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Sleeping Bag: REI Co-op Trailbreak 20 ($109)

A sleeping bag decision should start with insulation type: synthetic or down. If you want to stick to a tight budget—something many first-timers are aiming to do—synthetic is the way to go. REI’s polyester-filled Trailbreak 20 is nicely equipped for most 3-season adventures with a “Comfort” rating of 29 degrees (a less warm Trailbreak 30 is also available), smooth interior with an adjustable mummy hood, and an included compression sack. What you compromise with this fill type is weight and packability. At nearly 3.5 pounds, the Trailbreak is more than a pound heavier than many down alternatives, and it can be challenging squeezing it into a backpacking pack.


If you’re looking for a longer-term investment or want to keep weight down, Kelty’s Cosmic Down 20 may be worth the extra money. For about $60 more, you get 550-fill-power down in place of synthetic, a similar temperature rating as the Trailbreak, and a drop in weight of almost a pound. The Cosmic will also compress much smaller, fitting pretty easily into the bottom of most overnight packs.

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