Best Value Gear: Sleeping Bags

Being on a tight budget shouldn’t stop you from getting outdoors, so we've put together our Best Value Gear picks.

These products all represent the best bang for buck in their class. Can you get lighter? Yes, Can you get warmer? Yes, Can you get better warmth, value and quality for your money? Probably not. To help you shop our best-value sleeping bags, we asked our self-professed gear nerd and Retail Area Manager, Rob, to share his thoughts.

Whether you’re looking to get cozy car camping or heading into the remote wilderness where you’re at the mercy of the elements, a sleeping bag you can trust to keep you warm is essential. With a competitive price point that doesn’t compromise quality, these budget sleeping bags can handle everything trail life can throw at you!

1. MARMOT NANOWAVE 25 SLEEPING BAG

The Marmot Nanowave 25 is a fantastic choice for backpacking, bikepacking and kayak missions. It’s a super packable, stuffable sleeping bag that'll fit into an easy-to-stow compression stuff sack. With a lightweight, PFC-free, mummy-style design, the NanoWave 25 will keep your body temperature regulated nicely and the Synthetic SpiraFil High Loft Insulation will keep you warm even when things get wet! It features a full-length zipper wraps around the footbox for easy ventilation and a snagless draft tube to prevent air from sneaking in.

Specifications

• Main materials: 50d 100% Polyester 2.1 oz/yd
• Bag temperature(°C Celsius): -4°C Celsius
• Bag temperature(°F Fahrenheit): 25°F Fahrenheit
• Insulation: Spirafil
• Lining: 50d 100% Polyester 1.3 oz/yd
• Pack volume: 469.9ci » 7.37 liters
• Weight: 2lbs 8oz (1120g)
• Zipper position: LZ

2. VANGO NITESTAR ALPHA 450 INSULATED SLEEPING BAG

The award-winning Vango Nitestar has levelled up in recent years with a much smaller pack size. Despite being on the heavier side, weighing in at 2.3kg its brand-new alpha insulation combines excellent warmth properties with a much-improved compressibility making it smaller than ever before. It’s the perfect sleeping bag for youth groups and warmer adventures. The Mummy-shaped sleeping bag tapers from the shoulders to the foot which nicely reduces pack size and increases thermal efficiency.

Specifications

• Weight: 2.3kg
• Ext Chest Width: 85cm
• Packsize: 30.0 x ø24.0cm
• Fill Type: Insulite Alpha
• Extreme: -31°
• Suggested Usage Max: 15°
• Max User Height: 190cm
• Comfort: -4°
• Performance: 4 Season
• Zip Side: Left
• Tog: 11.0
• Int Chest Width: 83cm
• Int Length: 205cm
• Suggested Usage Min: -9°
• Year: 2019
• Shape: Mummy
• Int Foot Width: 48cm
• Limit: -11°

3. BLACK WOLF GENERATIONS SERIES -5°C SLEEPING BAG

The Black Wolf Generations Series -5°C has been ISO tested to make sure to keep you comfortably cozy in down to temperatures as low as 11°C at the lowest limit (you’ll want to be around 2 for the bag to perform at its best). It features a built in pillow, updated hood shape design, snug stitch lines, and a no-snag zipper to help you sleep soundly all night long. Plus, the compression sack makes packing super simple!

Specifications

• Size: 235 x 90cm
• Weight: 2kg
• Fabric: 420T Nylon plain
• Fill: Clusterloft
• Lining: 100% Cotton
• Soft and durable nylon outer
• Keep warm stitch lines
• Contoured toggle and cord hood
• No snag zips
• Zip covers
• Anti snag zip protection tape
• Two sided zip
• Soft zip pulls
• Internal pocket
• Pillow pocket
• Compression sack

If you have any questions about gear feel free chat to our friendly team of Outdoor Gear Specialists in-store or online today and don’t forget to share your adventures with us on Instagram by tagging @wildearthaustralia and #mywildearth in your next post.
 

About the contributor:

 Robert Marrinon is the Retail Area Manager at Wild Earth. He has an avid love for the outdoors and always wants to share the stoke with adventurous like-minded people. He is an elusive species whose native habitat is in the climbing gym, on top of a mountain or at your local crag. If you can’t find him in his office or on the shop floor then this is where he’s bound to be.