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| Double Sleeping Bag |
|---|
| Best Value: ALPS Mountaineering Twin Peak |
| Best All-around Pick: The North Face Dolomite One Duo |
| Best for Backpacking: Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed Duo 600 |
| Best for Cold Weather: TETON Sports Mammoth |
| Most Comfortable: Big Agnes Dream Island 15 |
Most outdoor lovers would be hard-pressed to come up with a date more romantic than an evening under the stars. And when you’re camping with your sweetie it’s natural to want to snuggle up.
Unfortunately, solo sleeping bags aren’t exactly made for romance.
Luckily, there’s not a lack of couples camping gear on the market. But what are the best double sleeping bags, and how do you choose which bag is the best fit for you?
Read on, we’ve done the research.
5 Best Double Sleeping Bags
- ALPS Mountaineering Twin Peak
- The North Face Dolomite One Duo
- Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed Duo
- TETON Sports Mammoth
- Big Agnes Dream Island 15
Best Value: ALPS Mountaineering Twin Peak
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If you’re looking for a great double sleeping bag that won’t break the bank, the ALPS Mountaineering Twin Peak 20°F sleeping bag is a good option.
This behemoth of a bag is 68 inches wide and weights in at 11.9 pounds, but its girth makes it a thick and cozy option for couples that like car camping.
One great feature of this bag is that it can zip into two one-person bags, so you’re really getting two sleeping bags for the price of one. The double zippers allow the bag to be unzipped halfway and turned down like a bed, or unzipped at the bottom for some airflow.
Though some reviewers grumbled about the inner lining of the bag, the overall consensus is that it’s a great value for the money.
Key Features
- Weight: 11.56 lbs
- Temperature rating: 20°F
- Separates into two one-person bags: Yes
- Fill material: Synthetic
Best All-around Pick: The North Face Dolomite One Duo
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When it comes to warmth, comfort and price, you can’t beat The North Face Dolomite One Duo.
The Dolomite One Duo is a new and improved version of one of our long-time top picks, The North Face Dolomite Double. It builds on what we loved about the Dolomite Double.
This three-season, double sleeping bag is consistently rated well in all three categories and, while it isn’t light enough (or small enough) to take backpacking, it is relatively lightweight at 8 pounds 13 ounces for the regular-length option.
For the extra-tall among us, the Dolomite One Duo also comes in a long version and, for those that don’t like to feel confined, the bag can be unzipped and used as a camping blanket. It’s a great choice if you sleep on a camping air mattress or camping cot.
The One Duo’s party trick is that it comes with two top layers that you can mix and match for different temperatures.
Use the thinner layer by itself to make a 50-degree bag. Use the thicker layer by itself to make a 30-degree bag. Or combine both for a 15-degree bag, one of the warmest two-person sleeping bags we’ve seen.
As The North Face puts it, the One Duo is like three double sleeping bags for the price of one. But don’t be misled — you can’t unzip it into two separate one-person bags. At best, one person could use one of the top layers as a camping blanket in a pinch.
We’re also fans of the bag’s eco-friendly synthetic insulation. It’s composed of 30% post-consumer recycled material according to The North Face.
Overall, this bag checks every box and, with its lifetime guarantee, you know you’ll always be satisfied.
Key Features
- Weight:
- Regular: 8 lbs, 13 oz
- Long: 9 lbs, 7 oz
- Temperature rating: 15°F, 30°F, 50°F
- Separates into two one-person bags: No
- Fill material: Synthetic
Best for Backpacking: Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed Duo
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The Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed Duo is a two-season, 20-degree bag filled with a water-resistant down insulation that is soft and warm. Boasting a trail weight of only 4 pounds 10 ounces, this double bag is so light that you’ll carry more weight if you pack two individual sleeping bags.
But the truly unique feature of this bag is it’s innovative design. The sleeping bag has not a single zipper. Instead, there is a large hole in the middle of the bag (Gizmodo described it perfectly as a “shoe tongue” design) filled with a down comforter that tucks inside the outer lining.
This comforter gives campers the sense that they’re sleeping in their own bed instead of a sleeping bag, just in a much better location.
Key Features
- Weight: 4 lbs, 10 oz
- Temperature rating: 20°F
- Separates into two one-person bags: No
- Fill material: Down
Best for Cold Weather: TETON Sports Mammoth
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For all-season campers not intimidated by cold weather, the TETON Sports Mammoth Queen Size double sleeping bag will keep you warm on frigid winter nights.
Temperature rated at 0°F, this double-layer bag has a thick flannel lining and a mummy-style hood that can be cinched around your head to hold your body heat.
