Best summer sleeping bags for 2024

This is a fantastic lightweight sleeping bag that is also quite deceptive. Deceptive because it has a good temperature rating for such a low weight.

This is courtesy of very high quality down insulation. It’s 850-fill goose down, which means this 600g sleeping bag (long size) has a temperature rating suitable down to about 2°C.

Sleeping bags often come in two sizes: regular and long. The Exped Ultra 0° comes in five sizes: small, medium, wide medium, large, and wide large.

The Exped Ultra 0° is also a sustainable summer sleeping bag. Having responsibly sourced down is expected of all down sleeping bags, but the Exped Ultra 0° goes further. The Pertex Quantum outer material is recycled, as is the zip. It is a bluesign-approved product and PFC-free; Exped has even offset the manufacturing and shipping emissions.

Though it has the potential to be very long lasting, care does need to be taken because the 10D Pertex fabric isn’t especially tough.

Read our full Exped Ultra 0 review

When you see the word ‘value’ you also expect ‘compromise’ to accompany it. It’s not really so in this case.

Not only is the Orbit 0° a very well-made sleeping bag for the price, but it’s simply a very well-made sleeping bag, period. The 50D recycled polyester shell and 75D microfibre lining fabrics are tough, but much softer and more snug than the typical shiny nylon we’re used to.

Its Hollowfibre synthetic insulation is naturally very effective at insulating in damp conditions and is excellent value against down-filled sleeping bags. Helping to keep you warm is a draft collar and an efficient mummy shape. You can also connect the Orbit 0° to another sleeping bag.

There are two lengths available, plus a women’s version (suitable for up to 175cm height). We like how the Orbit 0° is PFC-free with recycled shell fabric, and that deuter is a Fair Wear Foundation member with ‘Leader’ status.

This is quite a bulky sleeping bag, though. Too bulky for hiking.

With a temperature range that ventures into the low negatives, this sub-1kg sleeping bag is feature-rich and great for summer mountain treks.

Perhaps the most noticeable feature on the Ascent AcI -4° is its triple zips. This setup is all about adaptability. The right-side half zip offers extra ventilation and, with the left zip, lets you fold the top third away. There is a zip at your feet for even more ventilation, and the left-side zip can open the entire sleeping bag up to make a quilt. The Ascent AcI -4° is also compatible for zip coupling.

It sounds fiddly but is in fact extraordinarily useful for spring, summer, and autumn use when the temperature can fluctuate quite a lot. The 750-fill down has a hydrophobic Ultra-Dry finish to fight insulation loss through moisture, and there are large draft tubes to insulate along the zips.

In terms of sustainability, the Ascent AcI -4° has RDS-certified down and is PFC-free. It comes with one of Sea To Summit’s water-resistant Ultra-Sil Compression Sacks, which are bluesign-approved and PFC-free.

Alpkit’s Pipedream 200 is a fairly basic but incredibly lightweight and compact two-season sleeping bag. It weighs less than 600g and thanks to a double drawcord on the stuff sack, packs down to an incredible 15.5 x 20cm.

The outer fabric is a 20D nylon, and the insulation is 750-fill down. Both have a PFC-free water-repellent treatment.

Alpkit's no-nonsense approach has its pluses and minuses. One big plus is that the Pipedream is great value for a down summer sleeping bag. It’s also incredibly compact. However, it’s certainly limited to late spring, summer, and early autumn. There is the Pipedream 400 for those wanting a version of this sleeping bag that's just a bit warmer.

In addition to the responsible down and PFC-free construction, Alpkit is a certified B Corp.

Jack Wolfskin’s Athmos Down +5, with its unique zip design, is a very good mid-range option in terms of performance and price.

Its temperature range extends down to 5°C; it weighs 650-750g depending on size; and has a packed size of 29 x 22 cm. In a game of Top Trumps: Summer Sleeping Bag Edition, it’s neither a loser nor a champion.

There are, however, some features about this sleeping bag we really like. Its S-shaped zip makes access super easy. And while the body of the sleeping bag uses 700-fill down, the hood uses synthetic PrimaLoft insulation, which performs better in damp conditions. The compression sack is water-resistant and similar to the one you get with the Sea To Summit Ascent AcI -4°.

This sleeping bag scores high for sustainability too. It’s bluesign-approved, PFC-free, plus the PrimaLoft insulation and main fabric are recycled. Jack Wolfskin is also a Fair Wear Foundation member with ‘Leader’ status.

This simple, affordable, and effective two-season sleeping bag ticks the important boxes for most users. The NanoWave 35 is a lightweight synthetic insulated sleeping bag, giving you peace of mind that it’ll still work when it’s damp. The construction also means it's suitable for campsite camping and hiking alike.

The two-way zip is full-length, which makes for easy access and improved ventilation, but has a draft tube to aid warmth, as does the tapered mummy shape. We also like how the polyester lining is quite snug and soft.

Although the NanoWave 35 doesn’t have too much to shout about regarding sustainability, it is bluesign-approved and PFC-free. It’s the best value you’ll get from a high quality sleeping bag. You could go much cheaper if you wanted to, but you would see a noticeable difference in quality.

Bluesign-approved, PFC-free, and water-based, this is a sustainable and effective wash for down and synthetic-insulated gear and clothing. Nikwax Down Wash Direct is also a good option.