Published on July 14, 2026 08:05 am
In my opinion, there’s no better date night than spending an evening by an alpine lake, watching alpineglow creep over the surrounding peaks, enjoying a freeze-dried meal straight from the bag with your favorite hiking partner.
Besides sharing experiences, one of the best parts about backpacking with someone you love is sharing gear. Dividing the weight of the stove, fuel, tent, water filter, and other communal gear results in a lighter pack than you would carry on a solo mission. I wondered if sharing a sleep system with my partner might help increase gear efficiency even more. Double sleeping bags and pads are somewhat common for car camping, but there are also some backpacking versions available on the market. On a recent trip, I convinced my wife to try the dual sleep system.
Advantages and disadvantages of double sleep system
Before hitting the trail, I considered some of the potential disadvantages of the double sleep system. First is the reality of two people confined in a single zipped sack. It’s one thing to cuddle up on a queen mattress at home; It’s another thing to do so in a tent, where temperature regulation and overall comfort is generally difficult to achieve. I’m a stomach sleeper who often struggles to find comfort in the mummy bag, and my partner, Connor, prefers to lie on his back or side. How will this work in a double sleeping bag? We also run in different temperatures.
The second consideration is weight distribution. It can be difficult to divide gear evenly between two backpacks when using a double sleep system. That said, gear consolidation can also work to your advantage; My partner hikes much faster than I do, so when we hike together, he carries more weight. Allowing him to carry a double bag would take some weight off my pack, hopefully improving our speed.
If all went well, I envisioned a comfortable night in my tent, which would feel like sleeping in my own bed at home. Or, we’ll have to spend a restless night of overheating, kicking each other’s legs, and marinating in each other’s stench.
Does the Double Sleep System Really Save Weight?
I had imagined that a double sleeping bag might be more weight-efficient than two single sleeping bags, but the reality is not so simple. Many double bags are heavy and best suited for car camping. That said, there are some backpacking-weight options. King Solomon 20° Doublewide Big Agnes comes in at 3 pounds 15 ounces (their comparable single bag weighs 2 pounds 5 ounces). I decided to test Sea to Summit’s Spark Double for a few reasons: At 3 pounds 6 ounces, it’s lighter than some budget and cold-weather single bags and one of the lightest double bags out there, though it still comes in a few ounces heavier than two single bags from the same line.
My partner and I use and love the Spark single bag on most backpacking trips, so this seemed like a good option to test out the double bag without replacing our entire system. Also, Spark claims a maximum user height of 6 feet 6 inches, while King Solomon only recommends up to 6 feet (Connor is 6’2”). And with 850+ FillPower down, it compresses to the size of a standard bear canister – not bad for a double bag.
In addition to the spark double, we used a Exped Ultra 1R Duo Inflatable pads, comparable in style and combined weight to the single pads we both commonly use. The medium size weighs 1 pound 10 ounces (a smidge smaller than two single pads of the same design) and is thin on the foot like most ultralight inflatable pads. Packaged, it’s slightly larger than a liter of Nalgene. Alternatively, we could have used straps to hold our individual pads together, but since our pads are different heights, we opted for the double pad.
Decision
We tested our dual sleep system on two separate long weekend trips. During our first trip, we used the double pad along with our regular individual sleeping bags and quilt. Then, we took the entire double system on a 30-mile excursion where nighttime temperatures were in the mid-50s.
My first impression was that the double bag was surprisingly roomy. It has two zippers, so we could each get in and out of the bag from our own side (useful for midnight bathroom breaks). Before bed, we could read a book together, do a crossword on our phones, and cuddle with each other without falling into the gaps between pads. The Spark has a slight taper at the footbox, but it feels far more spacious than many mummy bags I’ve used, even with two of us inside. As a result, I found it much easier to find a comfortable sleeping position than in my solo bag. It felt like sharing my bed at home. Connor’s experience, on the other hand, was not so smooth. I’m a restless sleeper, and while I appreciated the extra space to move around, she definitely didn’t appreciate it. Although he says he enjoyed cuddling before bed, after a few hours of my spanking, I think he would have appreciated two separate bags. Although it wasn’t a big deal given that we slept in different positions, I would say that a double bag is best for quiet sleepers and those who really want to rest.
Our first night in a double sleeping bag shattered my misconception that it would be warmer than a single bag. Nothing keeps you warm like another person’s body heat, right? In fact, I found myself in the Spark Double 15° cooler than my regular Spark under the same conditions. When I got close to Connor, she was very warm, but when I rolled over, the extra space between us allowed the cool air in. (The Spark Double has a snap in the middle of the draft collar that could have closed the gap between us and trapped heat, but also made the bag a bit more restrictive. We fell asleep before we could test it with the snap closed.)
Another drawback: Sharing a sleeping bag with another person means double the odors, whether it’s from days without a shower or flatulence after a pouch dinner. If you’re imagining pure romance from sharing a sleeping bag, think twice.
On the other hand, I did not find any shortcomings with the double pad. If you’re not ready to resort to a double sleeping bag, a double pad offers a great middle ground. Couples can pull their sleeping bags together to get closer to each other without falling into the gap, but still have the flexibility of individual bags.
Cost is another consideration. The Spark Double is slightly less expensive than two Spark 15°F single bags ($549 each), but at $999, it’s a great splurge. If you’re going to use it on every backpacking trip, it might be worth it to split the cost two ways for the bag’s light weight, packability, and ease of use. But it’s much less versatile than a backpack. If you rarely backpack with a partner, it’s hard to justify that price. (The King Solomon is half the price at $500, and it costs $240 less than the two ultralight Big Agnes bags. I have not tested the King Solomon and can’t compare its performance to the Spark.)
I will be using the double sleeping bag and pad on future backpacking trips as a couple. I appreciated the ability to carry a little extra weight on my stronger, faster partner without feeling guilty about having to carry his gear. It was nice to hide in the tent, and as a bonus, the setup allowed extra room in the tent for our dog to stretch out next to us. After some getting used to the system, I think we could sleep even more comfortably than on our first visit. Overall, a double sleeping bag seems more like a luxury item than a way to maximize efficiency between two sets of gear. But for cuddly campers or date night backpacking trips, this is a great gear option to bring along.
