As we\u2019re sure you\u2019ll agree, when it comes to picking a sleeping bag for the Aussie climate, it becomes a little tricky when you factor in our major temperature changes depending on whereabouts you live.<\/p>\n
For those of our readers in Darwin, you\u2019re certainly not going to want to choose a sleeping bag that we suggest for our Melbourne readers, and vice-versa. However, there are still a tonne of sleeping bags on offer that are adaptable and work for multiple climate zones.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re looking to head out of Melbourne or Sydney, for example, and into the ranges, mountains or just the farmlands, you\u2019re going to need a sleeping bag that\u2019s able to adapt with the weather though remain safe and comfortable.<\/p>\n
To add, it\u2019s also a good idea to choose a sleeping bag that\u2019s able to suit your travel style the best. If you\u2019re taking a car, a sleeping bag that is rather bulky and heavy won\u2019t be an issue. However, if you are hiking or going on a rather long bush walk after you\u2019ve parked your car, your back will certainly appreciate a lighter sleeping bag.<\/p>\n
With all that said, in this article we\u2019ll take a look at all of our favourite sleeping bags to help you find the best sleeping bags in Australia for 2021.<\/p>\n
What We\u2019ll Look At<\/p>\n
We understand that we have a lot <\/em>of readers spread across the country, and so we\u2019re going to make certain there\u2019s a quality, reliable and comfortable sleeping bag for wherever your camping journeys take you.<\/p>\n That means, for the tropical readers in Townsville, Darwin and Cairns, we\u2019re going to be taking a look at some of the more ventilated and lighter fabric models. For those in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart, we\u2019ll find something a little more plush and temperature regulating.<\/p>\n And for those in Perth and Adelaide, we\u2019ll outline a nice blend between ventilated and warm sleeping bags.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n You\u2019ll find some of the following sleeping bags on our list below:<\/p>\n And more.<\/p>\n That said, let\u2019s get into our comparison and reviews of all the best sleeping bags and what we considered when choosing all of these fantastic sleeping bags. You\u2019ll be sure to find something that perfectly fits your requirements and budget without issue.<\/p>\n How We Chose the Best Sleeping Bags<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not sticking around to read our reviews and more interested in going out on your own to find a sleeping bag, we have some pointers and tips to keep in mind when choosing a sleeping bag \u2014 the same things we considered when choosing ours.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll always want to make sure you\u2019re choosing a sleeping bag based on where you live and where you want to camp. This will mean taking a look at the typical comfortable temperatures outlined by the sleeping bag, the materials and how thick it is.<\/p>\n Another point to keep in mind is the weight and size of the sleeping bag. You want to choose something that works well for your camping and outdoor activities and also your rucksack or vehicle. If your sleeping bags are bulky, heavy and hard to carry, you\u2019re going to have a nightmare camping experience.<\/p>\n From here we\u2019d suggest you take a good look at the size of the sleeping bags. Most of these products are well-suited to people of all sizes, though if you want a little extra room or a double model, you\u2019ll be able to find these. Just be sure to select something that works well for your body size and how tall you are and you\u2019re on the right track.<\/p>\n To end, the budget should then come into play. Of course, this is a big factor, though it\u2019s important to choose a sleeping bag that you\u2019re going to want to use, have a good experience with and not want to throw out right away. That in mind, we put the budget toward the end of our selection process.<\/p>\n Some other minor additional considerations for us were the materials used, the design and the ability to easily pack up the sleeping bag and how hard it was to store.<\/p>\n And there you have it, how we chose our top sleeping bags and how you can make your choice a little easier this year.<\/p>\n Essential Features to Keep in Mind<\/p>\n When it comes to investing in a sleeping bag and getting the best experience out there, we want to give you a few pointers with what to look for and what to expect.<\/p>\n As a general rule of thumb, you always want to be on the lookout for a sleeping bag that\u2019s going to make your time in the outdoors as fun, comfortable and safe as possible and your sleeping bag has big sway over these factors.<\/p>\n That in mind, there are a myriad of features and perks to look out for in a sleeping bag that might make or break your experience out camping with family and friends.<\/p>\n Off the top, it\u2019s important to factor in what the sleeping bag is made of and whether this is going to be comfortable for you or not. A good majority of sleeping bags do come with natural and synthetic fills for you to choose from, which are going to dictate how comfortable these are.