Searching for a new bed for your next camping trip? We did the research to find all of the sleeping bags made in the USA today. Below is our complete list, along with a ton of details about each one.
Complete List of Sleeping Bag Brands Made in the USA
Feathered Friends is a tough American brand that’s known for producing long-lasting sleeping bags. Their sleeping bags are rated from 0 all the way down to -60 degrees Fahrenheit. There are a wide range of colors to choose from, and the company makes their sleeping bags by hand for both men and women. Feathered Friends focus on functional designs made with high-quality materials, handcrafted in Seattle.
Their sleeping bags may be on the costly side, but they’re built to last and work well in most extreme conditions, making them a handy asset for mountain camping and expeditions.
Western Mountaineering sleeping bags have near-legendary status amongst cold-weather hikers. They’re designed for maximum warmth and are rated down from 7 to -40 degrees Fahrenheit to provide warmth in even extreme sleeping environments.
This company was created by two Californian mountaineers, so they know exactly what other mountaineers need in terms of the ideal sleeping bag: both warm and lightweight. All of Western Mountaineering’s sleeping bags are made in their own factory in San Jose, so you know you’re getting the quality you pay for.
Hikers looking to customize a sleeping bag to meet their sleeping conditions exactly will have a number of options available with the Enlightened Equipment sleeping quilts. There are many different size options to choose from, incluind g five different lengths and four different widths for a body fit for nearly everyone. You can also choose from 19 different exterior colors and 12 interior colors.
“We offer 63,840 different possible combinations for our Convert alone,” says Tim Marshall, founder of Enlightened Equipment, who we had the pleasure of hearing from this week! Tim also mentioned that manufacturing locally is core to their product offering: “Manufacturing in the USA is the only way we can offer this wide variety of custom products. This enables our manufacturing to be nimble and quickly adapt to changes.” If you’re particular about your sleeping bag specifications, Enlightened Equipment could have the solution for you.
Wiggy’s mission is to sell affordable sleeping bags that will still hold up well over time. These bags are lined with unique Lamilite insulation that’s been shown to maintain its loft even better than traditional down insulation does. These sleeping bags are rated at different temperatures, from as high as 50 degrees Fahrenheit down to subzero temperatures. They are available in many different sizes, colors, and types. There are low-cost options available, too, especially for closeout sleeping bags from Wiggy’s.
Warmlite makes quality USA-made tents and sleeping bags too. They have a few different options when it comes to sleeping bags, including one that is down-filled. Their sleeping bags are rated down to -60 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can use them for pretty much any outdoor adventure! Everything is made in Maine.
Not a sleeping bag, but GO-KOT is 100% veteran owned and operated, and handmade in the USA. Their camping cots are built to be super tough and a comfortable, easy-to-carry option for camping trips (weighing just 9 lbs.). The cots is made from super durable and moisture-wicking nylon. The hinges are nearly indestructible, too – they hold up to 350 pounds. GO-KOT comes in many different colors as well aws regular and long sizes for taller sleepers, so you should be able to find an option that is a good fit for you.
Zpacks assembles great sleeping bags at their facility in Florida. They use some imported materials, but like I said, it’s tough to find sleeping bags that use 100% US-sourced materials. They have a lot of options to choose from, so you should be able to find a great sleeping bag for your next trip.
Mike’s YouTube Video on American Made Sleeping Bags
How To Find Sleeping Bags Made in the USA
Beyond just offering a comprehensive list of American made sleeping bags, we strive to equip you with the insights needed to conduct your own research and make more informed purchasing decisions. Below, we dive into the sleeping bag manufacturing industry, exploring key factors such as material sourcing, labeling standards, and strategies for identifying top-quality sleeping bag brands made in the USA. Let’s begin by unraveling the “made in the USA” terminology and learning how to navigate it effectively.
What Does “Made in the USA” Mean?
First, knowing what it means for a product to be “made in the USA” is fundamental. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), products can only be labeled “made in the USA” if “all or virtually all” of the product is made domestically. This means that everything from the sourcing of the materials to the assembly of the product itself should be made in the United States.
Check out our article on the FTC’s guidelines for more information.
Materials
When you’re looking for American made sleeping bags, you’ll need to research the materials used and find out where they come from.
