Heads up, friends! Some of the links on this blog are affiliate links, meaning we might earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no cost to you. But don’t worry, we promise to only promote products that we truly believe in and think you’ll love too.
Whether it’s stargazing under a clear sky or waking up to the sounds of birds chirping, camping gives us a much-needed escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. However, the common use of flame retardant chemicals in a lot of camping gear, including the bags and mats we sleep on, has raised serious concerns about their safety and long-term environmental impact. Luckily, some companies have begun making non-toxic sleeping bags without flame retardants, as they know that many eco-conscious consumers are concerned about the use of these toxins in their camping gear.
Read on for a closer look at the potential dangers of flame retardants in your sleeping bags, along with our top picks for the best sleeping bags without these chemicals.
Why Sleeping Bags Have Flame Retardants
Camping naturally involves exposure to various fire-related risks, such as cooking over an open flame or using portable camping stoves. Given this potential for accidents, having flame retardant properties in a sleeping bag can be important to keep campers safe.
Flame retardant materials help slow down the spread of fire and provide campers with time to react and protect themselves in case of an emergency. This is why companies have put flame retardants in items like sleeping bags and tents for decades.
Concerns About Flame Retardants In Sleeping Bags
However, certain flame retardant chemicals has raised concerns due to their potential health risks. Some flame retardants, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), have been associated with serious risks to human health. Studies have linked exposure to these chemicals to developmental issues, hormone disruption, and even cancer.
A further ecological concern is that when flame retardant-treated products degrade over time, they go on to release toxic particles into the environment. These particles pose major environmental hazards. They are “forever chemicals” that take a very long time to break down, and they pollute our groundwater and even our drinking supplies.
Head on over to our review of the best water filters to get rid of PFAS (aka, forever chemicals) if your public water supply contains any PFAS.
9 Best Non-Toxic Sleeping Bags Without Flame Retardants
For campers who want to prioritize both their own safety and the health of the environment, some outdoor gear companies have recognized the importance of making sleeping bags without flame retardant chemicals. These companies have embraced innovative materials and designs to ensure camper safety in the case of a fire without compromising the local ecosystem and campers’ health.
These sleeping bags without added flame retardants still pass fire safety standards, but without the use of toxic chemicals. Here are our favorites for non-toxic and eco-conscious camping.
1. Teton (from $71)
Teton makes some of the best sleeping bags without flame retardants, including this comfy three-season sleeping bag, which has a taffeta shell that’s lined with a soft poly-flannel lining. It features a mummy style hood for your pillow, a pocket for items like phones, and added padding along the sides and zipper to keep out drafts. It also comes with a stuff sack, so you don’t need to roll it up like a typical sleeping bag.
Teton also makes the all seasons Sports Celcius + 20F bag that will keep you warm down to 20 degrees F, the Sports Celcius O bag, which should keep you toasty down to zero degrees F, and for the extreme campers, the Sports Celcius XXL bag, which is rated down to -25 degrees F.
Finally, if you’re looking for a double sized sleeping bag for two, Teton makes the Mammoth bag, which will keep you and your camping buddy warm down to zero degrees F.
2. Patagonia (from $499)
Patagonia is one of the most eco-conscious companies operating today. They make organic, eco-friendly clothing that is high quality and good for the environment. They also make a line of super warm sleeping bags without flame retardants or water repellants like PFCs (per-and poly-fluorinated chemicals). I reached out to Patagonia about their sleeping bags in particular to make sure, and they told me that “neither our sleeping bags nor any of our gear contain flame retardants.”
These bags are on the pricier side, but as with all things Patagonia, you are getting high-quality products backed by their iron-clad warranty. Their sleeping bags are made from 100% recycled fabrics and stuffed with 800-fill goose down that’s certified by NSF International to help ensure the birds supplying the down are not force-fed or live-plucked.
These bags will keep you cozy down to 20 degrees F. They feature a hood, a chest pocket for your phone or headlamp, and they are made in a Fair Trade facility where workers are paid fair wages.
3. Kelty Cosmic (from $149)
Kelty makes this best-selling and budget-friendly nylon sleeping bag without flame retardants in a convenient trapezoidal form to keep you warm and cozy down to 20 degrees F. It’s stuffed with 550 fill down insulation from sustainably sourced down feathers.
This bag has two sliding zippers with draft tubing to keep you warm along the sides of the sleeping bag. You can unzip it from the bottom to stick a foot out if you get too warm. It also features a pocket on the inside to stash your headlamp and cell phone.
*Note that while the fabric of the Kelty sleeping bag doesn’t get treated with flame retardant chemicals, Kelty did inform me that there may be flame retardants in the zipper teeth and zipper pull of their sleeping bags.
4. Sea to Summit (from $179)
Sea to Summit is another company I reached out to that confirmed they do not use any flame retardants in their sleeping bags, sleeping mats, liners or pillows. They also don’t use any PFCs in their Ultra-Dry down treatment or in the DWR finish used on the shells of their sleeping bags, so these bags are about as non-toxic as they can get. Their soft and cozy mummy style sleeping bags are designed to keep you warm down to as low as 5 degrees F.