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s have a look below.<\/p>\n Natural Fill<\/strong><\/p>\n The most common natural internal fill for a sleeping bag is down, or goose feathers, and for good reason. This fill is incredibly soft and comfortable and you\u2019re going to be able to rely on it to be incredibly warm and insulating should things get a little too cold in the evening.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also good to note that down fill is quite light in weight, so if you\u2019re hiking or carrying your sleeping bag a long way to camp, this might be the better option for you.<\/p>\n One other thing to keep in mind is that although down is a relatively good choice of material for sleeping bags, it can be more expensive than a lot of other materials out there, so that means you may be paying a little extra for this experience.<\/p>\n Synthetic Fill<\/strong><\/p>\n With decades of curation and routine improvements in synthetic sleeping materials, we\u2019re confident in saying that you\u2019re not doing yourself a disservice by choosing a synthetic sleeping bag fill.<\/p>\n These sleeping bag fillers are, again, quite lightweight, a lot more affordable than down and can often last a little longer too. With down fill being quite prone to flattening out over time, synthetic materials are designed to make sure this doesn\u2019t happen, which means you have the potential to get a lot more use out of a sleeping bag with synthetic fill.<\/p>\n In all, choosing between the two will rely on your own personal preference, however, down fill is your best bet for being lighter weight and good for those hiking to their campsites. Whereas synthetic fill is more affordable and can last for a bit longer than down can.<\/p>\n Seasonal Ratings<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019ve been on the lookout for a sleeping bag for a while, you\u2019ll have noticed that there\u2019s a few different metrics used to rate sleeping bags. Of course there\u2019s the size and the shape, though, another important metric comes into play here \u2014 and that’s the seasonal rating.<\/p>\n You\u2019re going to see these sleeping bags split into a number of different seasonal ratings, which is particularly important in Australia.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll take a look at these categories below and how to understand seasonal ratings for sleeping bags.<\/p>\n The One Season Sleeping Bags<\/strong><\/p>\n Off the top, the single season sleeping bags or the \u2018One Season\u2019 bags are what you\u2019re going to be able to use for one single season.<\/p>\n These are often designed to either be very <\/em>warm, or very <\/em>ventilated.<\/p>\n For those in Darwin, you\u2019re going to want a one season summer sleeping bag given that the temperature remains high all year round. There won\u2019t typically be a need for a dual season or multi-season sleeping bag in these climates.<\/p>\n The Two Season Sleeping Bags<\/strong><\/p>\n These sleeping bags have been designed for use in two adjacent seasons which means you\u2019re able to use these for either summer and winter, autumn and spring and so forth.<\/p>\n These are going to be great for those who go camping every now and then and aren\u2019t too prepared for the season as you can trust these sleeping bags to keep your comfortable no matter what the weather is doing.<\/p>\n The Three Season Sleeping Bags<\/strong><\/p>\n To the more common and the most versatile offering now, and the three season sleeping bags are the option for those to keep you comfortable and temperature regulated in any situation.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re using your sleeping bag on a summer night or in the middle of winter, these have the features and the internal materials to keep you perfectly warm or nice and cool depending on how you use it.<\/p>\n For those who want to get the most out of their sleeping bags and head out camping as often as possible, the three-season sleeping bags are going to be your best bet.<\/p>\n The Four Season Sleeping Bags<\/strong><\/p>\n For our readers who are avid campers and aren\u2019t new to anything related to the temperature regulation features of sleeping bags, you\u2019ll know that the four season bags are your option for keeping warm during colder nights and often come with additions like hoodies and other built in features to keep you warm.<\/p>\n However when it comes time to cool off, there\u2019s plenty of ventilation features and zips to make air flow through the sleeping bag effortless.<\/p>\n The Expedition Sleeping Bags<\/strong><\/p>\n For the all-out sleeping bags, the expedition models are here to make light work of just about any camping spot.<\/p>\n Whether it\u2019s pouring rain, ice cold or quite warm you\u2019re being kept comfortable here. Not only are these sleeping bags packed with awesome materials, they\u2019re also going to keep you well-ventilated and dry even in storms.<\/p>\n There\u2019s often hoodies included in all these models, though you\u2019re also going to be able to rely on these to be light weight and easy to carry in a rucksack if you\u2019re heading out camping or making your way to a campsite that\u2019s quite a ways from your car park.