If you’re in a rush and want to find out what the best sleeping bag for a big guy is, we recommend the Big Agnes Torchlight 20 sleeping bag.
Sleeping bags are a staple for campers of all types and experience levels. You can sometimes go without a tent, certain kitchen items can be minimized, and various accessories can be left at home, but sleeping bags are hard to do without.
However, it can be hard to find a bag that fits well, especially if you’re a big guy looking for a mummy style. Even some rectangular bags run a little small for comfort, like the Coleman Kompact and the Kelty Catena. That’s why we’re dedicating this article to the best sleeping bags for big guys, because we know it can be a struggle to find a comfortable sleep system that fits properly.
In this article, we’ll be reviewing the following best sleeping bags for big guys:
- Big Agnes Echo Park 20 Sleeping Bag – Best Synthetic Bag
- REI Co-op Men’s Down Time 25 Down Sleeping Bag – Best Down Bag
- Big Agnes Men’s Torchlight 20 Sleeping Bag – Best Overall
- NEMO Jazz 30 Sleeping Bag – Best Sleeping Bag with Bedsheets
- Therm-a-Rest Questar 20 Sleeping Bag – Best Mummy Bag
- Sea to Summit Ascent AcII 15 Sleeping Bag – Warmest Sleeping Bag
- Sierra Designs Cloud 35 Sleeping Bag – Long – Best Zipperless Sleeping Bag
- Born Outdoor Badger Bed – Best Bedroll
Best Sleeping Bags for Big Guys – Reviewed
Best Synthetic Bag
The Big Agnes Echo Park is one of the largest sleeping bags in this review, making it a great choice for big guys, despite the added weight.
In terms of sheer size, it really doesn’t get bigger than the Big Agnes Echo Park sleeping bag. The shoulder girth is 80 inches and the hip girth is 74 inches, which means there’s more than 6 feet worth of girth to stretch out in throughout most of the bag. If you find a single person sleeping bag that’s bigger than that, let me know, because I’d love to add it to this review.
Double zippers let you come and go from whatever side you choose, and when they’ve both been unzipped, the Echo Park transforms into a comforter. This is a nice touch for when it’s warm outside, or if you’re lying on a camping cot and don’t necessarily need the sleeping bag to wrap all the way around you. For big guys especially, this is a handy feature to take advantage of.
Naturally, the downside of having such a large bag is that it doesn’t pack down very well. That being said, while it might not compress as well as the Torchlight mentioned below, it does have a very reasonable compressed volume of 11.5 liters. Even so, when paired with the 4.8 pound weight, it’s not something that you’re going to backpack with. But really, a large sleeping bag like this was never meant to be used on long treks, so that’s to be expected.
Compatible with 25 or 30 inch, Big Agnes sleeping pads, you can ensure a comfortable fit that will make it much easier to sleep through the night. When combined with the collar, wedge, and zipper system, cold air doesn’t stand a chance. The rating is set at 20 degrees, allowing you to use this bag well into the shoulder months, and perhaps even during the winter as well.
Pros:
– Very big
– Warm
– Zipper on each side
– Can be turned into a comforter
– Decent weight for the size
Cons:
– Cold spots in the footbox
Best Down Bag
Though it’s a tad narrow in the knees, the REI Co-op Down Time is a warm, down bag that packs down small and works well for backpackers.
Relatively inexpensive, as far as sleeping bags go, the REI Down Time is a nice option for people on a budget. It’s a tad narrow around the knees, but the waist and shoulders won’t have any problem housing a big guy. The synthetic material feels good to sleep in, and the design of the zipper makes it easy to get in and out of during the night.
In case you couldn’t tell from the name, the Down Time is filled with (you guessed it) down. It’s a pretty warm sleeping bag that can take you down to 30 degree temperatures before you need to start thinking about adding a liner. Although, I always recommend using a liner anyway, since it’s soft and easy to clean, unlike the sleeping bag itself.
Weighing just under 3 pounds, it’s a little lighter than your average sleeping bag for big guys. It also has a pretty decent compressed volume, which makes it ideal for long backpacking trips where you need to be more concerned about space. Various horizontal baffles keep the down fill from bunching together, though I don’t find them quite as effective as vertical baffles. Still, the bag itself is highly durable and works well for heat retention. Car campers should definitely go for something bigger, since they can afford to carry more bulk and weight, but the Down Time is a fantastic option for backpackers of all experience levels.
