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The 8 Best Kids Sleeping Bags for UK Camping

So your kids have finally got to the age where you want to get them to experience the great outdoors. But there’s nothing worse than a tired and grumpy child so you need to make sure they get a good nights sleep whilst camping across the UK. Time for us to round up our fave picks from our kids range.

Night Time Temperatures in the UK

Once you know where and when you are going camping it’s worth doing a quick Google search to see what the average night time temperatures would be. For example this link shows you the average temperatures in Windermere in July. From here you can get a rough idea of the temperatures the sleeping bag will need to perform at in the UK.

Now if you were shopping for an adult sleeping bag we would advise matching up comfort temperature ratings of the bag with the average night time temperatures. Unfortunately these ratings do not apply to children’s’ sleeping bags as there isn’t an official standard and test available (scientists rightly decided it would be immoral to find out which temperatures children would start to suffer health problems). However some manufacturers do give advisory temperature ratings by comparing the construction of the bags and their use.

We always take onesies for our kids when going camping as it’s a great backup if they get cold and very handy if they need to nip to the toilets in the night. Remember any temperature rating assumes the child would stay inside their bag which from experience doesn’t always happen.

1. Vango Atlas Junior

If you are looking for a good value sleeping bag to try out camping then the Vango Atlas Junior is a great choice. Vango’s entry level Atlas range are made from polyester with a single layer fill to keep prices down. The Junior version is 150cm in length so it suitable for kids up to 145cm in size. Additional assurance comes from the fact that this bag is officially recommended by the Scouts Association for their camps. This sleeping bag has a comfort rating of 10 degrees so it’s only recommend for peak summer camping in the UK unless you pair up with a onesie or some thick pyjamas. This bag is made from lower denier polyester so if your children are particular about textiles against their skin or you want a more brushed cosy feeling this may not be the bag for you. Currently available in 3 different colourways.

Pros

  • Great entry level price point
  • Recommend by the Scouts Association
  • Supplied with stuff bag for storage
  • Comes in three different colourways

Cons

  • High comfort temperature of 10 degrees so only for summer camping
  • Cheaper polyester inner and outer construction but reflected in price point
  • Single layer construction so potential cold spots around stitching

Buy Online

  • £19.99 Add to cart

2. Highlander Shark Kids

If you have kids that aren’t chopping at the bit to go camping this catchy sleeping bags may just win them over! Generally most patterned childrens’ sleeping bags are poorly made and very thin really only made for sleepovers. However Highlander (a Scottish outdoor company) have designed this bag to look great but also perform in cold weather. So it comes with a comfort temperature of 6 degrees meaning you can use in late Spring and early autumn. The bag is made from 190T polyester which is entry level but the shark design has been applied by heat transfer which means it won’t scratch off or crack like cheaper applications. One great feature is the storage bag which is also a handy matching backpack. If sharks aren’t your kids things then it also comes in a ladybird or panda design.

Pros

  • Original patterned designs which are suitable for both girls and boys
  • Heat transfer print which means its more durable and long lasting
  • 6 degree comfort rating so suitable for spring/autumn as well as summer use

Cons

  • Cheap 190T polyester materials used although inner material is brushed for comfort
  • Quite expensive bag but may way help persuade your kids to like camping
  • Stuff sack backpack can’t be used to compress and so shrink down bag when in storage

Buy Online

  • £34.99 Add to cart
  • £34.99 Add to cart
  • £34.99 Add to cart
  • £34.99 Add to cart
  • £34.99 Email when back in stock

3. Vango Kanto Junior

Vango’s mid level Kanto range uses amazingly soft Polair® Snug fabric which is perfect for snuggling into. It also has additional filling in the hood of the pillow to act like a makeshift pillow. The bag has a zip protector to stop it snagging when zipping up and down and also a zip baffle which is an insulated filled strip of material which fits over the zip to stop drafts. It also has elastic rather then a drawcord around the neck for added safety.

