How to Choose Sleeping Bags for Backpacking

Enjoy a blissful night asleep on your side with the NEMO Forte 20 Endless Promise women's sleeping bag. Upgraded vents keep you comfy in a range of temperatures and let you fine-tune from within.
$21
10% Reward
on this and every eligible full-price item*
+
$30
Bonus Card
valid for 60 days after joining*
=
$51
Value
Keep shopping
Imported.
Best Use | Backpacking |
---|---|
Tested Lower Limit | 10 degrees (F) - ISO |
Tested Comfort | 20 degrees (F) - ISO |
Temperature Rating (F) | 20 degrees (F) |
Temperature Rating (C) | -7 degrees (C) |
Weight | Regular - Right Zip: 3 lbs. 15 oz. Long - Right Zip: 4 lbs. 4 oz. |
Shell | 30-denier recycled polyester ripstop (bluesign® approved) |
Zipper Location | Right |
Insulation Type | Synthetic |
Fill | Synthetic |
Fill Weight | Regular - Right Zip: 3 lbs. 2 oz. Long - Right Zip: 3 lbs. 7 oz. |
Sleeping Capacity | 1-person |
Lining | 20-denier recycled polyester taffeta |
Sleeping Bag Shape | Semirectangular |
Fits Up To (in.) | Regular - Right Zip: 68 inches Long - Right Zip: 72 inches |
Shoulder Girth (in.) | 59 inches |
Hip Girth (in.) | 54 inches |
Stuff Sack Size | 8.5 x 14 inches |
Stuff Sack Volume | 13.7 liters |
Compressed Volume | Regular - Right Zip: 11.7 liters Long - Right Zip: 13 liters |
Gender | Women's |
Adding a review will require a valid email for verification
This sleeping bag is a beast. If you are looking for a warm and plush sleeping bag, this bag is it. The air vents are nice to have for a little air ventilation without compromising warmth. I also love the hood and the face cover. Sometimes when it’s cold and you’re wrapped up, the only thing that’s cold is your face. This has a little thin cover for your face to shield you from the elements. I’m 5’7 and I did have to order the long version which seems to fit perfect with just a little extra space, so not sure if this bag is meant for taller people. The con of this bag would definitely be the size. It does not pack down small and it is bulky and pretty heavy. I was hoping to take it with me backpacking in Yosemite in the Fall and that’s not going to happen with this size bag unfortunately. I would say it is at least 1/3 - 1/2 bigger than my north face mummy bag which is also rated at 20 degrees. This bag is definitely warmer and plusher and has more upgrades including more leg space for a mummy model, but you are compromising weight and packing comfort which is why I shaved off a star. Overall awesome bag for cold weather, but only if you’re not tracking it in your bag for long.
I’ve been eyeing this bag for a while now so when the opportunity came up to test it out I immediately jumped on it. The Forte 20 sleeping bag is a synthetically filled bag that packs down pretty nicely. It definitely takes some effort to get it into the sack but once it’s in there it’s not an issue. I used the compression sack that came with the bag to pack it for my camping trip and it served its purpose just fine. The bag while compressed fit nicely into the bottom portion of my backpacking bag while also not taking up too much space that I was limited with other supplies. It’s definitely bulky but synthetic bags usually are. One of the nicest features of this bag is how roomy it is. Due to the curvy design of the bag, there is a lot of room to move around and roll over if you are a stomach or side sleeper. I’ve had a lot of issues with other bags because I tend to sleep on my stomach. While I usually will get into the bag and lay down so I don’t have to twist, this bag allowed me to get inside and then roll over without too much constriction. It’s also pretty long so I can wiggle down into it if it’s an extra cold night to keep warm. I really like the zipper on this bag as well because it doesn’t snag the fabric like most zippers do. It’s a wider design. However, the zippers on the vents are not the same design and do snag but it isn’t a deal breaker for me. This bag is rated for 20 degrees. Honestly, I found this bag to be pretty warm. I tend to be a cold sleeper and enjoy a warmer product but even I was sweating in it. The lower limit was around 55-60 the night I used it and I had to take my arms out a few times so I wasn’t too hot. While this feature is irritating if I’m car camping, using it with a hammock makes it more of a perfect temp bag for me and eliminates the need for other products underneath the hammock. I’d recommend this bag for beginning backpackers that are looking for affordable options and those that solely car camp. I wouldn’t take it on a long backpacking trip but will definitely enjoy it for future shorter trips and car camping.
