ISO: double sleeping bag for 3-season car camping
October 22, 2021 9:52 AM Subscribe
I'm in search of a two-person sleeping bag for late spring, summer, and early fall camping in a tent while car camping in state and national campgrounds. Can you recommend one?
We won't be backpacking with the sleeping bag nor will we be doing very cold camping. We will be in warm mid-summer camping temperatures mostly and then a little use during late spring or early fall where the night temps might dip to the mid 40s (F). I think I'd err on the side of less warm sleeping bag and then add a blanket or two during the coldest temps we'll experience.
One of us is 6'4" and the other is 5'10".
Something like this Kelty TruComfort Doublewide seems nice, especially with the foot vents, but don't know anyone who's used one.
We won't be backpacking with the sleeping bag nor will we be doing very cold camping. We will be in warm mid-summer camping temperatures mostly and then a little use during late spring or early fall where the night temps might dip to the mid 40s (F). I think I'd err on the side of less warm sleeping bag and then add a blanket or two during the coldest temps we'll experience.
One of us is 6'4" and the other is 5'10".
Something like this Kelty TruComfort Doublewide seems nice, especially with the foot vents, but don't know anyone who's used one.
We use an Exped Megamat Duo pad and a North Face Dolomite 20 sleeping bag (looks like it's been replaced by this one). To be honest, we got them because they were both on sale during an REI holiday and we were like "sure, why not?" but they've both turned out to be just great.
The Exped mat in particular is spectacularly comfortable, so much more than any Thermarest pad I've used (I have... many), and nearly as comfortable as a bed. The bag is fine - nothing spectacular, but I've never felt I needed anything more. It zips completely open so the top disconnects from the bottom if you want to use it as a blanket (hot nights), and even though it's not mummy-style, it's been plenty warm for our use. For reference we're 6'1" and 5'10", you probably want the long/wide versions of both.
We've used them in the summer and early fall in the Cascades and around the coast here in Washington as well as down through the California Coast Range, Sierra Nevadas, and White Mountains and across the Colorado Rockies, from sea level to 10,000 feet, temps from the low 70s to low 40s, and no real complaints. We were only really cold at 9k' in the White Mountains near the Bristlecone Pine Forest, but we just bundled up.
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 10:56 AM on October 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
The Exped mat in particular is spectacularly comfortable, so much more than any Thermarest pad I've used (I have... many), and nearly as comfortable as a bed. The bag is fine - nothing spectacular, but I've never felt I needed anything more. It zips completely open so the top disconnects from the bottom if you want to use it as a blanket (hot nights), and even though it's not mummy-style, it's been plenty warm for our use. For reference we're 6'1" and 5'10", you probably want the long/wide versions of both.
We've used them in the summer and early fall in the Cascades and around the coast here in Washington as well as down through the California Coast Range, Sierra Nevadas, and White Mountains and across the Colorado Rockies, from sea level to 10,000 feet, temps from the low 70s to low 40s, and no real complaints. We were only really cold at 9k' in the White Mountains near the Bristlecone Pine Forest, but we just bundled up.
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 10:56 AM on October 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
Can't comment on sleeping bags because my very-differently-sized spouse and I can't/won't share one, but I very heartily second the recommendation for Exped sleeping mats. Expensive but so totally worth it - comfortable and warm.
posted by altolinguistic at 12:53 PM on October 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by altolinguistic at 12:53 PM on October 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
I have two of the Teton +5 two person sleeping bags and love them. I'm around 6'4" and fit without a problem. They're soft and comfortable and have a good degree of padding but as a result are bulky - fine for car camping but about the size of a large gym bag.
I'm typically using them where the night temperature runs 35-45 degrees and it's perfect for me at that temperature. It sounds like you'd want to consider something less insulated. Teton has some but I have no experience with them.
For sleeping pads, I use the Kamp Rite Double Self Inflating Mattress (which again I like enough to buy two of - I have camping gear that lives on each coast). They are big even when rolled up and ideally have to be stored unrolled. I have a station wagon and am only ever travelling with one other person at most and have plenty of storage space at home. If you're traveling in a small car and don't have a place to put something that's basically the size of a double mattress when you're not using it, it's a poor fit. But they're the most comfortable air mattresses I've ever used, including the powered home ones, and I've never woken up with them deflated leaving me on the cold, hard ground. Like Special Agent Dale Cooper said about their similar product - it's almost like sleeping on a bed.
posted by Candleman at 1:55 PM on October 22, 2021
I'm typically using them where the night temperature runs 35-45 degrees and it's perfect for me at that temperature. It sounds like you'd want to consider something less insulated. Teton has some but I have no experience with them.