Pros

  • Really comfy and cosy materials used on the outer and inner
  • Includes a zip guard to stop snagging and baffle to stop draughts
  • Elastic in hood rather then drawcord for safety

Cons

  • Still a single layer construction bag which can lead to cool spots
  • Max user height of 150cm so not for older kids
  • 8 degree comfort rating so only really for summer UK use

Buy Online

  • £25.99 Add to cart
  • £25.99 Add to cart

4. Trespass Bunka

The Trespass Bunka kids sleeping bag has been around for a long time becoming somewhat of a classic. Available in multiple colours and patterns, it has the same construction across the range. This is also one of the few sleeping bags to have a polycotton inner. Now it’s more polyester than cotton but is still great at this price point. The outer is made from ripstop nylon which stope tears from growing and also has a water repellent coating. With a comfort rating of 6 degrees this is also suitable for Spring/Autumn as well as summer camping. A handy internal pocket is great for letting the kids store their toys or cash.

Pros

  • Great value bag which includes polycotton inner material for comfort
  • Comes in a variety of colours and patterns to suit different kids tastes
  • Comfort temperature of 6 degrees for suitable for Spring/Autumn as well as Summer camping

Cons

  • Even though inner is polycotton its not super soft
  • Supplied patterns may not be to your child’s taste!

Buy Online

  • £19.99 Add to cart
  • £19.99 Email when back in stock
  • £21.99 Email when back in stock
  • £21.99 Add to cart
  • £21.99 Email when back in stock
  • £21.99 Add to cart
  • £21.99 Email when back in stock

5. Vango Nitestar Alpha Junior

Now what makes this bag different is that it uses the same high performance materials and filling as the adult version of this bag. So this is a children’s bag that is built to perform and to prove it has a comfort temperature of minus 2 degrees. So if your kids are budding hikers or you want to bag that can handle a cold snap in Spring this is the one for you. The dual layer construction combines two layers of insulation to minimise cold spots. It also includes shoulder and zip baffles to prevent draughts and keep the warmth in on cold nights. A handy internal pocket is perfect for storing a torch and it comes with a compression stuff sack so you can shrink it down small when needed.

Pros

  • High quality construction and materials like an adult bag
  • Dual layer insulation construction for better warmth retention
  • Includes zip guard and baffle and a shoulder baffle
  • Handy internal pocket for storing a torch
  • Whopping 2-3 season rating making it ideal for Spring/Summer/Autumn

Cons

  • May be too expensive for first time campers
  • Doesn’t come in a variety of different colours
  • £39.99 Email when back in stock
  • £42.99 Add to cart

6. Vango Nitestar Alpha 250S

Another great Nitestar model from Vango, the ‘S’ in the title indicates that this is a shorter version of their classic 250 adult model. So not designed specifically for children but certainly ideal for taller children and teenagers who would be swamped by a standard size. So this bag has a max user size of 170cm (190cm normally) so perfect for kids that are 150-170cm in size. Duke of Edinburgh recommended its a quality bag with smaller sizing. The 3 season rating means it can be used Spring to Autumn without worries.

Pros

  • Quality adult bag in a shorter sizing
  • Duke of Edinburgh recommended
  • Dual layer insulation construction for better warmth retention
  • Includes zip guard and baffle and a shoulder baffle
  • Handy internal pocket for storing a torch
  • Whopping 3 season rating making it ideal for Spring/Summer/Autumn

Cons

  • May be too expensive for first time campers
  • Doesn’t come in a variety of different colours
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    £42.99 Add to cart

7. Outwell Junior Convertible

It can get frustrating when you invest in something for your kids then they go and have a growth spurt and it no longer fits! Outwell have solved this by developing a sleeping bag that extends when you need it to. So the sleeping bag is initially 140cm long but when you unzip the base panel it expands to 170cm! So this bag will last them right up to being teenagers.

Pros

  • Extendable from 140-170cm
  • Deluxe dual layer construction
  • Compression sack for shrinking down pack size

Cons

  • A more expensive option than others
  • £39.99 Add to cart
  • £39.99 Add to cart

8. Outwell Contour Junior

The Contour range from Outwell are unique in that each side of the sleeping bag uses a different amount of insulation. What this does is give you a very versatile bag – in colder weather you sleep with the thicker side on top of you and in warmer weather the thinner side! This allows this sleeping bag to be used in spring/autumn as well as summer camping. It also folds out like a duvet and has a removable pillow.

Pros

  • Dual season sleeping bag
  • Removable pillow for simple camping
  • Internal pocket for stashing essentials

Cons

  • Style can look a little dated
  • Pillow can get in the way with night wrigglers!

More Kids Bags From Our Store

  • £24.99 Add to cart
  • £24.99 Add to cart