travel plane sleeping bag

Can You Take a Sleeping Bag on a Plane? Unravel the Ultimate Guide for Cozy Travels

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Picture this: you’re planning an adventurous trip and wonder, “Can I bring my trusty sleeping bag on the plane?” Worry not, wanderer! In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about taking a sleeping bag on your flight , including TSA guidelines, airline requirements, and packing tips. Let’s dive in!

TL;DR: Key Takeaways

• Sleeping bags are allowed in carry-on and checked baggage, according to the TSA .
• Check with your airline for specific size and weight restrictions for carry-on luggage, including sleeping bags.
• Pack your sleeping bag properly to avoid issues at the airport.
• Consider investing in a lightweight, travel-friendly sleeping bag.
• Bringing a sleeping bag on a plane can save you money on accommodations.

TSA Guidelines: Sleeping Bags in Carry-On and Checked Baggage

According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), sleeping bags are allowed in both carry-on and checked baggage . However, they may be subject to additional screening and inspection at the security checkpoint . So, when packing your sleeping bag, be prepared for a potential inspection and ensure it’s easily accessible in your luggage.

Airline Requirements: Size and Weight Restrictions

While the TSA allows sleeping bags on planes, it’s crucial to check with your airline for specific size and weight restrictions for carry-on luggage. These restrictions can vary between airlines, so it’s essential to know the guidelines before heading to the airport. As travel expert Samantha Brown advises, “Bringing a sleeping bag on a plane can be a smart move for budget-conscious travelers, but it’s important to make sure it’s packed properly and meets the airline’s guidelines to avoid any issues at the airport.”

Packing Tips: Keep Your Sleeping Bag Safe and Secure

When packing your sleeping bag for air travel, consider the following tips to keep it protected and make your journey hassle-free:

• Invest in a lightweight, travel-friendly sleeping bag that’s easy to pack and meets airline requirements.
• Use a compression sack or stuff sack to keep your sleeping bag compact and save space in your luggage.
• Place your sleeping bag in a plastic bag or wrap it in a trash bag to protect it from potential damage, spills, or dirt during transit.
• Ensure your sleeping bag is easily accessible in case of an inspection at the security checkpoint.

The Benefits of Bringing a Sleeping Bag on Your Trip

As travel blogger Nomadic Matt points out, “Sleeping bags are a great way to save money when traveling, as they can eliminate the need for expensive hotel rooms or rental accommodations.” Bringing a sleeping bag on your trip can open up a world of budget-friendly accommodation options , including camping, hostels, and staying with friends or family. Plus, you’ll always have a cozy, familiar bed to snuggle into after a long day of exploring.

Conclusion: Embrace the Adventure with Your Sleeping Bag in Tow

So, can you take a sleeping bag on a plane? Absolutely! With the right preparation and knowledge of TSA guidelines and airline requirements, you can easily bring your sleeping bag along for your next adventure. Just remember to pack it properly and double-check your airline’s restrictions before heading to the airport. With your trusty sleeping bag in tow, you’ll be ready to embrace budget-friendly, cozy travels wherever your wanderlust leads you.

FAQs: All Your Sleeping Bag Travel Questions Answered

• Can I bring a sleeping bag as my carry-on item? Yes, you can bring a sleeping bag as your carry-on item, as long as it meets your airline’s size and weight restrictions.
• Do airlines charge extra for carrying a sleeping bag? As long as your sleeping bag meets your airline’s size and weight requirements for carry-on or checked baggage, there should be no additional fees.
• Can I use my sleeping bag on the plane? While you may be able to use your sleeping bag as a blanket during the flight, it’s best to check with your airline and flight crew for specific guidelines.
• How do I pack my sleeping bag for air travel? Use a compression sack or stuff sack to keep your sleeping bag compact and protected. Place it in a plastic bag or wrap it in a trash bag for extra protection from potential damage, spills, or dirt during transit.
• What type of sleeping bag is best for air travel? A lightweight, travel-friendly sleeping bag that’s easy to pack and meets airline requirements is ideal for air travel.

References:

• Transportation Security Administration. (n.d.). What Can I Bring?. Retrieved from https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all
• Brown, S. (n.d.). Samantha Brown’s Travel Tips. Retrieved from https://samantha-brown.com/
• Nomadic Matt. (n.d.). How to Travel the World on $50 a Day. Retrieved from https://www.nomadicmatt.com/

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The 14 best flight accessories for sleeping on a plane (even in economy!)

By: Author Monica

Categories Blog , Travel Tips

If you want to get some shut eye on your next flight then here are the best flight accessories for sleeping on a plane.

To sleep on a plane you need to be:

• Comfortable
• Warm (but not hot)
• Able to block out everything around you

Thankfully there are plenty of flight accessories to help you sleep.

Here we go, the best products for sleeping on a plane.

Let’s start with the comfort…

U-shaped memory foam flight pillow.

I’ve tried so many flight pillows, from weird and wonderful shapes to different fillings, textures and materials. All of them.

I’ve found the best pillow for a flight is a U-shaped memory foam pillow . They usually sell these in the airport but they’re much cheaper to buy online.

• No Longer Struggle with Uncomfortable Airline Seats: Made with premium memory foam, our neck pillow adapts to your shoulders and neck to cradle and support your upper body during long flights
• Stays Fresh in Between Flights: Making sure your plane pillow is always ready for travel is easy. Simply remove the cover and toss in the wash on the gentle cycle. Tumble dry with no heat
• Compact and Easy to Take With You: Lightweight, our memory foam neck pillow is the perfect travel partner. Convenient travel bag is easy to carry in your hand, on luggage, or in car trunk

Stay warm and cosy during your flight

The temperature on most flights is between 22-24 degrees Celsius, but it can often feel much chillier when you’re sat still for hours on end.

I recommend wearing:

• A cosy sweatshirt
• An oversized blanket scarf
• Or a travel blanket that packs into a small pouch
• Warm socks (if you won’t already be wearing some)

• THE PERFECT TRAVEL COMPANION: Forget thin airline blankets that never keep you warm, the EverSnug Travel Blanket is a lightweight and extra comfy all-season blanket that is the perfect travel...
• PREMIUM MICRO PLUSH FABRIC: Our carefully crafted Microplush Blanket is ultra soft and lush, you wont want ever take it off! Made with our exclusive premium microfleece yarns, creating a velvety and...
• USE IT AS A PILLOW OR A BLANKET: Not only does the travel blanket keep you warm when needed, the Microplush carrying case can also act as the perfect place to rest your head.

Read more: 7 stylish airplane outfits and inspiration for comfy travel outfits

Noise cancelling headphone too block out everything around you

To block out the noises and lights around you you’re going to need a good pair or noise cancelling headphones and an eye mask.

When it comes to noise cancelling headphones, you have two options:

• Over ear headphones

Personally, I prefer ear buds because they’re small and easy to travel with. I know they can get a little uncomfortable after hours of use and it can be difficult to lean on your ear if you have an earbud in. But I’ll still take earbuds due to the convenience of them being small.

Over ear headphones are bulkier but generally comfier on your ears, although they’re also awkward if you want to lean on one side of your head while you sleep.

I have the JBL Live Pro+ TWS earbuds and I love them.

I also have the Beats Studio 3 wireless over ear headphones and these are great.

• Live Pro+ TWS wireless headphones are small but powerful, with 11 mm dynamic drivers for incredible JBL Signature Sound all day, every day and are compatible with Hey Google, Alexa, iOS and Android
• Adaptive noise cancelling ensures zero distractions when you focus on your studies or get your groove on, while Smart Ambient allows you to hear the world around you without removing your earphones
• Live Pro+ TWS wireless earbuds feature 3-mics technology with a feedback mic for wind suppression and environmental noise reduction and dual beamforming mics to capture your voice with crystal clarity

• High-performance wireless noise cancelling headphones
• Compatible with iOS and Android devices.
• Pure adaptive noise canceling (pure ANC) actively blocks external noise

What’s the best eye mask to sleep on a plane?

You’ll also want an eye mask but don’t get any old eye mask. The best masks for planes are ones with slightly raised 3D pockets for your eyes . The 3D shape ensures things stay dark without the mask feeling tight, restrictive or weird when you try to blink.

• Blocking Light: Are you bothered by light when you sleep, this eye mask by onaEz can help you solve this problem, blocking light from entering in all directions and helping you get a high quality...
• 3D Sleep Eye Mask for sleeping: The 3D eye socket design can avoid pressure on your eyes. In addition, the deep eye socket design won't smudge your make-up and rub your eyelashes
• Comfortable to Wear: The sleep mask filled with soft and breathable memory foam, it is soft to touch and comfortable to wear without without stressing your face

The 6 things you need to help you sleep on a plane (even in economy!)

Realistically, there are just 6 things you need to help you sleep on a plane…

• U-shaped memory foam pillow
• Cosy sweatshirt
• Travel blanket
• Noise cancelling headphones
• 3D eye mask

But are there any other gadgets, gizmos or accessories that might help you sleep on a plane?

The best products for sleeping on a plane are…

A portable footrest

There are two types of portable footrests you can get for planes. 

One is a hammock footrest which loops onto the arms of your food tray. I think some airlines could moan about this (Ryanair, I’m talking to you) but the reviews are good and it would be easy to hide (especially if you have a window seat) as it sits under your tray. 

The other is an inflatable footrest . You can half fill this to whatever height you like, or fully inflate it so it’s as high as your plane seat and can make a little bed for babies and toddlers.

• 【Multi Occasions】Wherever you are,this Footrest will give a super comfort to your feet.The hanging footrest will relieve the stress on your back,knees,improves body circulation.Works great in...
• 【Lightweight and Compact】Weight:3.2oz (90g),folded size 8.66*2.36*1.97 inch.This space-saving designed easily fits into your carry-on luggage or favorite flight travel bag.Includes a handy...
• 【High Quality Travel Gadgets】This airplane footrest is crafted with high-quality soft premium foam material,greatly enhance your travel experience.It’s like sitting in a recliner with your feet...

• 【Easy to inflate & deflate】The foot rest pillow is easy for inflating and deflating.Just open the valve,and blow up with your mouth.Usally, 2 minutes,it can be fully inflated.And open the valve...
• 【Compact&Convenient to Carry】The blow up dimension is 26*48*38cm,and the deflate dimension is 18*24*10cm that is very compact and convenient for you to carry with any place.
• 【Comfortable&Healthy】Made of PVC material which makes the inflatable foot rest feels more comfortable.Putting your legs on the horizontal with your body will help promote blood circulation and...

Weighted blanket

A weighted anxiety travel blanket

Many people find weighted blankets to be comforting and therefore help reduce stress and anxiety and help you sleep. This weighted blanket comes with a small canvas bag which makes it easier to travel with.

• A MOMENT OF BLYSS - Goodbye stress, hello Blyss. This weighted anxiety blanket is ideal for stress relief, insomnia and restless leg syndrome. It provides Deep Pressure Stimulation similar to a gentle...
• BLISSFUL NIGHT’S REST - This heavy blanket’s 7-layer design and noiseless glass bead inner evenly distribute weight to your body. This helps put you in a state of ultimate relaxation, helping you...
• KEEP CALM - The heavy comforter helps to ground you, letting you produce blissful hormones that can leave you more relaxed and in a better mood. Ideal for alleviating the daily effects of depression,...

White noise apps

If the silence of your noise cancelling headphones isn’t working for you, but the noise of the plane is…well too noisy then try white noise apps.

Personally, I find them really irritating and can’t listen to them! But my husband loves them.

Download a couple of free ones to find the ones you like.

Lavender scented products

If certain scents help you relax then it might be worth getting something like a lavender pillow mist, essential oils, balms or moisturiser.

Personally, I wouldn’t say any of these products help me sleep but they are lovely and help me to relax. They make nice gifts for frequent travellers too!

Feather and Down Travel Essentials Gift Set

L’Occitane Lavender Hand Cream (travel size)

NEOM Perfect Night’s Sleep Pillow Mist

• UK's No.1 Sleep Brand*
• Encourages a state of calm and tranquility
• The perfect way to help you relax and unwind before bed.

• Lavender hand cream: leaves skin nourished and protected.
• ENRICHED WITH: Shea Butter (nourishing & moisturising), Lavender Essential Oil from Haute-Provence (relaxing)
• ADVICE: Apply to hands any time of the day and massage in to absorb.

• HELPS YOU RELAX AND SLEEP - thanks to the expert blend of 14 purest possible essential oils including English Lavender, Chamomile and Patchouli
• 88% CUSTOMERS HAD A BETTER NIGHT’S SLEEP on the Neom Sleep Programme. Consumer research trial involving 65 women undertaken July 2015
• FORMULATED WITH 100% NATURAL FRAGRANCES - that not only smell wonderful but also have a relaxing effect on the mind and body

Phone or tablet holder

If you’re the kind of person who likes to fall asleep while watching a film or TV show then get yourself a phone or tablet holder so you can hang your device from the seat in front. You’ll then be hands free to fall asleep in peace.

It’s worth noting that most sleep experts agree that the light from phones and tablets actually makes it harder to sleep so it’s best to avoid this if possible.

• Version 2.0 of TabletHookz is the latest model designed to fit more modern airline cabins in addition to older cabins.
• TabletHookz allow you to create your own hands-free entertainment anywhere
• TabletHookz can be used on planes, trains, cars and at home

My top technique for sleeping on a plane – Fake it ‘till you make it!

If you looked at me on a plane you’d probably think I was a Pro Plane Sleeper! But the truth is that I’m usually faking it.

I’ll be sat there with my eye mask on, my noise cancelling headphones drowning out the noise, my blanket wrapped tightly around me and my neck pillow helping me sit comfortably. But I’m probably not asleep. Not yet anyway!

My trick is simply to pretend I’m asleep and – as if by magic – I’ll be there soon enough.

Is there any benefit to resting without sleeping?

One thing that keeps me in this restful state while I pretend to be asleep is the knowledge that resting is also beneficial. 

While resting is no substitute for sleeping, calmly relaxing helps to conserve energy so you will feel more refreshed when you come out of the quiet wakeful state.

I like to remind myself of this when I start getting stressed that I’m not falling asleep.

We’ve all been there. You’re anxiously wriggling in your seat, fretfully trying to fall asleep while feeling stressed that you’re not asleep and counting down the hours before your red-eye flight arrives back into London and you need to go straight to work. You REALLY need to get some sleep! But the harder you try, the more sleep pervades you. 

Flight accessories for when you wake up

When you wake up after sleeping on a plane you’re going to feel gross.

The three things you really need will be water, caffeine and to brush your teeth ASAP. Brushing your teeth instantly freshens you up and just makes the world a better place.

I always travel with a large insulated water bottle (don’t forget you’ll have to empty this to go through security), a travel toothbrush and toothpaste and I’ll grab myself a coffee at the earliest opportunity.

• ⏱️ ANTI- SWEAT AND BURN FREE, KEEPS WATER 12Hrs HOT and 24Hrs COLD: The durable stylish powder coat helps enhance your grip and helps to keep the outer surface cool even when you put the hot...
• ✨ VACUUM INSULATION WATER BOTTLE TRAVEL FRIENDLY: The large capacity of 64 ounces reduces the number of refills of water. The large water bottle makes it easier for you to enjoy traveling, hiking,...
• ♻️ BPA FREE MATERIAL: Most cheaper plastic water bottles leech chemicals and alter the taste of your drink when refilled. The HEVSD water bottle is made up of 18/8 foodgrade Stainless steel that...

No products found.

Can You Take a Sleeping Bag On a Plane 2024?

There’s nothing like getting a good night’s sleep to feel energized and refreshed. But when you travel, sometimes you don’t have the luxury of your own bed.

So if you’re planning a trip and want to bring your favorite sleeping bag, you’ll need to know some rules and if it’s allowed on the plane.

A sleeping bag will probably be the largest item you are taking on your trip, and it is also one of the most important.

That is why you will need to know how to neatly prepare your sleeping bags for airlines, and what you can expect at the airport, especially at the TSA checkpoint or With other airport security .

Keep reading to know everything about taking a sleeping bag on a plane, and how to pack your sleeping bag in a suitcase and a backpack.

Let’s dive right in.

The TSA Security Rules

The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) regulates what you can and can’t take on both carry-on and checked luggage.

And they do not have any issues with taking sleeping bags through the security checkpoint.

Here is what they have to say on their website.

You may notice the little warning in the screenshot that says “The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint”.

If the TSA officer feels that there is something wrong with a certain item he / she can not allow it on the plane, even if the website says that it is allowed.

but don’t worry, this only occurs in few cases when a security officer is not familiar with an item or see it as a threat for the safety of the passengers and the aircraft.

But for a sleeping bag you can pack any size in your carry-on or checked luggage. You just need to make sure that they are within the airline size limits.

