If you’re someone who is always cold, spend a lot of time in cold climates, or camp during the winter, your life is about to be changed by a wearable sleeping bag.
Wearable sleeping bags are basically down or synthetic insulated suits. They’re designed to be slept in, but they’re so much more versatile than a normal sleeping bag where your legs are connected and you can’t do much when you’re in it. Wearable sleeping bags typically have separate legs and arms, which allow you to move around as normal while in your sleeping bag. A wearable sleeping bag may also be your solution to many thermostat-related arguments if your family hates to turn on the heater in the winter.
Here at Gear Hungry, we were blown away to discover how much more comfortable winter camping is when you can cover yourself head to toe in insulation. While this probably won’t become your only sleeping bag, once you try a sleeping bag you can walk in, you won’t want to go back to camping or living without one. Stay warm all winter long with this guide to the best wearable sleeping bags.
- Editor’s Pick: Selk’Bag Nomad Wearable Sleeping Bag
- Best Wearable Sleeping Bag With Legs: Selk’bag Original Wearable Sleeping Bag
- Great Wet Weather Performance: SITKA Gear Sleeping Bag Kelvin Aerolite 30
- Coziest Wearable Sleeping Bag: Poler Shaggy Napsack
- Best Sleeping Bag with Arm Holes: Poler The Reversible Napsack
- Budget Pick: VINSONMASSIF Wearable Sleeping Bag
- Best Lightweight Wearable Sleeping Bag: hygger – Original Sleeping Bag with Arms and Legs
- Best Poncho Blanket: Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho Wearable Hoodie Blanket
The Best Wearable Sleeping Bag
1Selk’Bag Nomad Wearable Sleeping Bag
The Nomad is Selk’bag’s warmest sleeping bag suit for adults, and we highly recommend it for your next camping trip. The Nomad features post-consumer recycled Primaloft Black synthetic insulation for staying warm. Plus, the new seamless baffles keep insulation from getting bunched up in one area and minimize cold spots. The hood cinches closed for sleeping or when the temperatures drop, and a hidden balaclava is located at the back of the hood for extra warmth. An insulated kangaroo pouch and several pockets hold necessities and keep hands warm. The whole thing zips through the chest area for easy on and off.
The Nomad has zip-off booties, which you can remove for wearing with shoes, or zip them on if you plan to sleep in it. Elastic hand closures slip over your hands, or you can roll them back when you need to use your hands. The only thing Selk’bag is missing is some way to use the bathroom as a woman without having to take the whole thing off! The whole full-body sleeping suit packs into the included compression sack for easy transport. Our 5’7 tester uses a size large, but the sizing is difficult to figure out.
Primaloft Black insulation
35-degree Fahrenheit rating
Removable booties
Adjustable hood
Compression sack included
- BrandSelk’bag
- Weight3.74 Pounds
Warmest Selk’bag model
Easy to move in
No way to pee as a woman
Sizing is strange
2Selk’bag Original Wearable Sleeping Bag
Cozy, lightweight and versatile, the Selk’bag Original sleeping bag jumpsuit has a place in any outdoor lover’s gear closet. Wear it around the campfire, in the snow, or in your tent. Now made out of 100% recycled materials, your Selk’bag Original contains ~153 repurposed water bottles. The polyester shell material is super soft to the touch, and the hollow fiber insulation mimics down to provide a warm and comfortable lounging experience.
The hood cinches down for warmth, and a balaclava is tucked at the back of the hood for windy or extra-cold conditions. Zip off the removable booties to wear with shoes or zip them on for sleeping. The elastic hand closures slip over your hands for warmth or roll them back to use your hands. This wearable two-legged sleeping bag is a perfect outer layer in cold temps. Throw it on after an adventure in the great outdoors when the sun starts to set.
