Published Oct 13, 2026 Updated Oct 13, 2026

Field note 19

Sleep systems

Sleeping bags, quilts, pads, and liners, from a warm-night bag to a 0 F winter bag.

Method on this page. Desk research from maker and retailer pages. A pick stays when the page prints a weight, a temperature or R-value, and a price.

A sleep system is the bag, the layer under it, and the pillow. City trips can stop at a liner and a pillow. A warm trail night can take a summer bag such as the Western Mountaineering HighLite or the Sea to Summit Spark. A cold night wants the Ibis Light and a warmer pad.

The list also holds a synthetic NEMO Tempo, a two-person Spoonbill, and pads from NEMO and Sea to Summit.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Pick Price Fill
Feathered Friends Flicker UL Quilt $499 to $579 950+ goose down
Feathered Friends Ibis Light 0 Sleeping Bag $859 to $889 900+ goose down
Feathered Friends Spoonbill UL 2 Person Sleeping Bag $1029 to $1059 950+ fill power goose down
Feathered Friends Tanager Sleeping Bag $469 to $559 950+ goose down
NEMO Men's Disco Down Sleeping Bag $279.95 to $359.95 650 fill power down
NEMO Tensor Elite Sleeping Pad $199.95 to $259.95
NEMO Men's Tempo Synthetic Sleeping Bag $149.95 to $199.95 Synthetic Zerofiber
Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight Pillow $49.95 to $54.95
Sea to Summit Circuit Down Sleeping Bag $259 to $339.95 650+ fill power grey duck down, RDS
Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Insulated Sleeping Pad $189 to $259
Sea to Summit Reactor Lightweight Sleeping Bag Liner $64.95 to $74.95
Sea to Summit Spark Down Sleeping Bag $349 to $999 RDS-certified 850+ fillpower goose down
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad $199.95 to $239.95
Western Mountaineering SummerLite $535 to $570 850+ fill power goose down
Western Mountaineering HighLite $470 to $495 850+ fill power down

Gear picks in this note

15 items

FAQ

Which bag is the light one?

The Sea to Summit Spark 45 F Regular lists 12.8 oz / 363 g on seatosummit.com.

What if I am not camping?

The Reactor Lightweight liner and the Aeros Ultralight pillow pack smaller than a full bag. Bags and pads are the picks when you sleep outside.

What about a cold night?

The Feathered Friends Ibis Light is rated 0 F. The Sea to Summit Ether Light XR lists an R-value of 4.1.