There are lightweight sleeping bags for everyone, but we are all so different. Some can’t sleep in a mummy bag. Others can sleep in anything. Some won’t be gentle enough to use a fragile high-tech bag, while others seem to make their gear last forever.

Most backpackers like to keep their load as light as possible, carrying only their essential needs for their days out on the trail. But there does come a point when sacrificing comfort for weight is not always a good idea. This is particularly true when it comes to sleeping bag pads because an uncomfortable night in the wilderness can truly diminish the experience, even when adhering to the principles of lightweight backpacking.

Long-standing hiker wisdom says that synthetics are better for wetter climates (like the American East Coast) because unlike down, synthetics retain warmth when wet. However, the shelters on the Appalachian Trail make it easy to keep a down bag dry. With an eye to lightweight gear, most long-distance hikers choose lightweight, scrunchable down over heavier, bulkier synthetic fill. Note that the higher the quality of the down, the lighter the bag will be for any given temperature rating. Note also that synthetics have improved in recent years. It is possible to find synthetic bags that compete quite well against down, and the price can be less, too..