100% recycled materials
40 degrees Fahrenheit rating
Removable booties
Machine washable
Leg vents
- BrandSelk’bag
- ModelSBOR6
- Weight3.4 Pounds
Comfortable for sleeping to 44 degrees
Great for cool nights
Strange sizing
3SITKA Gear Sleeping Bag Kelvin Aerolite 30
The SITKA Kelvin Aerolite is a truly rough-and-tumble piece of gear. This bag features a 20-denier polyester face fabric and backer for durability whether you’re camping, hunting, or fishing. The lightweight synthetic PrimaLoft Gold insulation offers similar properties to down insulation but can still perform when wet, which is a nice perk if you live somewhere like me where rain is a common occurrence. The exterior of the bag also features a DWR coating for extra water resistance.
The contoured shoulders are nice and fit both me and my partner with ease, although we had to help each other pin up the back of the bag if we wanted to walk around with it. Despite this being a wearable bag, it still comes with a 30-degree rating, which is mighty impressive!
Contoured shoulders
30-degree Fahrenheit rating
Back of bag can be secured so you can walk around easily
Two-way zippers
Synthetic PrimaLoft Gold insulation
- BrandSITKA
- Model40086-PB
- Weight1 Pound
Excellent performance when wet
Great performance in cold weather for a wearable bag
Mummy shape to trap heat
You will likely need assistance to pin up the back of the bag to walk around
4Poler Shaggy Napsack
If you’re looking for a sleeping bag with hood and arm holes, Poler Shaggy is a great option. Unlike most of the other options on this list, instead of the nylon lining of the average sleeping bag, the Shaggy is lined with plush sherpa fleece. The soft lining adds warmth and comfort for those chilly nights. When you’re ready to relax at the end of a long day, slip it on, cinch the waist strap, and you have a warm, comfortable jacket.
When the fire goes out but you want to stay up and stargaze, undo the cinch and extend the bag down over your legs. When it’s time to turn in, zip up the arm holes and cinch the bottom around your feet to keep that nice warm air inside. There’s a chest front pocket for your phone and side pockets to keep your hands warm when you’re wearing it as a jacket. This is a great three-season sleeping bag for the outdoors or a cozy necessity for home.
3 season versatility
Rated to 40 degrees Fahrenheit
Comfortable faux fur lining
Drawstring hood keeps the warmth inside
Easy on easy off half zip design
- BrandPoler
- Model634022
- Weight3.73 Pounds
Soft sherpa fleece lining
Versatile design
Not machine washable
5Poler The Reversible Napsack
One of the original wearable sleeping bags, the Poler Napsack is a sleeping bag that has arm holes and a cinch at the bottom to leave open and walk around or cinch up for sleeping. The cinch allows you to hike it up to your waist and wear it more like a puffy jacket, and fold the excess material over.
The soft, ripstop nylon material is filled with Thermastuff insulation. Designed for sleeping in temperatures down to 50 degrees, this is a great summer sleeping bag, or layer for hanging out outside while camping during the fall and winter. Handwarmer pockets and an accessory pocket allow you to stash any gear while you’re hanging out or sleeping. A stuff sack holds the Napsack while in storage or for transport.
Fully reversible design
Rated to 50 degrees
Two armhole zippers
One zipper at the bottom
- BrandPoler
- Weight2.5 Pounds
Cozy
Versatile
No sleeves
Not as mobile as full suits
6VINSONMASSIF Wearable Sleeping Bag
With a similar style to the Poler Napsack, this walkable sleeping bag from VINSONMASSIF features two side zippers to let your arms out when you’re not sleeping. The bottom uses a cinch to pull tight when you’re going to bed, or open up to walk around. Take it into the great outdoors and wear it around a campfire, or use it to stay warm during chilly fall soccer games.
Stuffed with polyester insulation and a cotton lining, this wearable sleeping bag is advertised to have a waterproof exterior. Some reviewers have issues with weird proportions — wide across the shoulders and tight around the hips, which might make it awkward to move in. But if you’re looking for something to wear as a full-body layer to stay warm without moving around much, this is a great option.
