Oddly enough, sustainable sleeping bags aren’t always easy to come by and until recent years, outdoor gear manufacturers were largely ignoring the potential to make their outdoor products more outdoor friendly.
To keep encouraging the outdoor industry to change, it’s important we choose sleeping bags made by manufacturers doing their part with recycled materials, fair working conditions, and carbon conscious practices.
And we’re changing too! Our new Brand Rating System will be extending our consideration set for lists like these to include 22 comprehensive sustainability criteria. You can learn more about this here and look out for rated brands as they start to pop up in our articles.
Let’s get you through this list of sleeping bags quick smart, so you can focus more on cooking s’mores and gazing at the stars.
We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.
Our Top Picks: Sustainable Sleeping Bags
Mountain Hardwear gets things right with a sustainable sleeping bag made from undyed and completely recycled fabric. Did we mention their RDS certified Down looks about as comfortable as it gets?
We love the fact that RAB’s fluorocarbon-free and recycled sleeping bags are made in carbon-neutral, renewable energy-powered factories.
Index: Eco-friendly Sleeping Bag Brands
- Mountain Hardwear Jump to brand
- Sierra Designs Jump to brand
- RAB Jump to brand
- Big Agnes Jump to brand
- The North Face Jump to brand
- Marmot Jump to brand
- Vaude Jump to brand
Mountain Hardwear
About Mountain Hardwear
Price Range: $230–$680
Mountain Hardwear offers outdoor enthusiasts sleeping bags with enough warmth to keep you cozy in below-freezing temperatures.
The Lamino Eco AF Sleeping Bag includes undyed and recycled fabric in the interior insulation, trimming, pockets, and compression sacks.
The undyed shell reduces the use of harmful chemicals, while the recycled polyester insulation keeps it lightweight and compressible.
Besides a large sleeping bag selection, MHW also has technical outdoor apparel, tents, gear, and accessories needed to traverse the great outdoors.
Mountain Hardware’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
While not all bags are made of sustainable materials, those like the Lamina Eco and Bozeman vegan friendly sleeping bags utilize either a recycled nylon shell or Thermal.Q 60-100% polyester fill (or both!)
MHW uses recycled nylon in their Phantom sleeping bag, with an RDS-certified down insulation for optimal weight-to-warmth ratio.
Their other down sleeping bags aren’t recycled, but do contain RDS-certified down, making them a more ethical choice than traditional down products.
Products are undyed or solution-dyed to cut down on water waste during manufacturing.
They also have a comprehensive catalog of bluesign®-approved materials.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Mountain Hardware requires its suppliers to comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding wages, working hours, and working conditions; and to provide a safe and healthy work environment and to prohibit any form of child labor.
It’s unclear with they conduct any third party auditing or other forms of compliance management.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
MHW provide customers with a repair program and limited lifetime warranty on all products to help reduce landfill waste.
Inclusivity:
In partnership with AMGA, Mountain Designs offers a LGBTQIA2S+ centered single pitch instructor course and 14 members of this community are now certified (as at late 2024).
Community & charitable giving:
MHW works with numerous non-profit organizations to advance the climbing sport and help the environment including the American Alpine Club, Leave No Trace and Brown Girls Climb.
Sierra Designs
About Sierra Designs
Price Range: $139–$149
Sierra Designs crafts durable sleeping bags made from recycled materials.
Sierra Designs also offers tents, backpacks, apparel, and other eco-friendly camping gear.
The award-winning Night Cap Series cold-weather sleeping bag has three temperature ratings for men and women.
It offers a zipperless oversized comforter, sleeping pad, and internal pockets on the shoulder.
Sierra Designs’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The Night Cap Series is made from 100% recycled water bottle insulation and wrapped in a recycled post-industrial shell.
The DriDown™ used in each down sleeping bag is RDS certified.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Sierra Designs has a strict Code of Conduct, ensuring the ethical treatment of factory workers, fair wages, and zero children or forced labor.
The team conducts routine factory visits and partners with third parties, like Bureau Veritas (BV), International Compliance Group (ICG), and UL Responsible Sourcing, to organize strict social compliance checks.
Community & charitable giving:
1% of Sierra Designs’ sales go to non-profit organizations prioritizing outdoor inclusivity, like LGBT Outdoors, Outdoor Asian, and Women’s Wilderness.
RAB
About RAB
Price Range: $150–$250
RAB’s eco-friendly sleeping bag range features temperature ratings between 10°– 40°F, making them perfect for all kinds of different campers.
These sleeping bags have a mummy shape designed to minimize fabric (and pack weight) while optimizing warmth.
RAB’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
RAB’s Solar Eco Sleeping Bags are made from 100% recycled materials that are durable and fast drying. The lightweight bag uses 100% recycled synthetic Status™ insulation.
The shell and lining utilize Atmos™ recycled polyester Ripstop fabric with a fluorocarbon-free durable water repellent (DWR).
Supply chain & labor practices:
RAB is a Fair Wear Foundation member, meaning they utilize BSCI standards and Fair Wear Code of Labor practices for their employees in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, UK, and other factories.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
RAB is removing fluorocarbons/PFAS (compounds that contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer) from their threads, zippers, and durable water repellents.
RAB encourages customers to seek repairs and offers a service center to return your used sleeping bag or other gear for something new. Customers who live in the UK can use their gear rental service.
