- Camping & Backpacking, Car Camping, Hiking
Camping Blanket vs Sleeping Bag: Which is Better?
I started my camping journey with the traditional rectangle Coleman sleeping bag. You know the one with the plaid flannel on the inside? I migrated to a lightweight mummy sleeping bag when I started backpacking, hated them, switched to using a camping blanket, and then switched again to a relaxed mummy sleeping bag. Having tried them all, I have plenty to say about the camping blanket vs sleeping bag debate.
In the debate of “camping blanket vs sleeping bag”, there are so many individualized factors that are in play when figuring out what will work best for you. My best suggestion that I have for you as you read through this guide is to consider EVERYTHING you plan on using the camping blanket or sleeping bag for. Do you want to stay at an established campsite in National Parks or are you hoping to use it to summit Mount Whitney? What temperatures do you plan on sleeping in? Are you a side sleeper or a back sleeper?
In this blog post, I hope to share everything you need to know about both camping blankets and sleeping bags so you can make a choice that will work best for you! At the end, I will share some of my favorite options for both.
Just a heads up! This post contains affiliate links which means I could earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Camping Blankets/Backpacking Quilts
Let’s start with the camping blanket. The camping blankets that I will be referring to in this post are also known as camping quilts. Camping quilts are extremely popular amongst backpackers, let’s find out why.
Camping Blanket Features and Benefits
Backpacking quilts have become extremely popular recently in the backpacking community because of their wide range of motion, packability, and breathability.
Lightweight and Compact
Sleeping Quilts are more lightweight and compact than their sleeping bag counterparts because they use less material and have less hardware that decreases compactibility like zippers. The increased compactibility allows the backpacking quilt to fit better in your backpack. Sleeping Quilts are anywhere from 20 – to 30% lighter than a sleeping bag. Every ounce matters when you’re backpacking. Their small size, less material, and lack of a full-length zipper make the camping blanket a great option for those trying to save weight and space.
Versatility
Many Camping blankets, have multiple ways that you can structure them. Companies offer options like having a closed-foot box to being able to tie the quilt together into a sleeping bag structure for increased warmth. There is a lot of versatility. For people who like to have an increased range of motion, the sleeping bag quilt is the best option.
Breathability
Unlike the traditional mummy bags, camping blankets allow for increased breathability for those who sleep with a leg out from under the covers or in hotter environments. Camping blankets can be used as a top quilt so it just rests on top of you rather than being surrounded. The open design helps with temperature regulation. Don’t be turned away from the open-back design!
Many companies have researched to show that the insulation on the bottom of your sleeping bag isn’t too important. Most of the warmth underneath you comes from sleeping pads.
Mandy aka Veggie, a Thru-Hiker shares her thoughts on Backpacking Quilts:
“I love using a sleeping quilt when thru-hiking. Quilts are lighter and smaller than regular sleeping bags. Thus, they pack up smaller allowing me to carry more food. When paired with a neo air underneath, I am warm enough even on cold nights. If you’re trying to go fast and light…go with a quilt and embrace some minor suffering for the adventure!”
Camping Blanket Drawbacks
The drawbacks of a camping quilt are twofold. When I think of the Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket, which is marketed as a camping blanket, I think that it is perfect as an additional layer or as a camping quilt during hot summer months when you don’t need to be protected from cold temperatures. However, the Rumpl Camping Blankets aren’t a good option for cold temperatures. They just aren’t big enough. So when you are choosing your camping blanket, you need to consider how you’re going to use the blanket or quilt that you’re choosing.
While I will use the Rumpl original puffy blanket as my camping blanket for backpacking in the summer months, I would never use it as a backpacking quilt in nighttime temperatures below 60 degrees. However, if you look at the Rumpl camping blankets as blankets for use during car camping where they aren’t your only source of warmth, they are great!
So let’s get into the cons of sleeping quilts.
Limited Insulation in Colder Temperatures
There are so many phenomenal sleeping quilts out there with a good temperature rating for cold nights. Just like with a sleeping bag, the lower the temperature rating, the higher the cost. In colder temperatures, you’ll need an equally warm sleeping pad in addition to a lower temperature-rated quilt.
While you can tie a sleeping quilt together, it’s not as insulated as a sleeping bag along the openings. You’ll have to ensure you’re getting the correct size with the correct options to keep you safe and warm in cold weather.