Pros:
– Good heat retention
– Very durable
– Decent weight
– Packs down well
– Good zippers
Cons:
– Narrow design
Best Overall
With an expandable side panel, the Big Agnes Torchlight works well for big guys (and side sleepers) who need some extra space to get comfortable.
One of my personal favorites, the Big Agnes Torchlight is an incredibly versatile sleeping bag. For starters, it’s one of the few sleeping bags out there that can be combined with another bag to create a double. Of course, since the Torchlight only has a zipper on the left side, you’ll have to find a sleeping bag with a zipper on the right side to pair it with.
But that’s just where the fun begins. If you’ll notice by looking at the photo of the Torchlight, the side of the bag is kept in a compressed state. This can be undone in order to expand the bag, creating another 10 inches in circumference. Just what you’d expect from one of the best sleeping bags for big guys, you can open it up when needed or keep it compressed for a tighter and warmer fit.
Whether you’re camping in a tent or a hammock, the Torchlight can accommodate your arrangement with ease. It only weighs 3 pounds, so many backpackers will find it acceptable to bring on multiday treks, even when extreme elevation changes are involved. But even beyond the weight, the compressibility of the Torchlight is surprisingly high, considering it can expand and become such a large sleeping bag. At 7 liters, it’s definitely one of the most compressible sleeping bags in this review. And when you consider the amount of warmth and cushion you get from the down fill, there’s very little to complain about with this bag.
Pros:
– Highly compressible
– Lightweight
– Multiple sleeping configurations
– Can be combined with another sleeping bag
– Very warm
Cons:
– Somewhat narrow footbox
Best Sleeping Bag with Bedsheets
A sleeping bag with all the fixings, the NEMO Jazz is a massive bag that even comes with its own bedsheets, giving you everything you need for a comfortable night’s sleep.
I’m a big fan of Nemo, and they’re the only brand of sleeping bag that my wife has used for the last several years. Generally speaking, I find them to be larger than products made by other brands, which is why I believe the Jazz is one of the best sleeping bags for big guys.
Aside from being large, how many bags do you know of that come with their own set of bedsheets? I’m going to guess very few (if any), which already sets the Jazz apart from the crowd. Still, all of that means that the Jazz isn’t the lightest or most compressible sleeping bag around. It’s certainly not something you can bring with you on a backpacking trip, but there are few options better than it when you need comfort and warmth for car camping.
Especially when paired with a high-quality sleeping pad, you may find that the Jazz feels better to sleep in than your own bed back home. Rated for 30 degree weather, the synthetic insulation, draft collar, and hood provide more than enough heat retention to keep you warm in chilly temperatures. The great thing about the hood is that it’s a good size for holding your camp pillow in place, so you can have the proper amount of comfort and support.
With a waterproof shell, condensation won’t be able to cut through and reach the insulation. But even if it did, it’s not like the synthetic would lose its ability to trap heat, so this is definitely a bag that you could use while cowboy camping.
Pros:
– Extremely comfortable
– Comes with removable bed sheets
– Good temperature rating
– Comes with draft collar and hood
– Oversized carry bag make storage easy
Cons:
– The footbox does get quite warm
Best Mummy Bag
Highly compressible and lightweight, the Therm-A-Rest Questar might not have the most impressive temperature rating, but it works well for most alpine backpackers.
A big bag that packs down surprisingly small, the Therm-a-Rest Questar is just what a big guy needs for a backpacking trip. Weighing just 2 pounds, this is an option that even ultralight backpackers would consider bringing with them. And when you factor in the 5.4 liter compressed volume (the stuff sack is 9×7.5 inches), you’ll hardly even notice it inside your backpack.
Of course, with so many great features, corners had to be cut somewhere. And in the case of the Questar, you’ll notice that it doesn’t do quite as well at keeping you warm, when compared with other sleeping bags in this review. That’s not to say that it’s bad, but a 32 degree temperature rating isn’t quite the same, especially once you realize that the number is kind of a lie. I would say a better temperature rating would be 38 or 40, depending on how cold you sleep. If you’re not sure what the temperatures will be like where you’re camping, I’d recommend bringing a sleeping bag liner just to be safe.
When it comes to the size of the bag itself, you’ll notice that the hips and shoulders have a decent width. However, the footbox is a little narrow, which can be annoying even if you aren’t a big guy! Still, I believe it’s one of the best options for backpackers who want to stay light without giving up on comfort and internal space.
Pros:
– Ultralightweight
– Packs down super small
– Comfortable to sleep in
– Nice colors
– Down fill
Cons:
– Zippers can be irritating
– Not for very cold temperatures
Warmest Sleeping Bag
Almost uncomfortably warm, the Sea to Summit Ascent is the best bag to have in temperatures that drop below freezing during the night.