Keep in mind that if you show up to the gate with a large backpack or suitcase, your bag will be gate checked and mostly some additional fees will be applied.

Here are some of the AskTSA customer service responses on Twitter.

Gavin said that he is flying for a camping trip and he want to take his tent, sleeping bag and a hatchet for chopping firewood.

The TSA replied that tents and sleeping bags are good to go in both carry-on and checked luggage, while Hatchets, tent stakes & poles must be packed in checked bags.

Can I Bring a Sleeping Bag As a Personal Item?

Yes, as long as it is within the weight and size of your airline and fits under the seat in front of you, most airlines do not have a problem about the kind of the bag you take.

Most airlines define a personal item as a small backpack , a laptop bag, a duffle bag , a purse, a briefcase, or a tote bag; and as a general rule if it fits under the seat in front of you perfectly it will be considered a personal item.

Take Sleeping Bags In Checked Luggage

Because some of the sleeping bags will be way too big to be carried in carry-on luggage, taking sleeping bags in checked luggage is the best idea.

Joe asked the TSA if he can bring his sleeping pad attached to a backpack in checked luggage.

And the TSA replied that sleeping pads/ bags are allowed in checked luggage without any problem, and packing sleeping bags outside or attached to a backpack is okay but it should be the responsibility of the passenger to pack it perfectly.

Taking sleeping bags in checked luggage is allowed on most airlines, and it will be counted as a piece of checked luggage.

Sometimes it is at risk to be lost or stolen, just make sure that you will pack and protect your sleeping bag, whenever you place it, attached with a backpack, inside a suitcase or a duffel bag.

How Do You Transport a Sleeping Bag?

We all know the drill when it comes to packing large items for a trip. but with just a few tips you can make it easy.

Here are some tips on how to pack your sleeping bag for both a backpack or a suitcase.

How To Pack a Sleeping Bag With a Backpack?

The air inside the sleeping bag is helpful and cozy when you are sleeping but not when you are packing, it will really keep your bag oversized and it will consume too much space in your backpack.

Most of the experts claim that there is no single way to pack a sleeping bag, but flattening the sleeping bags is better than rolling it if you are not using a compression sack, that will help remove all the air inside before placing it inside its stuff sack and then the backpack.

Make sure to always use a good and durable backpack and to place lighter items first in the bottom of your backpack, and heavy items in the top. Heavy items will put more weight on your back, and it will make you unbalanced and even make your back hurt, in addition you will only need your sleeping bag at the end of the day. Tip

If you want to attach it with your backpack but it does not have straps, you can use separated straps or bungee cords to tighten them.

There are many ways to do that, check out the video below.

Julian in this Video demonstrates ways to attach a sleeping pad with a backpack, almost the same way as attaching a sleeping bag.

How Do You Put a Sleeping Bag In Your Suitcase?

Some airlines will count your sleeping bag as a piece of checked luggage, and if they do charge for it, it is better to place it inside your suitcase or any other bag.

Sometimes it is not recommended to place a large sleeping bag in a small suitcase because it will take too much space for your essential items.

But if your airline charge for checked luggage and you have space in your suitcase, just go for it.

Most sleeping bags come with a stuff sack or a bag that will fit in easily in the bottom of your suitcase, otherwise if you do not have a stuff sack you can just use straps and tighten the bag.

How Do You Pack a Sleeping Bag Without a Stuff Sack?

The best sleeping bags come with a compression sack that will help you reduce your bag size.

Once you roll the sleeping bag and place it in the sack you can easily tighten the straps, that will squeeze the sleeping bag and make it smaller in size.

Otherwise if you do not have a stuff sack or a compression bag here is how to pack a sleeping bag for your next trip.

• Roll or fold the sleeping bag and tighten it with straps or elastic ropes, i recommend straps as they are more flexible and easy to control, you can use two or more straps.
• make sure that you empty the bag from air, try to empty the maximum.
• place it in the bottom of your backpack or suitcase or you can also attach it to the backpack if it is rolled and it will just work fine.

Final Thoughts

Traveling with large items can be a hassle, but there is no reason the TSA or any other airport security will not allow to take a sleeping bag, the only thing you need to consider is your airline size and weight limits.

If you take a large sleeping bag, it is better to make sure that it is well packed and compressed.

We hope that now you know everything about flying with sleeping bags.

Happy travels.

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18 Products To Help You Sleep Better While Traveling

Traveling is one of my favorite things in the world — visiting new places, seeing and trying new things, and… getting severely lackluster sleep. Okay, that part I don’t love as much.

Sleep can be hard to come by during travel, from the tiny uncomfortable seats on airplanes to sleeping in unfamiliar places once you’ve arrived at your destination. But a lack of rest can put a serious damper on travel plans, so I’ve rounded up some of the best products out there to help you sleep better while traveling.

Airplane Sleep Essentials

Trtl travel pillow.

If you can never seem to keep your neck upright while sleeping on a plane, you may be interested in the trtl travel pillow. This pillow is really more like a neck brace than a traditional pillow, as it uses a plastic insert to keep your neck in alignment. However, it does have a soft, fuzzy cover to still keep things a bit cozier. 

We found the trtl to be very effective in both our trtl Travel Pillow review and our trtl Travel Pillow Plus review , which is the adjustable version of the original pillow.

Right now, the trtl pillow costs $32.99 on Amazon.

BCOZZY Travel Pillow

If you’re worried about chin support for in-flight sleeping, the BCOZZY travel pillow is a great option. This pillow has a more traditional travel pillow design than the trtl, but wraps all the way around the neck to provide chin support. 

It has a two-sided cover, so you can choose between smooth microfiber and fuzzy fleece, and the plush fill is supportive and maintains its shape well. Plus, this pillow is small enough to easily wrap around your suitcase handles or even just wear around your neck in the airport.

The BCOZZY pillow currently costs $49.97 for the large size.

Dot & Dot Memory Foam Twist Pillow

Another unique take on the travel pillow, the Dot & Dot Memory Foam Twist pillow has the traditional U-shape but can be twisted into different shapes. This allows you to customize the pillow to different situations and sleep preferences. 

For example, say you’ve been lucky enough to score the window seat on a plane: you can twist and bend the pillow to provide a cushioned support for leaning against the window. Or if you’ve been stuck with the middle seat, you can shape it to use as neck support for sleeping upright. 

Plus, this pillow has a removable and washable cover so you can keep it squeaky clean. And it comes in multiple color options.

Currently, the Dot & Dot pillow costs $24.99 on Amazon.

Ostrichpillow Original Napping Pillow

If leaning forward to sleep on the tray table is your go-to for sleeping on planes, you might be interested in the Ostrichpillow Original Napping pillow. That is, if you don’t mind looking a little odd as you sleep. The Ostrichpillow is basically a pillow helmet that envelops your head to block out all light. And it has openings on the side so you can fold your arms through the pillow to rest on them. 

Despite looking a bit strange, the Ostrichpillow is popular for providing an immersive sleep environment that makes it easier to sleep in public places, like airplanes.

You can purchase the Ostrichpillow for $99.

Gravity Flex Travel Weighted Blanket

Does flying make you anxious? Consider adding a travel-sized weighted blanket to your packing list. This blanket from Gravity is six inches smaller than their original weighted blanket and weighs only 10 pounds. It also comes with a carrying case that’s small enough to fit on top of a rolling suitcase. 

The Gravity Flex Travel blanket currently costs $1 00 and comes in two colors: black and gray.

Ostrichpillow Eye Mask

Having the right eye mask can be key for sleeping in less-than-ideal conditions. This mask from Ostrichpillow is effective at blocking out light, but still comfortable, thanks to its molded foam construction. The foam is soft and plush on your face, and the shape is molded to fit your facial features so you don’t feel squished. It also has an elastic strap that’s adjustable to fit different head sizes. 

Throw it into your carry on bag to ensure your sleep won’t be interrupted by cabin lights or your neighbor’s in-flight entertainment. You can also read my full review of the Ostrichpillow eye mask to learn more.

This eye mask currently costs $45.

ANBOW Earplugs

Even though most passengers are fairly quiet on airplanes, they tend to be noisy environments. If that noise makes it harder for you to fall asleep, ear plugs can help to block out the ambient noise. These ANBOW silicone earplugs are reusable and adjustable to fit different ear sizes. One pack comes with three sets of earplugs, each in a plastic case, and a waterproof bag.

The earplugs are designed to reduce noise up to 32 decibels and the silicone is super soft and flexible to prevent any discomfort in your ears.

Right now, these ear plugs cost $15.99 on Amazon.

Road Trip Sleep Essentials

Coolbebe seat belt pillow.

If you or your child struggle to sleep in the car, a car seat belt pillow could be the answer. The pillow wraps around the seat belt to provide a cushion to rest your head on, as well as reducing shocks and vibrations from the movement of the car. This one from COOLBEBE is plush and velvety, so it’s cozy to rest your head on. Plus, it comes in three different colors: pink, black, and light blue.

Currently, this seat belt pillow costs $9.99 on Amazon.

Sojoy Heated Electric Blanket

For those who are traveling by car and get cold easily, an electric car blanket can add a touch of luxury to the road trip experience or provide extra warmth while car camping. 

The Sojoy Heated Electric blanket is 40 inches by 60 inches, so it’s large enough to share. It features three different heat settings and an automatic timer to prevent draining your car’s battery. And it has an extra long power cord, so it can easily be used by the driver or a passenger. Not to mention it’s made of a warm flannel material.

This blanket currently costs $62.99.

J-Pillow Travel Pillow

The J-Pillow is another creative version of a travel pillow. As the name implies, this pillow has a J-shape that is intended to provide chin support. This pillow is an especially good choice for car travel because its shape makes leaning against a hard surface to sleep while sitting upright more comfortable, which is the go-to for sleeping in the car. 

The upper part of the J design gives you a soft cushion to rest your head against the window or doors of the car, while the “tail” of the J sits under your chin to provide support. 

Additionally, the J-Pillow is completely machine washable, so it’s easy to keep clean. And it comes in three different color options.

The J-Pillow costs $39.95 on Amazon.

Grassman Inflatable Car Air Mattress

For a car camping adventure or just in case of emergencies on a long road trip, an inflatable car air mattress is a great way to make sleeping in your car a little more comfortable. This air mattress is specifically designed to fit in the back seat of your car. It even has cushions at the head and side to prevent you from hitting your head on the car doors or rolling up against the front seats. 

The air mattress comes with its own pump kit too, so you can easily inflate it on the go. And when it’s deflated, you can fold it away for storage.

Right now, it costs $56.95.

EcoNour Baby Car Window Shades

Sleeping in the car with light streaming in through the window can be challenging — not only does the light keep you up, but also can make you feel overheated. These window shades from EcoNour are the perfect solution to blocking out some light in the car to get some shut-eye. 

These shades use static cling to stick to your windows without leaving residue. And they’re semi-transparent, so they won’t completely block the driver’s vision. Plus, they can be folded away for storage when not in use.

The EcoNour shade can be yours for just $14.99.

Sleeping Away from Home Essentials

Burrow nomad sleep kit.

Are you more of a couchsurfer than a hotel-devotee? Whether you’re trying to save some cash or simply visiting someone who doesn’t have a guest bed, sometimes spending a night on a couch can’t be avoided. 

The Burrow Sleep Kit aims to make couch sleeping a little comfier. The kit includes a memory foam topper that’s two inches thick and offers great pressure relief. It also comes with custom sheets, a pillow, quilted blanket, and eye mask. All of that rolls up into a convenient carrying bag, so you can pack the kit in with the rest of your luggage and instantly upgrade your makeshift bed.

Read our full Burrow Sleep Kit review to learn more. Right now, the Nomad Sleep Kit costs $345.

Coop Home Goods Original Travel & Camp Pillow

When you’re sleeping away from home, you can’t always be sure that you’ll have a comfortable pillow to sleep on. Bringing your own pillow is always a great option, but it’s not always feasible to carry around a full size pillow. 

This travel and camping pillow from Coop Home Goods is a great option for sleeping on the go. It’s basically a miniature version of the Coop Home Goods Original pillow that can be packed away into a nylon stuff sack for easy carrying. 

The pillow is filled with a blend of shredded memory foam and microfiber fill and has a machine washable cover. The moldable but supportive foam will ensure you’re sleeping comfortably no matter where you’re sleeping.

The Coop Home Goods Original Travel & Camp pillow costs $35.

Yogasleep Portable White Noise Sound Machine

White noise can be a helpful way to block out noise and fall asleep. However, odds are that even if you’re already a fan of white noise, you don’t want to lug around a white noise machine when you’re traveling. That’s where Yogasleep’s Portable White Noise sound machine comes in. 

This sound machine offers six different soothing sound options to lull you to sleep, as well as acting as a nightlight, with three warm, amber light options. It’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and it only weighs six ounces, so you can easily toss it into a purse or backpack. And it easily charges with a micro-USB charger.

You can purchase the Yogasleep Portable White Noise sound machine on Amazon for $25.99

Tough Outdoors Sleeping Bag Liner

When you’re traveling, you’re generally sleeping in environments that are a little out of your control. Whether you’re spending a night in a less-than-desirable hostel bed or the idea of sleeping in sheets that others have slept in just gives you the ick, one way to preserve your peace of mind is using a sleeping bag liner.

This sleeping bag liner is designed to be used inside a sleeping bag for extra warmth and protection, but it can easily be used in a hotel bed, on a couch, or anywhere you’re resting your head for the night. This soft and breathable liner from Tough Outdoors folds down small enough to stash away in your luggage and is machine washable, so you can always ensure you have a clean place to sleep.

It also comes in two sizes, to fit one or two sleepers, and even the solo-sleeper model is designed to be roomy enough for taller folks. 

It currently costs $20.95 on Amazon.

Bose Sleepbuds II

If you’re easily awoken by noise, canceling out ambient sound is important when you’re traveling. There’s already so many factors that can disrupt your sleep, so no need to let others’ late-night hotel antics or noise keep you up.

 These “sleepbuds” from Bose look like regular headphones, but stream relaxing, noise-masking sounds to help you fall asleep. The earbuds are designed with a soft silicone and adjust to three different sizes for a comfortable fit while sleeping. And they’re designed to hold a charge up to 10 hours, so they’ll last all night long.

Plus, you can select exactly which sounds you want the Sleepbuds to play with the Bose Sleep app, which has a library of over 50 curated sleep sounds.

These Sleepbuds currently cost $249 on Amazon.

Amazon Basics Portable Window Blackout Curtain Shade

Light streaming through a window can seriously disrupt your sleep. If you’re an avid user of blackout curtains at home, you may miss them when you’re traveling. Fear not — portable blackout curtains are here to save the day.

These portable blackout curtains from Amazon Basics use suction cups to attach to any window and be easily removed, without causing damage. They feature Velcro edges that allow you to alter the dimensions of the curtain to fit different windows. The curtains also come with a travel bag, so that they’re easy to bring with you wherever you go. Plus, they come in a few different colors and fun pattern options.

You can get these curtains for $27.66.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re traveling for fun, for work, or to visit family and friends, a lack of sleep (or a lack of quality sleep) can really ruin the trip. I hope these recommendations will help you get the best sleep you can on your next trip.

Safe travels and sweet dreams!

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10 great tips for sleeping on a plane (even if you’re stuck in coach)

Hate feeling like a zombie after a flight here's how to sleep on a plane so you don't need a day to recover.

When you book that flight for vacation, you want to arrive at your destination ready to go, go, go, not to crawl into your hotel bed and sleep the rest of the first day away. Most people use the flight as a time to get a nap in, so when they land, they can get right to it without looking like they walked the whole way instead of flying. If you haven’t nailed down a routine to fall asleep on a flight, we have the tips for sleeping on a plane, no matter what section or seat you’ll be in. 

Before you board

How to get comfy on the plane.

Great words of wisdom, we know. But if you take a nap before your flight and then grab a coffee on the way, there is no way you will sleep on that plane. Skip the bean juice and get to the airport a little sleepy. We aren’t saying to pull an all-nighter — stay safe — but go to bed as late as possible or wake up ridiculously early.

Schedule your flight just right

There are a few booking tips to follow if you want to sleep on your flight. If it’s possible, have a direct flight. Flights with connections might be cheaper, but you won’t get to sleep at all worrying about missing that connection. 

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When it comes to picking the time, aim for late afternoon. That way if you didn’t get a full night’s sleep, you’ll start to get droopy-eyed around that time.

Try to get those good seats

Window seats are the easiest spot — no matter where on the plane you are — to nap in, so do your best to get one. If you land one that also has no one next to you in the middle seat, you will be set for prime sleeping positions.

Bring your comfort item from home

Kids have their favorite stuffed animal, and you might have your favorite item you can’t sleep without. Whether that’s a certain pair of socks, a blanket, or perhaps a stuffed animal, bring it. Having that creature comfort could help lull you to sleep easier, as well as help you stay calm if flights are hard for you.