Overall this is a quality bag and Nemo really crushed some of the features. Highly recommend for car camping or a beginner backpacking bag, not so much if you are looking for weight or space saving. Pros: -SUPER warm. I am a cold sleeper even in summer and slept very warmly in this bag. I was not down in the 20s so can’t speak to its full comfort rating but I was toasty. -Draft collar. It’s huge. It’s warm. It’s awesome -Pillow pocket. Such a genius feature and worth the weight of the fabric IMO. Kept my pillow in place all night and seems like it would work well with most backpacking pillows -ThermoGills. These are just a cool feature that really allows you to dial in your warmth/venting. Again, added weight for all the zippers but a nice feature Cons: -Size. Holy moly this thing is beefy. It does not pack down well and really took up real estate in my pack. Granted, it is a 20deg synthetic bag so some size is inevitable, but I was not very pleased with how large it is even when fully compressed. Pic next to a BV500 for reference. Also I use a ULA Circuit and it took up about half of the bag, even when I took it out of the compression sac and just shoved it in the bottom of my bag. Definitely my biggest con -Weight. Again, synthetic 20deg bag is gonna weight more than a down equivalent, but the extra features also add up and make this not a great ultralight choice. Again, super solid bag and I totally recommend for mostly car camping or a beginner backpacker.
This bag is great for side sleepers! I struggle to sleep in regular mummy bags and this one was very comfortable. The bag is also very warm. The gills were very useful to cool down without unzipping the bag. I am a cold sleeper, and when a bag says 20 F, I assume it'll work for me up to 30 F. In about 40F, I was hot in just a t-shirt and shorts. The pillow pocket was a nice addition. You can just stuff a some clothes and create a makeshift pillow. The only downside was that it's very bulky and I wouldn't take it backpacking. I see other reviews mentioning that the compression sack is too small. I had no trouble fitting it in the compression sack. Disclaimer: I received free product in exchange for an honest review.
This sleeping bag is very roomy and cozy. I loved hanging out in it at camp when winds came up. The zippers seem to work well, although I'm neutral about the efficacy of the venting zips on the front of the bag. The temperature felt very comfortable for summer camping, and I think it will be warm enough for some fall and spring trips. However, I think I would only take this bag car camping due to its weight and lack of packability. I like that the compression sack is included with the bag, but the sack came with one strap threaded in a twisted way. It is likely fixable, but not easily fixable and annoying to deal with. The roominess does make it easier to sleep on your side than a typical mummy bag, so for some the extra weight and space might be worth it.
I love this sleeping bag! It is the most comfortable bag I’ve owned. I can sleep comfortably on my side and never get hip pain. It’s thick, but still very light to carry. It comes in a carry bag and it’s easy to roll up and place in the bag. It keeps me nice and warm, too. It also has two zipped side panels that become vents when unzipped. I have a disability, so I use this bag on my bed instead of sheets and blankets.
I've slept in this for one night at 10k feet, and it definitely impressed me overall! I am a cold sleeper, and this kept me SO WARM - like TOO warm - in ~20-30f with wind. I'd much rather wake up in a little sweat and open the thermogills/partially unzip than be cold! The draft collar is AMAZING! Love love love this bag! Here's where it lost a star. It is quite bulky. It is very difficult to get into the compression sack and doesn't compress down much when you do get it in. It didn't fit in my backpack without unzipping the side, so I tried stuffing it in without the compression sack and that worked better. I wish it came with a more effective compression sack! I'm 5'8, so I got the long, but maybe I should see if I can fit into the regular. Overall, the comfort and warmth make this bag worth it for me!
I bought this for camping in northern Michigan. It had its maiden voyage in the rain and hail this past weekend and I was so warm and comfortable, I was so pleased! Soft, breathe able and so warm! Totally worth every penny!
I love this bag!! i’m a cold sleeper and this bag is so warm and cozy. Im able to shove a regular pillow in the head area. the flap at the top stops cold air from getting in and feels like a blanket. this bag is amazing.
Warmth: This sleeping bag has been great in chilly weather! I haven't used it all the way down to 20 degrees but it kept me nice and toasty on a 37F night - that's saying something because I have horrible circulation in my feet even in my own home with the heat running. Using the hood was super effective in warming up my feet! I would trust it down to 20 degrees with a proper sleeping pad. Features: I LOVE the draft collar because it allows you to really tailor the sleeping bag to your needs - on the coldest night I tucked the draft collar around my shoulders and it definitely improved my warmth and sleep. I slept with this bag unzipped and with the gills/vents open on a 60 degree night and I was pretty comfortable! It would have been way too hot to sleep with everything closed at that temperature so it was nice to be able to adjust it in so many ways. Size: I used this for car camping and the compressed size is fairly big so I'm not sure it's appropriate for backpacking unless you cut down on other items. I love the warmth it provides so who knows maybe I would take it backpacking for a short trip. Fit: I am 5'2" and this fit me just fine (not surprisingly!). I like having a little extra space in case I need to add a hot water bottle by my feet. Quality: I've camped with my (large) dog using this sleeping bag and there are no signs of tearing on the outside. I do place a thin sheet over it as an extra layer of protection, though. The main zipper is nice and wide and it seems like it will hold up for a long time. The gill zippers are a bit more delicate so I can't speak to their durability. It seems like they catch more on the fabric. I would recommend adjusting those in the light if possible so you're not blindly yanking on something you're not supposed to.