Temperature rating from 41-68 degrees
Lightweight and easy to carry
Polyester fill material
- BrandVINSONMASSIF
- Weight2.31 Pounds
Warm and cozy
Full body coverage
Strange proportions
Not very durable seams
7hygger – Original Sleeping Bag with Arms and Legs
“Hygge” is a Scandinavian term describing a feeling of coziness and comfort. The Hygger wearable sleeping bag allows you to achieve that ultimate feeling of coziness, with your whole body surrounded by Thinsulate insulation. The two-way zipper up the front is easy to get in and out of and allows access to pockets and zippers when unzipped from the bottom.
The Hygger wearable sleeping bag uses a soft micro nylon exterior and two layers of 3M Thinsulate insulation for breathable warmth. The removable booties feature non-slip soles for use around the house or in the tent, or you can take them off to use with your own shoes. When it’s really cold, cinch the hood tight for full protection. Zip your hands inside when you’re going to bed, or unzip to allow for full mobility.
Zip-off booties
45 degrees Fahrenheit rating
2 layers 3M Thinsulate insulation
Central two-way zipper
Zippered hand openings
- Brandhygger
- Model4260149883360
- Weight2.75 Pounds
Tall sizing available
Warm but not too hot
Straight sizing makes it harder for women to wear
No external pockets
8Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho Wearable Hoodie Blanket
If you’re not looking for body-shaped sleeping bags but you want something versatile that you can wear and use while sleeping, this wearable sleeping bag poncho from Therm-a-Rest is a great option. This poncho lies flat to become an insulated blanket for use while picnicking, at sports games, in a tent, or while car camping. But when not in use as a blanket, it’s easy to throw over all other layers to bring a whole new level of warmth.
It is filled with compressible eraLoft insulation that mimics down by using hollow fibers to reduce weight while not compromising warmth. The exterior material is wind and water-resistant while still being breathable. And a kangaroo pouch keeps your hands warm with the zippered drop-in pocket doubles as a storage sack for the whole poncho.
Poncho doubles as a blanket
Packs into a storage pocket
Wind and water resistant
EraLoft insulation
- BrandTherm-a-Rest
- Model11417
- Weight1.45 Pounds
Warm
Lightweight (1.5 Pounds)
Fit isn’t an issue because it’s designed to be baggy
Can feel too baggy for some
Why Trust Us
Our testers spend a lot of time camping in cold weather, and it wasn't until the discovery of the wearable sleeping bag that winter camping got a lot more enjoyable. While car camping, it's easy to bring everything you need, but it's still a choice what gets to take up space. Wearable sleeping bags are something we now pack on every camping trip, even if it doesn't seem like it will get that cold. For our female testers, this has been a game changer for feeling comfortable and being able to stay up late at night in the cold, even without a campfire.
Who This Is For
Our guide to the best wearable sleeping bags is for anyone who is always cold. Whether you spend a lot of time outside in the winter, or late at night in the summer, or you're always at your kids' sports games in the chilly fall or spring seasons, your life will forever be changed by one of these sleeping bag onesies. It's like a blanket, but you don't have to take it off when you're moving around.
How We Picked
Wearable sleeping bags with arms and legs are still a pretty new genre of gear. So we researched all the different options and ended up reviewing most of the current best wearable sleeping bags on the market. Three of the most reliable brands for wearable sleeping bags are Selk'bag, Hygger, and Poler, so we made sure to include a few of their offerings. We also found other well-reviewed sleep bags with legs and armholes to add in and test out.
How We Tested
Over the past year, we have worn wearable sleeping bags while camping in the San Juan mountains above 12,000 feet, in the Utah desert, and while road-tripping across the west. We pulled them out when it was too dry to have a fire but still cold enough to not want to be outside at night. We've tested out how to store them and all the different features, from balaclavas to pockets to zippers.
Features To Look For In Wearable Sleeping Bags
While selecting the right wearable sleeping bag isn't like choosing a regular sleeping bag, many of the same considerations apply including temperature rating, size, comfort, durability, waterproofing, and weight. The one area where wearable bag considerations will diverge significantly from your average sleeping bag is mobility. Here's a quick rundown of the various considerations.