Many of Sea to Summit’s sleeping bags without flame retardants are stuffed with 85o fill lightweight down. They also make a sleeping bag without flame retardants that has synthetic polyester insulation, for those who have allergies or prefer to avoid down insulation.
5. Marmot (from $70)
I recently reached out to Marmot, and they assured me that they do not use any flame retardant chemicals in the manufacturing of their sleeping bags. Their non-toxic sleeping bags come in left and right zipper options and are made with a polyester liner stuffed with warm and lightweight down for warmth.
Marmot’s bags do a great job of keeping you dry when you’re camping in wetter conditions and keeping you warm in the cold. They offer sleeping bags that’ll keep you warm under different conditions, such as the Voyager 55, the Voyager 45, and the Ironwood 30 (which is designed to be lightweight). Marmot’s Trestles sleeping bag ($129) will keep you warm down to a chilly 15 degrees F.
A regular sized bag from Marmot sleeping bag fits people up to 6 feet in height, but if you’re taller than 6 feet, you’ll want to go for one of their “Long” bags. Marmot’s products don’t contain any chemicals on the California Proposition 65 List, so these non-toxic sleeping bags come without a “prop 65” warning that many eco-conscious consumers seek to avoid.
6. NEMO (from $89)
NEMO is a New Hampshire based, eco-conscious company that makes high quality camping gear for all kinds of outdoor adventures. Their non-toxic sleeping bags are made without flame retardants in their unique spoon shape to cater to campers who sleep on their sides.
This means NEMO’s sleeping bags have extra space for your elbows and knees so you can curl up into a spoon shape while sleeping in your tent if you want to. They offer both synthetic down and goose down for a variety of temperatures, and at a variety of prices. Their premium down is notably also free of PFAS, which I appreciate. I also like that they are certified to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS), meaning they come from farms that follow specific animal welfare requirements.
NEMO’s sleeping bags have vents to help regulate temperatures and waterproof, breathable footboxes in case you’re camping in wet or hot conditions. They also have zippers on the left side of men’s bags and on the right side of women’s sleeping bags, so you can zip them together for a double version if you’re so inclined. They also have a lightweight backpacking sleeping bag that weights just 2 pounds, 14 ounces.
All NEMO products come with a lifetime warranty against defects in workmanship and materials as long a you’re the original owner.
7. Wiggy’s (from $115)
Wiggy’s manufactures some of the best non-toxic sleeping bags without flame retardants. These bags feature a warm silicone-coated polyester filling. They come in camouflage patterns and are specifically designed for military personnel and outdoor enthusiasts who want to blend in with the environment (literally).
Wiggy’s sleeping bags are devoid of all flame retardant chemicals and made in the United States. With temperature ratings reaching as low as a shocking -60 degrees Fahrenheit, these bags provide exceptional cold-weather protection.
8. Lucky Sheep Wool Sleeping Bags (from $527)
Wool is a natural flame retardant material, and Lucky Sheep makes some of the best sleeping bags without flame retardants that instead use premium merino wool with a cotton shell. The shells of these sleeping bags are coated with organic beeswax to help wick away water. This is the ultimate eco-friendly sleeping bag for those looking to entirely avoid PFCs and flame retardants in their camping gear.
Lucky Wool has worked to make their wool bags light enough to hit the trail without being weighed down by a bulky sleeping bag. Merino wool is a naturally temperature regulating material that helps many people sleep soundly, and it’s completely free of plastic microfibers and synthetics that are bad for the planet.
9. Holy Lamb Organics All-Natural Wool Sleeping Bag ($559)
Holy Lamb Organics also makes some of the best sleeping bags without flame retardants out of 100% organic cotton fabric filled with natural wool for superior comfort. The organic materials ensure a safe and healthy sleep environment, while the wool provides excellent insulation and temperature regulation.
These sleeping bags are versatile, durable, and designed for various settings, including camping and extra bedding. Holy Lamb Organics prioritizes sustainability and eco-friendly practices, making them a great choice for eco-conscious consumers.
Note that this sleeping bag is rated for summer-time camping in which temperatures stay above 32 degrees F. It comes in an organic stuff sack that cinches closed with a tool tie.
Hitting the Trail with Non-Toxic Sleeping Bags
Flame retardants in sleeping bags have become a big topic of concern among outdoor enthusiasts who want to protect their own health as well as that of the environment. Luckily, these companies have recognized this growing concern and now offer flame retardant-free sleeping bags and camping pads that still pass safety tests for fire resistance, providing a much safer option.
Camping tents and other gear have also been made with flame retardant chemicals for decades. If you are looking for a healthier option, check out our guide to the best non-toxic camping tents without flame retardants. We also put together a list of the best camping pads without flame retardants so you can sleep soundly on a non-toxic surface.
If you prefer an air mattress to sleeping on the ground, check out our top picks for non-toxic air mattresses without PVC.
Happy trails, campers!
