Best 20 Degree Sleeping Bags of 2025

The sleeping bag. Your cozy refuge at the end of a long day on the trail. Fluffy and warm, yet packable and lightweight. Perhaps roomy if you like extra space. Or water resistant if the rains are coming. A quick search online will reveal dozens upon dozens of options. Just how are you supposed to wade through all the options and pick one of the best 20 degree sleeping bags for you?

By reading this one article, that’s how. We’ve done the research for you and plucked ten of the very best 20 degree sleeping bags to keep you nice and warm in most hiking conditions. Simply read on and find the perfect match for your style and needs.

For a complete analysis of all backpacking sleeping bags, check out the buyer’s guide Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags.

Weight and price are shown for the regular size.

Reviews - The Best Sleeping Bags Rated 20 Degrees

Western Mountaineering UltraLite

Specs

• Material: Nylon Taffeta
• Fill Weight: 17.0 oz
• Insulation: Down
• Length: 6’6”/6’0”/5’6”
• Weight: 1.8 lbs
• Shape: Mummy
• Volume: 08.7 L
• Temp Rating: 20 F
• Fill Power: 850
• Compressed Volume: Approximately 8.5 Liters
• Shoulder Girth: 60/59/59in

Features

• Very Lofty Down Fill For Comfort
• Lightweight Design
• Made In The U.S.A

BEST BACKPACKING SLEEPING BAG OVERALL

The Western Mountaineering UltraLite is an ultra light and ultra premium backpacking sleeping bag that is our pick as the best overall choice.

What we love the most about this bag is its balance between weight, quality, versatility and comfort. It is rated to 20-degree and only weighs 17oz making it an excellent choice for fast and lite colder weather trips. The UltraLite’s horizontal baffle design allows you to move the feathers to the back of the bag, making it less warm for spring and mild summer conditions. 

The biggest downside of the UltraLite is its price tag. At $525, it’s one of the priciest bags on our list. However, if you’re a true backpacking junkie who wants an all around awesome bag, it might be a worthy investment. 

A close contender to the UltraLite is the Feathered Friends Hummingbird YF20 (and similar bags within their range). If you’re having trouble deciding, one feature we loved about the UltraLite that we didn’t find on others is the full goose down draft collar. This lets you bunker down and seal your body heat, a much appreciated feature on chilly nights.

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Feathered Friends Hummingbird UL 20

Specs

• Fill Weight: 14.6 oz
• Insulation: Down
• Length: 72 inches
• Weight: 1.5 lbs
• Shape: Mummy
• Volume: 09.0 L
• Temp Rating: 20 F
• Fill Power: 950

Features

• Trapezoidal footbox
• Continuous baffles
• 3D contoured hood

BEST ULTRALIGHT SLEEPING BAG

The Feathered Friends Hummingbird UL 20 is a super light and packable three season sleeping bag. It’s our pick for the best ultralight backpacking sleeping bag.

What we loved the most about the Hummingbird is the conservative, even borderline generous temperature rating. This is not something we could say about a lot of other ultralight bags out there. The Hummingbird is stuffed with 950+ goose down which makes it extremely warm and light.

One drawback of the Hummingbird is the fit is pretty snug. If you’re a side sleeper or a bigger guy or gal, you might find the narrow dimensions claustrophobic. If you toss and turn a lot and would prefer a more spacious bag, check out the Feathered Friends Swallow and Swift. Another downside is since Feathered Friends is a cottage manufacturer, stock can sometimes be limited and wait times can be long. If you love the idea of owning a handmade sleeping bag that is tailored to your needs, be sure to order well ahead of your next trip.

The Hummingbird UL is in close competition with Western Mountaineering’s UltraLite. which is also featured on this list. While both are excellent choices for serious backpackers, the Hummingbird is 5 ounces lighter, making it a winner for those who are meticulous about cutting weight.

The Hummingbird UL is also available in a 30-degree version.

View at Feathered Friends

Western Mountaineering Alpinlite

Specs

• Material: Nylon
• Fill Weight: 19.0 oz
• Insulation: Down
• Length: 6’6”/6’0”/5’6”
• Weight: 2.0 lbs
• Shape: Mummy
• Volume: 12.0 L
• Temp Rating: 20 F
• Fill Power: 850
• Compressed Volume: Approximately 12 Liters
• Shoulder Girth: 65/64/63in

Features

• Extra Wide Shoulder Girth For Bigger Hikers
• Very Comfortable And Warm Design
• Made In The U.S.A

BEST FOR: HIKERS WHO WANT MORE SHOULDER ROOM

Don’t you hate trying to roll over in your sleeping bag and your shoulders seem to get wedged between the upper and lower layers? Us too, and that’s why the AlpinLite is among the best 20 degree sleeping bags. This bag is designed with you broad chested hikers in mind to make sure you can sleep in comfort on every single hiking trip. 