Polyester
Polyester is a common material used in sleeping bags and is a synthetic material mainly produced in Asia. Although China is the world’s largest polyester producer, several US companies, such as Eastman Chemical Company and William Barnet & Son, produce polyester. The US produces around 1.4 million tons of polyester per year, so it should not be too challenging to find US-made polyester. But check the label to ensure you are buying a US-made polyester sleeping bag!
Nylon
Nylon is a popular material choice for sleeping bags as it is soft and breathable. China is the largest producer of nylon in the world, but the USA doesn’t fall too far behind in nylon production, ranking fourth worldwide. The USA produces around 2.4 million tons of nylon every year. While many companies may choose to use Chinese-made nylon to cut down on production costs, many still use US-made nylon.
Cotton
Cotton is a huge 21 billion-dollar industry in the USA. In fact, the USA is the third largest producer of this material worldwide. This means that finding cotton grown in the USA is relatively easy, especially compared to other common materials such as polyester and nylon.
However, it is important to realize that China and India are the world’s largest cotton producers, so there is still a high chance of imported material being used. So check the labels on the sleeping bags you are looking at to ensure they’re made using locally sourced cotton.
Down and Feathers
Although less common than polyester, nylon, or cotton sleeping bags, down and feather sleeping bags are a popular high-end choice for premium sleeping bags. If you want a super warm, insulating sleeping bag, down is the best option. Recently the down and feather industry has become more closely regulated, ensuring the humane treatment of animals and responsible sourcing. As a result, more and more US companies are now producing and sourcing down and feather sleeping bags ethically.
China is the world’s largest producer of down and feathers, and the US is one of the biggest importers of this material. However, this doesn’t mean that finding US-made down and feather sleeping bags is impossible – it just means that they are harder to find!
Labeling
Looking at the label is crucial in finding sleeping bags made in the USA. Two laws are in place to help consumers easily identify US-made products and imported products. The first is the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act. This act states that with textile products, companies must use standardized language for the material used, state the percentage of each fiber material used, and state the country of origin.
The second law is Title 19 Chapter 4 Section 1304 of the US Code. This law states that all imported products must be labeled as such. Furthermore, the FTC protects the “made in the USA” label, so in theory, all you need to do is look for sleeping bags with this label!
However, even though the FTC protects the “made in the USA” label, there is no pre-approval process. This means the companies themselves determine whether their products meet the criteria to be labeled as such. If you do come across incorrect usage of the “made in the USA” label, you can report it to the FTC, as they do investigate complaints.
You should also be careful of misleading and confusing labels. For example, labels like “assembled in the USA” or “designed in the USA” may confuse consumers, but they mean only a part of the production takes place in the USA. Similarly, the label “made in America” is misleading, as America can also mean the product is from Canada or Mexico.
Lastly, watch out for the usage of the American flag. A product with the American flag on the label does not always mean the product is truly made in the USA.
Other Tips
Besides checking the labels on the products, here are a few extra methods to find sleeping bags made in the USA.
Check the Company’s Website
If a product is truly in the USA, the seller will advertise this loudly and proudly, as it is a huge selling point. Checking the “About Us” section of the manufacturer’s website or the description on the product page will give you helpful insights into where the sleeping bag is made.
However, keep in mind that while companies are required to state the country of origin on the physical product itself, there are no such requirements for online or promotional materials. So, if you can’t find the country of origin listed online, it might be safer to assume that the product is made abroad.
Check Amazon
Online shopping websites like Amazon will usually state where the products are made in the Product Description section of the listing. If you can’t find the country of origin there, try checking the FAQ section.
Call the Manufacturer
If you’re still unsure about the origin of a sleeping bag, contact the manufacturer directly. A representative should be able to answer all of your questions and provide extra information about their manufacturing process.
Sleeping Bags Not Made in the USA
We came across several brands that are not making their sleeping bags in the USA when doing our research. You can see the full list of brands below as well as where their bags are made. We’ll continue to update this list as we find more.
- Marmot – Primarily made in China and Vietnam.
- Kelty – Listed as “Imported”.
- Mountain Hardware – Made in Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.
- Sea to Summit – Made in Vietnam, China, and Taiwan.