As a Climate Neutral Company, RAB uses renewable energy in 91% of its facilities across the globe.
Community & charitable giving:
RAB works with several grassroots organizations in Europe and North America to improve access to and safety in the great outdoors, like the Women’s Trad Festival, Outward Bound Trust, and the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE).
Big Agnes
About Big Agnes
Price Range: $89–$449
Big Agnes has a comprehensive catalog of durable recycled sleeping bags perfect for tent camping in colder temperatures.
Their sleeping bags range in suitability for temperatures between 0° – 35° and have various features like adjustable hoods, no-draft zippers, and an integrated pillow pocket.
Big Agnes Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Every Big Agnes down insulated sleeping bag adheres to the Responsible Down Standard. The company uses Downtek with PFC-Free bluesign®-approved water-repellant chemistry.
Most of Big Agnes’ synthetic sleeping bags utilize recycled insulation, with 50-100% recycled materials.
The King Solomon is perhaps the best double sleeping bag on the market, made from synthetic materials, including GRS-certified 100% post-consumer recycled polyester.
Like their tents, sleeping bags are 100% PFAS-free and contain no flame-retardants.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Big Agnes ensures workers across its supply chain are treated with respect, paid livable wages, and have safe working environments through various labor guidelines.
Although it’s not clear how their policies are enforced.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Three of Big Agnes’ United States facilities purchase 100% renewable energy.
Big Agnes provides both a repair service and repair guides.
Community & charitable giving:
A portion of sales are donated from limited edition gear to the Yampa River Fund and the National Forest Foundation, in addition to regular charitable partnerships with organizations like Outdoor Afro.
The North Face
About The North Face
Price Range: $50–$1,000
All outdoor adventurers are familiar with The North Face logo, but besides gear and water bottles, they also make reliable, down sleeping bags.
The Inferno Sleeping Bag is arguably the coziest outdoor sleeping solution on this list.
The North Face’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
For some of their sleeping bags, The North Face uses down sourced from RDS-certified farms or uses high-quality recycled down.
They also use recycled polyester in some bags and recycled nylon for the outer shells.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The company works with suppliers who adhere to strict environmental and social standards, as per their FLA-based Code of Conduct.
The North Face also publishes its list of suppliers on its Traceability Maps.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
The North Face is owned by VF and they have set a Science Based Target to plans to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 55% by 2030 (2017 Baseline).
According to their 2023 Environmental Social Responsibility Report, they had reduced emissions by 42% as of FY22. It’s unclear how much of this achievement is attributable to The North Face.
The North Face is currently also championing other initiatives including a goal to have 100% top materials recycled, responsibly-sourced renewable or regeneratively grown by 2030.
Community & charitable giving:
The North Face works with several charities and non-profit organizations through the Explore Fund.
They encourage access to outdoor activities in various communities through partners like Adaptive Climbing Group and Climbers Of Color.
Marmot
About Marmot
Price Range: $79–$949
Marmot crafts sleeping bags—along with other outdoor gear and apparel—for men and women.
One of the perfect bags for two people is the Idlewild eco-friendly double sleeping bag, making camping extra cozy thanks to the ability to cuddle.
Marmot’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Marmot uses recycled polyester and nylon, labeling products with these materials UpCycle®.
The Ollan is made from Pertex biobased fabric and recycled HL-ElixR™ ECO insulation.
The company uses sources certified by bluesign® and the Global Recycle Standard (GRS). Marmot also uses fluorocarbon-free, water-repellent treatments.
Supply chain & labor practices:
In partnership with its parent company, Newell Brands, Marmot has a strict code of conduct. The guidelines mandate responsible working environments, fair hiring, livable wages, and worker-protection practices.
How this is governed is not disclosed by Marmot.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Marmot have taken several steps toward reducing their carbon footprint, like using FSC-certified tags and launching a transportation-reduction initiative.
Inclusivity:
Marmot was the first company to sign the Outdoor Industry CEO Diversity Pledge, pairing outdoor manufacturers with inclusion advocates to advance representation for people of color across the industry.
Community & charitable giving:
Marmot has a donation-matching program for their employees, contributing to various organizations.
Vaude
About Vaude
Price Range: €126–€714
Vaude produces some of the highest-quality sleeping bags on the market.
The German-based manufacturer goes above and beyond, using premium, sustainable resources to craft durable gear.
Vaude’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Vaude uses recycled plastic and RDS-certified down.
Many of their products feature their own Green Shape sustainability certification and use the bluesign® system so you’re buying non-toxic sleeping bags and gear.
All of their camping sleeping bags are certified PFC-free.
Supply chain & labor practices:
As a Fair Wear Foundation member, Vaude ensures living wages, ethical working environments, and fair treatment to all employees across its supply chain.
Some of Vaude’s products (10%) are manufactured in Germany, while their sleeping bags, tents, and other outdoor accessories are made by Asian partner factories.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Through the Vaude Repair Service program, customers can repair their outdoor gear to extend the longevity of their purchase and encourage circularity.
As a member of the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), Vaude provides carbon-neutral products, sugar beet biogas heated facilities, a living roof on their main German factory, and more.
By joining the Greenpeace Detox Commitment, they’ve pledged to work against releasing toxic chemicals.
Community & charitable giving:
Material scraps are used in the development of new products or are auctioned off to support non-profit organizations, along with many product returns.
