competitive price.

8: Milestone Camping Single Insulated

If you’re looking for a sensibly priced, simple and yet usable sleeping bag for the summer months – and possibly the warmer spring and autumn evenings – it might be worth you having a look at this one. It’s filled with 150gsm filling, and lined with polyester as is usual, and is waterproof and very well made, but it’s not going to provide insulation suitable for colder nights. It is, however, a mummy style bag, so will provide great comfort.

It is, however, rated from +27 to 0c and is equipped with all the drawstrings and comfort features you expect. It’s 210cm in length with a width of 80cm, slightly larger than standard, and packs down to a very compact 40x20x20cm for carriage. As it weighs just 800g you are not going to notice it, so is perfect for those summer hikes and nights in tent or, as many people buy them, for summer festivals. At a great price, too.

9: Fundango Oversized Sleeping Bag

This sleeping bag is a 250gsm filled model so will be suitable for summer, and for winter that are not extremely cold. It is deliberately made to be larger than usual size so it can incorporate bigger people and is made from quality, durable materials that are suitably weatherproof. It has 2-way zips that will not snag, and is easy to carry around as it packs into a small package when not in use.

Like all of these, it should be said that the use of polyester for the lining and outer makes it machine washable with ease. It weighs just 1.6kg – to the lightest but suitable for hiking or cycling use – and is built for a long life. All in all, this is a very nice sleeping bag that is made to a high standard, and while it is among the more expensive here, we’re talking just a few pounds so if you want quality and need a large bag, this could be the one.

10: Multiware Sleeping Bag

The final entry on our list is this model from Multiware. It has a claimed 3-4 season rating, with a temperature rating of 15c to -5c, and if that is so when combined with the rest of the features we’re about to describe, it is astonishingly cheap! It is filled with cotton and has 170t polyester lining and outer which is fully waterproof and washable, and is a nicely made sleeping bag in the envelope style, with drawstrings for added protection.

This one comes in a choice of colours and, thanks to the zip placing and design, two can be zipped together to make one double. That you can buy two of these for less than the price of just one of some of the others, this makes sense. It is 210cm in length and the standard 75cm width, weighs a shade less than 1kg, and makes for a perfect choice for hiking, camping or for the kids. And, once again, it’s an amazing price.

That’s our choice of budget sleeping bags, but which is for you? Before we go on to tell you what we think, a little reminder of what you need to think about when buying one of these.

Important Features to Consider

A sleeping bag is a sleeping bag, right? Yes, it is, but there are differences you need to consider, so here’s a few to think about:

Style – mummy or envelope? The former, you climb into and slide down, and tighten the hood around you, while the latter zips open at the side for ease of access. It’s a personal preference which you choose, and we have examples of each.

Season – a few of these are 3-4 season, which means they should be insulated enough for cold winter nights (if not the coldest) while others are 1-2 season, so are suitable for summer and warmer nights, or camping and caravan use.

Size – the usual size is around 195cm in length, some are 210 and one is deliberately oversized for larger people.

Convenient – all of these pack away into a very small carry bag, so will not take up much space in transit.

That’s about it for our advisory notices, as all of these are suitably waterproof, made from the same material and are in a price range that covers around £20 from cheapest to most expensive. Which is for? Let’s have a look.

How it Works

How does a sleeping bag work? In brief, it’s simple: you get in zip yourself up, and you are nice and cosy! The thing is, sleeping bags these days are far more carefully and precisely designed and crafted than those you may remember from cold nights in your childhood, and are made with specially created insulating material that is durable and weather proof.

You will also find that they come rated for use. This will either be by way of minimum temperature they are suitable for, or by season; for example, a ‘4 season’ sleeping bag is one that will be fine even in the coldest of places, whereas a ‘2-season’ one will be suitable only for milder nights. This is all attended to in our descriptions.

Also look for the size of the package when the bag is folded down and packed away, and the quality of zips and padding, plus many other features we will touch on along the way. Are you ready for the review? Let’s have a look at the top 10 budget sleeping bags you can buy right now, and see if we can help you find the best one for your requirements.

Let’s Wrap It Up!

The title of this review is budget sleeping bags, and if that is your main criteria, there’s only one real candidate. It’s the final one, from Multiware, which gives you a lot of insulation, is envelope style – so if you prefer that it’s on your list – and is nicely made, and all with change from a tenner. If you want to pay for a top quality bag, we recommend any of the Active Era models. They are not expensive, are very well made and come with the guarantee of quality from a known brand.

We hope we’ve helped you choose the right budget sleeping bag, so enjoy some warm and cosy nights!