Backpacking with the Family: Four-Man Tent Review

If your family is gearing up to go camping with kids this summer, finding the right kids sleeping bags will help your whole family sleep soundly. As we mentioned in our last gear review on double sleeping bags, sleep is a critical component for a good day on the trail. Whether you are headed to a campsite or the backcountry, a good sleeping bag can help little ones stay warm and cozy all night. To help you find the right one, our families tested out four different kids sleeping bags. Here's what we found. Sized to Fit Nemo Equipment Punk Kids Sleeping Bag Pros: Snuggly feeling, temperature rated to 20°F, adjustable size [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="935243,935242"] Review and photos by Jessica Featherstone. My three year old, Sky, and I headed out on a cold night in Wisconsin to test out the Punk sleeping bag ($99.95). To be honest, I was a bit worried as Sky normally crawls into bed to sleep with me and it was supposed to be 28°F at the lowest point. Sky enjoyed this sleeping bag so much she stayed in it the whole time and about an hour after she woke up in the morning. I enjoyed the fact that the sleeping bag stayed put even though she normally rolls around all night. (Thanks, pad sleeve!) When Sky did wake up and want to be soothed in the night, I was concerned about her getting cold. The Punk has a zipper that opens both ways so I can sneak my hand in for late night hand holding without exposing her to the cold. The cinch was another big feature for us. I was able to cinch the bag and stuff the excess fabric back into the bag. Sky is a 2T right now so she doesn't fit the whole bag, but that's not a big deal with their cinch system that allows the bag to be three sizes. Nemo recommends this sleeping bag for ages 4-8 and Sky is right at the threshold at 3.5 years of age. With the cinch system, I know she can use this bag for years to come. Sky loved the soft opening with their FuzzTech fleece fabric and the folding draft collar. I didn't think Sky would be into this bag because it's green, but she really loved the leaf pattern. At 2 lbs., 13 oz, it's lightweight enough that it doesn't make a huge difference in my bag. This kids sleeping bag doesn't compress down much, but that didn't phase me as the bonuses outweighed its size. This is one bag to grow with your little ones for years. Simple and effective kids sleeping bag Kelty Woobie 30 Pros: Lower price point, no cords [gallery size="full" columns="2" ids="935259,935260"] Review and photos by Jessica Featherstone. Kelty makes a great line of different-sized sleeping bags for kids to meet their ages and stages. Backpacker Mag recently gave an Editors Choice award to their Tru.Comfort Kids 35. The Woobie 30 ($64.95) is an excellent starter bag for your little ones. It has zippers on both sides, making it easier for kids and adults to get little ones out (especially for those kids who want to do it themselves). This does come in two colors for littles: blue/orange and pink/purple. Since the panel has two zippers, it flips down easily and Sky enjoyed wriggling around the bag. The hood is elastic so no cords near your child's head. Kelty definitely geared this toward the toddler/preschooler age with only two zippers and no cords. The bag is designed for kids 4' and under. This doesn't have a pad sleeve, so if you have a child who is a more active sleeper, you'll want to make accommodations for that. We just put Sky between our sleeping pads and the tent wall. This bag doesn't size down, so I did add clothing at the bottom of the bag to fill it up a bit. The bag can be compressed in a compression sack and weighs around most adult bags at 2 lbs., 4 oz. It's not a down sleeping bag, so it doesn't compress very small, but it was still very manageable in my Deuter pack. While this kids sleeping bag does go down to 30°F, we've had successful trips in high 20's with this bag. Remember each child is unique, and Sky did fine with just a set of wool pajamas and a hat. Kelty backs this bag with their lifetime warranty. If their bags are built to the same standards as their tents, we will have this for years to come in great condition. (I've used one of their tents for over five years with kids and dogs!) This is a bag that you can pass down to smaller campers as older children outgrow it. Size Matters Big Agnes Duster 15 Pros: Only need one bag for preschool to middle school [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="935264,935263"] Review and photos by Jessica Featherstone. The Duster ($109.95) has a number of loops and hooks along the top, back and sides of the bag to fit your child where they are right now. The biggest feature of this bag is the hook and loop system. As I started to prep the bag for Sky, it was relatively easy to figure out how the loops attached to plastic hooks both on the bottom and the sides. It did take me a night to realize there are side hook/loop sets. So not only can this shorten, it also tightens in to keep your little ones