Don’t dress to impress

Gone are the days when you need to wear your best clothing on a flight. Unless you have to go straight from the airport to someplace nice, break out those cozy sweats and sneakers for the trip. Just please keep your shoes on during the flight .

Use your carry-on to your advantage

You could use your bag as a footrest to help your legs be more comfortable. Prop one foot up, both, or do whatever works to fall asleep, but using your bag at least gives you options.

You could also hug your bag to your chest and use it as a body pillow to give you a better angle to sleep. Sleeping on your tray table isn’t the most comfortable if you don’t have a pillow or blanket, but giving your bag a squeeze gives you a cozy place to put your head.

Use all of the sleeping aids

Bring your earplugs , headphones, and sleep mask. If you can’t sleep with all the sounds around you, those noise-canceling headphones will be key. Block out the light, sound, or whatever else you need to in order to fall asleep. If it’s a long flight , maybe pack sleeping pills.

If you are someone who needs sounds to fall asleep, play soft classical music only. Or, read up on  pink noise and brown noise,  and see which would be best to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.

Give your nose something good to smell

Scents like lavender, rose, chamomile, and sandalwood are soothing, meant to relax you and make you sleepy. The only problem with this one is if your seat buddies don’t like them, it would be a little rude. If you have essential oils or a lotion you could bring in your carry-on, ask the people in your row if they would mind if you put some on.

Yes, just like at home before bed, put the screens away. You’ll be tempted to scroll for hours, so turn your phone off and don’t open your laptop. Don’t even plan to watch that movie you’ve been trying to get to. Put all devices away so you aren’t tempted, and just close your eyes.

Make sure the flight attendants leave you alone

If you don’t want a drink or snack when they come around, either let the people in your row know you don’t or put a blanket over your head so you’re left alone. 

If you aren’t going to use your seat back tray as a place to rest your head, make sure it’s up as a signal you don’t want anything. 

Try to sit and sleep in a way where the flight attendant is able to see your seatbelt is on, in case you are still sleeping when they check that.

We all want our flight to be as smooth as possible, but we also want to get right to our visit without looking like a jet-lagged zombie . Not everyone has the skill to fall asleep at the drop of a hat, but you don’t have to be jealous of those people. Between plane temperatures that aren’t ideal, noisy seat neighbors, and the excitement about where you’re going getting to you, that in-flight nap needs to happen. Knowing the best way to sleep on a plane, no matter what kind of flight it is, is our gift to you for your next trip.

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For over 10 solid years, I’ve been traveling constantly. Over the course of that time on the road, I’ve been to all corners of the world, resided almost exclusively out of Airbnbs and hotels, and — for the most part — lived entirely out of a bag or two nearly every step of the way. The only occasions that involved traveling with more bags were the months of road-tripping, and living out of a car or van isn’t exactly far off from minimalism.

With all that travel experience, you’d think that by now, I’d have the entire process streamlined to perfection and have an extensive list of useful travel tips. But while my travels are certainly less stressful than they used to be, there are a few mistakes that I tend to make again and again — maybe not as frequently as I used to, but they still happen. To that end, here are a few travel tips to keep in mind that will help you avoid these all-too-common mistakes.

Online travel agencies and third-party booking websites will try to entice you with cheap flights, hotels, and other travel amenities. However, these services are not always as great as they may seem, especially when it comes to flights. According to Phil Dengler, co-founder of thevactioner.com, booking a flight through a third-party website is never the way to go. Buying your ticket directly with the airline is just as important as opting for nonstop flights.  Flight delays can disrupt everything Flight delays and cancellations are nearly unavoidable for frequent travelers. When these problems arise, it is best to be able to contact the airline directly. They will give you more leverage when rebooking your flight or helping you find accommodations if you get stuck in a foreign city. 

When you book through an online travel agency, you will likely need to contact their customer service, which is never as efficient as dealing directly with the airline. These customer service representatives do not work for the airline and, therefore, will not have all the information needed to solve your problem. This often means you will be directed back and forth between the airline and the travel agency before coming to a solution. These are likely hours that you do not have to spare if you are trying to make a quick change to your travel itinerary. 

Raise your hand if you're guilty of overpacking? It's OK. Most of us have stuffed much more than is necessary into our luggage when heading on a trip. It's not easy to decide what to bring or leave home when you're packing for a trip for pleasure or business.

Do you always think you never know when you're going to need a particular item? Well, then it's time to learn the art of packing light. There really is a method to learning how to streamline your packing -- and would you believe you can actually get everything you need into your carry-on luggage -- just one bag? It's true.

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The 15 best sleep products for flights and travel.

Sleeping on an airplane might seem like a lofty goal, but these travel products make it easier. From top-rated neck pillows to the best travel blanket, we’ve rounded up everything you need to snooze mid-air.

By Jamie Ballard

Jamie Ballard

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Plenty of these products — including nourishing skincare items, highly-rated eye masks, and noise-canceling headphones — are also useful to have once you land. You never know when you’ll find yourself needing to tune out the sounds of neighboring hotel rooms, or block out the light when it comes shining into the window at 5:30 a.m. 

We’ve scoured tons of reviews to bring you these highly rated sleep products that make any flight, vacation, or visit to your parents’ house more enjoyable. Here are our picks for the best sleep products any frequent flyer should have on hand before their next long-haul flight .  

1. TravelRest Ultimate Travel & Neck Pillow

BEST TRAVEL PILLOW FOR SLEEP

This unique pillow was recently featured in a TikTok from The Bachelor ’s Matt James , who shared a video of his girlfriend Rachael Kirkconnell inflating and using this unusually shaped pillow on an airplane. Once inflated, it tucks in between your shoulder and neck to provide support, even if you’re in the dreaded middle seat. Amazon reviews suggest there’s a bit of a learning curve, but once you’ve found the arrangement that works for you, you’ll be able to sleep peacefully. Plus, it rolls up compactly once deflated and can be tossed in a bag, unlike bulkier pillows that can be annoying to carry during travel. 

2. ZGGCD Store 3D Sleep Mask

BEST SLEEP MASK FOR TRAVEL

3. Bose QuietComfort Noise Canceling Earbuds

BEST NOISE-CANCELING EARBUDS FOR AIRPLANES

THR has previously recommended these Bose QuietComfort earbuds as some of the best ones for everyday use. They’re also some of the best noise-canceling earbuds for traveling because they’re comfortable to wear and have a long battery life. Several reviews on Amazon also note that the noise-canceling feature does an impressive job of blocking out airplane noise. 

4. Bose Over-Ear Noise Canceling Headphones 700

BEST NOISE-CANCELING OVER-EAR HEADPHONES FOR TRAVEL

If you’re looking to catch some sleep on long-haul flights, you may be better off considering over-ear headphones. Bose’s Noise-Canceling Headphones 700 have a battery life of 20 hours, which is more than three times as long as the earbuds above. Reviewers also affirm that the noise-canceling capabilities on these headphones are top-tier, with several glowing reviews specifically mentioning how well they block the noise of jet engines. 

5. Loop Quiet Earplugs

BEST EARPLUGS FOR SLEEPING

If you want to block out the hum of the plane or the passenger next to you chewing pretzels, but you don’t want to shell out for expensive noise-canceling headphones, consider these earplugs by Loop . They reduce noise but don’t block it entirely, so you’ll be able to hear the flight attendants and any important announcements while tuning out the rest. 

6. EverSnug Travel Blanket and Pillow

This blanket and pillow combo should make it easier to catch some sleep on your next flight. It’s lightweight and made with a soft fleece fabric that’s sure to keep you cozy. Use it within the soft case as a pillow, or unfurl it to use as a blanket. One especially handy feature is the luggage sleeve, which attaches it to the handle of your carry-on when it’s in the pillowcase. Plus, if you get to your destination and find an undesirable pillow or blanket situation, you’re already prepared with this set. 

7. MLVOC Travel Pillow

BEST TRAVEL NECK PILLOW

When a product has nearly 20,000 five-star ratings on Amazon and a price tag this low, it’s worth considering. The unique contours of this memory-foam pillow are designed to support your neck while you sleep. One reviewer shared that this is a must-have for flying. “I’m still amazed at how comfortable it is and how well it keeps my head in position so I can sleep,” they wrote. The set also comes with an eye mask, earplugs, and a carrying case for all of it.   

8. Vicks ZzzQuil Pure Zzzs Melatonin Sleep Aid Gummies

BEST SLEEP AID FOR TRAVEL

9. Mario Badescu Facial Spray

BEST SKINCARE PRODUCT FOR TRAVEL

There’s very little humidity in the air inside a plane cabin, meaning you might wake up from your peaceful sleep with your skin feeling dry and dull. Luckily, there’s a solution. Spritz a little bit of Mario Badescu’s cult-favorite facial spray on your visage before you doze off and wake up with skin that still feels nice and dewy.

10. Sleepy Ride Airplane Footrest

BEST FOOT SLING FOR TRAVEL

Sleepy Ride’s innovative sling can make your legs and feet more comfortable when you’re on a long flight. The straps attach around your tray table and allow your feet to rest in the sling, which can help reduce stiffness upon landing. Reviews suggest that this is more useful for short people than tall ones, and it may not work on every plane — but we’d still say it’s worth a shot if you often find yourself suffering from lower back pain on flights.

11. Comrad Recycled Cotton Compression Socks

BEST COMPRESSION SOCKS FOR TRAVEL

12. Sunany Inflatable Neck Pillow

BEST INFLATABLE TRAVEL PILLOW FOR SLEEPING

Sunany’s inflatable neck pillow might earn you a sideways glance from the passenger next to you, but you should try this out anyway — especially if you’re a person who leans over the tray table to sleep. This unique design supports your neck at different angles while you lean forward, plus it has holes for your arms to go through.

13. ThisWorks Deep Sleep Pillow Spray

BEST SLEEP SPRAY FOR TRAVEL

Some airlines include ThisWorks’ deep sleep pillow spray as part of an amenity packet. But if they don’t, you can come prepared with your own bottle of it. Spritz it (sparingly — you don’t want to be the passenger who annoys everyone else with a pungent smell) on your pillow before settling in for a nap. It’s made with a calming blend of lavender, chamomile and vetiver. You can also spritz some on the bedding at your hotel if you have trouble sleeping there too.  

14. Traditional Medicinals Organic Nighty Night Valerian Relaxation Tea

BEST SLEEP TEA FOR TRAVELING

Skip the glass of wine, since alcohol can actually interfere with your sleep. Instead, ask a flight attendant for some hot water so you can sip on Traditional Medicinals Organic Nighty Night tea while you settle in. It’s made with an herbal blend to help you relax, and tons of reviewers on Amazon say this helps them sleep, even when they’re traveling.

15. Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Pure Retinol Express Smoothing Eye Mask

Even if you don’t manage to sleep on the plane, these will help you fake being well-rested when you arrive. One reviewer on Sephora shares, “I take these with me on every long flight! Not only do they make you look awake and refreshed, but the benefits last for a day or two until your jet-lag goes! Worth every penny.”

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The 12 Best Sleeping Bags of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

For exceedingly comfortable nights under the stars, you won't want to forget a high-quality sleeping bag.

In This Article

Jump to a Section

• Our top picks
• Others We Liked

Our Testing Process

• Tips for Buying
• Why Trust T+L

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Travel + Leisure / Signe Bamsey

Sleeping under the stars might sound magical, but actually trying to get some shut-eye on the cold hard ground isn’t quite so romantic. Luckily, the best sleeping bags are not only easily portable, they make your outdoor rest downright enjoyable instead of merely tolerable.

We had our outdoor experts test 26 sleeping bags to evaluate comfort, temperature, quality, value, and portability. They tested sleeping bags geared towards both casual campers and minimalist backpackers, taking into account shape (rectangular, double-wide, and form-fitting mummy-style bags among them), weight, packed size, and the quality of materials used to construct each bag.

Our top pick is the Marmot Sawtooth 15, which we found impressive for its versatility, comfort, and innovative design features. But there are a lot of factors to consider when selecting a sleeping bag, including the temperature range where you intend to use it and your sleeping style (side, back, starfish, restless). Hence, the best bag for you might not be the best for everyone. To accommodate a range of needs, we also chose our favorite bags for side sleepers, kids, and budget-conscious campers, among others.

Best Overall

Marmot sawtooth 15 sleeping bag.

• Comfort 5 /5
• Warmth 5 /5
• Quality 5 /5
• Portability 4.5 /5

The Marmot Sawtooth 15 is versatile enough to be a solid three-season sleeping bag.

Although it's not excessively heavy, this bag isn’t as lightweight as some others on our list.

Durable, cozy, warm, and stylish, this sleeping bag is a great option for all types of campers. The bag may be geared more toward backpackers, due to its light weight and mummy-style design, but it’s also a comfy choice if you’re camping by car. Mummy bags like the Sawtooth 15 tend to be more conducive for backpackers trying to save weight, but a mummy bag might be more comfortable if you like to burrow in.

Winning perfect marks in nearly every category, the Marmot Sawtooth 15 is not only the most comfortable and most versatile sleeping bag we tested, it’s also a sustainable option due to its Responsible Down Standard certification and recycled fabrics. The 650-fill-power duck down kept us plenty warm during five nights of mid-40s temperatures. When unzipped, extended flaps or temperature control wings allow for a more blanket-like experience, as does the bag’s extra width at the shoulders and hips. Meanwhile, the footbox zipper opens when you want additional space for your feet, or you can keep it closed if you prefer snug and balmy toes. Yet another smart feature is the internal stash pocket for your phone or headlamp. Whether you’re using it for overnight or multi-day hikes, the bag stuffs down well and includes a compression storage sack for easy packing. The Marmot Sawtooth 15 tops our list for its quality, comfort, innovative design features, and accessible price.

The Details: Nylon, 650-fill-power duck down | 2.8 pounds (regular); 3 pounds (long) | 15 degree Fahrenheit temperature rating | 72 inches (regular); 78 inches (long)

Enlightened Equipment Revelation Sleeping Quilt

Enlightened Equipment

• Portability 5 /5

It performs well through a wide range of temperatures and seasons and will be durable for many years.

You should use it with a sleeping pad for extra insulation.

As the brand’s best-selling model, this Enlightened Equipment sleeping quilt is a favorite of long-distance hikers. After six months of regularly using this sleeping bag, we love its smart, ultra-lightweight design that allows for a comfortable night’s sleep in a range of temperatures and climates. Because it’s a quilt and not a bag, you may want to use this model along with a sleeping pad to add insulation and comfort. A pad attachment system with elastic straps and clips keeps the quilt secure, while a snap and drawcord neck closure help avoid drafts. When camping in warmer months, lay it open like a blanket, and in colder temps, cinch up the 1/4-length adjustable zipper to close the footbox. We tested this in 30-degree temps and stayed warm and dry all night. Without a full-length zipper or built-in hood (a draft collar option is available), the bag is lightweight and permits you to comfortably move around in your sleep. The bag’s buckles (versus a full zipper) also make it more convenient, save on weight and space, and encourage quick and easy entry and exit. Priced competitively for quality and performance. It includes a stuff sack, a storage bag, and two elastic straps.

The Details: Ultralight Nylon 10D with DWR finish; ethically sourced 850-fill-power or 950-fill-power down from RDS-certified supplier | 1.2 pounds | 20 degree Fahrenheit temperature rating | 50-68 inches

Travel + Leisure / Patrick McGowan

Best for Side Sleepers

Big agnes sl 20 sleeping bag.

• Warmth 4.5 /5

Incredibly comfortable for all sorts of sleepers but especially side-sleepers, this bag is ergonomically designed and moves along with your body as you roll.

Although it’s rated to withstand temperatures down to 20 degrees, we were a bit chilly around 25 degrees.

Do you tend to sleep on your side and/or toss through the night? This ergonomically contoured bag with body-mapped FireLine ECO synthetic insulation alleviates pressure points at the hips and feet, moves along with your body as you roll from side to side, and stays optimally warm as you settle — and resettle — into position. The insulation is lofty with a PFC-free water-repellent finish to keep you dry and warm, even if the bag itself gets wet. The Big Agnes also gets extra eco-friendly points for its incorporation of post-consumer recycled polyester. We happily backpacked for multiple nights at a time with this bag but noted we needed an extra blanket to stay warm when temperatures were in the 15-to-25-degree range, despite its 20-degree rating. Multi-season campers should keep this in mind when putting together their packing lists. For side sleepers who don't like a traditional mummy-style bag, this bag’s helpful jacket-style hood is insulated and keeps a pillow in place. It’s relatively lightweight and compatible with most types and sizes of sleeping pads, and it packs down to a compact size. The Big Agnes Sidewinder also includes a storage sack and stuff sack.