For colder temperatures, the Sea to Summit Ascent is definitely one of the best sleeping bags for big guys. The duck down is incredibly insulative, almost to the point of discomfort, if the weather isn’t as cold as you expected. But when it’s below freezing, don’t feel like you need to invest in a liner in order to keep from shivering all night. The Ascent is 2.6 pounds of heat trapping goodness.
But that’s not to say that it performs poorly in warmer weather. In fact, you can get away with using this sleeping bag during almost every season of the year, thanks to the extensive number of built-in vents. For example, there’s a zipper on the footbox, which lets you open up the bottom of the sleeping bag to let hot air escape. In addition to that, you have the full length “main” zipper on one of the bag, and a half-length zipper on the other side. I like how easy it is to get your arms free from the bag by unzipping both sides partway. Then you can sit up and get partially dressed without ever leaving the bag, which is so nice on those chilly mornings!
It’s a comfortable fit for big guys, and the vertical baffles keep the down fill from shifting around too much. Is it expensive? It sure is, but if nothing else, I believe your sleeping bag is the one area that you should never skimp out on. My only complaint is that the size of the phone pocket is a little small, but that’s a relatively insignificant thing compared to the overall size, weight, versatility, and warmth of the Ascent.
Pros:
– Multiple zippers
– Very warm
– Good weight
– Versatile
– The fill stays in one place
Cons:
– Phone pocket is a tad small
Best Zipperless Sleeping Bag
With a unique, zipperless design, the Sierra Designs Cloud is easy to get in and out of, and you won’t have to deal with tricky zippers snagging at the worst times.
You’re not going to find a sleeping bag like the Sierra Designs Cloud anywhere else. With a unique, zipperless design, it’s a surprisingly sophisticated way to create an opening into the sleeping bag. If you’re like me, you probably get pretty twisted up inside your sleeping bag after a night of tossing and turning. From there, it’s hard to get unzipped to answer nature’s call, but that won’t be a problem with the Cloud.
Instead of the traditional zippered design, the Cloud wraps around you like a robe. You might think that this leaves room for heat to escape, and that’s true to an extent, but it still performs a lot better in cold temperatures than you might expect. The 800 fill down traps heat and pushes the tested limit to 15 degrees, which is quite impressive. And not only does the down provide a great deal of warmth, but the high loft creates a comfortable place to sleep as well.
Weighing just under 2 pounds, this sleeping bag truly is light as a cloud. Despite the lightweight properties of down, I still find it a little surprising that such a large, well-insulated sleeping bag weighs as little as this one does. Sure, the down insulation likes to shift around a bit, but you’d expect there to be a higher tradeoff than that. On top of that, it’s also one of the least expensive products in this review, making it perfect for those of you on a budget. Whether you’re a veteran or a beginner, the Sierra Designs Cloud is a unique option for big guys and little guys alike.
Pros:
– Lightweight
– Zipperless
– Comfortable
– Very warm
– High loft
– Adjustable foot vent
Cons:
– The down likes to shift around a bit
Best Bedroll
A large bedroll that can fit your sleeping pad and other gear, the Born Outdoor Badger bed is ideal for car campers who want something that feels more like home.
More a bedroll than a sleeping bag, the Born Outdoor Badger bed is truly one of a kind. Designed with a shoulder and hip girth of 85 inches, you’ll never have to worry about having enough space inside your sleep system ever again.
The reason why the Badger bed is so large is because it was designed to house a sleeping pad (or mattress), bed sheets, and a quilt. It’s worth noting that none of these things are included, so you’ll have to purchase them separately. However, once you have all the additional items needed to transform your bedroll into a proper sleeping system, the Badger bed can perfectly accommodate them.
There are small walls all around the edge of the bedroll, providing structure and support for your pad and other gear. In addition to that, there are elastic straps that secure your sleep system to a mattress, allowing you to create a bed that rivals the one you have at home.
While it is a bit costly, the quality of the Badger bed is more than worth the price. While you can technically use it anywhere (other than backpacking, considering the weight), I find that tossing it into your truck bed is one of the best ways to use it. When paired with a proper truck tent, I can’t think of a more luxurious way to enjoy the outdoors without going to an actual glampsite.
Pros:
– Very comfortable
– Large and spacious
– Straps keep it secure when rolled
– Generous number of pockets
– Durable and flexible
– Quality zippers
Cons:
– Price
– Weight
Best Sleeping Bags for Big Guys – Buyer’s Guide
When choosing the best sleeping bag for a big there, there are a few things that you’re going to want to look for.
