Revealed July 14, 2026 08:05AM
In my view, there’s no higher date evening than a night beside an alpine lake, watching the alpenglow creep up the encircling peaks, having fun with a freeze-dried meal straight from the pouch alongside my favourite mountain climbing companion.
Other than sharing experiences, the most effective elements about backpacking with somebody you’re keen on is sharing gear. Dividing the burden of a range, gasoline, tent, water filter, and different communal gear makes for a lighter pack than you’d keep on solo missions. I questioned if sharing a sleep system with my companion may assist maximize gear effectivity much more. Double sleeping baggage and pads are considerably widespread for automotive tenting, however there are a handful of backpacking variations available on the market, too. On a latest journey, I satisfied my higher half to check out a double sleep system.
Execs and Cons of Double Sleep Programs
Earlier than hitting the path, I thought-about a number of potential pitfalls of double sleep methods. First is the truth of getting two folks confined to a single zippered sack. It’s one factor to cuddle on a queen mattress at dwelling; it’s one other to take action in a tent, the place temperature regulation and total consolation are typically tougher to attain. I’m a abdomen sleeper who typically struggles to get cozy in a mummy bag, and my companion, Connor, tends to lie on his again or facet. How would that play out in a double sleeping bag? We additionally are likely to run at totally different temperatures.
The second consideration is weight distribution. It may be tougher to evenly break up gear between two backpacks when utilizing a double sleep system. That mentioned, the consolidation of substances also can work to your benefit; my companion hikes quite a bit sooner than I do, so after we hike collectively, he carries extra weight. Permitting him to hold the double bag would take some weight out of my pack, hopefully night out our paces.
If all went nicely, I envisioned a comfortable evening in our tent that will really feel extra like sleeping in our mattress at dwelling. Or, we’d have a stressed evening of overheating, kicking each other within the shins, and marinating in each other’s path stink.
Do double sleep methods really save weight?
I imagined {that a} double sleeping bag could be extra weight-efficient than two singles, however the actuality isn’t so easy. Many double baggage are on the heavier facet and finest fitted to automotive tenting. That mentioned, there are a number of backpacking-weight choices. The King Solomon 20° Doublewide from Large Agnes is available in at 3 lbs 15 oz (their comparable single bag weighs 2 lbs 5 oz). I made a decision to check Sea to Summit’s Spark Double for a number of causes: At 3 lbs 6 oz, it’s lighter than some price range and cold-weather single baggage and among the many lightest double baggage, although it nonetheless is available in a number of ounces heavier than two single baggage from the identical line.
My companion and I each use and just like the Spark single baggage on most backpacking journeys, so it appeared like a superb choice to check a double bag with out altering up our complete system. Plus, the Spark claims a most person top of 6 ft 6 inches, whereas the King Solomon recommends solely as much as 6 ft (Connor is 6’2’’). And with 850+ fillpower down, it compresses to the scale of a normal bear canister—not unhealthy for a double bag.
Along with the Spark Double, we used an Exped Extremely 1R Duo inflatable pad, comparable in fashion and mixed weight to the one pads we each normally use. The medium dimension weighs 1 lb 10 oz (a smidge lower than two single pads of the identical design) and is tapered on the foot like most ultralight inflatable pads. Packed, it’s barely bigger than a one-liter Nalgene. Alternatively, we may have used straps to place our particular person pads collectively, however since our pads are totally different heights, we opted for a double pad.
The Verdict
We examined our double sleep system on two totally different lengthy weekend journeys. Throughout our first, we used the double pad with our common particular person sleeping bag and quilt. Then, we introduced the whole double system on a 30-mile tour the place nighttime temperatures had been within the mid-50s.
My first impression was that the double bag was surprisingly roomy. It options two zippers, so we may every get into and out of the bag from our personal sides (helpful for midnight toilet breaks). Earlier than mattress, we may learn a ebook collectively, do a crossword on my cellphone, and cuddle with out falling into a spot between pads. The Spark encompasses a slight taper on the footbox, however it felt much more spacious than many mummy baggage I’ve used, even with each of us inside. Because of this, I discovered it a lot simpler to discover a comfy sleeping place than in my single bag. It felt just like sharing our mattress at dwelling. Connor’s expertise, alternatively, was not so clean. I’m a stressed sleeper, and whereas I appreciated the additional room to maneuver round, he positively didn’t. Although he says he loved cuddling earlier than mattress, after a number of hours of my thrashing, I feel he would have appreciated two separate baggage. Whereas it wasn’t an enormous deal that we sleep in several positions, I’d say a double bag is finest for calm sleepers and those that actually wish to snuggle.
Our first evening in a double sleeping bag busted my false impression that it will be hotter than a single bag. Nothing retains you heat like one other individual’s physique warmth, proper? The truth is, I discovered myself colder within the Spark Double than I usually am in my common Spark 15° in comparable situations. After I snuggled up near Connor, it was toasty heat, however once I rolled away, the additional house between us allowed chilly air to circulate inside. (The Spark Double does function a snap in the midst of the draft collar that might have closed this hole between us and trapped in warmth, however would have made the bag a bit extra restrictive. We fell asleep earlier than testing it with the snap closed.)
Another downside: Sharing a sleeping bag with one other individual does imply double the odor, whether or not it’s from days with no bathe or post-pouch dinner flatulence. If you happen to’re imagining pure romance from sharing a sleeping bag, assume twice.
I discovered no downsides to the double pad, alternatively. If you happen to’re not able to make the leap on a double sleeping bag, a double pad presents an incredible center floor. {Couples} can scooch their sleeping baggage collectively to be shut with out falling into the hole, however nonetheless have the pliability of particular person baggage.
Price is one other consideration. The Spark Double is barely inexpensive than two Spark 15°F single baggage ($549 every), however at $999, it’s a serious expense. If you happen to’re going to apply it to each backpacking journey, splitting the associated fee two methods may very well be value it for the bag’s gentle weight, packability, and snugglability. However it’s far much less versatile than a single bag. If you happen to solely typically backpack together with your companion, that price ticket is tough to justify. (The King Solomon is half the associated fee at $500, and prices $240 lower than two ultralight Large Agnes baggage. I haven’t examined the King Solomon and might’t evaluate its efficiency to the Spark.)
I’d use a double sleeping bag and pad on future backpacking journeys as a pair. I appreciated the flexibility to dump somewhat further weight to my stronger, sooner companion with out the guilt of creating him carry my very own gear. Snuggling within the tent was good, and as a bonus, the setup allowed further room within the tent for our canine to sprawl out beside us. With some getting used to the system, I feel we may sleep much more comfortably than we did on our first journey. All in all, a double sleeping bag feels extra like a luxurious merchandise than a approach to maximize effectivity between two units of substances. However for cuddly campers or date evening backpacking journeys, it’s a pleasant gear choice to carry alongside.