The Details: Ripstop nylon, 650-fill-power DownTek/FireLine ECO | 2.2 pounds (regular); 2.4 pounds (long) | 20 degree Fahrenheit temperature rating | 72 inches (regular); 78 inches (long)

Best for Backpacking

Rab 20f mythic ultra 360 down sleeping bag.

The Rab excels in portability, packing down small and weighing in at less than 1.5 pounds — about half the weight of most high-end backpacking bags .

As the most expensive bag on this list, you might expect it to be a four-season bag, but it’s only rated to 20 degrees.

Yes, this bag is pricey, but it’s also a very unique product that serves a specific purpose. Made for the high-end backpacker or thru-hiker counting every extra gram, it’s ideal for mountain marathon runners, high-end alpinists who need to travel light, and those partaking in trends such as fast-packing or the minimalist backpacking movement. Constructed with ultralightweight 7D ripstop nylon, it uses Thermo Ionic Lining Technology (TILT), which harnesses titanium to help reflect the sleeper’s body heat back into the bag without compromising the breathability of the fabric. This reduces the amount of down required, and we love that it’s the lightest sleeping bag they’ve owned for below freezing temps. Filled with 900-fill-power fluorocarbon-free down that has a durable water-repellent coating, the bag boasts an even insulation distribution to eliminate cold spots, plus it resists moisture and dries quickly. While the price tag makes it one of the most expensive bags on our list, if you are backpacking a lot, you might want to make that investment. What creates a higher cost is the materials, essentially, because they are going to be a lot more lightweight and durable for the backpacking ones versus the car camping ones. The bag feels much lighter, softer, and plushier than most others on the market. It was cozy even during a cold, windy night with wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour.

The Details: Ultra-lightweight 7D ripstop nylon, 900-fill-power European goose down with Nikwax finish, Rab fluorocarbon-free hydrophobic down | 1.3 pounds | 20 degree Fahrenheit temperature rating | 84.6 inches

Best for Winter

Mountain hardware bishop pass 15 sleeping bag.

• Comfort 4.5 /5

This sleeping bag has an impressive warmth-to-weight ratio. We tried both the 0-degree and 15-degree bags, finding the responsibly sourced down warm and of good quality.

A noteworthy option for beginner backpackers who want a high-quality bag, this Mountain Hardwear option was recommended as a gateway option, but more advanced campers may want to look elsewhere.

The Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15 sleeping bag’s 650-fill-power fluorine-free down retains heat, warranting its high-performance warmth-to-weight ratio and securing its reputation as relatively lightweight for a cold-weather bag. The bag’s mummy cut fits close to the body and features a shaped draft collar and adjustable down-filled face gasket to keep warm air in and cold air out. The anatomically shaped footbox provides additional comfort and warmth, and the bag has a durable water-repellent finish to help keep the down insulation dry, and a full-length down draft tube prevents heat loss and cold spots. A nifty glow-in-the-dark zipper with an anti-snag slider allows for easy entry and exit. The bag may also be zipped up with another compatible Mountain Hardwear sleeping bag (with a right zipper) to create a bed for two. It comes with a compressible stuff sack and mesh storage bag for transport — ideal to pack for a winter camping trip . Overall, this bag is a good value for a three-season bag, particularly the 0-degree model that can withstand strong wind and temps in the teens.

The Details: 20-denier ripstop nylon, 30-denier plain weave nylon, fluorine-free, 650-fill-power RDS down  | 2.3 pounds (regular); 2.4 pounds (long) | 15 degree Fahrenheit temperature rating | 72 inches (regular); 78 inches (long)

Travel + Leisure / Dylan Thompson

Best Splurge

Mountain hardwear gore-tex sleeping bag.

The cushioning feels next level, it's like sleeping in a warm cloud.

This bag is designed for cold climbing trips, not simply car camping or more casual backpacking in cooler temps.

This high-quality, lightweight, and versatile bag is a great choice for experienced adventurers seeking a reliable, cozy sleeping bag for high-alpine climbs, backcountry hut trips, skiing, or multi-week backpacking in conditions that require a 0-degree model. The brand also makes a minus-40 degrees Fahrenheit version for extreme summit expeditions to the likes of Mt. Everest or Denali, but this bag is better suited for summiting 14k-ers or cold-weather backpackers. It’s filled with 850-fill down insulation, which provides optimal warmth, comfort, compressibility, and packability, and the 10D recycled shell is both lightweight and durable. The mummy cut is designed to maximize the warmth-to-weight ratio, and the four-chamber hood helps to maintain an even loft around the head. The contoured footbox follows the natural position of the feet, and the draft collar blocks the escape of warm air from inside the bag.

The bag also has a durable water-repellent finish and a glow-in-the-dark zipper pull, and it is available with either left- or right-hand zippers for zip-together functionality. The Phantom bag is super warm, but not so warm that you feel hot, and breathable enough to prevent sweaty overheating. It’s also windproof, keeping campers warm in severe weather. After six months of using this sleeping bag, we love it whether you're heading off on a cold weather expedition or mountaineering trip. If you're planning to take it on an intense climbing trip, the safety quotient is well worth the higher cost. The one downside to a very lofty, down-filled bag is often packability, and this bag takes a little longer to pack up.

The Details: Fabric: 10D recycled nylon ghost ripstop, recycled nylon, 850-fill-power RDS, fluorine-free down | 3.5 pounds | 0 degree Fahrenheit temperature rating | 80 inches (short); 86 inches (regular); 92 inches (long)

Travel + Leisure / John Somerall

Best Double

Nemo jazz double sleeping bag.

It has a built-in bed sheet so you can tailor your comfort to your needs.

The large stuff sack isn't as portable as other options.

We recommend this sleeping bag for couples who enjoy camping in warm or chilly climates. It's the perfect all-in-one sleep set-up as it comes with a built-in bed sheet that you can choose to use or not depending on the temperature, so you don't have to lug extra blankets to your campsite. It also features built-in foot vents, so if one sleeper runs warm, they can allow a bit of air into their side of the sleeping bag without disturbing their partner.

The bag itself is soft and durable, built with a mummy-style hood to help keep you warmer. Throughout our three-month test, we used this during 25-degree November camping and we didn't feel cold at any point in the night. The one downside to this sleeping bag is that it's quite massive, and the "stuff sack" is actually a duffel bag. Still, it weighs less than 8 pounds, so wouldn't be too difficult to transport, especially if you're car camping.

The Details: 40D nylon ripstop, DWR-finish, 30D nylon taffeta | 7.6 pounds | 30 degree Fahrenheit temperature rating | 78 inches

Best for Kids

Big agnes 15 degree sleeping bag.

Kids love the shape of this sleeping bag and said it kept them warm and comfortable in 35 degrees, while parents gave it high marks for quality and durability.

Children may find it fun to sleep in this bag indoors, but keep in mind that they will likely get too hot in the bag if they use it inside.

Little Agnes sleeping bags are a great option for kids who enjoy spending time outdoors and camping. The features of the bag, such as the integrated pad sleeve and no-draft collar and wedge, make it a warm and comfortable choice, even for cold-weather camping. The ability to adjust the bag size with the exterior cinch system is also a helpful feature for children who are still growing. The bag features an integrated, insulated pad sleeve so squirmy sleepers won’t slide off their pads at night, and it allows for a roomier sleep experience. Although it’s made for camping (water-repellent finish and sculpted mummy-style hood inclusive), kids enjoy playing in it as well, which we noted for extra durability points, even after six months of regular use. The bag is cute, super soft, thick, and snuggly. It’s also portable and easily rolled and stored in its mesh sack. Overall, the Little Agnes sleeping bag is a top choice for families with growing children who enjoy outdoor activities — and sleepovers!

The Details: Polyester, down | 2.38 pounds | 15 degree Fahrenheit temperature rating | 120 inches

Most Versatile

Sea to summit ascent down sleeping bag.

Sea to Summit

• Value 4.5 /5

This is a high-quality true four-season bag due to its unique and ingenious triple-zipper and ventilation system.

This model is heavy for a backpacking bag, weighing in at nearly 3 pounds.

A high-quality, comfortable, and versatile option for cold-weather camping and backpacking. It is shaped to allow for a natural sleeping position and is compact and lightweight for easy transport. We were initially skeptical of the Sea to Summit Ascent Bag‘s 0-degree rating, but we used it in 20 degrees, found it warm and effective, and are confident it can be used as a four-season bag. Made with premium materials, the bag has a high down fill level of 750+ and can also be spread out and used as a down quilt or blanket. You can zip it together with the brand’s Journey , Venture , or Altitude sleeping bag models to create a cozy double . The triple-zipper system also allows for ventilation in warmer conditions. We highly recommend this bag and consider it one of the most versatile, reliable, and adaptable bags they’ve used for both cold-weather camping and backpacking. It comes with a compression bag and storage cell for easy packability, transport, and storage.

The Details: Ultra-dry down, 750+ loft 90 percent down, cluster premium RDS duck down; 20D nylon shell | 2.9 pounds | 0 degree Fahrenheit temperature rating | 72 inches (regular); 78 inches (long)

Travel + Leisure / Sheri Wilson

Best for Women

Big agnes torchlight ul 20 degree f sleeping bag.

The bag has an extra flap around the zipper to keep cold air from penetrating, and it has additional zippers along the side that make it adjustable to fit most body types.

Though it’s incredibly comfortable and ideal for backpacking in cold weather, it is not recommended for warm-weather use.

Designed to contour to a woman’s figure for the most comfortable, body-mapped, thermally efficient sleep, we loved the additional zippers along the side of this bag. Customizable with a less drastic taper from shoulders, to hips and feet — thus reducing cold spots and creating more warmth where you need it — the bag offers multiple adjustment options that add up to 10 inches, depending on your sleep style and body shape. Plus, the zippers allow for added ventilation if you start to feel too warm. This lightweight bag has a jacket-style hood that contours to the shape of a woman’s face for a cozy fit, plus a cordlock that lets you un-cinch it with one hand. The bag was easy to set up and puffy after a good shake. When used with the brand’s sleeping pad, it protects from the cold ground. After using the bag for a total of five nights in temperatures ranging from 24 to 31 degrees, we loved its warmth and comfort regardless of whether you’re a side or back sleeper. With high marks for its lofty down, quality material, and superior construction, we also gave a thumbs-up to the anti-lock zipper that doesn’t get stuck in the fabric. After six months of regularly using this sleeping bag, we also love the interior phone pocket that allows you to have easy-access to cellphones in case of emergency. The women’s Torchlight features exterior loops for hang-drying, a storage sack, a stuff sack, and an inner mesh pouch for your cell phone.

The Details: Polyester with water-repellent finish, polyester taffeta, 850-fill DownTek | 2.3 pounds | 20 degree Fahrenheit temperature rating | 68 inches

Travel + Leisure / Signe Bamsey

Western Mountaineering 30F Down Sleeping Bag

Backcountry

• Comfort 4 /5
• Warmth 4 /5

It comes in three different lengths with options for a right- or left-sided zipper.

This lightweight sleeping bag may be best for backpackers.

We were thoroughly impressed by this sleeping bag. Despite it getting down to around 38 degrees one night during our testing period, this bag kept us plenty warm and super comfortable. This mummy-style bag is roomier than most other bags we've tested, so it didn't feel like it was too restrictive. Made with 850-fill goose down, it's extremely light but still feels durable enough to take on every adventure. Plus, at less than two pounds in weight and packing down to roughly 7 by 12 inches, it's a reasonable option for shorter backpacking trips. While this sleeping bag is a bit more of an investment, we love that it comes in three different sizes, so you can select the exact shape suited to your height.

The Details: ExtremeLite nylon | 1.44 pounds for 5 foot 6 inch bag | 30 degree Fahrenheit temperature rating | 66 inches, 72 inches, or 78 inches

Travel & Leisure / Dylan Thompson

Best for Warm Weather

Therm-a-rest 32f/0c sleeping bag.

• Warmth 3.5 /5

This is an excellent two-season bag for milder climates and warmer nights.

It is not suited to year-round use.

For anyone who longs for warm nights sleeping under the stars, this sleeping bag is the perfect choice. After over one year of testing, we find it to be incredibly comfortable and lightweight. Typical to Therm-a-Rest products, this bag employs quality and ethically-sources materials. The ripstop nylon material is very soft and the 900-fill down adds some plushness to the comfort. This bag weighs just about one pound and packs down to not much larger than a water bottle — perfect for backpackers or bikepackers who don't want to be weighed down by their gear. For campers who live in warm climates or those who take their gear seriously and want to invest in a sleeping bag made for the cold and another made for the warmth, this is a great choice sure to last for years to come.

The Details: Ripstop nylon | 1 pound | 32 degree Fahrenheit temperature rating | 80 inches

Other Sleeping Bags We Liked

Although our testers narrowed down the best sleeping bags for this list, there were other models that didn’t make the cut, due to a few flaws. However, we still feel they are worth consideration.

Feathered Friends Egret UL 20/30 Women's Sleeping Bag : Although we compared this bag to “sleeping on a cloud” regarding its comfort factor, they reported having some trouble with the zipper. Considering the bag’s high price, that feature was disappointing and knocked it off the list.

To curate this list of recommendations, we sent 26 sleeping bags to our testing experts to use over a period of six months. We researched popular brands in advance in order to compare a variety of features and accommodate multiple preferences.

Our testers rated the sleeping bags on a scale of one to five based on five categories of consumer interest: comfort, warmth, quality, portability, and value. They started by inspecting the bags, noting their first impressions of how they were crafted and checking aspects of their construction, such as zippers and insulation. Next, our testers spent a minimum of two nights sleeping in the bags, with at least one of those nights situated outdoors, and noted the temperature outside, how warm or cool they felt in the bag, and other impressions. They also folded and packed up the bags, accounting for qualities like weight and ease of transport. The sleeping bags that garnered the top scores were notable for their comfort, heat retention, functionality, compactness, and overall quality. Issues such as moisture management, ventilation, reasonable wear and tear, size and cushioning, as well as versatility and packability were also taken into account over several use sessions. The best sleeping bags were also evaluated in terms of the type of camper or backpacker, experience level, sleep issues and budget, as well as elevated design features like storage compartments.

travel + leisure / Grace Kelly

Tips for Buying a Sleeping Bag

Consider the insulation type.

Generally, there are two categories of insulation: natural (down) and synthetic (Thermolite, M4, and recycled Stratofiber, to name a few). The purpose of insulation is to trap a warm layer of air close to the body and keep skin toasty while resisting moisture and preventing too much heat loss. Some sleeping bag brands set their own temperature ratings, called "EN" and "ISO" ratings, which can be used to help compare different products. Often made of nylon or polyester, synthetic fillers tend to dry quickly and can insulate even when they get wet, which is an advantage over down. Synthetic insulation is also typically less expensive than down, plus it’s hypoallergenic and durable.

Related to insulation is “loft,” which refers to natural down feathers’ volume, fluffiness, and fill power. The higher the loft measurement, the more air is trapped, and the higher the fill power, which means better overall insulation. However, breathability is also important. If the sleeping bag shell is fully waterproof, it completely traps your body's water vapor inside the bag. Goose down insulation is not naturally hydrophobic (water-repellent), so in order to step up protection, brands now tend to add a treatment process to the down that reduces water absorption, helping it dry more quickly and retain loft. If you want real down, look for a liner protected by Gore-tex Windstopper, for example, which renders the sleeping bag water-resistant, windproof, and breathable.

So, which kind of sleeping bag insulation is best? There are pros and cons to both types. Usually, the argument is that synthetic is better to combat moisture, but some experts say that keeping down dry isn’t that difficult. There are also environmental and ethical factors that may sway your decision regarding synthetic versus down bags. Look for labels like RDS (Responsible Down Standard) or TDS (Global Traceable Down Standard).

Think about what type of sleeper you are

Sleeping is a very personal experience; we all have our individual styles and tendencies. Temperature is one factor; some folks are always cold at night, while others run warm or even hot. Sleep position is another major aspect to consider. There are a wide variety of positions, from side sleepers to back sleepers, stomach sleepers, and restless sleepers who wind up in multiple poses throughout the night. Consider your own habits, and let them guide your choice of sleeping bag. If you usually sleep on your back or side, a mummy-style bag will likely be comfortable for you. However, if you’re a stomach sleeper or someone who moves around a lot at night, mummy bags will probably feel constrictive on your arms and head. Those who regularly move around a lot in their beds at night ought to seek a wider version of whatever bag they’re most interested in or try a quilt-style bag. Also, when shopping for bag sizes, keep in mind that a stomach sleeper’s toes tend to point away from the head and will likely add 3-4 inches to their overall height (back sleepers’ toes point up, so this is less of an issue for them).