very snug. I do suggest using a pad that is insulated since there is a section on the back that isn't stuffed. Almost all of the bag is padded except for this small rectangular section under the back. Since Big Agnes says this can go up to teen age, I decided to try getting in the bag as well. It was a bit tight on my 5'3" frame and I was snug in the shoulder area, but it was definitely doable. Since this bag is designed to grow with a child, it doesn't compress as small as some of the other brands and weighs a bit more at 2 lbs., 14 oz. It does compress down to normal adult sleeping bag size. The Duster also has an integrated half-pad sleeve, so it's perfect for those wigglers. My child tends to creep off her mat, so she needs something that won't allow her to creep down. The Duster does have a cord around the head that can snug down to keep little heads quite warm. This is one kids sleeping bag that can really go from tot to teen comfortably! Lightweight and versatile kids sleeping bag The Milk & Honey Company Outdoor Baby Snap Sack® Pros: Worry-free warmth for the sleepy wiggler [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="935278,935276"] Review and photos by Vong Hamilton. I couldn't tell you how many times in 11 years I would be wide awake in bed wondering if my kids were warm enough. Did they kick their blanket off and are freezing? Should I get up and check on them? The worry increases even more when we're camping on cool evenings and I'm constantly getting up to cover the kids. Then there's the babe in the Pack N Play who is too young for blankets ... are the layers of clothing sufficient? But The Milk & Honey Company Outdoor Baby Snap Sack® ($195-$225) is just the answer to help ease those concerns. This sleeping bag is so versatile, it'll grow with your kiddo from 3 months to 3T – although my skinny 5-year-old can still wear it – but there's also a big-kid version of the Snap Sack for older kids (3T-6 years old). Snaps at the shoulders and under the armpits can be adjusted to fit the size of the child, and the drawstring at the bottom can be cinched and tied to keep toes warm on cold evenings. The two-way zipper system unzips at the bottom for quick diaper changes or can be pulled up and tied at the waist to let little legs run around while still maintaining upper-body warmth. Another pro for our family specifically is that my 2-year-old has a sensitivity toward fleece so we always worry about how to keep him warm on cold winter evenings. So the Snap Sack has become an everyday item to keep him warm and something he can't kick away during all the squirming – wherever he goes, his blanket goes! The Snap Sack has 800-fill power DownTek™, making it super-lightweight at only 8 oz. (older bag weighs 11 oz.), and it stuffs easily back into its pouch. What are your favorite kids sleeping bags? Leave a comment below! Read More: The new era of the family camping tents Snuggle up –Comparison of double sleeping bags The ultimate guide to camping with kids Disclaimer: Hike it Baby was provided with free product for this round up and honest review. All thoughts, opinions, and photos are Hike it Baby’s own and not influenced by any company or its affiliates. Comments provided by Hike it Baby staff are their own and reflect their own love for their sleeping bags.

When you start to think about backpacking, you start to research gear. A lot of gear. To me, there are three things that can make or break a trip: your pack, your tent and your sleep system. If you don't get a good night sleep, no amount of coffee or tea is going to help in the morning. Splurging on a good sleep system that will last for years can make a big difference on whether you go once or continue to head out on trail. Snuggle More on Trail I'll admit it. I'm a snuggler. Sure, I can sleep alone, but why would I want to? I'm not the only one out there since the double sleeping bag market has several great contenders in it. Before deciding on a sleeping bag, I looked through different reviews to see what would work for our family; however, most didn't take into consideration the special needs of a family with young children. Therefore, we've reviewed three bags below with families in mind. Good for the night sneaker Sierra Design Backcountry Bed Duo 35/700 Dridown Pros: Accommodates 25-inch pads, snuggly comforter feel, foot ventilation With a blanket-like top and fast ventilation for warm feet, the Sierra Design Backcountry Bed Duo 35/700 Dridown ($399.95) is perfect for the some-like-hot, some-like-it-cold couples. My husband typically runs hot and I run colder, so this was a great way for us to share a bag and make both of us happy. This bag is a bit heavier than two solo bags as it weighs in at 3 lbs., 12 oz. Even though it is slightly heavier, the bonus in features definitely make up for the weight. I was excited when this bag came in to see it accommodated a 25-inch sleeping pad. It has two sleeping channels that are set for 20-inch pads, but it was easy to figure out how it can be opened up for the 