Mummy vs. Rectangular
While semi-rectangular sleeping bags do exist, your choice in shape usually comes down to mummy vs rectangular. Each have their pros and cons, which we’ll talk about, but you’d be correct in guessing that rectangular sleeping bags are best for big guys. Mummy bags are just smaller and tighter, but there are still some that can get the job done nicely.
Generally speaking, as a big guy, you would only use a mummy sleeping bag when you’re backpacking, since they excel at weight reduction, insulation, and compressibility. However, it’s not like they can’t be used for car camping as well – they just might not be as comfortable as rectangular bags.
And comfort is exactly what rectangular bags excel at. They’re large, they’re bulky, but they are feel good to sleep in. You’ll have enough room to roll onto your side, lift your knees up, and get into whatever positions feels best to sleep in. It’s very difficult to backpack with them, barring a few exceptions, but they tend to be the perfect choice for car camping.
Fill
Just like the shape of a sleeping bag, you really only have two options when it comes to the fill as well. Down and synthetic fills dominate the market at the moment, acting as perfect counterparts to each other.
For example, synthetics are cheap, easy to make, and continue to insulate when wet. This makes them ideal for mild and warm weather car camping, where you don’t have to worry about freezing temperatures or long hikes.
On the other hand, down is lightweight, highly compressible, and incredibly warm. It’s the superior option any way you look at it, but that does mean you’ll pay more for a bag that’s stuffed with it. There’s also the matter of down losing its insulative properties when wet, but that’s gradually becoming less of a problem with the introduction of water-resistant down.
Temperature Rating
Every sleeping bag has a temperature rating, which is a number that indicates the lowest temperature a user will be comfortable without needing to curl into a ball for warmth. For men, this number is called the “tested lower limit,” and for women, it’s referred to as the “tested comfort rating.” Both mean the same thing, except one is for men and the other is for women.
It’s worth noting that a sleeping bag rated for 30 degrees still isn’t going to feel great to sleep in when it’s 30 degrees out. You might not feel like turning into an ice block, but you’re also not going to feel “great” either. Always make sure the sleeping bag is rated for temperatures at least 5-10 degrees colder than the actual air temperature. Otherwise, make sure you have a decent sleeping bag liner and some thermals to wear to bed, unless you relish the idea of a sleepless night.
Weight
Depending on the type that you get, a sleeping bag can be one of the heaviest pieces of camping gear in your collection. For car campers, this won’t be a big problem, since you won’t be transporting your gear long distances. However, when backpacking, there are few things more important to consider than the weight of your belongings.
For the most part, the products in this review fall within a reasonable weight range, though only some of the mummy bags are light enough for backpacking. The Big Agnes Torchlight, for example, would be a good option for anyone who wants to hit the trails for a few nights, but didn’t want to compromise on the size and effectiveness of the bag.
Length and Girth
And of course, we can’t talk about the best sleeping bags for big guys without mentioning length and girth. All of the sleeping bags in this review are long enough to accommodate men who are 6 feet tall, and a few can hold guys who are even taller.
In terms of girth, we’ve made sure that the bags measure at least 50 inches, though most are in excess of 60 inches. That’s 5 feet of circumference for you to spread out in, which should be more than enough space for even the biggest of guys.
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FAQ
What is the Best Backpacking Sleeping Bag for Big Guys?
For backpacking, you’re going to want a mummy bag, which is why we recommend the Sierra Designs Cloud for big guys who want to go trekking.
What is the Most Affordable Sleeping Bag for Big Guys?
The most affordable sleeping bag for big guys in our review is the Big Agnes Echo Park.
What Size Sleeping Bag Do I Need?
The majority of sleeping bags come in a “regular” size, which is suitable for people up to 6 feet tall. If you exceed that height, you’re going to want to get a bag specifically marketed as “tall” or “long.”
Final Thoughts
Your sleeping bag will make or break your camping trip, so it’s one of those items where I always recommend choosing quality when you can afford it. And if you’re a big guy who wants something comfortable to sleep in while remaining lightweight and compact enough to shove in a backpack, you’re going to have to go the extra mile.
And that’s exactly why the Big Agnes Torchlight is the best sleeping bag for big guys. With its expandable circumference, superior insulation, and lightweight design, there’s really no way to beat it. And despite all the cool features you get with it, the Torchlight is still a very reasonable price, even for campers on a budget.