Know your campsite needs

Whether you’re camping out under the stars, snug in a tent, hanging in a hammock, or cozy inside your RV, the first factor to consider when choosing a bag is the temperature and your overall campsite environment. A sleeping bag that keeps you cool in the summer might not withstand a dipping fall thermostat, let alone frigid winter weather. However, a warm bag may render you sweaty and uncomfortable in warmer months. Decide whether you’re looking for an all-season bag or whether you’re more likely to go camping only during the summer, and then shop accordingly.

Other considerations are the season and immediate forecast. If it’s possible you’ll encounter some rain (or other wet conditions, such as on a river rafting trip), you’ll want a bag that is waterproof. “Bags now are being given what's called a durable water-repellent coating, or DWR coating,” says Allen. “I think that's nice to have. You're not going to be camping in the rain, but in the chance you do, it's just kind of nice to have that extra little protection.”

Consider how far you’ll need to carry your gear. If you're a long-distance backpackers with an agenda that includes carrying your bag while hiking trails in the heat of summer, you should opt for a lightweight model that keeps you just warm enough. However, if you’re planning to drive to a campsite and sleep near your car, perhaps you’re better off prioritizing temperature and the type of insulation versus weight. Keep in mind, too, that mummy-style sleeping bags tend to be more compact.

Whether or not to bring along a camping mattress, be it an air mattress or a sleeping pad, is yet another important choice. This question is debatable. Some say the quality of your sleep while camping is of the utmost importance and that an added comfort feature is a must. Other, possibly more rugged campers may suggest that a mattress or pad is unnecessary, especially if you’re sleeping in a hammock. We tend to side with the former group, because an extra layer of cushioning — and insulation — is likely to help you get some shut-eye. If you’re car camping and have no concerns about additional weight or space, do yourself a favor and get a camping pad or air mattress, as well.

It’s typically not necessary to wash your bag more than about once a year, unless you’re using it very frequently. Most home washing machines can handle a sleeping bag, but be careful about using a top-loading washer with an agitator, which can destroy the bag’s outer lining. Always be sure to check the instructions on the care label. Another important specification when cleaning a bag is making sure to use the appropriate detergent, as down insulation requires a special type ( Nikwax Down Wash , for example) to protect the feathers. Avoid using fabric softener, bleach, and bleach alternatives on the bag, no matter the type of filling. The majority of sleeping bags can be spot-cleaned and hand-washed, though a bag’s bulkiness can make the latter a challenging task. Take your sleeping bag to a laundromat to be cleaned in a large capacity or front load washer and dryer if you prefer. Depending on your method, drying can take a while. Whether it takes a few hours or you need to leave it overnight, a bag must be thoroughly dry before you store it, to avoid mildew growth.

Many sleeping bags come with a stuff sack that has loops or straps attached, making it easy to connect the bag to a backpack. However, if your bag doesn’t include one or either of these attachment features, you have a few options. One possible solution is to stuff the sleeping bag into your backpack, but that may not leave enough room for other items depending on how many days/nights you are camping. For a sack that does have loops, you can use bungee cords to attach the sack to a backpack. Just hook the cord through the loops, and tightly wind it around the backpack a few times. If your backpack has its own straps and loops, you can usually attach the sleeping bag to the outside of the pack, leaving plenty of space inside it for storing other camping items and clothing. If your backpack doesn’t have loops or straps, you can try compression buckles or straps which are handy for securing the sleeping bag tightly to the pack, discouraging it from swinging around and keeping both the bag and the pack more stable. Yet another DIY option is carabiners , which can be clipped onto the exterior of your backpack and connected to the sleeping bag sack’s loops. A few carabiners can also help secure any of the above methods, allowing you to hang any other items off the pack (including the bag) as needed.

Neither! Nine times out of 10, regardless of whether it has down or synthetic fill, you’ll want to stuff a sleeping bag when you store it. The one exception is canvas sleeping bags, which usually include a zippered bag or roll-up straps for storage purposes. However, for the majority of sleeping bags, you’re better off avoiding folding or rolling them, which can break down loft over time. Stuffing a bag is better, because the method of “folding” is different every time you pack it away, plus stuffing reduces air pockets and allows for a more compact packed sack.

Depending on the bag type, synthetic or down-filled, you want to store it in different ways. In either case, make sure to take it out of its stuff sack, and allow it to hang dry completely. Down bags should not be compressed; they should be stored inside-out in a loose, cotton or mesh, breathable bag to keep the down lofted and fresh. Finally, store it somewhere cool and dry where it won’t get squished, such as the top shelf of a closet.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Saryn Chorney , a sustainable lifestyle and eco-travel writer, worked with travel editors and pulled from her own camping experiences, including a three-week road trip across the U.S. Southwest, to curate this list of best sleeping bags.

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Planning for the worst: 6 items to bring for sleeping in the airport

Travel's back in full swing, but it's made even more complicated than ever thanks to summer storms and growing concerns over the delta variant .

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This past June, I jumped on the opportunity to solo travel through Italy and Greece as soon as most of Europe reopened to vaccinated tourists. This was the first time I left the U.S. for an extended period since the start of the pandemic. After a year of no travel, we're all rusty , so I made sure to heed all the warnings and prepare for the worst. This is not only necessary as we navigate this new age of travel , but also as a solo female traveler abroad, I wanted to be extra cautious.

Surely enough, one thing led to another, and a slew of canceled (and rebooked) flights brought me to my fate that I would be sleeping on the concrete floor in the Vienna Airport on a lovely Sunday evening. Looking back, it could have been much worse since I had all the necessary items to make my sleep not totally horrendous.

Inspired by this recent Instagram post by TSA, I felt compelled to write this post in case you don't own one of these handy hammocks.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by TSA (@tsa)

(Full disclaimer: I actually own an Eno DoubleNest hammock , but I never thought to pitch mine at the airport. Huge applause for the creativity, and I will now throw my Eno in my suitcase moving forward.)

I'm a minimalist by nature, so I stay away from overpacking and try to bring everything in a carry-on whenever possible. I don't like bringing items if I'm going to only use them in a "what-if" scenario. Fortunately, the items on my list are multipurpose, meaning they'll serve you well outside of the off-chance you'll have to sleep in an airport.

Beach towel

I usually don't bring a beach towel on vacations, especially if I'm staying in a resort where towels are aplenty (and this is usually one less thing you get to pack in your bag.) But, I've learned over the years that it never hurts to pack a beach towel, so you don't have to lay down on the bare floor.

Pro tip: If you're lucky and score poor man's business class as I did on my flight home from Athens, you can also use this as an extra blanket onboard. Win, win.

Yes, it's the dead of summer, but bringing a comfortable long-sleeve of some sort is necessary. Chances are, you already bring one as it's usually chilly on the plane.

It's hard to pick just one from my hoodie collection. Call me biased, but the TPG hoodies are pretty great if you're looking to add one to your wardrobe.

Neck pillow

Not all neck pillows are built the same. I especially like mine from Muji since it's not as rigid as your standard neck pillow and unclips if you want to stretch it out. It offers enough support for resting your head on the cold, concrete floor. But it's also a pretty great neck pillow to bring with you on all your travels, no matter if you're on a plane or train.

AirPods pros

AirPods Pros , or any noise cancellation headphones, are an absolute must. In a normal situation, you can listen to your favorite music, podcasts and movies, all while drowning out any background noise.

In short, my AirPods Pros saved the day. I was surrounded by a handful of other travelers who were also stranded, and while I didn't necessarily mind sleeping next to strangers that evening, a few of them were heavy snorers. Although I was exhausted, I could not fall asleep to the tune of snoring.

However, I didn't want to use earplugs as I was terrified I'd miss my 6 a.m. flight. Thankfully, throwing on my AirPods Pros and some brown noise helped me fall asleep almost instantly.

We have the traditional face mask we all need to wear while flying nowadays, but the eyemask is just as important in my book. In addition to the concrete floor, the jarring fluorescent lighting prevented me from getting the hours of sleep I so desperately needed.

Eyemasks are essential on any trip since they can help you fall asleep faster and get rid of unwanted jet lag quickly.

Dare I say that fanny packs are coming back in style? Not only are they trendy, but they're incredibly useful. While sleeping on airport floors is rather uncomfortable, you also have to worry about safety, especially as a solo traveler. I slept on the airport floor with my fanny pack on, carrying some of my most important items (passport, vaccination card, phone).

Mine is from Lululemon , and I like that it comes with multiple pockets, is washable and is surprisingly affordable.

Bottom line

There you have it. As much as we love talking about first-class lounges and lie-flat seats here at The Points Guy, the reality is, travel isn't always this glamorous. Make sure that you have these six items in your bag next time you go on a trip where delays or cancellations seem likely.

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This Rumpl Travel Blanket Comes With Me on Every Long-Haul Flight—and It’s Currently 25 Percent Off

The travel-size version of rumpl’s sleeping bag–inspired blanket keeps me warm even when the ac is blasting at 30,000 feet. get it for only $64 now..

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The Rumpl NanoLoft Travel Blanket packs down small but unfurls for full body warmth.

Courtesy of Rumpl

Welcome to AFAR Approved: a deep dive into the travel items we’re totally obsessed with, never leave behind, and can’t stop telling our friends about. Now through December 4, 2023, save 25 percent on almost everything at rumpl.com , including the Rumpl NanoLoft Travel Blanket . No code necessary.

Consider me the Goldilocks of flying. If I wear too many bulky layers and board an airplane that’s been sitting in the sun without the AC on, I overheat faster than egg salad on a summer day. But once that AC starts cranking at 30,000 feet, I’m a cold, shivering mess. However, in all my struggles to find my “just right” airplane temperature, you’ll never catch me using one of those thin, sandpapery travel blankets airlines pass out on long-haul flights. For years, I relied on an oversize scarf to ward off chills on red-eyes. But even the softest cashmere wasn’t enough for those arctic airplane breezes.

When I realized Oregon-based Rumpl had scaled down its puffy “sleeping bag” blanket designed for camping to a travel-friendly size, I was excited to put it to the test. Having flown with the Rumpl NanoLoft Travel Blanket at least four times since I acquired it last summer, I’ll continue to pack it in my personal item on future flights. Here’s why I think you should BYOB—bring your own blanket—too.

The Rumpl NanoLoft Travel Blanket is slightly larger than a 21-ounce HydroFlask and fits in the water bottle pocket of a backpack.

Photos by Lyndsey Matthews

Why the Rumpl NanoLoft Travel Blanket is worth it

• Weight: 0.7 lbs.
• Dimensions: 38 x 52 inches (flat); 3.5 x 11 inches (packed)
• Best for: staying warm on airplanes or other chilly travel environments
• Buy now: from $64 (was $85), rumpl.com

The Rumpl NanoLoft Travel Blanket is the closest you can get to bringing a sleeping bag on an airplane—minus the bulk. When stuffed into its included carry sack— just like a packable jacket —the puffy blanket is the size of a Nalgene water bottle and weighs only 0.7 pounds. That’s less than two apples, for you serious airplane snackers.

When unfurled, it covers my entire seated body from my neck down to my toes. One of my favorite features is its “Cape Clip,” a simple loop and clasp on two corners that allows you to secure the blanket loosely around your neck so it doesn’t slip off your shoulders while you’re sleeping. This also means you’re free to use your hands to sip tiny bottles of airplane wine or adjust your seat-back movie screen without sacrificing any coziness.

Though $85 is a steep price for a travel blanket, consider this: The proprietary NanoLoft insulation used in the blanket is designed to mimic natural down using “tiny circular clusters of fiber” crafted from postconsumer recycled materials. That means you’ll get the same level of warmth as a down sleeping bag—for under $100. And now through December 4, 2023, it’s marked down 25 percent to just $64 on rumpl.com .

The writer demonstrates how the Cape Clip allows for hands-free use (L); this airplane blanket doubles as a picnic blanket (R).

It’s machine washable, too

Like all Rumpl puffy blankets, the NanoLoft Travel Blanket is machine washable. When you get home, toss it into your washing machine on a warm setting and either hang dry or tumble dry on low. Better still: You won’t need to wash it that often. Rumpl originally designed its blankets for the outdoors, so you don’t have to worry about stains and spills since even this travel-size version is made with a durable water-repellent finish. Though it’s not fully waterproof, I’ve used my Rumpl blanket as a picnic blanket in parks the morning after big rain storms and walked away with dry pants. Simply brush off the dirt and let it air out a bit, and it’s ready to use again.

It comes in more than half a dozen colors and patterns

Whether you like your travel gear to blend in or stand out, there’s a Rumpl travel blanket for you. You can keep it simple with a basic black or “ Deepwater ” (navy blue with red piping on its border) or have fun with patterns .

Rumpl is a seriously sustainable brand

The Rumpl NanoLoft Travel Blanket is made from 20 recycled plastic water bottles. In fact, Rumpl uses upcycled plastic bottles in most of its blankets’ shells and synthetic insulation. (For its Down Puffy Blankets , Rumpl uses humanely sourced down feathers obtained as a by-product of the food industry.) But the brand’s ethical and environmental efforts don’t end there. Rumpl is a Climate Neutral Certified brand that offsets its full carbon footprint and also donates 1 percent of its annual sales via 1% for the Planet to support environmental nonprofits like Outdoor Afro, the National Parks Foundation, and more. Rumpl is also a certified B-Corporation , meaning it’s legally committed to consider the impact its decisions have on the environment, its workers, and beyond.

So whether you decide to upgrade your travel blanket or invest in something else from the brand—Rumpl also makes durable beach blankets as well as unscratchy merino wool throws —you can do it with peace of mind.

This article was originally published in 2022; it was updated on November 15, 2023, with sale information.

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Your Ultimate Guide to the Great Outdoors

How To Fly With Camping Gear

Packing all your camping gear in your car and heading out to the great outdoors feels more convenient than having to take all that gear onto a plane in order to be able to fly to your camping destination.

What makes flying even more difficult is that you might not be able to carry everything you want. 

What camping gear are you not allowed to bring onto a plane?

Items like stove fuel and bear spray are not allowed on planes because they’re combustible, so you’ll have to find other ways to get these to your camping location or just leave them behind in favor of safer items. 

Although the question of how to fly with camping gear can seem complicated, if you follow the rules you’ll see that it doesn’t have to be impossible. There are many items you can safely take with you.

Here’s what they are – and we’ve also covered some traveling hacks every camper should know about.

Camping Gear You Can Pack For A Flight 

• Your tent . Its weight and size will need to be considered in the same way you’d consider your other luggage. Make sure the tent can be folded into an acceptable size so it can be checked in and remember that the tent stakes and poles will also have to be put in your checked luggage. You must check with your airline to be sure the tent will fit in the plane’s overhead bin or underneath the seat in the airplane. 
• Blades . It might sound crazy, but you can bring items such as knives and tent pegs, but make sure you check them into the hold. You won’t be able to have these in your carry-on luggage for safety reasons . Anything sharp needs to be wrapped securely when packed so that it doesn’t injure the bag inspectors or bag handlers. 
• Fire starters . While you can’t carry firelighters or fire steels, you can bring one box of safety matches or a refillable lighter. These should be carried onto the plane instead of put in your luggage. Bear in mind, however, that you’re not allowed to carry “strike-anywhere matches” – not in your carry-on luggage or your checked luggage. 
• Flashlights . These can be brought into your carry-on luggage or checked luggage. 
• Hiking poles . Although these camping items can’t be brought onto the plane, they can be stored in your checked luggage. 
• Camping stove . As long as it doesn’t contain any fuel in it, you can travel with your camping stove. 
• Sleeping bag and pad . Both of these are allowed. Your sleeping bag can be put into your carry-on or checked luggage. As for your sleeping pad, this is similar to an air mattress. The TSA determines that such items can be put in your checked or carry-on luggage. 

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Tips For Flying With Your Camping Gear 

The TSA might give you the green light for packing certain camping items, but remember that that’s only half the job done.

You still have to check the size and weight restrictions of your items with the airline. Sometimes even the shape of an item can cause it to be restricted, and there’s always the chance that you’ll have to pay some extra money for flying with certain items. 

Pack As Light As Possible 

Some items that will take up a lot of space in your luggage and result in you carrying too much weight for what the plane allows are your clothing and accessories. Try to pack as lightly as possible, and think about choosing clothes that you can wear more than once.

For example, clothing made out of natural, light fabrics that won’t absorb sweat and odors makes the most sense for camping. You might also be able to rent out camping gear, so find out if that’s an option based on where your campground is located. 

Think Ahead To The Rest Of The Trip

When packing, remember that you’ll also need to take taxis or other transport from the airport to your camping destination so you should only pack what you’ll be able to lug around with you when your feet hit the ground. 

Protect Your Backpack 

When you check your backpack, it’s not enough to tuck in its straps and hip belt because these can become broken on the luggage carousel.