25-inch pads. There are a number of buttons on the side so you can easily go between the two sizes as needed. My daughter, Sky, will start in her own bag but typically sneaks into my bag halfway through the night. Even with the standard 20-inch pads, we slept comfortably between the three of us. One thing to watch is that there is a middle channel between the two pads that is stuffed with filling so it remains warm. However, there is a slight dip between pads so if you shuffle quite a bit at night, you may find yourself sinking a bit. Foot ventilation, integrated comforter, closure to seal out drafts and insulated hand pockets are the main benefits that give this a cozy feel. The insulated hand pockets on each corner, paired with the extra long comforter, make this feel like your bedding at home. This is an excellent hybrid between a sleeping bag and a quilt-style. [gallery size="hikeitbaby-featured" columns="2" ids="922746,922747"] Photos by Jessica Featherstone. Versatile and Cozy Nemo Tango Ultralight Down Comforter Pros: Compresses down small, able to use as a solo bag The simple, effective design of the Nemo Tango Ultralight Down Comforter ($329.95) compacts down small and keeps you cozy on trail. The backless design of the Nemo comforter makes it compress as small as a single-person sleeping bag, leaving plenty of room in the bottom of my Deuter 60L pack for its slipcover, two sleeping pads, pillows and Sky's blanket. (Never forget the blanket!) The slipcover keeps the two pads snug tight against each other. The design is simple with only the foot box and top section that slides under the pads. The sides are open and bottom attaches to the top with a snap on each side. This allows each person to determine how much ventilation they desire whether it's a full open side or just enough to stick out a foot. The snap is strong and not even a preschooler rough housing can break it open. Since this is backless and lightweight, I've also used it as a solo quilt. It was quite effective as a quilt and it's about the same size as other single sleeping bags. This is lightweight for a two-person bag at 2 lbs., 11 oz and compares to many single sleeping bags out there. This bag is an excellent choice for those who want to head out with the family and also use the same bag solo. [gallery columns="2" size="hikeitbaby-featured" ids="922749,922748"] Photos by Jessica Featherstone. Double or Solo Therm-a-Rest Ventana™ 35™ Pros: Cozy feel, use as solo or double bag, fits 25-inch pads The lightweight, versatile and compact design of the Therm-a-Rest Ventana ™ ($269.95) makes it a great choice for families who take both family and individual adventures. Use as a cozy solo bag (it is also wide enough to fit a 25-inch sleeping pad) or use the included zip-in mattress coupler, which turns it into a soft, draft-free sleeping solution for two (or even three if you have early snuggle visits from a preschooler, like we do!). We paired the sleeping bag with the NeoAir Camper Duo Pad ($299.95), and what I love about this camping pad is its separate chambers and how easy it is to use with the Ventana™. I tend to move around more in my sleep than my husband, and with this design, I don't feel bad for tossing and turning a bit at night. The comforter stayed connected (no fighting over the covers!) and he didn't get bumped around as I moved. I can also see us using this sleep system when I take my 3-year-old and 8-year-old boys camping solo. The three of us could easily all fit into the double and, because there isn't a gap in the middle, no one will feel like they're falling in the crack. For summer camping, I can also see us not attaching the comforter to the mattress (like shown), as we all tend to sleep warm. With a temperature rated to 45 degrees (women) and 35 degrees (men), the sleeping bag is a great choice for summer camping adventures. The fabric and insulation will also do well in wetter conditions like the Pacific Northwest. While not the lightest bag on the block (4 lbs., 7 oz), both the bag and the sleeping pad pack down small and would be easy to take on a summer family backpacking trip, festival weekend or campsite adventure. [gallery columns="2" link="none" size="hikeitbaby-featured" ids="920878,920880"] Photos by Jessica Wynne. When considering sleeping systems for your family, it is helpful to take into consideration the climate, versatility, size and weight of the sleep system, as well as those unique features that could help your family sleep while backpacking or camping. What are your favorite double sleep systems? Do you have any questions? Leave a comment below! Read More: The new era of the family camping tents Light it up: Headlamp reviews The ultimate guide to camping with kids Disclaimer: Hike it Baby was provided with free product for this round up and honest review. All thoughts, opinions, and photos are Hike it Baby’s own and not influenced by any company or its affiliates. Comments provided by Hike it Baby staff are their own and reflect their own love for their sleeping bags.