Gearnalysis

Best Down Sleeping Bags

Best Down Sleeping Bags
Preset Algorithm Ranking

Down bags and quilts only, ranked where down’s advantage actually shows: warmth-to-weight, weight, packed size, and fill power, all from published specs.

Top 3 picksDown, ranked by GearScore. Updates live as you tune the algorithm or filter.

Sleeping Bags | Gear Matrix

Algorithm Default Sorted by
Best for
ProductGearScore (Down)StyleFillComfortWeightW/wt$ / warmPackedFill PwrPriceRatingBuy

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Scatter plot

Plot any spec against any other to see the tradeoffs. Point color is the GearScore; size and shape are yours to assign. Hover any point for the details.

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The full picture

Down is the warmth-to-weight champion. Its clusters loft more air per gram than any synthetic, so a down bag hits a given rating at a lower weight and packs smaller, which is the reason it dominates ultralight and cold-weather ranking. This list filters to down fill and then rewards exactly those strengths.

Fill power is the number to understand. It measures loft (cu in / oz), and higher fill power (850 to 950FP) means more warmth per gram and a smaller packed size, at a higher price. The ranking counts fill power, but warmth-to-weight is what ties it to real-world performance. A 950FP bag with a skimpy fill weight isn’t automatically warmer than a well-filled 850FP bag.

Down has two trade-offs, cost and moisture. It’s pricier than synthetic and loses loft if it gets soaked. Most modern down is treated to resist moisture (hydrophobic down), noted in the features, which helps but is no substitute for keeping it dry. If your trips are persistently wet, weigh the Synthetic ranking against this one.

Common questions

What fill power should I look for?

Higher fill power lofts more warmth per gram. 800 to 850FP is excellent all-round, and 900 to 950FP is premium ultralight territory at a higher price. Fill power alone doesn’t set warmth, though. The amount of down (fill weight) matters too, which is why we rank on warmth-to-weight rather than fill power on its own.

Is down worth the extra cost over synthetic?

If weight and packed size matter to you, usually yes. Down’s warmth-to-weight and compressibility are unmatched, and a quality down bag lasts many years. If you camp in constant wet or want the lowest price, synthetic makes a strong case.

Does down still work when wet?

Wet down loses loft and therefore warmth, which is its main weakness. Hydrophobic-down treatments (noted in the features) slow moisture absorption and help it dry faster, but the real fix is a dry bag, a good shelter, and a moisture-resistant shell. Keep down dry and it outperforms.

Down bag or down quilt?

A quilt saves weight and packs smaller for warm to cool conditions, while a bag’s hood and enclosure suit colder trips and cold sleepers. Both appear in this ranking, so use the Style filter to see quilts only, or compare them head to head.

Bang for Your Buck

Dollars per point of GearScore. The lower the number, the more quality you get for your money. Each bar carries both metrics at once: a solid bar for the highlighted one over a faded ghost of the other. Sorted to the best value first, and always scored by the algorithm you've set above.

Value Index ($/point, longer bar = better value) GearScore (0 to 100, red→green) solid bar = highlighted · faded bar = comparison · hover a row for the numbers

GearScore Algorithm

A GearScore ranks products on objective, published specs only, never opinions. It starts on a pre-tuned default; make it yours below, or pick a "Best for" preset up top.

Customize your algorithm

Answer a few quick questions, or grab the sliders yourself. Nothing changes the ranking until you apply it. Then everything re-sorts.