So, a safer option is to tighten the bag’s straps as much as they can be tightened and then hook them together.

This will prevent the baggage handler from grabbing just one strap. You also want to buckle the hip belt backwards and around the pack, and then finally tape the straps down. 

Choose Soft Bags Where Possible 

While you might think hard-shell bags are more secure, these can easily crack and break upon impact, so rather stick to soft-sided or nylon bags as they are more resistant to falls and impact. 

Take Safety Precautions

Sometimes, despite your best efforts to protect your checked luggage as much as possible, things happen. That’s why it’s good to prepare for the worst-case scenarios by taking photos of your luggage before you head off to the airport.

If your bag ends up lost, airport staff are more likely to be able to locate it if they can see photos of it. It’s also a good idea to use a duplicate tag inside your luggage in case the exterior one gets torn off.

This will help you to locate your bags in the event that they’re misplaced and prove that you own them. 

What To Consider When It Comes To Baggage Weight And Size 

You should contact the airline to find out what their baggage weight and size restrictions are. Then, you’ll need to ensure that you don’t exceed them.

Before measuring your bag, you’ll also want to check the airline’s website for information about the types of bags that are allowed. 

How to measure your bag: 

If your bag has a zipper around the edges and opens up to extend the bag, you might need this extended measurement so measure the bag when it’s both zipped and unzipped to be on the safe side. 

When measuring your bag, you want to ensure that you do so when it’s been packed. The linear inches or centimeters of the bag are most useful because bags come in so many sizes and shapes. Here’s a video offering more info about how to choose the best camping backpack for traveling.

To get your bag’s linear measurement, you want to measure the height, length, and depth of your bag – don’t forget to include the wheels and handles, too! Add the measurements together – this is your linear measurement. FYI, the depth measurement of your bag is taken by measuring the bag from the back to the front. 

When you know the weight restrictions that are in place for luggage, you should weigh your bags on your home scale to be sure that you haven’t packed them with too much stuff. 

• You May Also Like: Your Ultimate Guide For Camping Storage Ideas

Should You Ship Your Camping Gear To Your Location? 

Some campers choose to travel really light and have their camping gear sent to the camping location, or a hotel where they’ll be staying before heading out to the campground.

These are both good options. If you have friends who live close to the campground they might be happy to hold onto your stuff before you get there. 

If the above sounds appealing to you because you’ll be able to travel by plane more comfortably, bear in mind you’ll have to pack the gear in strong cardboard boxes and lots of bubble wrap as well as heavy-duty tape.

Every item should be wrapped in bubble wrap before being put in the shipping boxes. You want the boxes to have the final destination address clearly labelled on them.

Before going ahead, make sure you do your homework to find the best prices and shipping options, and find out about any restrictions that you won’t be allowed to ship. Make sure you get your gear sent to the camping location before you arrive! 

There’s also another option to consider that might help you travel lighter, whether you’re carrying items with you on a flight or shipping them to your camping vacation location ahead of time: you can rent some camping gear in the location where you’re going to be camping.

This can help you out in a big way by preventing you from having tons of stuff you have to try to get to the campground. 

• You May Also Like: Keep Your Gears Dry with These Awesome Tips on How You Can Waterproof Your Backpack

Related Questions 

What size backpack is usually allowed on planes .

While different airlines will have different rules, most of them will state that bags up to 45 linear inches (measuring length, width, and depth combined) or 22 inches long, 14 inches wide, and nine inches deep are allowed. 

Where can you rent camping gear? 

There are various places where you can rent your camping gear so you don’t have to lug it with you across the world. Some places include REI, Arrive Outdoors, and Xscape Pod.

Conclusion 

If your camping spot is far away from home, or in another country altogether, you’re going to need to get onto a plane with your essential gear (or ship it out).

Whichever one you choose, it’s always a good idea to pack as lightly as possible so that you make your life easier.

About Jennifer Schultz

Jennifer is a professional outdoor guide, instructor, and naturalist with a passion for helping people get outside.  She enjoys helping others gain the knowledge and experience they need to get out in nature and enjoy the great outdoors.

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The Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags for (Almost) Any Climate

We tested 18 sleeping bags. only eight of them kept our trekkers toasty and dry all season..

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When this year’s crop of sleeping bags and quilts started rolling in for testing, we were simultaneously awed and terrified at how light and small some of them were. Our packs shrunk significantly, but would we spend our nights shivering under the stars? In some cases, testers did freeze, but we also experienced the hottest summer recorded globally since 1880. These wide-ranging conditions—with nights from just below freezing to the mid-80s—were an excellent testing ground for not only warmth, but also breathability, ventilation, and waterproofing.

The best sleeping bags we chose this year can tackle almost anything mother nature might throw your way this spring, summer, and fall , whether you’re a naked minimalist or love to burrow under puffs of down.

At a Glance

• Best Ultralight Bag: Sea to Summit Spark Pro Down ($549)
• Best Ultralight Quilt: Zpacks Summer Quilt ($339)
• Best for Bikepacking: Katabatic Flex 22 Quilt ($439)
• Best Bag for Quilt Skeptics: Rab Mythic Ultra 120 ($465)
• Best Sizing: REI Co-op Magma 30 ($379)
• Best Budget Women’s Bag: Kelty Cosmic Down 20 ($190)
• Most Sustainable: NEMO Disco 15 Endless Promise ($320)
• Best for Mountaineering: Mountain Hardwear Phantom 30 ($480)

How to Choose a Sleeping Bag

How we test, meet our lead testers.

All gear in this guide was tested by multiple reviewers. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more .

Best Ultralight Bag

Sea to summit spark pro down 30-degree.

$549 at REI

Weight: 1.3 lbs (regular) Size: Regular, Long

Pros and Cons ⊕ Lightweight ⊕ Ultra-compact ⊕ Ample ventilation options ⊗  Expensive

Sea to Summit’s new top-of-the-line bag, a whopping 950-fill power goose down mummy, comes with a price tag that’ll make your eyes water. But for backpackers looking for a unicorn—a roomy, feature-rich mummy that can still get lost in your pack—it’s worth it. Category manager Stephanie Pearson was especially jazzed by the Spark Down Pro’s packed size and weight: roughly the dimensions of a cantaloupe and a bit over a pound—impressive for a bag with a multitude of zippers, thick draft tube, and deep hood pocket.

Three zippers of varying lengths down the sides and at the foot of the bag allow finicky hikers to throw out a leg or switch positions. During an uncharacteristically hot, dry, 60-plus degrees night in Michigan’s Isle Royale National Park in August, Pearson was able to vent every zipper, but still bury her head in the extra-deep hood. One downside to the setup? With so many configurations, some testers found themselves fumbling for the right zipper pull for bathroom breaks. On chillier fall nights while cowboy camping in northern Minnesota, the Spark Pro kept one tester warm down to its rating thanks to the high fill count and a clever baffling system; vertical baffling in the chest and horizontal on the lower half of the body and base of the bag help reduce the shifting of the down throughout.

Testers appreciated the lightweight bag’s cut and materials: It has a roomy fit with 61 inches of shoulder space for restless sleepers and a silky-soft, breathable 10-denier interior nylon fabric. The 10-denier nylon shell is coated with water-resistant treatment at the hood and footbox, providing further protection for the hydrophobic down. Ellie Hoffman, who tested the bag in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, found that the bag was breathable enough that it never became a hot, sweaty mess, even on unexpectedly warm nights.

Best Ultralight Quilt

Zpacks summer quilt.

$339 at Zpacks

Weight: 9.7 oz (standard regular) Widths: Slim, Standard, Broad Lengths: Short, Medium, Long

Pros and Cons ⊕ Extremely lightweight ⊕ Can be used as a winter bag liner ⊗  Extremely fragile

Even in the world of ultralight quilts, this 900-fill power, 40-degree cocoon falls into the fairydust weight class. Achieving a sub-10 ounce weigh-in requires an extra-thin, DWR-treated, 7-denier ripstop nylon shell (most competitors use at least 10-denier), overstuffed water-repellent goose down, and stripped-down features.

Despite its ultralight specs, the quilt is built for maximum warmth. Its bottom 19 inches are horizontally baffled and sewn shut for warmth and weight-savings. The upper two-thirds are vertically baffled—designed to keep the down from migrating to the sides—with an open seam up the middle. The Summer Quilt encloses around the body with one simple snap in the middle and one at the neck, where there’s also an elastic drawstring to eliminate drafts (size up if you like snuggling your face under). A pad attachment strap is sold separately for around $10. It also comes with a Dyneema dry bag, packing down to the size of a foot-long sub.

Our test quilt arrived mid-September just in time for unseasonable humidity in northern Minnesota—ideal hypothermia conditions. Even with rumors of cougars in the area, our testers, in the spirit of minimalism, cowboy camped under cloudy skies using a pad with an R-value of 4 underneath. The upshot: One tester was plenty warm over two nights in humid temps that hovered in the low 50s. The other, though armed with warm baselayers and a beanie, was chilled, and told us she’d be hard pressed to use this near the claimed 40-degree limit. In the humidity, the quilt felt clammy, but didn’t lose t its loft. The thin shell never ripped, but we would not trust it around anything sharp or prickly. When the sun broke out and we lay the bag’s black interior face-up, it dried in record time.

Best for Bikepacking

Katabatic flex 22 900 fill-power.

$439 at Katabatic

Weight: 1.4 lbs (regular) Size: Small, Regular, Long, Small Wide, Regular Wide, Long Wide

Pros and Cons ⊕ Water-resistant ⊕ Compact ⊕ Feature-rich for a quilt ⊗  Expensive

Our bikepacking tester Pat Greehan used the Katabatic for The Wolf, a two-night, 325-mile bikepacking race through northern Minnesota, during which he rode through a torrential thunderstorm that led to a very damp night. Even with all that moisture, Greehan was comfortable, thanks to the quilt’s water-resistant, quick-drying materials. The Flex 22’s goose down is bonded with non-toxic gold particles (really!) to aid in the evaporation of water molecules, and the quilt’s exterior is made from 10-denier Pertex DWR ripstop for added protection, while an interior 20-denier Pertex taffeta liner keeps the skin cool and wicks sweat away.

Greehan was also impressed with the quilt’s simple versatility: The Flex 22 comes with two adjustable cords with clips that wrap around sleeping pads of all sizes, preventing shifting while cinching the sides down for warmth. A zipper in the center lower half opens to allow the quilt to function like a blanket. On cold nights, the quilt snugs up with a drawstring and simple snap-closure.

For such a warm, compact quilt (the Flex 22 packs down to the size of a nerf football) it’s surprisingly feature-rich, with a down-filled draft collar and interior pocket that fits a phone. On Greehan’s final two-night bikepacking test in rainy late October, the temperature dipped into the mid-30s. Even in those hypothermic conditions, he was comfortable wearing just a long-sleeve wool top and bottom. “I didn’t see a negative,” he said. “I found this quilt to be versatile, breathable, and it compresses really well—key components for any sleep system when bikepacking.”

Best for Quilt Skeptics

Rab mythic ultra 120.

$465 at Backcountry $465 at Rab

Weight: 11.64 oz (regular) Size: One size

Pros and Cons ⊕ Ultra-packable ⊕ Lightweight ⊗  Too snug for some testers

The Mythic Ultra 120’s shockingly low weight is due to its design, with insulation only on the top of the bag and in the footbox. Essentially, it’s a quilt with a compact, uninsulated hood and bottom shell—or a quilt with training wheels. To further shave weight, the bag has a horizontal quarter-length zip, 10-denier DWR-treated ripstop nylon shell, and titanium-coated inner lining with tiny fibers to help trap body heat. Because it’s designed to be paired with a 4.0 R-Value pad to achieve its stated (but not ISO-tested) 32-degree rating, it has an integrated elasticized sleeve around the head and middle sections.

When quilt-adverse tester Doug Hoffman heard that this unconventional, 900 fill-power, hydrophobic-treated goose down mummy scrunched to the size of a Nalgene bottle, he quickly nabbed it for a paddling trip to Ontario’s Quetico Provincial Park. After a week sleeping in unseasonably hot and dry 50- to 60-degree temps, Hoffman praised the bag’s silky feel and breathability. “Even in the warm evening temps, I didn’t overheat,” he reported.

Hoffman’s son, however, took it on a week-long backpacking trip to Yosemite National Park and was less enamored. At 6’1”, the younger Hoffman found the bag tight and its quarter-length zipper hard to wiggle in and out of. More importantly, the bag didn’t keep him warm enough camping at 9,100 feet in temps that hit the 40s, even while wearing socks and baselayers.

That said, this bag is ideal in summer for folks roughly 5’10” and shorter who like the swaddling embrace of a mummy bag but want the weight-savings of a quilt.

Best Sizing Options

Rei magma co-op 30.

$379 at REI

Weight: 1.5 lbs (medium) Size: Short, medium, and long, each with an option of narrow and wide versions

Pros and Cons ⊕ Generous size options ⊕ Feature-rich ⊗  Size range might require an in-person visit

When REI Co-op’s designers realized a few years ago that its existing backcountry sleeping bags, which came in a small range of men’s and women’s versions, fit only 50 percent of its demographic, the company ditched its gender-specific bags. This year, the company released nine new unisex bag sizes in its popular Magma line.

The 30-degree, 850-fill goose-down mummy, which packs down to the size of an airplane pillow, was Minnesota-based tester Brian Hayden’s favorite bag in test. At 5’10” and 175 pounds, he found that the roomy, medium-sized Magma’s updated mummy shape with a trapezoidal foot box and snug hood was just right for his body. During an early autumn week when overnight temps dropped to 42 degrees, he snoozed away, cowboy camping under the stars without so much as a shiver. 15-denier, DWR-coated recycled nylon on both the interior and exterior kept the morning dew from soaking in and wicked moisture away. Extra details like a roomy footbox, a beefy, easy-to-use two-way zipper that allowed him to vent near his feet, and a down draft collar at the front of the bag to keep the neck cozy and the zipper off the face, made this Hayden’s dream bag.

Best Budget Women’s Bag

Kelty women’s cosmic down 20.

$190 at Backcountry

Weight: 3.3 lbs (regular) Size: Regular

Pros and Cons ⊕ Affordable ⊕ Silky-soft ⊗  Heavy

Despite its trendy appeal, ultralight gear isn’t a necessity for most backpackers. If you’re comfortable carrying a few pounds, and all you need is a cozy bag that can easily handle three seasons, the updated Kelty Cosmic Down 20 ticks all the boxes. A perennial favorite for female-identifying backpackers, the Cosmic Down is now slightly roomier, with an expanded footbox, and also more sustainable, with a durable 20-denier nylon taffeta shell and silky-soft 50-denier polyester taffeta interior—both 100-percent recycled.

We tested the 550-fill down, semi-rectangular mummy while canoe-camping in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, where temps dipped into the low 40s overnight. By unzipping the two-way zipper from the bottom and letting fresh air circulate in the footbox, our tester didn’t feel overly hot. On a second northern Minnesota overnight later in the fall, when the temps dipped into the mid-30s, that same tester appreciated the draft tube, collar, and tight-cinching hood. All bundled up, the 20-degree comfort rating felt right on—we wouldn’t want to take it into much colder conditions. The next morning, the DWR-treated shell easily shrugged off condensation (the down itself is not treated).

Newly-added wiggle room in the already-generous hip and shoulder regions (both 58-inches) was great for folks with hourglass-shaped bodies, but our 5’9” tester found the bag to be a bit too short. It’s also more than twice the weight of other three-season bags, only scrunching down to the size of an XXL paper towel roll. But for an easy paddling trip where space and weight were not an issue, this bag was a cozy, budget-friendly no-brainer.

Most Sustainable

Nemo disco 15 endless promise.

$320 at REI (Women’s) $320 at REI (Men’s)

Weight: 2.7 lbs (men’s regular) Size: Men’s regular and long, women’s regular and long

Pros and Cons ⊕ Well-priced ⊕ Relatively sustainable ⊕ Comfortable ⊗  No interior pocket for small items

The updated NEMO Disco was the crowd-pleaser of our test batch this year for myriad reasons: The mummy has a roomy spoon shape, which is more spacious at the elbows and knees, making it exceptionally comfortable, especially to side and stomach sleepers. Two multi-position ventilation zippers on top of the bag—in addition to the full-length side zipper—and an oversized draft collar offered multiple ways to regulate temps. And the interior polyester fabric felt soft, silky, and cool to the touch. This is old news for Disco lovers. What’s laudable is that our testers still feel this way when almost the entire bag is now fully recyclable.