Temperature rating - Because of their design, wearable sleeping bags are never going to be as warm as normal sleeping bags. That's because when you add zippers, sleeves, and legs for mobility, heat is lost. Almost all are 2/3-season bags and most have an effective rating of around 40-60 Fahrenheit. In general though, these are recreational bags and should be thought of that way. For extreme mountaineering, you'll want something more traditional.
Size - When it comes to wearable sleeping bags, sizing is slightly different compared to traditional bags. You'll want one big enough to accommodate you comfortably from head to toe when you're in the bag. However, you don't want the bag to be so big you're flopping around inside or so small you feel the hood and crotch irritating you when you're trying to sleep. Keep in mind too that size can differ from manufacturer to manufacturer so it might be worth your while to peruse customer comments to see what different people say about the sizing of a particular bag.
Comfort - Making sure you buy the right size bag is vital to ensuring comfort. But there are other things to look for as well. Are there detachable booties so you can wear your own shoes? Are there draft tubes that minimize air infiltration? Are the zippers two-way and do they seal effectively, or are they drafty? Can you get your arms in and out of the bag easily? Is the shell at least water-resistant even if it's not entirely waterproof? Is the bag comfortable when you're sitting? What about when you're walking?
Weight - When you're heading into the wilderness on foot you need to be aware of every ounce you're going to carry on your back. So, while most of these aren't designed for backpacking, if you intend to carry a wearable sleeping bag in your backpack for a long hiking trip or hunting expedition you're going to want the lightest bag you can find that will also meet your temperature requirements. If you're like most people, however, your wearable bag is never going to leave the roadside campground or state park. As such the weight of the bag is not really a primary consideration. The same goes for compression as well. If you're taking the bag on a trek you'll want to be sure it stuffs down into a tight little bundle. If you're not going to do serious hiking with it how big or small the stuff sack is doesn't matter all that much, although it might be a consideration for storage.
Mobility - This is the one area where the wearable bag is unique. You buy a bag like this specifically because it will allow you to move around at the campsite while you're wearing it. Therefore you don't want one that's going to inhibit your movements. Standing, walking, and sitting should be hassle-free experiences. If the bag is going to restrict your movements it's more than a little self-defeating.
Wearable Sleeping Bag FAQ
Q: How is a wearable sleeping bag different from a snowsuit?
A: Snowsuits are designed to be used in the snow — they're fully waterproof and generally tight-fitting. A wearable sleeping bag with arms is not designed for use during activities, it's mostly aimed toward relaxing. While some of the products on this list, like the Selk'bag and Hygger wearable sleeping bags, might be able to be used for light snow activities, they're more oversized than your average snowsuit. Wearable sleeping bags are loose-fitting with plenty of room for moving around. They feature the ability to close off hands, feet, and head from the elements for sleeping. They're designed to be both a cozy place to fall asleep and a warm and mobile thing to wear around camp.
Q: Why are wearable sleeping bags a good choice for you?
A: A wearable standing sleeping bag like this is designed to improve your camping experiences. The concept and design are based on years of input from ordinary campers who have stated over and over again what a drag it is to have to leave the comfort of the sleeping bag behind to make a trip to the outhouse or to sit around the fire in the evening and enjoy a cup of tea. At the end of the day, it's all about versatility so the wearable sleeping bag is a part coat, part sleeping bag. It's never going to be as good at either of those things as a dedicated sleeping bag or insulated jacket. But it does a good job of being a unique piece of gear that will drastically improve your life if you're always cold.
Q: Are wearable sleeping bags machine washable?
A: Most of the wearable sleeping bags on this list are machine washable. But just because some can be washed in the machine doesn't mean they should be washed in the machine after every use. In general, even if you use the bag regularly, you shouldn't wash it more than once a year. If you do, your insulation will lose loft and be rendered fairly useless. If you are not sold on the idea of washing your wearable bag yourself, there are a number of bag cleaning services available that will clean your bag for you. Check with the manufacturer before cleaning any wearable sleeping bag.
Sources:
- Sleeping Bag Care - REI Co-Op
