How to Choose Sleeping Bags for Backpacking
Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed 600 2-Season Sleeping Bag
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Instead of a zipper, this 2-season sleeping bag has an integrated comforter, for a bed-like experience in the backcountry.
Shop similar productsKey Details
Fill
600-fill duck DriDown
Temperature Rating (F)
37 degrees (F)
- Climb into the bag via the large oval opening on top; the oversize comforter seals up the opening so you can sleep comfortably no matter your position: back, side or stomach
- With a European Norm (EN) lower-limit rating of 27°F, the Backcountry Bed 600 2 -Season sleeping bag is suitable for spring and summer backpacking
- On warmer nights, flip the comforter outside the sleeping bag and tuck it back for ventilation; insulated hand/arm pockets provide warmth when the comforter is outside the bag
- Down is considered the best insulation available but when wet, it quickly loses loft and the ability to keep you warm; 600-fill-power DriDown is treated to resist moisture
- Proprietary process treats each individual duck down plume with a molecular-level polymer so the down stays dry longer, lofts better and dries faster than untreated down
- DriDown insulation stays dry 10 times longer, retains 170% more loft when exposed to moisture and dries 33% faster than untreated down
- Ripstop polyester exterior endures frequent use in the outdoors; polyester taffeta lining is soft and comfortable next to skin
- Sleeping pad sleeve on the bottom of the bag secures your pad (pad not included) to create the experience of a fully integrated bed
- Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed 600 2-Season Sleeping Bag comes with a stuff sack and storage sack
Imported.
Temperature ratings are intended as a guideline to help you compare products, rather than a guarantee of warmth, since many different factors contribute to your comfort while you sleep. Backpacking bags are typically rated for temperature according to an independent testing protocol—currently International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 23537, though some older items followed European Norm (EN) 13537. Testing is based on a person wearing one base layer and a pair of socks, sleeping on an insulated surface with a minimum R-value of 5.38.
Each bag then gets 2 ratings: the Comfort rating is the lowest temperature at which the bag will keep the average "cold sleeper" comfortable, and the Lower Limit rating is the lowest temperature at which the bag will keep the average "warm sleeper" comfortable. Some brands determine their own temperature rating by aligning to the Comfort rating for women’s bags, to the Lower Limit rating for men’s bags, or somewhere in the middle for nongendered bags.
View all Sierra Designs Backpacking Sleeping BagsEach bag then gets 2 ratings: the Comfort rating is the lowest temperature at which the bag will keep the average "cold sleeper" comfortable, and the Lower Limit rating is the lowest temperature at which the bag will keep the average "warm sleeper" comfortable. Some brands determine their own temperature rating by aligning to the Comfort rating for women’s bags, to the Lower Limit rating for men’s bags, or somewhere in the middle for nongendered bags.
| Best Use | Camping Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Tested Lower Limit | 27 degrees (F) - EN |
| Tested Comfort | 37 degrees (F) - EN |
| Temperature Rating (F) | 37 degrees (F) |
| Temperature Rating (C) | 3 degrees (C) |
| Shell | Ripstop polyester |
| Zipper Location | None |
| Insulation Type | Down |
| Water-Resistant Down | Yes |
| Fill | 600-fill duck DriDown |
| Lining | Polyester taffeta |
| Sleeping Bag Shape | Mummy |
| Stuff Sack Size | 7.5 x 15 inches |
| Stuff Sack Volume | 13 liters |
| Compressed Volume | Unavailable |
| Gender | Unisex |
Buying Advice
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Most Helpful Favorable Review
Tested and approved
nadera1711 years ago
I've now tested this bag out and I still think it's fantastic, but there are some considerations.
First, regardless of the temperature rating, this bag design can never be a cold weather bag, here's why: the features that make it wonderful also make it drafty. You can cocoon yourself in the bag, but if you roll over at night, because there are no zippers, you're likely to let in cold air. This bag is 2 season, but the design is the same for the 3 season bag too. I'm not saying the bag is cold, I'm simply saying that if you toss and turn at night you'll be letting cold air in when you do.
Secondly, I like how you can pull the "blanket" part of the bag over your head. It allows you to sleep in any position and still be covered.
Lastly, it has little tabs on the bag to help keep it connected to a pad which is nice so you don't roll off the pad or get twisted up.
