Best cold-weather sleeping bags for winter power outages (2026)
Ready.gov's kit list includes a "Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person," and CDC lists extra blankets, sleeping bags and warm winter coats among the ways to stay warm when the power goes out. A bag rated for real cold keeps you warm in a house that's lost its heat, and a spare in the car covers a winter breakdown. This page compares cold-rated bags sold in the US on temperature rating, how the rating was set, insulation and weight. We haven't used them ourselves; every figure is the maker's or the listing's.
By Tom Calder · Updated November 1, 2026 · 6 products, prices indicative
Our picks
Kelty Cosmic Synthetic 20
A synthetic bag for a cold house, light enough to carry
Kelty Cosmic Down 20
A light, packable bag for a bedroom or car kit that stays dry
TETON Celsius 0°F
A roomy, budget bag for a cold house or a family car kit
All 6 compared
| Sleeping bag | Temperature rating (maker) | Rating basis | Insulation | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
20°F (Kelty's rating) · Maker's own rating · Synthetic, recycled CirroLoft ECO · 3 lb 3 oz, Long (maker) A synthetic bag for a cold house, light enough to carry | 20°F (Kelty's rating) | Maker's own rating | Synthetic, recycled CirroLoft ECO | 3 lb 3 oz, Long (maker) | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Kelty lists a single 20°F rating and gives the Long size at 3 pounds 3 ounces with recycled synthetic fill. Synthetic keeps insulating if it gets damp. The catch is that 20°F is a label from the maker, not a comfort promise, so pair it with a pad and layers in a truly cold room. Best for A synthetic bag for a cold house, light enough to carry Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if your room can drop well below 20°F, since a warmer bag is the safer pick. | |||||
20°F (Kelty's rating) · Maker's own rating · 550-fill down · 2 lb 11 oz packed, Long (maker) A light, packable bag for a bedroom or car kit that stays dry | 20°F (Kelty's rating) | Maker's own rating | 550-fill down | 2 lb 11 oz packed, Long (maker) | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Kelty fills the Cosmic Down with 550-fill down and lists the Long size at 2 pounds 11 ounces. Down packs smaller than synthetic and is lighter for the warmth. The catch is that wet down loses its insulation, so keep it dry, and the 20°F figure is Kelty's label rather than a comfort claim. Best for A light, packable bag for a bedroom or car kit that stays dry Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if damp conditions are likely, where synthetic fill is the safer choice. | |||||
0°F; comfort 25 to 30°F (maker) · Maker's own rating · SuperLoft Elite synthetic · 6.66 lb (maker) A roomy, budget bag for a cold house or a family car kit | 0°F; comfort 25 to 30°F (maker) | Maker's own rating | SuperLoft Elite synthetic | 6.66 lb (maker) | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched TETON rates the Celsius to 0°F and publishes a 25 to 30°F comfort range. It is a roomy rectangular-style bag with a flannel lining and synthetic fill. The catch is its weight of 6.66 pounds, so keep it for the car or the house rather than a pack. Best for A roomy, budget bag for a cold house or a family car kit Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want something light to carry on foot. | |||||
15°F (maker's label) · Maker's own rating · 800-fill goose down · 2.34 lb, Short (maker) A shorter person wanting the lightest, warmest bag for the carry | 15°F (maker's label) | Maker's own rating | 800-fill goose down | 2.34 lb, Short (maker) | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A goose-down bag with a 15°F label and a Short size that weighs about 2.3 pounds. Maker copy also gives a 20 to 40°F 'keeps you warm' range, which is a better guide to real comfort than the 15°F label. The catch is the short length for taller people and the need to keep down dry. Best for A shorter person wanting the lightest, warmest bag for the carry Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you are taller than about 5 ft 6 in, since you would need a longer size. | |||||
0°F (Coleman's rating) · Maker's own rating · Coletherm hollow polyester A bag for a car kit or a cold bedroom, where weight does not matter | 0°F (Coleman's rating) | Maker's own rating | Coletherm hollow polyester | — | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Coleman rates the North Rim to 0°F and describes it as better for car camping than carrying on your back. It has a draft tube along the zipper and an adjustable hood. The catch is that Coleman gives no separate comfort figure, so plan on it being warmer than a similar-labeled bag only if you add a pad and layers. Best for A bag for a car kit or a cold bedroom, where weight does not matter Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want a bag you can pack small or carry far. | |||||
0°F (Coleman's rating) · Maker's own rating · Coletherm hollow polyester A larger person needing a roomier 0°F-labeled bag | 0°F (Coleman's rating) | Maker's own rating | Coletherm hollow polyester | — | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Coleman's Silverton 0 is a mummy bag with synthetic Coletherm fill and a 0°F label; the Big and Tall version gives extra room. The catch is that Coleman's pages give no weight or dimensions for this size, and the 0°F figure is Coleman's own. Best for A larger person needing a roomier 0°F-labeled bag Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want published weight and size details before buying. | |||||
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Before you buy
Rating and how it was set.
Bags tested to the ISO 23537 lab standard give a comfort and a lower-limit rating; the comfort number is the one to plan around. The bags on this page all use their makers' own ratings, which tend to be closer to the lower limit, so allow a margin.
Down or synthetic.
Down is lighter and packs smaller; synthetic keeps more warmth when damp and costs less. For a car kit or a basement closet, synthetic is the easy choice.
Shape.
Mummy bags are warmer for their weight; rectangular ones are roomier and open into a quilt.
Add a pad.
Much of the cold comes from the floor; a foam pad or a folded blanket underneath helps as much as a warmer bag.
Storage.
Store bags loose in a large sack, not tightly compressed, so the insulation keeps its loft.
We verify every product's specifications against at least two independent sources, re-check its US price and stock on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and cross-check safety-relevant claims against official guidance. Every review is labeled Researched or Used and reviewed by us: where we've bought a product, or been sent it free, and used it ourselves, its review says which; where we haven't, our verdict is a considered spec-and-evidence comparison, not a hands-on test. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Read our full methodology →
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Common questions
What temperature sleeping bag do I need for a power outage?
Think about how cold your house could get with no heat for a few days. In much of the northern US, a bag with a comfort rating around 20°F to 30°F, used with a pad and in one shared room, is a sensible margin. Pick colder if you live where winter lows go well below zero.
What does ISO 23537 mean on a sleeping bag?
It's an international lab test for sleeping bag temperature ratings, giving a comfort rating and a lower limit. Bags rated this way can be compared across brands; makers' own ratings, like those on this page, can't always.
Should I keep a sleeping bag in my car in winter?
The Red Cross's winter car list includes blankets or a sleeping bag for each person, and CDC says to always carry extra warm clothing and blankets and not rely on the car to provide enough heat.
Is it safe to use a heater where people are sleeping?
Not a fuel-burning one without a vent. CPSC says: "Never operate unvented fuel-burning appliances in any room where people are sleeping." Turn electric space heaters off when sleeping too, as CPSC advises.