Sleep is essential for humans to function efficiently. Investing in the best survival sleeping gear on the market for your bug out bag could make all the difference to your mental and physical state in an emergency.
Buying poor quality or badly designed survival sleeping gear could lead to you becoming dangerously cold in the night or finding yourself unable to get valuable rest.
Having a reliable sleeping bag allows preppers to stay comfortable, warm and safe throughout the night. This enables you to think more clearly the next day and for your body to take on whatever physical exertion is required.
Concise Buyers Guide:
Weight and Size
You need to strike a balance between a sleeping bag that offers warmth and comfort, yet doesn’t weigh too much to carry as part of your bug out bag or get home bag. The best size for your sleeping bag will depend on your stature and there are lots of designs for taller adults.
What Will You Be Using it For?
You might be planning to use your survival sleeping gear for camping and expeditions on a regular basis, or perhaps you’re just planning to keep an emergency sleeping bag in your car for emergencies.
Temperature Rating
Consider where you’ll be using your survival sleeping gear and what temperatures generally fall to overnight – remember this can vary dramatically from during the day.
Filling
Consider the filling of your survival sleeping bag carefully – this will determine the level of warmth and comfort you can expect.
Insulation
If you’re prepping survival sleeping gear for cold conditions, insulation will be essential. There are lots of innovative insulation options on the market.
Let’s jump into finding out the best sleeping bags on the market to keep you warm and comfortable whatever the situation:
1. LONDTREN Large Sleeping Bag for 0 Degrees
This spacious sleeping bag is perfect for larger adults and offers a comfortable flannel lining. Ideally suited to situations such as sleeping in a vehicle and for keeping in a bug out bag, it is soft but durable.
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Weight | 7.1lbs | |
Temperature Rating | 0℉-15℉ | |
Waterproof? | No | |
Filling type | Polyester | |
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2. Tough emergency blankets
These blankets are an essential for your bug out bag or get home bag- durable, ultra light and easy to fold away. They are made from NASA-designed mylar, which is waterproof and reflective.
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Weight | 2.5oz | |
Temperature Rating | 0℉ | |
Waterproof? | Yes | |
Filling type | Thermal Mylar | |
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3. Go Time Gear Thermal Bivvy
Designed for extreme conditions, this emergency sleeping bag is multi-functional. It can be turned into either a survival shelter or emergency bivvy sack – making it a great option for preppers putting together a bug out bag.
It is extremely durable with extra thick material making it tear and puncture resistant – useful on uneven ground.
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Weight | 4.1oz | |
Temperature Rating | 14℉ | |
Waterproof? | No | |
Filling type | Polyester | |
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4. Farland Sleeping Bag
This sleeping bag comes with an easy to use compression sack so you can quickly fold it away at any point. You can also zip two of these bags together to create extra space for you or a partner in cold conditions.
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Weight | 4.5lbs | |
Temperature Rating | 20℉ | |
Waterproof? | No | |
Filling type | Polyester | |
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5. Elite Survival Sleeping Bag
Used by US military forces in Afghanistan, this is a tried and tested survival sleeping gear. The compression sack provides a waterproof outer coating, and makes it easy to pack the sleeping bag into a backpack or bug out bag.
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Weight | 3lbs | |
Temperature Rating | -23℉ | |
Waterproof? | No | |
Filling type | Nylon | |
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6. Emergency Sleeping Bag
This is an extremely versatile item for preppers wanting to be ready for any emergency. It provides protection from all weather conditions and can be used as a signal if you’re in distress due to its bright orange color.
Keep it in your bug out bag or get home bag- and you can also use it as a sleeping bag liner if temperatures drop.
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Weight | 4 oz | |
Temperature Rating | Any | |
Waterproof? | Yes | |
Filling type | Nylon | |
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7. Minus 30 rated Sleeping Bag
This is the bag you really want when you find yourself in freezing temperatures. It offers all the warmth of a mummy bag, with the comfort of a rectangular design. The two layer offset design helps to eliminate cold spots and keep your body temperature constant.
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Weight | 12.8lbs | |
Temperature Rating | -22℉ | |
Waterproof? | No | |
Filling type | Polyester | |
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Comparison Table
LONDTREN Large Sleeping Bag for 0 Degrees | Tough Emergency Blankets | Go Time Gear Thermal Bivvy | Farland Sleeping Bag | Elite Survival Sleeping Bag | Emergency Sleeping Bag   | Minus 30 rated Sleeping Bag | |
Weight | 7.1lbs | 2.5oz | 4.1oz | 4.5lbs | 3lbs | 4 oz | 12.8lbs |
Temperature Rating | 0℉-15℉ | 0℉ | 14℉ | 20℉ | -23℉ | Any | -22℉ |
Waterproof? | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Filling type | Polyester | Thermal Mylar | Polyester | Polyester | Nylon | Nylon | Polyester |
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In Depth Buyers Guide
Temperature Rating
Most manufacturers of survival sleeping gear will give a Comfort Range temperature rating for their product as well as a rating for what it can be used for during an emergency.
