Sleeping under the stars is one of the best things about camping, but it’s tough trying to gaze up at the cosmos when you’re shivering.
A sleeping bag is essential if you’re planning overnight adventures in the great outdoors. There are hundreds of styles available, from designs for the lefties and XL ones to accommodate taller sleepers, as well as double sleeping bags designed for two to share.
On the luxury end of the scale, there are sleeping bags filled with natural down fluff which adds an extra cosy layer of insulation against late-night and early-morning temperatures.
Aside from keeping you exceptionally warm, opting for a down sleeping bag has lots of other benefits.
They are highly durable and can withstand being squashed repeatedly back into its stuff sack without going lumpy or losing its warmth. This means they’ll go the distance. In fact, with proper care, a down sleeping bag can last up to 10 years or more - a long-term investment in camping adventures near and far.
You also need less down to fill the same area than synthetic fibres, meaning they’re ultra-light. If you hike, camp or go to festivals often, you’ll know every pound of weight counts. A light and dependably warm sleeping bag is pretty much the holy grail.
Keep all these things in mind when shopping, because down sleeping bags aren’t exactly a budget buy compared to synthetic sleeping bags. That said, there are options at the cheaper end of the scale, starting from £105. When you consider that it will have a lifespan of more than 10 years, that works out to around a tenner a year.
Best cheap down sleeping bags at a glance
- Best for hot sleepers: NatureHike White Ultralight Goose Down Rectangular Sleeping Bag - £109, Amazon
- Best for lightweight: ALVIVO - Ibex Ultra Light - Down sleeping bag - £100.76, Alpine Trek
- Best for warm weather sleeping: EarthKind Reclaimed Natural Down Duvet - £99, Argos
- Best for staying cosy in low temps: Forclaz Trekking Sleeping Bag - £159.99, Decathlon
- Best for cosy comfort: Naturehike Snowbird Ultralight Duck Down Warm Sleeping Bag - £125, Amazon
- Best for veteran campers: Hyke & Byke Eolus 800 Fill Power Hydrophobic Goose Down Sleeping Bag - £184.97, Hyke & Byke
- Best for high-performance: MARMOT Always Summer Down sleeping bag - £200.66, Alpine Trek
- Best for mountain hiking: Rab Alpine 600 Down Sleeping Bag - £219, Go Outdoors
- Best for three seasons snoozing: Rab Ascent 700 Hydrophobic Down Sleeping Bag - £249, Go Outdoors
So, if you go to an overnight festival, camp out a few times over the summer or host overnight visitors at home a few times in the year - well, the bag has earned its keep.
Below we’ve rounded up the best of the cheaper down-filled sleeping bags in price ascending order to invest in now and use for years to come.
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NatureHike White Ultralight Goose Down Rectangular Sleeping Bag
Best for: hot sleepers
This rectangular-shaped sleeping bag gives you plenty of room to move and throw out an overheating limb to keep you at the optimal sleep temperature. It's filled with high-quality white goose down and features a two-way zipper so you can connect it with another bag if you're sharing with a partner. Warm, comfortable and compact for travel weighing 570g, use it for warm weather camping trips.
Buy now £109.00, Amazon
ALVIVO - Ibex Ultra Light - Down sleeping bag
Best for: lightweight
Designed for trekking and general overnight trips, this sleeping bag is filled with nothing but RDS-certified down fibres (meaning the geese and ducks filling is in line with animal welfare practices). The classic mummy-shaped design weighs just 395g when packed (15 x 12cm) and works best in temperatures 7 - 18°C.
Buy now £100.76, Alpine Trek
EarthKind Reclaimed Natural Down Duvet, 4.5 Tog, Double
Best for: warm weather sleeping
Not strictly a sleeping bag, but a great lightweight option if you're driving to your pitch for a weekend of laid-back camping, this EarthKind duvet is made from pre-loved feathers and down, reclaiming elements that may have otherwise gone to landfill. It's super soft and perfect for summer with a tog rating of 4.5.
Pile it onto your inflatable mattress and sheets, and you won't be able to tell the difference from home.
Buy now £99.00, Argos
Forclaz Trekking Sleeping Bag
Best for: staying cosy in low temps
The French Alps: beautiful yes, but also an undoubtedly harsh environment. Forclaz’ sleeping bag has been designed in the region and promises a comfortable night’s sleep in temperatures as low as 0°C, so it should stand up beautifully against English summer nights. The fill is made up of RDS certified feather and it weighs 945g. The mummy shape gives shoulders enough wiggle room and it’s water-repellent too, so no need to fear early morning drips of condensation landing on you from the tent walls.
Available in S, M, L and XL sizes.
Buy now £159.99, Decathlon
Naturehike Snowbird Ultralight Duck Down Warm Sleeping Bag
Best for: cosy comfort
You need only look at this sleeping bag to feel cosy. The plump, padded design uses 650FP high-quality white duck down as filler, helping to keep the bag lightweight at just 380g. It boasts a two-way zipper and shaped wrapping designs to cuddle you into a restful slumber every night. With a shrink cord on the hood and a 3D barrel bottom design, you’ll stay comfortable from head to toe.
Buy now £125.00, Amazon
Hyke & Byke Eolus 800 Fill Power Hydrophobic Goose Down Sleeping Bag
Best for: veteran campers
Serious about camping? Invest in Hyke & Byke’s Eolus sleeping bag, which can withstand frosty temperatures. Available in myriad colourways, the design is packed with a Hydrophobic 800 FP Goose down fill that is breathable yet insulating. The long-lasting liner is made with ripstop fabric, adding to its durability and it’s water-repellant too. Comes in sizes Regular and Long (Tall / XL).
Buy now £184.97, Hyke & Byke
MARMOT Always Summer Down sleeping bag
Best for: high-performance
Function is the most important thing when it comes to a high-performance sleeping bag, but one that looks good definitely edges over the competition. You’ll be the envy of your camp in Marmot’s ‘Always Summer’ down-filled sleeping bag, which features zips that close over the hood to fully encase you on particularly chilly nights.
In fact, it’s a dual-zip design, allowing you to easily slip in on either side, and there’s a zip closure at the bottom to free overheating feet or for midnight trips to the loo. You’ll also find a pocket in the lining so you can keep essentials close to hand. Weighs 830g and is filled with DWR hydrophobic down.
Buy now £189.51, Alpine Trek
Rab Alpine 600 Down Sleeping Bag
Best for: mountain hiking
You’ll laugh in the face of the cold with this baby on your side. Say hello to blissful warmth and comfort courtesy of Rab’s Alpine down sleeping bag, a low-bulk design designed for mountaineering. The three-season bag boasts a Pertex Quantum outer, a hero fabric that’s durable and windproof - all while staying comfortable and breathable.
Packed with responsibly-sourced hand-filled hydrophobic duck down and lined with recycled nylon, it’s a considered design through and through. It weighs 1.05kg and boasts a trapezoidal box wall construction to dial up the down’s loft as well as warmth. Toastiness is in the bag.
Buy now £219.00, Go Outdoors
Rab Ascent 700 Hydrophobic Down Sleeping Bag (Left Zip)
Best for: three seasons snoozing
Plan outdoor adventures in three seasons knowing you’ll stay warm and cosy whatever you get up to thanks to Rab’s Ascent 700 Hydrophobic Down Sleeping Bag.
The design is filled with 700g European Duck Down and surrounded by a highly durable Pertex Microlight inner and outer fabric, offering a feel of high quality throughout. If you move a lot while you sleep, the semi-rectangular shape of the sleeping bag offers less restrictions than a mummy-shaped bag, all while keeping your body heat where you want it - around you.
Weighs 1.29kg and comes with a cotton stuff sack for easy carrying and storage.
Buy now £239.00, Go Outdoors