<\/p>\n If it\u2019s for an extreme environment, the five season or expedition sleeping bags are for you.<\/p>\n Another key metric we took a look at when finding the best sleeping bags for 2021 were the temperature ratings. As these are standard across the country and indeed the world, it\u2019s good to know that you can rely on these ratings for a solid standard regardless of the product you\u2019re buying.<\/p>\n That in mind, if you\u2019re looking to invest in a sleeping bag from a US maker or a brand from the EU, the temperature rating will remain the same.<\/p>\n Although one point to note is that Aussie manufacturers aren\u2019t required to meet this standard or rating, many of them do simply to show customers what their models are capable of.<\/p>\n That said, we\u2019ve outlined below some information on the temperature ratings or measurements as touted by manufactures here in Australia,<\/p>\n These are as follows:<\/p>\n The Upper Limit<\/strong><\/p>\n This is the maximum level of temperature insulating where you\u2019re able to sleep with little discomfort or as low amount of sweat as possible.<\/p>\n Generally this limit is ideal for most consumers looking to keep warm in relatively cool environments.<\/p>\n The Comfort Rating<\/strong><\/p>\n As the name suggests, this is the rating or the temperature level where you\u2019ll be able to sleep at your most comfortable during the night with the sleeping bag working to maintain that ideal temperature of around 24\u00ba for minimal sweating or night shivers.<\/p>\n The Lower Limit<\/strong><\/p>\n These sleeping bags are mildly insulated, however, you\u2019re not going to be able to rely on these to keep you warm should temperatures outside drop too low.<\/p>\n Models in this category are good for hotter climates, though they\u2019re still optimal for use across Australia so long as you\u2019re not relying on these products to keep you warm should a cold snap occur, for example.<\/p>\n The Extreme Rating<\/strong><\/p>\n When it comes to fighting off hypothermia, these are the ratings for you. These sleeping bags are able to fight off ice-cold temperatures and are designed to keep you from dealing with frostbite and other life threatening issues.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll not want to ever sleep in a location where this rating comes to the rescue, though it\u2019s incredibly good to have a sleeping bag with this rating on your side.<\/p>\n In all, you\u2019re able to find more information on temperature ratings on each sleeping bag manufacturers website, though in most Australian climates you won\u2019t need to rely too heavily on these.<\/p>\n Before we get into our final considerations and our list of the best sleeping bags, we want to take a look at the different shapes of sleeping bags on offer and what you may want to consider with regards to comfort and shape.<\/p>\n Although typical sleeping bags are rectangular and are the ideal shape for most sleepers, there are a few other types on the market.<\/p>\n Rectangular<\/strong><\/p>\n The no frills and most common sleeping bag design that offers some of the most wiggle room for movement. These are great in that they have simple linear zippers and can be easily opened and closed for ventilation and added warmth.<\/p>\n You can also use your typical at-home bedding with these sleeping bags as they\u2019re the same shape as single and king single mattresses.<\/p>\n The Mummy<\/strong><\/p>\n These are the sleeping bags which offer a shape that is somewhat body-hugging and gives you more of a warm and cozy feel than a lot of other sleeping bag styles.<\/p>\n You\u2019re able to rely on these types of sleeping bags to preserve your body heat by keeping the infill materials pressed right up against your body.<\/p>\n These are generally a favourite for hikers and bushwalkers who are on their way to the more cold and high altitude areas down to the fact that the body-hugging offers the most comfort and warmth.<\/p>\n The Tapered Bags<\/strong><\/p>\n The last standard shape for sleeping bags are the tapered models, which are generally a blend between both the mummy and the rectangular sleeping bags. They begin widest at the top by the head and slowly taper down to being quite thin toward the bottom.<\/p>\n That said, your legs will experience the hugging sensation that keeps you warm, though the upper body will not.<\/p>\n To end our features and perks to look for in sleeping bags, we have some last-minute essentials that you may want to consider.<\/p>\n Weather Proofing<\/strong> \u2014 if you\u2019re prone to not checking the weather before a camping trip, or would like to brave the cold and the wind, then the rainproof sleeping bags are certainly going to be something you keep an eye out for. These are designed to keep out the water and also to keep you warm should storms cause the mercury to fall to single digits.<\/p>\n Liners<\/strong> \u2014 a number of sleeping bags do offer interior liners which allow you to keep your sleeping bag nice and clean no matter how often you use them.<\/p>\n Size<\/strong> \u2014 when it comes to getting the most space from your sleeping bag, you\u2019ll want to make sure you\u2019re getting a sleeping bag that\u2019s quite large. That said, plenty of sleeping bags do come in various sizes which mean you\u2019re going to have plenty of choice regarding how large you want your sleeping bag to be.