For sleeping pads, I use the Kamp Rite Double Self Inflating Mattress (which again I like enough to buy two of - I have camping gear that lives on each coast). They are big even when rolled up and ideally have to be stored unrolled. I have a station wagon and am only ever travelling with one other person at most and have plenty of storage space at home. If you're traveling in a small car and don't have a place to put something that's basically the size of a double mattress when you're not using it, it's a poor fit. But they're the most comfortable air mattresses I've ever used, including the powered home ones, and I've never woken up with them deflated leaving me on the cold, hard ground. Like Special Agent Dale Cooper said about their similar product - it's almost like sleeping on a bed.
posted by Candleman at 1:55 PM on October 22, 2021
Another recommendation for the Exped sleeping pads! I've been pretty cozy in temperatures down to mid 30s with a 15 degree sleeping bag + Exped Synmat. If your sleeping bag is rated for warmer weather than that, or if you do end up camping in the winter/spring, a closed cell foam pad under the inflatable pad will raise the R value of your sleep setup and keep you warmer at night. My winter backpacking setup is a Thermarest Z-lite + Exped Synmat + 15 degree Sierra Designs bag.
posted by kiripin at 1:57 PM on October 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by kiripin at 1:57 PM on October 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
I like nice stuff and am willing to pay for it. But for car camping in tents in temps even close to freezing, where you're not having to backpack, I'd tend towards the cheaper options because they're really quite good, and it's not like you're trying to save weight.
We use two $10 individual 40F synthetic sleeping bags zipped together. They've lasted more than a decade, and have been camping in forests, been to Burning Man, beaches in Mexico, winter camping in remote reaches of Oregon, etc.
It looks like Target has several $30 sleeping bags that can zip to each other. I'd consider two of those or their $80 double bag. I do like the zip-togethers because if one person sleeps really warm, they can zip it down far enough to get most of their body out. It sounds like you've had some trouble with zip-togethers, but our setup hasn't experienced such problems.
posted by MonsieurBon at 2:35 PM on October 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
We use two $10 individual 40F synthetic sleeping bags zipped together. They've lasted more than a decade, and have been camping in forests, been to Burning Man, beaches in Mexico, winter camping in remote reaches of Oregon, etc.
It looks like Target has several $30 sleeping bags that can zip to each other. I'd consider two of those or their $80 double bag. I do like the zip-togethers because if one person sleeps really warm, they can zip it down far enough to get most of their body out. It sounds like you've had some trouble with zip-togethers, but our setup hasn't experienced such problems.
posted by MonsieurBon at 2:35 PM on October 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
We have zipped cheap Colemans from Walmart together for car camping for many years, and never had a problem with the zippers. It might be helpful to know whether they are sliding unzipped, or the teeth are coming apart, or what. Kelty is a reliable mid-priced brand for sleeping bags, if you want something more expensive. Pricey sleeping bags tend to have very lightweight down and lighter zippers, so I would avoid them. On the other hand, a lightweight backpacking sleeping bag makes a perfectly good car camping bag, which is not always true of other types of gear, like tents.
As far as pads go, we just use a queen Coleman air mattress. Way cheaper than a nice inflatable pad like the Klymit Double V. If your vehicle has an inverter, for maximum convenience you can use an Aerobed, but we got a regular inflator that takes 8 rechargable AAs. There are a lot of air mattress types, but many take proprietary connectors, so take a look. It takes forever to blow up a full-sized air mattress by hand, especially if you've been using Thermarests.
posted by wnissen at 5:11 PM on October 22, 2021
As far as pads go, we just use a queen Coleman air mattress. Way cheaper than a nice inflatable pad like the Klymit Double V. If your vehicle has an inverter, for maximum convenience you can use an Aerobed, but we got a regular inflator that takes 8 rechargable AAs. There are a lot of air mattress types, but many take proprietary connectors, so take a look. It takes forever to blow up a full-sized air mattress by hand, especially if you've been using Thermarests.
posted by wnissen at 5:11 PM on October 22, 2021
I have the Kelty Trucomfort Doublewide 20 that I use with two Thermarest Neoair pads and it’s great. It’s perfectly suited for nights down into the 40s with two people - might be a bit cool for one. The taller one of us is only 5’11 so I can’t speak to height, but you should be able to tell from the dimensions.
I also have (for random logistical reasons, not because I need both) the Sierra front country doublewide 20. I’ve never tried to directly compare the two, but my initial sense is that the Sierra might be a bit warmer and more durable but a bit less comfy and cozy. Both are good products if you want to have a double setup but maintain two pads for flexibility.
posted by exutima at 6:36 PM on October 22, 2021
I also have (for random logistical reasons, not because I need both) the Sierra front country doublewide 20. I’ve never tried to directly compare the two, but my initial sense is that the Sierra might be a bit warmer and more durable but a bit less comfy and cozy. Both are good products if you want to have a double setup but maintain two pads for flexibility.
posted by exutima at 6:36 PM on October 22, 2021
Stoked with the comfort of our Big Agnes Dream Island and Thermarest Luxury pads for car camping. Slightly excessive, but we have bad bones.
posted by supercres at 12:03 AM on October 23, 2021
posted by supercres at 12:03 AM on October 23, 2021
I can vouch for the Exped, and my new love, the Nemo Roamer, which come in both a double size, or singles you can attach to make a double pad. There's a matching double sleeping bag, but honestly I'd just go with the 2 sleeping bags zipped together.
posted by gingerbeer at 1:01 AM on October 23, 2021
posted by gingerbeer at 1:01 AM on October 23, 2021
Another vote for the Exped. It’s warm enough you may only need blankets.
posted by soylent00FF00 at 6:52 AM on October 23, 2021
posted by soylent00FF00 at 6:52 AM on October 23, 2021
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And regarding putting to sleeping bags together, we do do that currently, but the zippers tend to come unzipped throughout the night (at least on the cheap coleman bags we have currently)
posted by msbrauer at 9:56 AM on October 22, 2021