Everything—from the face fabric to the down—is recycled when you send it back to NEMO at the end of its life. To prolong that life, you can also send the bag to the brand’s in-house repair shop for patching. If you relinquish your bag in serviceable condition, it’ll be resold. On top of that, the Disco’s lining, PFAS-free DWR-treated polyester shell, and waterproof, PET-coated hood and footbox are all made of recycled materials themselves. For a piece of plastic as large as a sleeping bag, we think NEMO’s program is especially important, and leagues ahead of most other brands.

Tester Jen Pearson used the bag on two separate trips into Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Canada’s Quetico. When she slept in it during a torrential downpour with a wet, tired, white lab snuggled next to her, the bag stayed mostly dry with the exception of some clamminess inside the toebox, which dried quickly in the sun the next morning. The neck flap was comfortable, not claustrophobic, adding extra warmth and coziness in the coldest hours of her midsummer testing, when temps dipped near the bag’s 27-degree comfort rating. “It kept both me and my dog quite cozy through a cold, wet night and cool on an unseasonably warm night,” says Pearson. “I slept great!”

Best for Mountaineering

Mountain hardwear phantom 30.

$480 at Mountain Hardwear

Weight: 1.4 lbs (regular)

Size: Short, regular, long

Pros and Cons ⊕ Extremely compact ⊕ Dries out quickly ⊗  Snug fit

Mountain Hardwear’s Phantom 30 has long been a go-to bag for mountaineers and backpackers for its packability-to-warmth ratio. And while the designers didn’t want to mess with a proven classic, this year’s improvements in fabric and design made it even more desirable, according to tester Hansi Johnson, who used the updated Phantom 30 while on a fall fishing trip to Minnesota’s Voyageurs National Park. His reasons were simple: at a pound and a half, it still provided the warmth he needed on a sub-freezing, crystal-clear night sleeping sans tent on the top deck of a houseboat.

Overall, the bag is more durable and weighs less than the old Phantom, packing down to the size of about two Nalgenes. The 800-fill goose-down insulation and 10-denier recycled nylon shell fabric are the same, but Mountain Hardwear replaced the taffeta lining with a 15-denier ripstop nylon lining that’s more durable, comfortable, and wraps around the hood for added protection. Because the lining is black and absorbs sunlight, the bag dries out faster, too. Mountain Hardwear also replaced the fabric along the zipper with a tough, lightweight 40-denier fabric.

During Johnson’s trip to Voyageurs, temps dipped well below freezing, which left him with a shimmering coat of frost in the morning. Despite the early season freeze, says Johnson, “the bag kept me warm and dried quickly in the sun. It’s still a no frills, go get ‘em bag.”

Finding the ideal sleeping bag or quilt is a little like finding the ideal life partner. When you start looking, the options might seem overwhelming. But the more you focus on what you really want, the easier it is to narrow down. Below are four questions to ask yourself as you search for your perfect sleeping mate.

In What Season(s) Will I Use the Bag?

Bags generally fall into three temperature categories: Summer (rated 30 degrees F and warmer); three-season (rated between 15 and 20 degrees); and winter (rated 15 degrees and lower—some expedition bags are rated as low as -40 degrees). These temperature ratings are based on “average” sleepers and don’t consider external factors like the thickness and rating of your sleeping pad; climatic factors like wind or humidity; or how quickly your body regulates heat loss or gain. Unless you know that you consistently sleep hot, we recommend buying a bag that’s rated 10 degrees warmer than your expected low. You can always open zippers, but making a bag warmer requires extra layers.

What Activity Will I Be Doing?

Recreationalists who need ultralight gear, like bikepackers, thru-hikers, or ultra-runners will want a bag that offers maximum warmth for minimal weight—something they can stuff down to the size of a Nalgene and jam into a pack. Quilts are a popular choice for those trying to cut weight. For shorter backpacking trips or where weight isn’t a priority, you can find considerable savings and comfort in a bag that is slightly heavier or bulkier due to lower fill power or cheaper materials.

What Type of Insulation Is Best for Me?

Down bags are generally warmer for their weight and more compressible than bags with synthetic insulation. But down bags get wet, take longer to dry out than synthetic bags, and lose insulating capacity. Many manufacturers use down processed with a hydrophobic chemical that prevents it from absorbing as much water. Others keep the insulation dry with a water-repellant finish or fabric. Pay attention to fill power. That number measures the volume taken up by the amount of down in your sleeping bag; the more loft your sleeping bag has, the more efficiently it will trap warm air. It will also weigh less and pack down smaller than bags with a lower fill power rated to the same temperature. Synthetic bags are more affordable, and therefore an excellent choice for new campers who are unsure how often they want to sleep outside, or backpackers who are headed to wet environments.

How Much Space Do I Need?

Bags come in many shapes and sizes—rectangles, mummies, modified mummies, and double bags. Mummies are warmer and lighter-weight than rectangular bags, but can also be claustrophobic. Rectangular bags are excellent for restless sleepers who need to move and don’t have space or weight constraints. Some quilts can be opened up to act as comforters, although they require a warm sleeping pad and don’t come with hoods. Women-specific bags often come in modified mummy shapes to accommodate the curvier parts of a woman’s body. Doubles are simply a sleeping bag built for two, although many solo bags can be zipped together to create a double bag.

• Number of Testers: 12
• Number of Bags Tested: 18
• Number of Nights Slept Outside: 97
• Coldest Night: High 20s
• Warmest Night: Mid 80s
• Highest Elevation: 12,500 feet

Despite the record heat this summer, our testers still managed to test in a wide range of scenarios and temperatures. They traveled to three countries and eight states: from sea level to the Colorado Rockies, and from the dry heat of the Utah desert to the high humidity at Isle Royale National Park in the middle of Lake Superior.

This year’s testers ranged in age from 17 to 62. Their experiences varied from never having previously slept in a bag to practically living in one all summer. Testers used these quilts and bags while bikepack racing in northern Minnesota, climbing in the French Alps, and backcountry camping in Yosemite National Park and North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest. They also took a week-long fishing trip to Voyageurs National Park, a road-trip through Montana, Utah, and Idaho, and paddled from Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness into Canada’s Quetico Provincial Park.

When each tester finished using a bag, they filled out a form, gathering thoughts, critiques, and opinions about each item’s warmth-to-weight ratio, ventilation options, zipper quality, comfort, and many other factors (and hopefully washed the bags before sending them on to other testers). The bags that rose to the top were tested by Outside’s gear editors. From there we compared notes and picked the winners.

Backpacking sleeping bag and pad category manager Stephanie Pearson has slept in a cave in Tasmania, in a tent at Mount Everest Base Camp, and under the stars while lost in the Australian Outback. She’s a fitful sleeper.

Patrick Greehan is a coach for the Duluth Devo Mountain Bike Program. He races gravel, mountain, and fat bikes with a focus on long distance and ultra events. An avid bikepacker, he camps year-round in Northern Minnesota.

Brian Hayden has slept in an emergency snow shelter in Antarctica and in a tent in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. No matter where the founder of the Duluth Devo Mountain Bike Program lays his head, he can fall asleep in about ten seconds flat.

Hansi Johnson is a lifelong backcountry camping and travel enthusiast. He spends a lot of time wandering the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and beyond regardless of the season. Hansi works for the Minnesota Land Trust advocating for Minnesota’s Natural spaces. He lives in Thomson, Minnesota, with his wife Margaret and his son Tae.

Ellie Hoffman is a University of Wisconsin graduate and in her first year of Physician Assistant School. She’s started camping in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness when she was seven months old.

Dalton Roth is in his second year of medical school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Chicago native spent a week in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in August, the first time he’s slept in a sleeping bag.

Thea Kramer is a senior at Duluth East High School where she races on the Nordic ski team and the Duluth Devo Mountain Bike Team. In her free time, Kramer loves to camp, backpack, and road trip through the west.

When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small commission. We do not accept money for editorial gear reviews. Read more about our policy.

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Maybe it would be easier to just rent one from the trekking company?

If your sleeping bag is too big to go in your luggage will it fit in the bag that the porters carry. For our trek we are restricted to one bag no more than 8kg including sleeping bag. We have invested in lightweight goose down bags that pack very small but are very warm.

My sleeping bag is a down bag. I just thought that it might take up too much space in my 22" rolling bag.

Of course it's easier to rent but if you feel better about using your own bag you'll have to deal with bringing along for the inca trail and also throughout the rest of the trip.

We rented sleeping bags from our trek operator, Llama Path, mainly because of the hassles of bringing our own.

We did bring silk mummy liners because the idea of sleeping in a bag not my own creeped me out, even though they said bags are washed between uses. The silk liner takes up about as much room as an apple in your bag, & feels so luxurious when you crawl into it!

The bags (upgraded to 4-season bag) we rented were very basic, not down, but perfectly adequate for the job. We stayed plenty warm.

I am seriously considering renting -- less hassle, less to deal with. I would also purchase a liner in that case as well. Thanks for everyone's responses.

If you have a down bag, it should compress to a fairly small size in a stuff sack. I carried mine in my carry on bag, which was smaller than 22". Are you planning to hire a porter, or will you be carrying your own stuff. The main reason I took mine was because I carried my own stuff and had invested in a light sleeping bag. I found the ones they rent out to be a little on the heavier side.

We are hiring personal porters.

I have also consired carrying my own stuff but several people on this forum have reccommended against it. I don't see why it would be so hard.

I have a lightweight, down bag that packs to the size of a loaf of bread, and I can't really think of anything else that would add a ton of space or weight to my bag other than clothes, and maybe a flashlight and camera. Did you have any issues doing the trek carrying everything yourself? I mean if the porters carry the tent and cooking gear and what not, I really don't see why my carry on bag to fly with can't be the same one I hike the trail with.

Add your sleeping mat & change of clothes (in case you get wet, muddy or too sweaty) & toiletries & warmer clothes for night to what you would carry.

We did use our carry-ons for the trail (daypacks), but found that every ounce counts when you are at altitude & climbing stairs incessantly. Porters are worth every penny.

Ridethewind, I just saw your message. My reply may not be relevant anymore, but might help others who have the same question.

I did rent a backpack at SAS to carry my stuff. My bag weighed around 9kilos ( ~20pounds). All the small stuff does add up - the heaviest I think was the sleeping pad. The one that SAS provided was heavy and I was regretting not getting my own pad that was much lighter.

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10 top-rated travel pillows for long trips

Between crowded seats, crying babies and limited leg room, traveling on long flights can be exhausting and uncomfortable. A perfect pillow makes the trek slightly easier to bear and can help you get some sleep during those travel periods. To help you narrow down which travel pillow is right for you, we consulted sleep and travel experts about what to know before shopping, plus we compiled highly rated options to consider.

SKIP AHEAD What are the benefits of travel pillows? | How we picked the best travel pillows | The best travel pillows to consider in 2024 | How to shop for travel pillows

Selected. Our top picks

What are the benefits of travel pillows?

Whether your airplane seat is too small or your bus ride endures several bumps, it may be difficult to relax on a long trip. Add noisy conversations and frequent overhead announcements and you have multiple barriers in your way to getting a good nap.

One of the main reasons people struggle to sleep while traveling — especially on international flights with time changes — is because they’re trying to sleep at a time with “low circadian and homeostatic drive” (a time when they would not normally sleep, so they’re not as tired), says Dr. Andrew Varga, a board-certified physician at The Mount Sinai Integrative Sleep Center . The other factor, according to Varga, is the sleeping space, which is usually cramped and doesn’t let you lie recumbent or change positions, except in typically pricey business- and first-class cabins.

“Not everyone is an equally deep sleeper, and people with any sleep issues at baseline will often have a harder time sleeping in a louder and less comfortable environment — such as an airplane,” says board-certified psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist Dr. Alex Dimitriu . He noted that posture plays a big role in the discomfort we feel — and as anyone who has slept on a plane knows, “the head tends to fall off to the side or forward, which is both uncomfortable and can cause neck pain, and [can] even make breathing less efficient.”

“Sleeping upright is not at all a natural position,” says Dr. Mayank Shukla , a board-certified pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist in New York City. “Our head weighs almost 10 pounds and flops around the neck when sleeping upright, leading to aches and pain with all that muscle strain.”

Experts noted that travel pillows can provide support for the neck and head, alleviating some pain and discomfort when combating an upright sleeping position while traveling. They’re typically portable, lightweight, ergonomically designed and come in different sizes to fit every type of person, plus some have additional high-tech features like temperature regulation. This is an ideal tool for frequent flyers who hope to maintain a semi-regular sleeping schedule.

How we picked the best travel pillows

The best travel pillows are ones that are comfortable, supportive and easy to carry around, according to our experts. When shopping for a quality travel pillow, they recommend considering the following factors:

• Inflatable vs. non-inflatable : You can adjust inflatable pillows to your desired firmness, and easily store them away when deflated. With non-inflatable pillows, on the other hand, you can fill them with more cushioned materials to promote comfort including memory foam and poly-fiber fill.
• Portability : Look for features like straps (that you can attach to your luggage ) or an accompanying pouch (that you can pack it down into) for ease while on the go.

select Minimize chaos on your next trip with these expert-approved accessories

The best travel pillows to consider in 2024.

Below, we rounded up a selection of the best travel pillows based on NBC Select staff recommendations, ratings and expert advice.

Best overal travel pillow: Cabeau

Cabeau evolution s3 sleep pillow.

• Straps allow for attachment to headrests
• Adjustable drawstrings
• Comes with carrying case
• Large size may be uncomfortable to some

Former NBC Select editor Christina Colizza says she loves this travel pillow from Cabeau because it prevents slouching by attaching to the plane’s headrest. “As someone who is [very tall], I’ll take all the help I can in getting some sleep while flying, and this pillow makes a huge difference,” she says. “Plus, it compresses down into a small pouch, which makes it convenient enough to schlep around airports.” The headrest attachment also makes this an ideal option for long road trips. This travel pillow comes in five colors and patterns including indigo and galaxy.

Fill material : Memory foam | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Travel bag | Rating : 4.3-star average rating from 7,652 reviews on Amazon  

Best splurge travel pillow: Ostrichpillow

Ostrichpillow go neck pillow.

• Full 360-degree neck support
• Compresses for easy packing
• Fit around neck may vary

Ostrichpillow offers a variety of unique pillow alternatives, from a napping option to a mini hand pillow . This memory foam one has raised edges for neck support and comes with a velcro strap that allows you to customize its fit. The travel pillow can also compress down to snugly fit inside the included travel bag.

Fill material : Memory foam | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Travel bag | Rating : 4-star average rating from 1,876 reviews on Amazon

Best versatile travel pillow: Huzi

Huzi infinity travel pillow.

• Very versatile
• Bulky: can be hard to carry
• May be difficult to store

If you’re looking for a pillow with versatility, this option from Huzi may be just what you need. It’s made from a soft, anti-bacterial nylon bamboo that keeps you cool and airy as you sleep, according to the brand. The best part, however, is its scarf-like, 360-degree design — you can move and adjust the pillow however you’d like to target specific areas like your neck, back, chin and more. It can also be wrapped around your head to help muffle noise, or used as support when resting against a plane or car window.

Fill material : Microfiber | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : None | Rating : 4.3-star average rating from 6,307 reviews on Amazon

Best travel pillow for chin support: Bcozzy

Bcozzy chin supporting travel pillow.

• Stops your head from falling forward
• Good value for price
• Full wrap around can feel constrictive

Few things can jolt you awake faster than your head falling forward while you’re seated. This ergonomic neck pillow offers an adjustable front loop for chin support and a flat back to avoid pushing your head forward. It includes a snap strap that you can hook to your luggage or hang up in your car. The pillow comes in multiple colors and you can choose between various sizes ranging from kids small to extra-large .

Fill material : Polyester | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Snap closure  | Rating : 4.2-star average rating from 29,016 reviews on Amazon

Best travel pillow for back support: SmartTravel

Smarttravel inflatable lumbar travel pillow.

• Easily inflates and deflates
• Can be used on back as well as neck
• Hand-wash only

NBC Select managing editor Leah Ginsberg says she likes a lumbar pillow for added back support during long flights. This inflatable pillow serves as both a neck and back pillow, and is designed to fit your body’s natural curves and reduce pressure on the spine and neck, according to the brand. It also comes with an expandable mounting band to easily fasten it to headrests.

Fill material : Inflatable | Machine-washable cover : No | Portable features : Travel bag  | Rating : 4.3-star average rating from 1,262 reviews on Amazon

Best inflatable travel pillow: Sunany

Sunany inflatable neck pillow.

• Comes with accessories
• Quickly inflates and deflates
• Not very soft

Designed to follow the natural curve of your neck and body, this travel pillow’s ergonomic shape can soothe discomfort and reduce pressure points around your head and neck, according to the brand. You can also place your arms and head inside one of the four holes to support a sleeping position that’s most comfortable for you. It comes with a pouch for storage, along with a matching eye mask and earplugs.