<\/p>\n Our List of the Best Sleeping Bags in Australia for 2021<\/p>\n With all of our essential features and list of tips to look out for, we\u2019ve got a fantastic list of all the best sleeping bags on the market this year which check off everything we look for in a sleeping bag.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re after waterproofing, ultra-warm infill or a well-ventilated sleeping bag for getting some shut-eye on the warmest nights of the year, there\u2019s certainly something on our list for you below.<\/p>\n With the only sleeping bag checking off just about all the features and requirements on our list above, the Adventure Kings Summer and Winter<\/strong> Sleeping bag is our top choice sleeping bag for 2021.<\/p>\n You\u2019re getting optimal comfort here, a size which suits just about all sleepers, large and small, and there\u2019s the assurance that you\u2019ll be kept warm and comfortable in temperatures hitting at low at -5\u00bac which is great news for those looking to head up into the mountains.<\/p>\n The size of the sleeping bag is a roomy 240x90cm and there\u2019s a zip-out liner here which means if you\u2019re a little too warm, you can quickly reduce the number of layers in the bag to cool you off a little.<\/p>\n Those zippers in mind, this sleeping bag works perfectly for both cool and warm climates.<\/p>\n One thing to note is that this sleeping bag is a little weighty, coming in at 5kg which might be a little much for those hiking with the bag.<\/p>\n Essential Specs<\/strong><\/p>\n The Cold Mountain 900 Sleeping Bag by Darche<\/strong><\/p>\n On to a sleeping bag designed for the cold climates now, and the Cold Mountain 900 is going to be your best bet here. When you consider that there\u2019s a minimum temperature of -12\u00ba supported, you\u2019re going to be kept nice and snug just about anywhere you\u2019re camping in Australia, even in the dead of winter.<\/p>\n Adding to the sleeping bag\u2019s warming design, there\u2019s a double layered insert which will do most of the work when it comes to keeping you nice and warm, even on the coldest nights.<\/p>\n There is also a nifty zipper section here which can turn your sleeping bag from a bag into a nice doona or a comforter when you\u2019re in a tent. You could also use this zipper to transform the sleeping bag into a double model, rather than a single.<\/p>\n A few final things to note are that there\u2019s a hood included here as well as some rather low pricing, making it a steal for anyone who often camps in the coldest regions of the country.<\/p>\n Essential Specs<\/strong><\/p>\n The Always Summer Sleeping Bag by Marmot<\/strong><\/p>\n To the sleeping bag that our hiker readers are going to love, the Always Summer model is one of the lightest weight on our list, so no matter how far you find yourself hiking, your sleeping bag won\u2019t be weighing you down.<\/p>\n It\u2019s good to note that this sleeping bag still remains of the highest quality and is robust and sturdy, making it a good fit for placing it down on harsh terrain without ripping the fabrics.<\/p>\n Adding to this, you\u2019ll find that being below 1kg and coming with a packing size of just 4.2 litres, you\u2019ll be able to stuff this sleeping bag into about any rucksack or even a backpack that you take camping with you.<\/p>\n Our final tidbit to note is that this sleeping bag is a three-season variant, which means you\u2019ll be able to rely on it to keep you cool in summer, warm in winter and generally comfortable and well-ventilated at all times.<\/p>\n Essential Specs<\/strong><\/p>\n The Eco Trail Down Sleeping Bag by the North Face<\/strong><\/p>\n To our sleeping bag choice for those who need something ultra plush, ultra light and exceptionally warm, the Eco Trail Sleeping Bag is going to be a winner. It\u2019s quite small and packs into a tiny space of less than 40cm squared.<\/p>\n This is one of the best sleeping bags for the eco-conscious buyer too, given that the sleeping bag is made with all recycled materials, even the down on the interior.<\/p>\n The design of this sleeping bag is tapered and developed to make sure that your body heat isn\u2019t escaping, but rather enveloping you as you sleep to keep you warm on nights hitting as low as -7\u00bac.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a built-in hood here too along with a J-shaped zipper, which gives you plenty of avenues for opening and venting the sleeping bag should things get a little too warm during the night.<\/p>\n A final thing to note is that the sleeping bag is water-repelling and you\u2019re able to rely on it to keep you nice and dry should things get a little wet out.<\/p>\n Essential Specs<\/strong><\/p>\n The Eco Trail Synthetic by The North Face<\/strong><\/p>\n Our second product coming from the North Face is the synthetic variant of the model above, which is also made of recycled materials.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not as warm or robust as the down model above, however it\u2019s waterproof, well-insulated and rated for an external temperature as low as 2\u00bac which makes it another good option for Aussies who are camping during the summer and fall months.