Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed 600 3-Season Regular

Sierra Designs was way ahead of the curve, bringing lightweight sleeping bags to the world back in the 70s even as ripstop technology was being explored and down options evaluated for their ability to insulate. This sleeping bag is, in our estimation, an expression of the same type of genius. In the case of hammock camping, the wisdom of the system likely extends beyond what the Sierra Design product gurus ever intended. Built around the idea of a comforter, the bag’s top, zipperless opening opens wide to accommodate one of the most luxurious, down-filled panels Active Junky’s tester have ever tried. What’s more, this sleeper-controlled comforter has interior side gussets to hug your body and seal in heat. When camping on the ground, this design allows back, side or stomach sleeping. In a hammock? Totally dialed for stretching back under the stars and tucking in gradually as the night cools down. And as for down, Dridown insulation stays up to ten times drier than untreated down, dries faster as it retains more loft. While it adds a bit more weight, the 24 ounces of 600-fill Duck Dridown is resilient during repeated packing and storage (even though the mesh bag is advised for the time between trips, however brief).

Pros: Ideal comforter-like flap for precise temperature management, treated down handles dew without the need for a tarp or fly on the hammock

Cons: Heavy for fast-packing at 3lbs 1oz and bulky at 16” x 8.5” when stuffed

Tester Comments: “Built to accommodate a supplemental torso sleeping pad, there’s less wasted bottom insulation on this (EN Comfort Limit 28-degree) sleeping bag than most other models on the market. Truly turns a hammock into a cocoon to deliver the closest thing to a guaranteed good night’s rest. Without a zipper, I’m happier as snags are common when a bag is bulked up in a concave hammock (bunching up a full-length zipper). Regular length handles a bit over 6’ and I like the elbow room inside.”

Key Attribute: Design

Best For: Basecamp and padding in hammock camping, ground camping into later fall or even winter in temperate climates