Though the bag is already massive (62″ x 94″ and 16.5 pounds), the zippers can be connected to additional bags to make it even larger—perfect if you want to fit the whole family inside.
Key Features
- Weight: 16.5 lbs
- Temperature rating: 0°F (20°F option also available)
- Separates into two one-person bags: No
- Fill material: Synthetic
Most Comfortable: Big Agnes Dream Island 15
Comfort is important when it comes to sleeping bags, and no other double bag receives as many rave reviews in the cozy category as the Big Agnes Dream Island 15 Degree bag.
This bag wins for comfort because Big Agnes has thought of everything. They used the softest and smoothest technical fabrics, created a built in pillow barn to keep your camping pillow from slipping out of place, and the free range sleeping bag hood allows you to lift your head without first removing the fabric.
It’s important to note, however, that the sleeping bag is not insulated on the bottom. It’s essential that you use a sleeping pad with it. Without one you’ll freeze, and this ultra-comfy bag won’t feel so luxurious.
Fortunately, the bag comes with a system to secure your pads to the underside, preventing them from slipping out of place at night.
Like The North Face One Duo, the Dream Island comes with a synthetic insulation partially made of post-consumer recycled material. Big Agnes one-upped The North Face here — the Dream Island sports 50% recycled material compared to the One Duo’s 30%.
Key Features
- Weight: 7 lbs, 9 oz
- Temperature rating: 15°F
- Separates into two one-person bags: No
- Fill material: Synthetic
How to Choose the Best Double Sleeping Bag for Your Needs
Before you purchase a double sleeping bag, make sure to consider the following.
Type of Shelter
Camping tent. If you sleep in a pop-up camper or go car camping with a roomy, multi-person tent, you’ll have plenty of room for a double sleeping bag.
Backpacking tent or tarp. Smaller tents don’t leave much wiggle room, so an extra-large sleeping bag might not fit comfortably inside. And in the off chance that you’re taking a double sleeping bag backpacking, remember that some ultralight tarps and tents are assembled by propping a trekking pole into the middle of the tent. If you’ve got a set-up like that, utilizing a double sleeping bag will be impossible.
Temperature Rating
Are you a fair-weather camper or do you regularly wake up with the water in your Nalgene bottle turned to ice?
If the latter describes you, you’ll want to make sure that your two-person bag is rated for cold weather. Keep in mind that even a 0 degree bag isn’t intended for 0 degree weather—it usually sleeps comfortably at around 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you’re camping in the cold, it’s also important to remember that having only a warm bag won’t cut it—you’ll also need a good sleeping pad with a high R-value, a purchase that you’ll have to make in addition to your bag. (And check out more of our tips for staying warm in your tent.)
Fill Material: Down, Synthetic, or Blend?
Down sleeping bags are lightweight, easy to compress, and perform well in cold, dry environments. However, when they become wet they lose their ability to retain heat—a very dangerous situation if you’re backpacking and a major annoyance even when car camping.
Their low weight comes at a price. Down bags are usually a lot more expensive than synthetic ones. Also be aware that cleaning and maintaining down bags require a bit of know how. Research how to wash and dry your bag before doing so to maximize its lifespan.
Synthetic bags, on the other hand, remain insulated even when wet, dry quickly, and are non-allergenic. The downside to synthetic bags is that the insulation does not retain its loft as long as down, which means the bags have a shorter lifespan.
The upside is that synthetic bags are a lot cheaper. You can find some cheap double bags for less than $100. But keep in mind, the insulation in these cheaper bags is usually quick to lose its ability to retain heat.
Also, a third option is now available, a down/synthetic blend that combines the best of both worlds.
No matter what you choose, consider the kind of conditions you’re most likely to camp in and make your decision accordingly.
Size
Many double sleeping bags are massive and don’t fit into a stuff sack. That means that you’ll need a nice, dry place to store the bag and a nice big car to transport it in.
If you take your Mini Cooper to the campground, you might have a hard time fitting a huge sleeping bag into the trunk with all of your other camping gear. Keep in mind the kind of space you have to store and transport the bag before you buy the biggest one on the market.
One Sleeping Bag or Two?
The last consideration is whether you want your double sleeping bag to zip off into two separate bags or if you’d prefer to have one large bag. The benefit of a two-person sleeping bag that converts to two one-person sleeping bags is that you can use the one-person bag when you’re camping solo.
On the other hand, some campers complain that a convertible bag is not as warm because the zippers aren’t insulated and let in cold air. There’s no right or wrong answer, it’s all just a matter of preference.