Fill material : Inflatable | Machine-washable cover : No | Portable features : Travel bag | Rating : 4.2-star average rating from 6,696 reviews on Amazon

Best travel pillow for single-side sleepers: Trtl

Trtl travel pillow.

• Soft, cozy exterior
• Lightweight and easy to pack
• Only supports one side at a time

For those who don’t find enough support from traditional U-shaped travel pillows, this uniquely-shaped option comes with a hidden inner support that can hold your head and neck at any position that’s comfortable for you. You can adjust the support to contour your neck, shoulder or jaw, while the fleece exterior is soft and machine-washable.

Fill material: Mesh fabric | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Flat design for easy packing | Rating : 4.0-star average rating from 35,371 reviews on Amazon

Best budget travel pillow: Wolf Essentials

Wolf essentials microfiber neck pillow.

Wolf Essentials Microfiber Travel Pillow

• Very affordable option
• Machine-washable
• Thickness may cause fit issues

This neck pillow’s fleece cover provides soft, thermal comfort, which is perfect for when the plane or vehicle gets cold. It’s entirely machine-washable (not just the cover) and comes with a snap closure to keep it from sliding off of your neck or to connect it to your luggage. 

Fill material : Polyester blend | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Snap closure | Rating : 4.4-star average rating from 10,911 reviews on Amazon

Other travel pillows we love

Crafty world travel neck pillow.

• No on-neck fastener

This option comes with a removable and machine-washable cover, so you can easily wash it. It’s made with a memory foam interior and a velour fabric exterior for a soft and comfortable feel, according to the brand. The pillow also has an elastic strap to help you connect it to your suitcase for extra portability. It comes in four colors — black, blue, gray and purple. 

Fill material : Memory foam | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Elastic strap | Rating : 4.3-star average rating from 5,558 reviews on Amazon

Mlvoc Travel Pillow

• Includes eye masks, earplugs and carrying bag
• Affordably priced
• Bulky; may have issues with fit

With its ergonomic, curved design for neck and head support, this travel pillow comes wrapped in a cover that is both machine-washable and sweat-resistant. The travel pillow comes with a contoured eye mask and earplugs, and can fold down to half its size to fit neatly into the included travel bag. Plus, the built-in snap strap can also latch onto your suitcase for easy portability.

Fill material : Memory foam | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Travel bag | Rating : 4.3-star average rating from 33,692 reviews on Amazon

select Whether you’re going away for a week or a weekend, there’s a highly-rated bag on Amazon for you.

How to shop for a travel pillow.

The best travel pillow is one that you find the most comfortable to use for extended periods of time. Ideally, Dimitriu recommends testing out the pillow beforehand to see whether it’s comfortable and how it changes shape.

“The emphasis for most users should be to see how comfortably the pillow lets you rest with your back to the seat and without your head falling forward,” he says. And while larger pillows tend to provide more cushioning, he noted “airplane seats are tight, and there is such a thing as too much pillow.”

Below, we highlighted two of the most important considerations when shopping for travel pillows: inflatability and portability.

Inflatable vs. non-inflatable

When going on a long-haul trip, most travelers don’t want another thing to lug around. “Inflatable pillows may allow for more cushion and can fold to a smaller size,” Dimitriu says, adding that they won’t take up too much space in your luggage. They’re also typically more adjustable — you can change the amount of air to get more or less firmness, depending on your comfort level.

Non-inflatable travel pillows include various types of filling material including memory foam, polyester fiberfill and microbeads. While the different materials can make it easier to find a more comfortable fit, non-inflatable pillows tend to be bulkier than inflatable ones. When it comes to cleaning, both inflatable and non-inflatable pillows typically have removable covers that you can machine wash or spot clean.

Portability

If you’re on a multipart journey or backpacking through Europe, for example, the size and portability of your travel pillow may be just as important off a plane as it is on it. Some travel pillows have straps that you can attach to your luggage, while with others you can fold to fit inside a small bag.

Meet our experts

At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Dr. Andrew Varga is a board-certified physician at The Mount Sinai Integrative Sleep Center .
• Dr. Alex Dimitriu is a board-certified psychiatrist, sleep medicine specialist and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in Menlo Park, California.
• Dr. Mayank Shukla is a board-certified pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist in New York City.

Why trust NBC Select?

Mili Godio is an updates editor at Select and covers a range of sleep topics including weighted blankets , sunrise alarm clocks and blackout curtains .  Ashley Morris is an associate SEO reporter for NBC Select covering skin care, lifestyle and more. For this story, Godio spoke to three sleep medicine experts to get their recommendations on how to shop for travel pillows and their benefits. She also researched dozens of travel pillows on the market that are in line with experts’ guidance.

Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance , tech and tools , wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.

Mili Godio is an updates editor for Select on NBC News.

The Best Carry-On Luggage and Weekender Bags for Spring Travel: Away, Samsonite, Calpak and More

The right luggage or carry-on bag for spring break travel can help make any trip as smooth as possible.

If you're gearing up for your spring travel plans, you may be searching for the perfect luggage to accompany you on your upcoming getaway.  Carry-on luggage  — including weekender bags and spinners — is probably the best way to travel if you want to beat the lines at busy airports, especially if you're traveling on a Friday.

No matter where your travel destinations are, one thing's for sure: the right luggage will make all the difference. We've found the best luggage to shop for all of your travels, from spacious duffle bags and practical backpacks to large and luxurious carry-ons  for your next flight.

Need a new tote bag to toss everything in for an upcoming Memorial Day weekend getaway or a bigger carry-on for a tropical vacation? The Beis Weekender Bag will fit all your essentials and help you travel in style. Need a new go-to suitcase for every travel situation? Away’s  standard carry on traveler bag has plenty of packing space while still fitting in the overhead bin. Trying to avoid the checked baggage fees and long bag drop line? The Samsonite Underseat Carry-On Luggage helps you save money and time by going straight to TSA.

Below, we've rounded up the best carry-on luggage and weekender bags this year to take along on your next trip.

The Best Carry-On Suitcases for 2024

Samsonite freeform carry-on spinner.

Not only is the Samsonite Hardside Spinner perfectly sized and extremely durable, it's also incredible lightweight so you won't have to strain putting it in the overhead airplane compartment. With all kinds of pockets, you can easily organize all your belongings confidently. 

$200   $150

Away The Carry-On

This Away bag boasts flashy features such as a durable polycarbonate hard shell, spinner wheels and a TSA-approved, ejectable USB charger. The classic rolling hardside luggage with a retractable handle is designed to fit in most major airlines' overhead compartments, making it a great go-to Carry-On bag for travel, regardless of your destination.

Take OFF Luggage Personal Item Suitcase 2.0

The perfect-sized luggage that doubles as a personal item — just pop off the wheels and slide it under your seat. 

Rockland Melbourne Hardside Expandable Spinner Wheel Luggage

This Rockland Melbourne Spinner Luggage makes traveling easier by being extremely lightweight. While protecting your items, the wheels rotate 360 degrees for a smooth and seamless stride in the airport. Although it is compact, this carry-on luggage has the ability to hold everything you need for a short vacation.

Travelpro Platinum Elite Hardside Expandable Spinner

Travelpro is a pilot-founded brand that you've likely seen used by flight crews. Travel stress-free with the Travelpro hardside carry-on luggage that effortlessly fits in the overhead bins of major domestic airlines, thanks to rigorous sizer bin testing and enhanced packing capacity. The PrecisionGlide System delivers impeccable control and a seamless rolling experience, so you can get through the airport with ease.

$370   $314

Samsonite Underseat Carry-On Spinner with USB Port

Compact and convenient, this soft-sided luggage can slide smoothly under the seat in front of you or be tucked away in an overhead bin. The bag's main compartment can fit several outfits and a spare pair of shoes. Interior pockets lining the compartment will keep your toiletries organized. The telescoping handle and rolling wheels make this bag easy to navigate around a crowded airport, making it a great choice for the frequent flyer looking to pack light.

$145   $100

Monos Carry-On

Traveling is a breeze with the minimalist Monos carry-on, designed to fit in the overheard bin of almost any flight.

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Expandable Luggage

This Travelpro Maxlite softside luggage has spinner wheels and is lightweight, making it easy to maneuver airport terminals and your flight's overhead storage bins. 

$170   $144

The Best Travel Backpacks and Totes for 2024 

Samsonite detour travel backpack.

Built to protect your belongings from the elements, the Detour Travel Backpack has enough capacity for your business, overnight or weekend trips.

$150   $105

Béis Travel Tote

The Beis Travel Tote, from Shay Mitchell's baggage line, can conveniently slot into place atop a suitcase with its trolley sleeve, but can also be carried on its own with a detachable shoulder strap, and top handles designed to rest comfortably on your shoulder. This bag boasts a bottom zip shoe compartment, padded tech sleeve and multiple exterior and interior pockets. 

Calpak Luka Backpack

With multiple storage compartments including a separate laptop sleeve and a space to store your shoes that has its own exterior access, this lightweight Luka backpack will help you stay organized on the go.

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack

This travel backpack comes with a weight-distributing, low-profile harness system and a 35L capacity, making it suitable for carry-on use. It is designed with a full-wrap zipper opening on the main compartment, along with large and subdivided zippered mesh compartments on the sides, providing convenient packing options. Additionally, its attractive design ensures you can easily identify your bag wherever you go.

Troubadour Featherweight Tote

A modern classic and easy-access bag. This Featherweight Tote features a light and waterproof fabric with vegan leather handles, and is perfect for gym trips or a day out!

Dagne Dover Jemi Puff Tote

Whether you're traveling to work or a weekend getaway, this lightweight tote is perfect with pockets for days to keep all your belongings organized. 

The Best Weekender Bags for 2024 

Lululemon go getter bag 2.0.

This sleek, modern bag looks like a tote and duffel rolled into one. There's also a little strap in the back that you can attach to your luggage. 

Away The Everywhere Bag

Away Travel's The Everywhere Bag lives up to its name: you can take it everywhere from work to the gym to a weekend away. It also pairs nicely with The Carry-On and The Bigger Carry-On.

Calpak Stevyn Duffel

Enjoy the benefits of a large bottom compartment, ideal for stowing shoes or enhancing the organization of your items.The roomy main compartment comes with interior pockets, ensuring you have plenty of space to store your belongings in a well-arranged manner.

SwissGear Apex Travel Duffle Bag

This duffle bag will come in handy during your next vacation. You can wear it multiple ways and it has reinforced sides to keep your belonging secure.

Dagne Dover Landon Carryall Bag

For weekends away, this extra-large duffle includes a laptop sleeve, shoe bag and plenty of space for all your essentials.

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Moscow Bans Sleeping in Airports

Travellers stuck in Moscow’s biggest airports due to a long layover or flight cancellation should give up any thought about sleeping in the airports, as the Moscow regional Duma (government) has enacted new passenger...

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This Airline is Now Charging Peak and Off-Peak Checked Luggage Fees. Will Others Follow?

By Jessica Puckett

Bad news for the overpackers among us: It’s now even more expensive to check baggage on one of the most popular airlines in the US .

Following a recent spate of US airlines raising their checked bag fees in early March, JetBlue is once again raising its prices for the service. Under the airline’s latest policy, JetBlue plans to charge as much as $50 for the first checked bag and as much as $70 for the second bag during “peak” travel periods, including the majority of this summer .

A JetBlue spokesperson told Condé Nast Traveler in March that raising checked baggage fees is one step the airline is taking to help return the company to profitability and cover the increased costs of transporting bags. “By adjusting fees for added services that only certain customers use, we can keep base fares low and ensure customer favorites like seatback TVs and high-speed Wi-Fi remain free for everyone,” the spokesperson said, adding that the first checked bag is free for JetBlue Plus cardmembers, and Mosaic customers can check two bags free of charge.

For everyone else, here's what you should know about JetBlue's new checked bag fees—and whether or not other airlines might follow suit.

How does JetBlue’s new checked bag policy work?

The new fee policy operates on a sliding scale, with prices jumping during “peak” travel windows and dipping during times that are considered “off-peak.”

For most economy fares—including Blue, Blue Basic, and Blue Extra—the airline’s checked bag fees now range from $35 to $50 for the first checked bag, and from $50 to $70 for the second checked bag. The full pricing breakdown is available on the luggage page of JetBlue’s site.

According to JetBlue’s website, the airline considers the following days as peak travel periods over the next year: April 11 to April 29, 2024; June 20 to September 3, 2024; November 21 to December 2, 2024; December 19, 2024 to January 6, 2025; February 13 to February 24, 2025; and April 3 to April 28, 2025.

All other days are considered off-peak travel days. Looking at the date ranges for peak travel, they do fall during some busy stretches, including the spring break travel period, almost the entire stretch of summer travel, Thanksgiving week, peak Christmas travel , as well as President’s Day 2025.

Has this type of fee policy ever been used before?

“Variable pricing is hardly new,” says Gary Leff, a travel specialist who writes the aviation blog View From the Wing . “It’s just unique for checked baggage.”

Some airlines use a sliding scale of fees for extra charges like seat selection and pricing for award trips using frequent flier miles —the more in-demand the route or travel window, the higher the cost for these services. “Some of the ultra low-cost carriers vary their bag fees as well, but it's not rigidly spelled out in the same way,” says Brett Snyder , president of Cranky Concierge , a firm that provides travel planning and airline assistance.

Will other airlines adopt JetBlue’s new checked baggage fee policy?

It’s not yet clear if charging extra for checked luggage during peak travel periods is something that will spread throughout the industry. But airlines do tend to copy each other in these areas: When one carrier raises fees, others generally follow in a domino effect—like travelers saw happen with baggage fees in early March.

“I would never be surprised to see an airline adopt a new method of charging fees that would allow it to increase revenues,” says Snyder. “This plan allows JetBlue to keep bag fees at the same low level as other airlines during off-peak times. But during peak times, it can charge more and make more money since it knows people are more likely to have to travel anyway.”

But since most major air carriers raised the cost of checking a bag only weeks ago, they might be slower to adopt JetBlue’s model, possibly waiting and watching to see how it performs. “JetBlue was first with the most recent spate of baggage fee increases, just two months ago. Since the major carriers just increased bag fees after JetBlue did, I don’t expect them to follow suit at least right away,” Leff says.

Traveler reached out to major US airlines to ask whether they might adopt a sliding scale of fees in the future, but most declined to comment, and others did not respond by time of publication.

What do these fees mean for the industry, and how can travelers avoid them?

Checked bag fees are part of the bread and butter of airlines’ profits. US airlines collectively earned nearly $5.5 billion from checked bag fees in the first nine months of 2023 alone, according to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics . During that time period, American Airlines brought in more than $1 billion in the charges just by itself.

Airlines want to keep these fees as profitable as possible. “There’s an argument for charging more for checked bags when the capacity of aircraft to carry them is limited, for instance on routes where people tend to check a lot of baggage,” says Leff. (For its part, JetBlue has said the price increases are in part due to higher wages and the surging price of fuel, among other inflationary pressures.)

If travelers want to avoid the sliding scale of fees, there are a few key points to pay attention to in JetBlue’s new policy. “There is a discount for booking checked bags in advance instead of waiting to do it until the last minute,” Snyder says. Under the new rules, passengers can save up to $10 if they pay for a checked bag more than 24 hours before departure (essentially, before check-in opens). “If someone has to check a bag, they should do it in advance. Otherwise, the only way to avoid this is by not checking a bag. That might mean stuffing everything into a carry-on , or looking into shipping services that send you baggage ahead of you,” Snyder says.

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The trains and stations of the Moscow Metro

2 Comments · Posted by Alex Smirnov in Cities , Travel , Video

The Moscow Metro is the third most intensive subway system in the world after Tokyo and Seoul subways. The first line was opened on May 15, 1935. Since 1955, the metro has the name of V.I. Lenin.

The system consists of 12 lines with a total length of 305.7 km. Forty four stations are recognized cultural heritage. The largest passenger traffic is in rush hours from 8:00 to 9:00 and from 18:00 to 19:00.

Cellular communication is available on most of the stations of the Moscow Metro. In March 2012, a free Wi-Fi appeared in the Circle Line train. The Moscow Metro is open to passengers from 5:20 to 01:00. The average interval between trains is 2.5 minutes.

The fare is paid by using contactless tickets and contactless smart cards, the passes to the stations are controlled by automatic turnstiles. Ticket offices and ticket vending machines can be found in station vestibules.

Tags:  Moscow city

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Tomás · August 27, 2012 at 11:34 pm

The Moscow metro stations are the best That I know, cars do not.

Alberto Calvo · September 25, 2016 at 8:57 pm

Great videos! Moscow Metro is just spectacular. I actually visited Moscow myself quite recently and wrote a post about my top 7 stations, please check it out and let me know what you think! :)

http://www.arwtravels.com/blog/moscow-metro-top-7-stations-you-cant-miss

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