The best double sleeping bags for camping couples, tried and tested

If you like the idea of sharing a bag with your partner, but one of you sleeps like a furnace, and the other like a freezer, then the Kelty Doublewide sleeping bag is for you. A myriad of interesting features ensure a good night’s sleep, whether it’s just hovering above freezing, or a balmy summer’s night - but it wins our best in test award because it also balances weight, size, cost and performance pretty well too. 

The Kelty Doublewide’s main party trick is that it contains two built-in blankets, which add optional warmth to each sleeper when needed. We found this invaluable for springtime camping, where temperatures in the tent drop into single digits in the wee hours, before rising again at dawn. We also love the double-zipped design, which allows each user to control the amount of airflow in and out of the bag on their side: if you get hot feet, then you can simply stick them out of the end. For very warm weather, the top quilt is entirely removable (and makes a good picnic blanket too).

Where the Kelty Doublewide also excels is in its sheer enormity. This is a huge bag, easily accommodating anyone up to about 6’4”. It filled the floorspace of our entire two-man hiking tent, but offered ample room to wiggle about without disturbing each other. We also love the fact the fabric is weighty and ample enough to naturally close any gaps down the middle of the bag which might otherwise let in a draught. 

The hood is designed to take two large pillows that you might bring from home, which lands us into the topic of use-case. Because at 4kg, this is not a lightweight bag, and nor is it especially compact. It’s a great option, then, for car camping and campsite capering but you’ll just be laughed out of the country if you try and fit it into even the largest of backpacking bags. 

The other downside to this bag is that it’s a bit of a pig to carry any distance in comparison to others which have straps or handles; we’d recommend finding a duvet bag or similar item with handles. That said, it balances performance and weight much better than some of the other bags on test, and represents reasonable value for money for such a low temperature rating. 

Overall, the Kelty Doublewide’s superior comfort, flexible design and wide dimensions make it a winner in our best of test, just pipping the Big Agnes King Solomon on both value and versatility.

The Outwell Camper Lux double sleeping bag is an affordable and versatile option for fanily-oriented camping. Priced competitively with an RRP of £140 (so often found for less at other retailers), it offers excellent comfort and versatility for a very reasonable price. It features a built-in pillow and is made from recycled polyester and PFC-free materials, making it environmentally friendly and machine washable. However, it does come with some drawbacks, such as a large pack size and considerable weight.

Designed for three-season use, the sleeping bag has a comfort rating of -1°C for men and 5°C for women, with an extreme limit of -16°C. Weighing 4kg, it is heavier than the King Solomon 35° Down Sleeping Bag but compensates with superior comfort and a lower price. Its polycotton filling (20% cotton and 80% polyester) balances breathability, softness, and durability, ensuring warmth even when wet. The 2.2kg fill weight contributes to the bag’s insulation without cold spots, thanks to the isofill technology - it kept us toasty warm over a cold spring weekend in the Scottish highlands.

Like many of the sleeping bags in this list, the Outwell's packed size of 52 x 52 x 26 cm is bulky, making it more suitable for car camping or vanlife, rather than backpacking. It is easy to pack by folding into a square, though it lacks a home storage sack which keeps filling loft, well, lofty. The internal lining is pure cotton, offering a soft and breathable feel, while the use of 100% recycled polyester in the filling and PFC-free treatment underscores its sustainable design.

Measuring 235 cm in length and 150 cm in width, the sleeping bag fits most users comfortably, providing ample space without causing cold spots. It’s so large that three medium-sized children could quite happily share the space, provided they don’t hate each other. Notable features include a zip-off hood, inside storage pockets, and the ability to convert into two single duvets should warring factions need separated. The easy glide zip system ensures smooth operation and allows for independent use by each person.

Overall, the Outwell Camper Lux Double Sleeping Bag is a great choice for budget-conscious campers who prioritize comfort and sustainability, despite its bulk and weight.

This is the diehard outdoor enthusiast’s double sleeping bag. For anyone looking for a lightweight, warm, packable and fantastically designed sleeping setup for two, this is it. The down fill (notably, only on the upper side of the bag, to save weight) is rated to -7°C comfort, so constitutes a four season UK bag, but the 35F version which uses the same design (yes, it’s also lighter and cheaper) will do for three. The 20F version we tested came in at 1.7kg, which when split between two is just 850g each. Most sleeping bags of this calibre will be at least 1kg each usually; more often than not straying into 1.2-1.5KG territory. And that’s before you’ve considered the extra warmth gained by sharing body heat too. 

We love the fact the Big Agnes allows users to incorporate whatever lightweight mats they already use. We personally use two Thermarest Neolites which slot perfectly into the pillow pockets inside the bag, keeping them close together and complementing the mummy-shape of the bag. However, double mats and larger square mats can also be used in a similar manner with the poppers and ties on the underside of the bag, keeping everything in place overnight. We also love the poppers in the middle of the comforter which can be closed to stop any pesky draughts. 

The hood cinches in brilliantly, and there’s a zip on each side for each person to have control over both temperature and exit and entry. The whole thing packs down into the size and shape of a synthetic single bag, and with the help of an external compression sack, and be compressed even smaller for backpacking. 

Downsides, though, do exist with this sleeping bag, and the first is of course, the price. It’s spenny by anyone’s standards, but is as expected when it comes to down bags which don’t weigh a huge amount and pack down small too. It’s also not an especially large bag to sleep in between two of you: for couples that like a cuddle, or are both smaller than 5’9” (we tick both those boxes) it’s brilliant, but if you’re a keen starfisher, or a particularly large human being, then you might find this bag slightly restrictive when sharing with a partner.

