Editors’ Choice 2021: Sierra Designs Get Down 20°F

Sleeping bags have always secured a space as hikers’ most-appreciated gear, responsible for warm nights in the backcountry where hypothermia might otherwise be an issue. Down bags get a special nod for their superior compressibility and instant coziness. But darn it if they aren’t spendy! This is why we constantly scour the market for down bags that perform beyond their price. And after four months of vetting it against every other affordable competitor, we declare the Get Down to be the absolute best 20°F bag (well) under $200 on the market.

This 550-fill down bag is functional, cozy, packable enough for multiday trips, and testers praised the silky lining. It packs to the respectable size of a bike helmet, and testers also lauded the windstopping capabilities of the 20-denier ripstop shell.

“During a windy, open bivy one night below Longs Peak at 10,000 feet in Rocky Mountain National Park, the Get Down kept me not just shiver-free, but downright toasty,” one tester says. What’s more, the bag proved roomy enough for even a 6’2” tester to wiggle without peering into claustrophobia—and a pocket at the shoulder allows you to insert a hand and bundle the top edge of the bag around you like a blanket.

To new hikers, we heartily recommend the Get Down as a cornerstone of your overnight kit. It’s also perfect for anyone on a budget, or those backpackers who simply don’t want to worry about babying a several-hundred dollar product. For the price, it’s an elite-performing sleep sack that will never fail you during three-season use.

20°F; regular and long, women’s regular