Less Effective in Extreme Conditions
Being less effective in extreme conditions is a personal take. While mummy sleeping bags have a hood that you can sinch around your face, quilts at the most can sinch around your neck, leaving your head exposed. This can be dangerous in extremely low temperatures.
Room for Error
Unlike a sleeping bag, there is a little more room for error. From tethering the quilt to your sleeping pad, making sure you have proper wool base layers, and using all of the tethers and sinches properly to minimize exposure and cold drafts, several things could go wrong. You don’t want to end up waking up every 30 minutes to fix your sleep system.
Skye Stoury, an Ultralight Backpacker and Photographer shares her thoughts on Quilts:
“Quilts for the win! So much lighter than sleeping bags and more comfortable for those who move around in their sleep. Bags just feel so restrictive now that I’ve used a quilt for two years.”
Camping Blanket Considerations
In this section, I am going to share what makes the best camping blankets. I will also share camping blankets that are best for car camping and backpacking. After deciding that a camping blanket is best for you like many thru-hikers do, it then comes down to choosing the best one. With companies like Cumulus and Enlightened Equipment, you can even opt to Build Your Own with specifications for what you need.
Materials and Design
There are multiple different designs when it comes to choosing a sleeping quilt. From quilts that are only designed to lie flat to quilts that are sewn together at your foot box so your feet have more insulation, there are so many configurations. Some quilts are even designed with the option to tie together or zip together in colder conditions if you’re with a partner.
Insulating Materials
When choosing the insulating materials for your sleeping quilt, one of the best choices is a high-quality down. The down-fill in sleeping quilts varies in quality. Generally, the higher the number, the higher the quality. This will improve the level of insulation of the bag. There are even hydrophobic downs which is a great option for those camping in rainy conditions.
While a synthetic fill will dry faster in damp conditions, it also tends to be heavier and doesn’t compress as well as down-fill.
Water-Resistant Options
Water-resistant shells (the exterior of the bag) will increase the weight of the quilt, not by much, but when you’re counting every ounce on a thru-hike, it is something to consider. Since down quilts take longer to dry, a water-resistant shell might be a great option when camping and backpacking in damp conditions.
Size and Weight Considerations
The lower the temperature rating, the larger the size since more fill is required. When backpacking long distances the size of the sleeping quilt and weight will be a significant consideration.
Top Camping Blanket Picks
Here are some of my favorite camping blankets/quilts for different scenarios.
Car Camping
When car camping, you have the option to bring as many blankets as you’d like to stay warm. You can bring a Rumpl Blanket to wear around camp as a cape and still have a warm sleeping bag to sleep in. If you’re a big car camper, you absolutely need a Rumpl original puffy blanket. I have the Glacier National Park print and I use it every time I car camp.
In extremely cold conditions I would recommend sleeping with a wool camp blanket over the rest of your blankets.
Backpacking
As a backpacker who hated how constricting mummy sleeping bags were, I love the versatility of the Enigma Sleeping Quilt from Enlighted Equipment. I love the enclosed foot box and that there is the option to tie up the quilt on colder nights. You can choose the temperature rating from 50 Degrees Fahrenheit (great for warmer nights) down to 0 Degrees Fahrenheit.
If you’re looking for a US company to support, the guys at Enlightened Equipment are it. They have plenty of different quilts to choose from and customize. Want a hot pink quilt? They’ve got it (plus 20 other colors). Want your liner to be Hyperlite material? They can do that, too.
Thru-Hiking
Cumulus has some of the best customization options for sleeping bags and quilts. The customization includes being able to change the type of fabric on the top and bottom of the quilt. Plus you can even adjust the amount of fill in the foot box if you are prone to cold feet.
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bags are the traditional sleeping system when it comes to camping. There are recognizable fleece-lined sleeping bags that were impossible to roll back up and put in the bag, but now we have mummy sleeping bags and relaxed mummy. There are so many different sleeping bags to choose from.
A traditional sleeping bag is a great option for both campers and backpackers if you choose a lightweight option. Whether you’re camping in warmer temperatures or colder temperatures, there are a variety of sleeping bag options to fit your needs. You just need to figure out what your needs are!
Let’s go over the pros and cons of a sleeping bag in the great debate of “camping blanket vs sleeping bag”.
Features and Benefits of Sleeping Bags
There are so many options when it comes to sleeping bags, from shape, type of fill, and temperature rating. You can truly from a sleeping bag to meet any of your needs, except to lie flat over you like a sleeping quilt.