You’re also required to already own a decent sleeping mat if you’re using this bag in winter: anything below 5°C and you’ll struggle with something without a good R rating. Overall, however, the design, packability and low weight of this sleeping bag make it a great option for outdoor couples looking to share warmth and save weight on the hill.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive, does-it-all bag, whose pack size and bulk don’t matter, then the Berghaus indulge will do the job, and it’ll do it well. This is a great bag for kitting out summerhouses or yurts, for spare rooms, or for vans where duvets and sheets are a whole ‘nother faff. It works well down to about 7°C, making it a good option for late spring, summer and early autumn camping. 

The brushed cotton inner gives a duvet-like feel, and we especially like the inner pockets for storing things like earplugs. We also like the hood and built in pillows (although these may need reinforcements if you like a high pillow at home) and the zip seems sturdy too. You can also cinch in the chest baffles for extra warmth when needed, and if you really don’t want to share the bag, the whole thing can unzip and become either two quilts, or two seperate single bags (these aren’t huge widthways, so will suit smaller people or children rather than burly rugby players). 

However, if you’re at all limited for boot space or storage, then a different option may suit you better because - Lord have mercy - this is an absolute unit of a sleeping bag. What’s saved in cost is significantly countered in weight and bulk. The whole thing weighs 6kg, and packs away to something the size of Denmark. It’s also not quite as spacious in use as the Kelty DoubleWide or the Nemo Jazz Double; if you’re of a larger build you’re best of with another option too. However, as a single person, this is a fantastic option for solo-starfishing as it’s not so big you’ll end up with cold patches.

The Vango Aurora is a beast of a thing. It’s a king size double sleeping bag offering a duvet-level of comfort and excellent temperature regulation, keeping us warm even when the mercury dropped to 8°C at night (Scotland in the summer - what can you do?) With a comfort rating down to 1°C, the Aurora is suitable for all but the coldest of months, and at £140 RRP, it’s a bit of a bargain. 

We especially liked the choice of materials here. The cotton material prevented any clammy feelings you might get with other, more synthetic style linings; this also meant there was no rustling sound against the sleeping mats - an added bonus when there’s two of you wiggling about inside the bag. It also prevented any sort of condensation buildup, with the wonderful breathability of the fill kept us at a perfect temperature throughout the fluctuations of Scottish springtime. 

And yes, this thing is big: the clue’s in the name. The largest sleeping bag on test (on many accounts - more on that in a tick), the Aurora so will suit larger or taller people - or simply those who want as much room as possible to move about. In temperatures closer to 0°C, this might be considered a disadvantage, seeing as cold spots will be inevitable in a bag of this size, but it’s unlikely you’ll be using this sort of bag in extreme conditions. 

Inevitably, a great price and fab performance will come at the expense of something and this time it’s weight. Yup, although the Aurora packs down to a (slightly) smaller size than the Berghaus indulge, it weighs more. This thing comes in at just over 6kg, which is actually laughable when you consider that’s half the weight of some full size family tents. If you can afford the boot space and don’t need to lug it very far, this is a great option for family camping - but we think this bag is best suited to year-round van-life as it’s machine washable, is a great neutral colour with a jolly chequered pattern and will keep you cosy on cold nights.

This is a real no-frills option from Decathlon. Yes, it’s the cheapest on test. Yes, it packs down relatively small in comparison to other bags. No, it won’t keep you especially warm in the shoulder seasons in the UK, but if you’re taking it summer camping in Europe, or you're glamping in July then it’ll work a treat. 

It’s rather spartan in terms of features, with no built-in hood or drawstrings, but the brushed lining does a good job of being breathable and regulating your temperature well. Its envelope design is suitable for two people up to around 6’2”. Although it’s not the most generously proportioned on this list, it’s plenty large enough for two, especially in warmer climes where you’re likely to have the zip open anyway.

We found it to be too cold to use when wild camping in Scotland’s variable spring conditions, but it’s 10°C comfort limit will be more than adequate for most UK summer camping (especially in the tropical southern bits, like Cornwall) and pretty much perfect for any roadtrip abroad in a van or a family tent. The £50 price tag makes this an appealing option for occasional campers, and the small-ish pack size (it can definitely be compressed more with a third-party compression sack) with a hand carrying handle makes it good for carrying to and from the car for festivals too.

The NEMO Jazz double is a great, versatile sleeping bag design, similar in principle to the Kelty DoubleWide. It has some unique features we love to see such as a huge mesh pocket on the underside for keeping a double mat (or two singles) in place. It’s also cosy, with the isofill synthetic lining keeping us warm in the mid-single digits. The material also has a good weight to it that makes it feel very duvet-like. Everything feels incredibly well made, including zips and drawstrings - this is a high-quality bag designed to last. 

To help with temperature regulation, the Jazz double comes equipped with a thin but mighty double microfibre blanket, which can be removed completely if not needed. We reckon it adds a good 2°C to the comfort rating of the bag when used internally as a blanket underneath the main comforter, and it helps that one side can be unbuttoned lest your sleeping bag partner sleep hotter than you. We also like the bright neon yellow colour of the lining, as it makes finding lost items such as phones and earplugs really easy, even in low light. 

The NEMO’s design is similar to the Kelty Doublewide: it’s a sort of rounded rectangle shape that unzips from the bottom to help with staying cooler in the hotter weather. The hood can also cinch down when its cold, and keeps pillows in place nicely. It’s nearly as large, too, giving ample room for couples (or good friends) to roll over any which way they like, and snooze without disturbing their partner. It’s the perfect size for a three-person hiking tent but will be slightly too

The reason NEMO comes second place to Kelty for this style of bag is twofold: firstly the NEMO is far, far more expensive for a similar weight and comfort level. Secondly, the storage sack provided for the NEMO is ridiculously large - it could compress much smaller if needed. It’s a pig to store.