It's a wonderful 2 season bag. It was 47 at night when I used it and I think the comfort limit is probably closer to 45.
nadera17
Virginia Beach
28 people found this review helpful
Most Helpful Critical Review
Not for Larger people
Erick7211 years ago
I really liked the features of this bag but I had to return it after one night. I am a pretty big guy (6’4” 240 lb)so I am use to bags being a bit snug, and this one was no exception. I could live with snug, but where this bag failed was with the opening for the “No Zipper” design. I got the large/tall size but I don’t think they make the opening any larger, they just make the bag longer. The bottom of the opening was halfway up my chest! I had to actually stand up to get out of the thing, which kind of defeats the purpose of the whole design. I think this is a great bag so I hate to give it a bad review, but I wanted fellow large people to be aware of the limitations
Erick72
Boston, MA, United States
20 people found this review helpful
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Erick72
Boston, MA, United States
Not for Larger people
11 years ago
I really liked the features of this bag but I had to return it after one night. I am a pretty big guy (6’4” 240 lb)so I am use to bags being a bit snug, and this one was no exception. I could live with snug, but where this bag failed was with the opening for the “No Zipper” design. I got the large/tall size but I don’t think they make the opening any larger, they just make the bag longer. The bottom of the opening was halfway up my chest! I had to actually stand up to get out of the thing, which kind of defeats the purpose of the whole design. I think this is a great bag so I hate to give it a bad review, but I wanted fellow large people to be aware of the limitations
No, I do not recommend this product
nadera17
Virginia Beach
Tested and approved
11 years ago
I've now tested this bag out and I still think it's fantastic, but there are some considerations. First, regardless of the temperature rating, this bag design can never be a cold weather bag, here's why: the features that make it wonderful also make it drafty. You can cocoon yourself in the bag, but if you roll over at night, because there are no zippers, you're likely to let in cold air. This bag is 2 season, but the design is the same for the 3 season bag too. I'm not saying the bag is cold, I'm simply saying that if you toss and turn at night you'll be letting cold air in when you do. Secondly, I like how you can pull the "blanket" part of the bag over your head. It allows you to sleep in any position and still be covered. Lastly, it has little tabs on the bag to help keep it connected to a pad which is nice so you don't roll off the pad or get twisted up. It's a wonderful 2 season bag. It was 47 at night when I used it and I think the comfort limit is probably closer to 45.
Yes , I recommend this product
snooks
Spokane, WA
Made for Me
11 years ago
My first down bag, after crawling in & out of several brands I knew this one was for me. I'm a side sleeper-this worked great giving me extra shoulder room. I also like to kick my feet out when I get to warm-no problem with this bag with the special foot box. My sleeping pad stayed in place with the sleeve up the back of the bag and I stayed comfortable all night. The closest thing to sleeping in your own bed! I was comfortable even when the morning temperatures reached 34 degrees
Yes , I recommend this product
rustyd
Louisville, KY, United States
Great Cool Weather Bag
11 years ago
I used this for a week in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area with evening temperature ranging from the mid 40's to upper 50's. The foot vent & comforter top allowed me to vary my insulation easily. Probably not the first choice for sub freezing temperatures but it is excellent for cool fall or spring nights. The sleeping pad sleeve was a major feature I was looking for in a new bag and it is a great addition. Paired with my neo air, this bag stayed put throughout every night. None of the annoying constant repositioning I always experienced with my old bag and no pad sleeve. One complaint and it is minor. It is almost impossible to put a fully inflated sleeping pad in the sleeve. After some trial and error, I found that the best thing to do was partially inflate the pad before putting it in the sleeve. Once I had the pad in the sleeve and the bag centered on the pad I would then fully inflate the pad.
Yes , I recommend this product
beardfoot
Big Sur, CA, United States
was a skeptic at first.
11 years ago
I bought this bag a couple weeks ago on my way up to yosemite. Initially I was sketched out at not having a zipper, but because REI has an amazing return policy, I gave it a shot. Pros: 1. Decently Light. 2.5 pounds i think? 2. the no zipper thing. I roll around in my sleep and it is PERFECT for that. 3. stayed dry in the morning. No tent, and hardly any condensation when I woke up. 4. I legitimately stayed warm enough, just my boxers and a shirt, 38 degrees outside, but I am sort of a cold sleeper, don't think i'd push it much more than that. 5. Love the pad sleeve thing. good idea that works. Cons: 1. the foot opening. I woke up in the middle of the night and had pushed my feet through the bottom of the bag into the 38 degree night, it doesn't have any zipper or seal, so be careful if its cold out. 2. Price. I used my dividend + 20 percent off to get this, but it aint cheap. 3. 2 season for a reason. I would never take this bag out in any sort of alpine snow-ish situation, if you know you are gonna be in the cold, spend the extra cash and get the next one up (or a more traditional bag). Overall, I slept for almost 12 hours my first night backpacking. That is an all time record for me in a sleeping bag or a bed. I could not believe how comfortable I was. If you are on the fence about this bag, I think you should give it a shot.
Yes , I recommend this product
nadera17
Virginia Beach
Innovative Design!
11 years ago
I tried this out in the store and then bought it right away. No zippers, probably not very good for cold weather camping because you can't tap all the heat, but WOW. It's so flexible and functional. No matter how you like to sleep, it's like being in a bed with a blanket. Packs into a 6L compression sack and I'll post more after I sleep in it tomorrow night!
Yes , I recommend this product
campncook
Westminster, CA
Still a bit confining...