Comprehensive Insulation
Sleeping bags can come with any type of insulation from high-quality down to lightweight synthetic. Many sleeping quilts for backpacking only have a down-fill option. You tend to find sleeping bags with a much lower temperature rating than sleeping quilts. Or at least there are more options from more companies.
Hooded Options for Head Warmth
While the quilt lacks a hood, sleeping bags are generally hooded which provides insulation to your head in cold temperatures. The hood covers your head and traps heat, which a quilt cannot do. My relaxed mummy sleeping bag has a hood that allows me to sinch it closed around my face in extremely cold temperatures.
Full-Body Coverage
The full-body coverage, without a draft collar, is one of the main reasons a person would choose a sleeping bag vs a camping blanket. The full-length zipper on a sleeping bag allows you to adjust to your personal preferences on your camping trip. During summer camping you can have the zipper completely open or even use it as a top quilt. In colder temperatures, you can tuck yourself in for extra warmth.
Versatile Designs
There isn’t just one shape for sleeping bags. The many different shapes of sleeping bags can help you choose something that meets your personal preference. Whether you want a traditional sleeping bag with a rectangular shape, a traditional mummy sleeping bag for increased warmth, or a relaxed mummy for more room in the foot box, there is something available in this category that will meet your personal preferences.
Alexys, Traveler and Adventurer shares her thoughts on sleeping bags:
“I prefer a sleeping bag for warmth and comfort. I get extremely cold at night, so a blanket just doesn’t cut it for me, even in the summer. And it’s super comfortable and cozy being wrapped up like a burrito.”
Sleeping Bag Drawbacks
Sleeping bags don’t come without their drawbacks though. With countless sleeping bag options to choose from, everything comes with its drawbacks.
Bulkier and Heavier
Sleeping bags do not pack down as much as blankets do. While most modern sleeping bags will come with water-resistant stuff sacks to help compress the bag, they still take up significant space. The added fabric and full-length zipper add weight.
Limited Versatility
Sleeping bags are generally more restrictive. I cannot stand being constrained within a mummy sleeping bag. Also as a side sleeper, I struggled a lot with the limited room of mummy sleeping bags.
Sleeping Bag Considerations
Now that we know the constraints of sleeping bags in the camping blanket vs sleeping bag debate, let’s look at the best sleeping bag options for each use.
Materials and Design
When you’re choosing a sleeping bag, there are SO many options to pick from. Let’s look at the main categories: shape and insulation.
Sleeping Bag Shape
There are three main sleeping bag shapes: rectangular, mummy, and relaxed mummy.
The rectangular sleeping bag is your standard-shaped sleeping bag which is great for car/tent camping. Mummy and relaxed mummy sleeping bags are best for backpacking and thru-hiking because of their compact design and temperature ratings.
Fill Type
With traditional sleeping bags, you have more options with the type of fill. Synthetic Fill which is quick drying and warm, but on the heavier side. Or you have a Down Fill that is lightweight, compactable, and extremely warm, but slow drying.
Both fill types can have a variety of temperature ratings to choose from. My suggestion when picking a fill type is to consider what you need the bag for in the most specialized scenario. You can use a low-temperature rated bag at the top of a summit and car camping at sea level, but you can’t use a summer temperature rating bag for both. To minimize the amount of gear you have, I would get the most extreme version for the possible uses you will need the bag for.
Specialized Features
Some specialized features to look out for when purchasing a sleeping bag is compatible zippers that allow you to zip your bag together with another person.
A pocket for your phone/keys is on the inside of your bag.
I also love the insulated zipper cover inside of my sleeping bag. It keeps the cold zipper from touching my skin and acts as a barrier for potential drafts that can come through the zipper.
Angela, PNW Camper shares her thoughts on Sleeping Bags:
“Sleeping bags used to cause a lot of anxiety for me and kept me from camping (my favorite thing!) because I’m plus size and most sleeping bags didn’t fit me comfortably. Warm but compact quilts and blankets were a total game changer and made the outdoors more accessible for me.”
Top Sleeping Bag Picks
Here is my favorite sleeping bag choice for each of the scenarios below to help you pick a bag that best fits your personal needs.