We’ve found the 63” to 65” shoulder girth to give just about everyone plenty of room to snuggle in and find that sweet spot for optimal sleeping. All other features of the AlpinLite are near identical to Western Mountaineering’s UltraLite sleeping bag. This bag is very comfortable due to its 850-fill down insulation nestled in a soft nylon shell. And it’s even manufactured in the U.S.A. 

As with most products from Western Mountaineering, the AlpinLite comes with quite the pricetag. But it’s premium build quality, comfortable materials, and very roomy design easily make this a worthwhile investment for you serious hikers out there.

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Feathered Friends Spoonbill UL

Specs

• Fill Weight: 23.0 oz
• Insulation: Down
• Weight: 2.3 lbs
• Shape: Semi-rectangular
• Volume: 17.0 L
• Temp Rating: 20 F
• Fill Power: 950

Features

• Ergonomically designed hoods with separate draw cords
• Integrated collar and hood for each user
• Dual draft tubes

BEST DOUBLE SLEEPING BAG

The Feathered Friends Spoonbill UL is a two-person sleeping bag for couples who want to lighten their load.

What we love the most about the Spoonbill UL is it gives couples the warmth and intimacy of being in the same bag without having to give up comfort. There are two hoods and two collars that can be adjusted and a zip on each side so you don’t have to worry about bothering your partner when you get in and out. Feathered Friends trimmed unnecessary insulation from the bottom part of the bag and the floor is made of a super lightweight Dyneema fabric. All of this results in a warm, lightweight and comfortable sleeping bag. 

One of the downsides of the Spoonbill is it’s not great for couples who want to cuddle because of its two separate hoods. Another consideration is its price tag is pretty crazy, however if you consider the price of two premium sleeping bags, it might be worthwhile. It also loses major points when it comes to versatility. If one of you decides to go on a solo trip, you’ll need a different bag.

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Kelty Cosmic 20

Specs

• Material: 20D Nylon
• Insulation: Down
• Length: Men’s: 6’6”/6’0”/5’6”, Women’s 5’8”
• Weight: 2.6 lbs
• Shape: Mummy
• Compressed Volume: Men’s 13.1/12.2/9.8 L, Women’s 12.2 L
• Shoulder Girth: Men’s: 64/62/58in, Women’s: 58in

Features

• Excellent Price For A Down Sleeping Bag
• Hydrophobic Down Treatment To Resist Moisture
• External Stash Pocket

BEST FOR: BUDGET DOWN SLEEPING BAG OPTION 

Finally! A down sleeping bag that doesn’t leave our bank accounts in tears. The Kelty Cosmic 20 provides all the essentials we need in backpacking sleeping bag at a very reasonable price, earning it a place amongst the best 20 degree sleeping bags. 

The 600-fill power is definitely lower than most of the competition, but still manages to provide sufficient insulation in cooler temperatures. Kelty also includes a water repellent treatment to try and lockout as much moisture as possible and keep that down nice and fluffy. We’re also pleased with the external stash pocket to keep gear close, or store your favorite fuzzy sleeping socks when packing up in the morning. 

Keep in mind that the lower price of the Cosmic comes at the expense of build quality and materials. While certainly functional, it lacks the premium feel and durability of the competition. So if you’re liking the low budget Cosmic option, be sure to take care of it!

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Nemo Forte 20

View Women's Version

Specs

• Material: 20D Nylon
• Fill Weight: 29.0 oz
• Insulation: Synthetic
• Length: Men’s: 6’6”/6’0”, Women’s 6’0”/5’6”
• Weight: 2.8 lbs
• Shape: Semi-rectangular
• Volume: 09.0 L
• Temp Rating: 32 F
• Fill Power: PrimaLoft
• Compressed Volume: Men’s 10 /9.3 Liters, Women’s 13.1/11.8 Liters
• Shoulder Girth: Men’s: 66/64in, Women’s: 64/62in

Features

• Very Roomy Design For Side-Sleepers
• Moisture Resistant Synthetic Insulation
• ‘Heat Gills’ For Temperature Regulation

BEST FOR: SIDE-SLEEPING HIKERS    

I count myself amongst the side-sleeping crew, and I know the struggle. Constantly pulling the sleeping bag every which way while getting comfortable. But the Nemo Forte and Viola offer a very compelling solution at a reasonable price! 

Both sleeping bags – the Forte for men and Viola for women – feature a unique spoon-shaped design that’s wider at the elbows and knees. This means you can naturally sleep on your side with your arms and legs bent, and not get caught on the wall of your sleeping bag. The sleeping bag also includes Nemo’s interesting heat gills, allowing you to dump excess heat without getting a cold draft. 