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll be able to rely on the sleeping bag\u2019s unzippable design and the small packing size to keep you comfortable when hiking as the bag folders into a tiny 22cm by 38cm size, making it easy to fit into just about any bag.<\/p>\n Essential Specs<\/strong><\/p>\n The Nitestar Alpha 300 by Vango<\/strong><\/p>\n For our hiker readers, this is going to be our top choice for you. As the best sleeping bag for hiking, the Nitestar Alpha is ultra-lightweight and also offers all of the features you\u2019ll need for any season.<\/p>\n That said, whether the weather changes or if you\u2019re hiking on a day that\u2019s become a little awry with regards to the weather or the temperature, you\u2019re well-covered by this lightweight sleeping bag.<\/p>\n The model comes with a good season rating and you\u2019re able to pack it down to just 29cm by 24cm which keeps its size ideal for hiking backpacks.<\/p>\n To end, the weight is just 2kg which means for the warmness and temperature minimums you\u2019re getting a very lightweight model here.<\/p>\n Essential Specs<\/strong><\/p>\n The Snow Drift Jumbo by Caribee<\/strong><\/p>\n For our readers on a budget or looking for a sleeping bag to use every so often, the Snow Drift might be the best option for you. It\u2019s one of the most feature-packed sleeping bags on the market today, but it\u2019s also one of the more affordable.<\/p>\n In most cases, you\u2019ll be able to find this sleeping bag online and in stores for less than $100 and that means you\u2019re certainly not breaking the bank for this one.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a lightweight sleeping bag at just 2.45kg and you\u2019re going to see it pack all the way down to a small 42cm by 25cm size, which means it\u2019s easy to carry to camp.<\/p>\n On top of this, there\u2019s a lower temperature limit of -10\u00bac quoted by the manufacturer, which makes it one of the warmest and more trusted models out there.<\/p>\n To end, there\u2019s double zips here which mean you can turn the sleeping bag into a double or simply use it as a doona inside of a tent.<\/p>\n Essential Specs<\/strong><\/p>\n The Venom 400 Lightweight Down Sleeping Bag by Vango<\/strong><\/p>\n To end our list, we\u2019re highlighting one of the more compact-yet-comfortable sleeping bags out there. You\u2019ll be able to rely on the Venom to keep you nice and comfortable though not take up too much space at camp.<\/p>\n For those who are sleeping in a tent or right by fellow campers, you\u2019re really going to appreciate the compact size of the Venom and enjoy the sleeping bag\u2019s light weight too.<\/p>\n There\u2019s plenty of insulation coming into the play here with down being the primary material, and you\u2019re going to see support for minimum temperatures as low as -4\u00bac which means winter time is no issue at all.<\/p>\n To add, the shape of the sleeping bag is tempered from 78cm down to a cozy 48cm at the feet which means you\u2019re being cradled and kept warm by this sleeping bag.<\/p>\n One final thing to note is that the sleeping bag is just one kilogram and comes with a water-treated material, which means you\u2019re not getting total waterproofing but you are getting a resistance to water.<\/p>\n Essential Specs<\/strong><\/p>\n Now that you have all of the essentials about Australia\u2019s best sleeping bags out of the way, and our top picks, you\u2019ll be able to head out to camp this year knowing that you\u2019re going to be kept dry, warm and cozy.<\/p>\n When choosing a sleeping bag, always consider your size, the level of warmness you require and the weight too. You don\u2019t want to be stuck with something that\u2019s too small for your body type, or a sleeping bag that you\u2019re not going to be able to carry for too long due to its weight.<\/p>\n In all, work to get your hands on a sleeping bag that is ideal for your environment, your size and your camping style requirements.<\/p>\n For the hikers, grab something lightweight and compact, for those who camp high in the mountains, something warm and water wicking might be the best for you. For the casual campers, a more affordable and less feature-packed standard sleeping bag might be your best bet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As we\u2019re sure you\u2019ll agree, when it comes to picking a sleeping bag for the Aussie climate, it becomes a little tricky when you factor in our major temperature changes depending on whereabouts you live. For those of our readers in Darwin, you\u2019re certainly not going to want to choose a sleeping bag that we […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1096,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[92],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-606","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camping"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
The Sleeping Bag Materials and Fill<\/h2>\n
Understanding the Seasonal Sleeping Bag Ratings<\/h2>\n
The Temperature Ratings for Sleeping Bags<\/h2>\n
The Sleeping Bag Shapes and Sizes<\/h2>\n
Our Final Tips on Things to Look Out For<\/h2>\n
Our Winner Overall for the Best Sleeping Bag<\/h2>\n
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Conclusion<\/h3>\n