There are two different shapes when it comes to sleeping bags, those being mummy shaped and rectangular. There are also plenty of sleeping bags that exist somewhere in between those two extremes. Mummy sleeping bags eliminate excess space inside the sleeping bag, which makes them more efficient, both in terms of heat and also weight. But a rectangular down sleeping bag, for example, might be a better choice if you like to move around a lot when you sleep, but still want to save on weight and bulk.
Rectangular Down Sleeping Bag
What to look for when you want a rectangular down sleeping bag.- Down Quality – You wont find too many rectangular sleeping bags with high quality down, most manufacturers reserve the good stuff for their mummy shaped sleeping bags. But better quality down will help cut down on weight and bulk, which you will likely want to do if you’re buying a rectangular sleeping bag.
- Hood – Many rectangular sleeping bags are built with car campers and the like in mind, and don’t come with hoods. But if you’re going to be doing anything more than car camping you will likely want a hood on your sleeping bag. You will also likely want a drawcord for the hood and the neck area, to trap warm air inside.
Best Rectangular Down Sleeping Bag
Some of the very best rectangular down sleeping bags.- Kelty Galactic - If you're looking for just a basic rectangular down sleeping bag, the Galactic makes a good choice. It uses 600 fill down, which is not especially high quality, and is truly rectangular, rather than being semi-rectangular. It also doesn't have a hood, but with a temperature rating of 30 degrees you're not likely to be out in the kind of weather that requires a hood. But at 2 pounds 14 ounces, or 1.3 kilograms it's not the heaviest rectangular sleeping bag ever, and the low price is definitely a bonus.
- Exped DreamWalker - The DreamWalker is something a little different. It uses 750 fill down, and is good down to 20 degrees. But what makes it special is that when you wake up you can open up slots in the sides and the bottom so that your legs and arms can poke out, so that you can stay warm while making breakfast and a morning coffee. It has a hood as well, which is definitely a must for the 20 degree mark, and weighs 39 ounces, or 1.1 kilograms.
- Big Agnes Blackburn SL - The Blackburn is a great semi-rectangular sleeping bag, which means that it's somewhere in between mummy and rectangular. It's good all the way down to 0 degrees, and uses high quality 800 fill down to help save on weight and bulk. It has a hood, of course, and other cold weather features like a draft collar that will ensure that you stay warm. It even has a water repellent treatment so that you don't have to worry about the down getting wet from a little moisture. And at 2 pounds 13 ounces, or 1.27 kilograms it is a respectable enough weight for being a semi-rectangular down sleeping bag.