As with any synthetic sleeping bag, we must cope with more weight and less compressibility. This is nevertheless an excellent option for side-sleepers who yearn for a comfortable night’s sleep on the trail.

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THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING THE BEST 20 DEGREE SLEEPING BAGS

DOWN VS SYNTHETIC

It’s an age-old question in the hiking sleeping bag debate, so let’s cover the pros and cons of each. Down has earned its stripes as the backpacking material of choice thanks to its excellent insulating properties yet very low weight. It also compresses down very well to take up minimal space in your back pack. Its two classic drawbacks are moisture and price.

Down will start to clump up almost immediately when it gets wet, effectively eliminating its insulating capability. Many manufacturers have implemented different down treatments in order to combat this problem, with varying degrees of success. Down is also much more expensive than synthetic materials. However, the price of some down sleeping bags has been creeping lower over the years, putting them on par with a synthetic bag. Just remember that cheaper down sleeping bags typically sacrifice quality and features.

As you may have guessed, synthetic is the opposite of down. The cheaper price and greater resistance to water are the main draws to this insulation. But keep in mind that synthetic material is significantly heavier and much bulkier than down, making it a tough sell in the backpacking field. But synthetic sleeping bags definitely have a place amongst beginner hikers or those on a budget.

SIZING

It’s so easy to simply eyeball a sleeping bag online or in the store and think: ‘yup, that’s definitely big enough.’ Hold up, take a breath, and take a good look at the sizing chart!

Every single manufacturer has a slightly different sizing scheme for their sleeping bags. The common variables are height, shoulders, and hips; and they all fluctuate from bag to bag. We therefore highly recommend that you take the time to properly size yourself, and pick out a sleeping bag that’s guaranteed to fit you comfortably.

Or better yet, go to a gear store on a free afternoon and actually jump into the sleeping bag you’re thinking about. I know, it may seem weird climbing into a sleeping bag in the middle of a store, but there’s no better way to gauge the size.

WEIGHT

If you’re looking for a sleeping bag with hiking or backpacking in mind, then you’d be wise to consider the bag’s weight. The heavier the sleeping bag, the more your overall pack weight. But the lighter your sleeping bag, the less space and insulation you have. So consider your priorities, and choose accordingly.

Remember, down is typically much lighter than synthetic materials, and will likely be your insulation of choice if weight is a concern. Ultralight sleeping bags will typically fall in the 1-2lbs range, whereas mid-range options will be 2-3lbs. Anything heavier than 3lbs may be a little hefty for weight conscience hikers and merit reconsideration.

FEATURES EXPLAINED

DOWN FILL POWER

Every single down sleeping bag on our list is accompanied by a fill-power number, ranging from 600 to 900. The exact definition is that the fill power number represents the number of cubic inches that one ounce of the down type takes up. But what does that mean for your warmth?

The higher that number, the greater the down’s insulating power. But the story doesn’t quite end there. Your warmth is also dependent on the sleeping bag’s fill weight, or simply the measurement of how much down the manufacturer stuffs in. This value is oftentimes listed, but sometimes not, so take note if it’s there! Outside Magazine has published a very informative article on all things down with more specific information if you wish.

TEMPERATURE RATING

All the sleeping bags on our list are rated to 20 degrees – with the sole exception of the Sea To Summit Flame whose 25 degree rating is balanced by a 14 degree EN rating. The majority of sleeping also have their manufacturer’s rating plus an EN value. But why are there two ratings in the first place, and what do they mean?

First of all, understand this: The published temperature rating without an EN designation is simply the manufacturer’s estimate of the temperature at which the bag will keep you warm, and has not been independently tested. These estimates are therefore highly subjective and are hard to gauge as everyone has different levels of warm comfort.

Enter EN 13537. This is a European testing standard that was introduced to level the playing field and ensure that sleeping bags are comparable. Many – but not all – sleeping bags will therefore feature an EN Comfort Rating and an EN Lower Limit Rating. The comfort rating refers to the tested temperature at which a cold sleeper will stay comfortable – usually found on women’s sleeping bags. The Lower Limit rating refers to the temperature at which a warm sleeper will stay comfortable – usually assigned to men’s sleeping bags.

The manufacturer’s rating will typically plop right in-between the EN comfort and limit ratings, but not always. So if the manufacturer has published EN ratings, take a look and make the most informed decision possible. Take a look at this article from REI for more temperature rating information.

COMPRESSED VOLUME

This value – measured in liters – refers to the volume of your sleeping bag when it’s compressed as much as possible. Some sleeping bags come with their own compression sacks for achieving this ‘packed’ volume, while others require you to purchase this separately.

The smaller this value, the less space the sleeping bag is going to take up in your bag. Down once again jumps to the head of the pack in this herd as it features superior compressibility when compared to synthetic insulation.