The North Face One Bag

Our take Less than $300 for a bag that you can use year-round? We couldn’t believe it either, until we tested the One Bag’s modular design. It has a synthetic insulated base and two different quilts (one synthetic, one 800-fill down) that create configurations rated to 40°F or 20°F, respectively—or combine them to create a bag that’s warm to 5°F. (Flip side: The 5°F version only packs down to the size of a basketball.) “I was most surprised by the 40°F option,” one tester says. “I cowboy camped on a windy ridge in Virginia’s Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area and stayed warm down to the temp rating.”

The details The 78-inch length and 61-inch shoulder circumference make this bag roomy. We had plenty of space to stash socks, fuel, electronics, and other layers in our bag overnight.

Trail cred “Reconfiguration is quick and easy,” one tester says. “Zip one component off, zip the next one onto the same tracks, and I’m out the door.”