Car Camping
For a traditional sleeping bag in a car camping setting, you cannot go wrong with the Coleman Brazos 30 Rectangular Sleeping bag. This is an extremely affordable sleeping bag option that would be great in warmer months as well as early fall.
With a temperature rating of 30 Degrees, you can always increase the temperature rating by adding extra layers.
Backpacking
My all-time favorite backpacking sleeping bag is the Sea to Summit Ascent in 0 or 15 Degrees. The relaxed mummy shape gives me enough room to move around in as a side sleeper. It is also lightweight and extremely compact. The large hood keeps my head warm at night as well as having multiple zippers that allow me to adjust based on temperature.
Thru-Hiking
For Thru-Hiking my favorite option is the Sea to Summit Spark. It is extremely lightweight and packable while still providing full coverage. It is award-winning for winter camping and colder weather.
Camping Blanket vs Sleeping Bag: How to Increase R-Value
So you have a sleeping bag or sleeping quilt, but it is rated for colder weather, and you don’t want to purchase a new bag or quilt. Well lucky for you there are a number of different ways to add warmth to your sleep system without buying an all-new more expensive bag.
Clothing layers
When sleeping in colder weather, merino wool base layers are a must. Not only are they extremely warm, but they will whisk moisture away from your body that could cause you to cool down.
Additional Blankets or Sleeping Bag Liners
If you’re car camping you can add an extra blanket on top of yourself, but if you’re backpacking you will want to invest in a sleeping bag liner. In the summer months, I sleep in a fleece blanket liner only while backpacking.
Some people will use a silk liner to protect the inside of their bag from dirt and tears.
High R-Value Sleeping Pad
Sleeping pads with an R-Value at or above 5 have significantly better insulation. This stops your body’s warmth from being absorbed by the cold ground. Check the R-value of your sleeping pad before camping in extremely cold temperatures. It is dangerous to use a low R-value pad in extreme cold. The sleeping pads that I would recommend are the Exped Ultra 5R and the Extreme Thermal Sleeping Pad by Sea to Summit.
Natural Protectors
Wind is a main component in cold temperatures. Set up camp in such a way that there is a natural barrier breaking the wind that could be cooling down your camp. Camping in the treeline or along large boulders will work wonders.
Pack-It Up
When it comes to the debate between Camping Blanket vs Sleeping bag, the true winner is going to depend entirely on your personal preference. What you choose to use the sleeping bag or quilt for will change which would be the better option.
If you are only going to be car camping, a traditional rectangular-shaped bag will be the most affordable option. If you’re sleeping in extreme temperatures, a traditional mummy sleeping bag will be the best option. If you’re sleeping in a variety of different temperatures and want the space to move around in your sleep, a quilt will be the best option.
Quilts will always be lighter and more compactable than the other options and there are fantastic companies out there that can help customize your quilt to fit your exact needs.
Whatever you decide, pick it with your own interests in mind! You can always grow into the bag, but specific bags can’t grow into your uses. Choose wisely, but know you can always get something else.
Also, I would be remiss not to share what I use for my dog, Meatball, when we go backpacking. While he usually likes to snuggle up next to me on top of my sleeping bag, I also cover him up with the Rumpl Nanoloft puffy blanket. It is just his size and keeps him warm on chilly nights. He can also wear it as a cape which is freaking adorable.
I hope this helps you with your own camping blanket vs sleeping bag debate!
Meet the Author -
Sarah Borgen
I am an Educator and outdoor Enthusiast based out of Seattle and writer of Exploren Borgen! My adventures consist of weekends spent in the woods, on a hike, car camping, and taking a deep breath of fresh air. When not on an adventure, you can find me in a classroom teaching high school science! I love having a job that allows me to the opportunity to discuss things like conservation, sustainability, and accessibility.
The Ultimate Washington Map
Endless adventures, all at your fingertips
If you’ve ever wished you could access my adventure journals to uncover notes about hundreds of Washington destinations, now’s your chance. I spend an entire year creating this interactive map to make adventure more accessible. You can sort, filter, and explore my notes on hundreds of trails, breweries, campgrounds, and more.
Have a question? Put it in a comment and I'll get back to ya!
Meet the author
Sarah Borgen, AKA your outdoor bestie
I’m an outdoorsy educator and adventure advocate, which is why I’m passionate about creating resources – like blogs, guides, and interactive maps – to simplify your travels. I’m eager to share some of Washington’s greatest destinations and hidden gems with you.
