If you have the right sleeping bags, tent and gear, then summer camping is one of the best parts of living in Kansas.

Your camping equipment can make your experience enjoyable, or something you never want to do again.

Picking the Right Sleeping Bag for Hot Climates

As you know, Kansas summers are hotter than Hades, so picking the right sleeping bag is extremely important.

Laying under the stars isn’t as enjoyable when your soaking in sweat because you have a sleeping bag that’s made for Rocky Mountain camping.

Here are a few tips for choosing a sleeping bag that will keep you comfortable during warm nights.

1. Go Light – Buy a sleeping bag that’s rated down to 50 degrees or so. It’ll be labelled with something like 55/13, meaning 55° Fahrenheit / 13° Celsius. These sleeping bags are designed for warmer climates.
2. Bring Layers – If the sleeping bag isn’t enough, you can throw on pajamas, an extra blanket or a sleeping bag liner.
3. Synthetic Interior Fabric – Flannel will be too warm for those hot summer nights. Get a synthetic fabric lined (nylon) sleeping bag to maintain comfortable temps.
4. Go Even Lighter – You can go even lighter with a single-layered fleece sleeping bag. You may need an extra blanket just for back-up.
5. Down or Synthetic Insulation? Down insulation is warmer and packs tighter, but doesn’t do well in wet conditions. Synthetic insulation stays warmer in wet conditions and dries quicker, but doesn’t pack as tightly. Consider what kind of camping you’ll do when choosing.
6. Mummy or Rectangle – Consider your sleeping habits when choosing a sleeping bag. If you don’t move a lot when sleeping, or you mostly sleep on your back, the mummy style is a good choice. If you roll around a lot and need your arms to be free, then you’ll probably want a rectangle sleeping bag.

Keep in mind, these sleeping bags aren’t made for cool climates at all. They won’t keep you warm in mountains or in northern locations.

But they are perfect for camping in Southern and lower-Midwest campgrounds during warm seasons.

My Top 4 Picks for Summer Weight Sleeping Bags

Here are the top four sleeping bags that I recommend for camping in Kansas during the summer. They’re in no particular order.

The North Face® Aleutian 55/13

The North Face® Aleutian 55/13 is a lightweight, mummy-styled sleeping bag that’s made for summer camping trips.

Its Heatseeker™ Eco insulation is made from recycled synthetic material, and keeps you warm enough to get a good night’s sleep.

The North Face® Aleutian 55/13 comes in one color scheme (Cardinal Red & Zinc Grey) and two sizes (Regular and Long).

This roomy sleeping bag has left or right zip options, and a vaulted foot box for added warmth and comfort.

Marmot Never Winter 30° Sleeping Bag

The Marmot Never Winter 30° Sleeping Bag is a lightweight, mummy-styled bag that’s designed for warmer climates.

This sleeping bag is stuffed with 650-fill-powder-down insulation that’s protected with a water-resistant Down Defender treatment to keep you warm and dry.

The Marmot Never Winter 30° Sleeping Bag comes in one color scheme (Cilantro / Tree Green) and two sizes (Regular and Long).

This form fitting sleeping bag has left or right zip options, and a wraparound foot box with a heater pocket.

If you get too warm, the Marmot Never Winter 30° Sleeping Bag has a fold-down second zipper that adds extra ventilation to maintain a comfortable temp.

Kelty Rambler 50

The Kelty Rambler 50 is a cross between a mummy-style and a rectangle sleeping bag. This sleeping bag merges comfort with room to toss and turn.

The Kelty Rambler is filled with CloudLoft™ synthetic insulation and features a comfort tuck zipper system to give your feet some air.

The Kelty Rambler 50 comes in three color schemes (Fired Brick Red, Dazzling Blue, and Peat Grey) and one size (73 inches, fits up to six feet).

This semi-rectangular sleeping bag can be fully unzipped and used as a blanket if you don’t like feeling closed in.

Coleman Fleece Sleeping Bag Liner

The Coleman Fleece Sleeping Bag Liner is a multi-purposed, rectangle sleeping bag that can be use by itself for temps down to 50° or with another sleeping bag for 12° of added warmth.

This low-cost, lightweight option is made of 200 grams of fleece and features a webbing carrying handle for easy transportation.

The Coleman Fleece Sleeping Bag comes in multiple colors and in one size (75 in. X 32 in., fits up to six feet).

This sleeping bag can be fully unzipped and used as a blanket, a base layer, or combined with another sleeping bag for cooler nights.

Whichever sleeping bag you choose, I hope it works well for you. There’s nothing like sleeping under the stars, especially with people you love, at places you love, and in a sleeping bag you love.

Safe Travels!

Matt McCoy, writer and photographer, Rugged Kansas

Looking for that perfect campground? These links may help.

Stay the Weekend at Harvey County East Park

Featured photo by Jack Sloop at Unsplash.