11 years ago
I bought his bag because I have a real issue with sleeping bags being too confining and mostly because I am a stomach sleeper looking for a good night's rest while camping. I love the quilt top - it is nice and snuggly. Love the arm pockets too. Super soft feel all around and very light, but not such an important selling point since I am car camping and weight isn't an issue. Easy to slide in and out of and I love the lack of a zipper. Didn't have too much of an issue with keeping the quilt tucked in even though I rolled from back sleeping, side sleeping and stomach sleeping all night. (typical for me!) Foot vent is a nice feature but only works when you are on your back as it requires you to bend your knees toward you to slide your feet in and out. If you are on your stomach, it is physically impossible because your knees would have to bend in the opposite direction to access the flap. You can only "crawl" up the bag and then slide back down to try to access the vent flap. Hood top helps keep pillow in place which is great - no more sliding off the pad. Because of the leg taper and the fact that the opening hits me at the hips, I had a hard time moving my legs into a comfortable position when on my back. I can't sleep well with my legs straight out. I tend to make a figure 4 and that just pulled the fabric super tight. The bag was too warm for the 50 degree weather when I used it first and although there is a foot vent, it doesn't provide adequate ventilation for my legs. I got uncomfortably warm in the upper leg and waist area even with my feet out of the vent and the quilt lowered. Since the opening is so high up, as mentioned before, you can't easily hang a leg out to get venting. You have to scoot up to the top of the bag, hang a leg out and then try to cover your upper torso with the quilt. It didn't really work out great cause now you are half way up the bag. Couple of design mods I would love to see on this bag that would make me a true believer: 1. cut it wider in the hip section, particularly on the ladies bag 2. figure out a side baffle for ventilation 3. cut the hole lower down in the bag 4. for the car camper, offer a bigger bag all around, kind of like the big agnes concept, but better because of the quilt feature. All-in-all, I am still deciding if this is a keeper or not. I am considering dumping bags in general and going with a quilt. Had to give this a try first, though. Love the concept, but not so sure this is the final word on how to build a "backcountry bed" so hopefully Sierra Designs will come up with other versions. I'd love to try them out.
Yes , I recommend this product
Jeff
Everett, WA, United States
Love at first sight
10 years ago
When I saw this bag, I was all over it. I typically sleep in the summer with my bag on me, rather than in it; too hot. This bag is totally roomy. I was a little skeptical about warmth, but on my first trip of the season, temp in the tent dropped to 30*F, and I was totally warm. The attached blanket is so wide I was never uncovered. Slipping my pad into the sleeve in back kept me warm on the backside too. My feet got a little cold, but there's a little foot trap door down there, so easy to slip them out and put on some socks.
Yes , I recommend this product
Scrappy Malloy
Santa Cruz, CA, United States
Good for car-camping. Not so good for backpacking.
10 years ago
Really interesting and innovative design that I purchased last Spring. I've been using it for about a year on at least 2-dozen trips from car-camping to multi-day backpacking trips to in The Sierras. I recommend this for people who want a nice, quality-bag and comfortable bag on casual camping trips and roadtrips that have you couch surfing or floor crashing. The bag has thoughtful features like: the hand pockets near the top of the gray comforter which I love, the vent at the bottom where you can slip your feet out to dump heat, and the slip for your sleeping mat (worked well with my thermarest). Unfortunately, it's too heavy for the warmth and price. The comforter portion actually can go pretty wide and stretch if you want the ability to cuddle and wrap up the person next to you. It's nice and cozy. I have issues getting in and out of it. You have to sit up straight and slip your legs in which can be annoying when you're in a low backpacking tent or in the back of your camper shell. It also does not pack down that small with the included stuff-sack. I had some issues keeping the hood on at night when sleeping on my stomach or side. The weight is the main thing that makes me rule it out for backpacking.
No, I do not recommend this product
Jamie AZ-MA-AK
Fairbanks, AK, United States
extremely comfortable and warm enough
10 years ago
I lusted after this bag for over a year before taking the plunge and getting one. I have never been so comfortable in a sleeping bag. I might just have to get another version for winter. I lived in Alaska and it gets really cold even backpacking in the summer, so I was hoping this would be sufficient in July and August. It is so easy to control your body temperature in this bag, between the foot flap, torso opening, arm pockets, and large blanket. I was almost too warm in the evenings, but when it got chilly in the middle of the night I could just wrap myself up in the blanket, tuck my head in, and warm right up. It doesn't pack down as small as other down summer bags, but I put up with it for backpacking because it's so unbelievably comfortable. My only complaint is that the big baffles in the blanket allow the down to all gather in the corners, so I have to spend time trying to spread it back out so that I actually have down covering my torso. The other thing I should mention is that before you buy it, know that it is meant to be slipped over a pad! There's no insulation in this part of the bottom of the bag. It works great for avoiding getting tangled up, but I do wish it could be used alone or on a different style of pad. Fits great on my self-inflating thermarest but isn't ideal on the thin foam accordion-style summer pads.
Yes , I recommend this product
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