Remember that both of these temperature ratings are estimates so it’s good to try and get word of mouth recommendations or try out other preppers bags in advance before buying your own.
The temperature rating that you need will be determined by where you’re likely to be using your survival sleeping gear and what the climate is like there. Remember that overnight temperatures are often much lower than daytime, especially in places such as the desert.
It’s useful to think about your individual needs such as your general health and circulation, and whether you feel the cold easily. Some people are much more prone to getting cold hands and feet than others.
Weight and Size
Survival sleeping bags come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes. You’ll want to find the right balance between having a comfortable and spacious sleeping bag that still fits snugly enough to keep you warm.
You also don’t want bulky survival sleeping gear that is difficult to pack and fold away. Many bags come with compression sacks for easier storage. You can also buy compression sacks separately if you want a different model, color or fabric than the one provided with your sleeping bag.
When finding the right sleeping bag for you, always consider:
- Your size – Often women can use smaller, lighter sleeping bags designed for teens which helps to save on weight if you will be carrying it in a heavy backpack or bug out bag.
- Whether you can find a model that is available in different sizes to make sure it’s not too spacious and not too snug.
- The purpose of Sleeping Bag – Whether you’ll be prepping to carry your survival sleeping gear on an expedition or hiking trips, or whether you simply want it to keep in your truck or vehicle.
Filling
Most of the warmest survival sleeping gear uses down as the fill material. Down is incredibly insulating and it’s warmth to weight ratio is excellent. For its weight, down is the warmest insulating option available when it comes to survival sleeping gear.
The biggest drawback with down however is that it only really suits dry, cold conditions and can take a long time to dry if it gets wet. Instead of down, you might consider synthetic fillings such as polyester as these are much quicker to dry and still offer a good level of warmth.
Cost
There’s a huge range in the pricing of survival sleeping gear from just $20 for an emergency sleeping bag, to hundreds of dollars for top of the range models on the market.
You need to determine how often you’ll be using your survival sleeping gear and in what type of conditions you’re most likely to use it. Plan the amount you can afford to spend on your survival sleeping gear so that you know what is the best sleeping bag you can get within your budget. If it’s simply to keep in your bug out bag to provide you with warmth for a few hours whilst you wait for help, you won’t spend as much as compared to if you’re looking for a long term solution for expeditions and hiking adventures.
Can you get double sleeping bags for sharing?
Yes, there are lots of double sleeping bags available for sharing and sleeping next to someone can be a good way to maximize body heat and keep warm.
You’ll need to consider the weight and size of these double sleeping bags as they often tend to be more bulky. Try to keep in mind that these are better suited to sleeping in a vehicle or your home basement in an emergency, rather than in the outdoors or on an expedition.
Another useful option can be zipping two sleeping bags together – this means that you can still share the weight of them during the day but zip them together at night for extra warmth.
Should you own different types of sleeping bags?
Whether you’re prepping for doomsday or want an emergency sleeping bag for extreme conditions, there are many different types of sleeping bags out there on the market.
Lots of preppers make the decision to own two different types of survival sleeping gear to suit the different roles they may be used for.
If you’re serious about survival sleeping gear, you may want to invest in a strong and sturdy model like the Minus 30 rated Sleeping Bag providing maximum warmth and comfort.
You might also want to consider keeping an emergency backup such as an Emergency Sleeping Bag or some Tough emergency blankets in your vehicle or within your bug out bag or Get Home Bag.
How long should you expect a sleeping bag to last for?
This varies depending on many factors including:
- The quality of the survival sleeping bag you buy
- The number of times you use your sleeping bag
- Whether you maintain your survival sleeping bag well (eg: drying it properly)
- The conditions your survival sleeping bag is exposed to
Many survival sleeping bags come with a warranty so always check this if yours becomes damaged. Good quality survival sleeping gear that is well maintained can last a lifetime.
Conclusion:
It’s clear that you should spend time finding the right sleeping bag for you so that you can ensure you’re able to get rest in an emergency situation.
We hope you’ve got a clear idea about the different options on the market and what the best survival sleeping gear is for you.
Here’s a round up of our top options:
