On the first night of our road trip back east, we slept at a rest stop in Amarillo, Texas. The dogs went nuts about all the bunnies, and we tested out the Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed Duo 35/700 Dridown sleeping bag.
The Backcountry Bed Duo sleeping bag is a sleeping bag for adventurous couples who enjoy adventurous snuggles. And bunnies, well they’re no friend of our little Ellie.
Be sure to watch the video above to catch all the bunny drama 😂
I had been dying to try the Backcountry Bed Duo bag since it was released in 2015.
There were so many times I had this thing in my cart but never pulled the trigger on it. Why? Well I’m a BIG snuggler, so I wanted this bag. But until recently, Alex wasn’t much of an outdoors-woman…
She and I would go on plenty of hikes with the pups, and we’d backpack around Europe or Thailand, but sleeping outside wasn’t really her thing.
That changed this past summer when our favorite Airbnb cabin in Freeport, Maine was all booked up, so we found a campground in the area instead. We got Alex some camping gear of her own, packed up the dogs, and starting sleeping under the stars.
Then it was Fourth of July, and few other outings. She was into it! It was only a matter of time before the snuggle bug sleeping bag would enter our lives 😉
That time was February 2018.
“With enough room to twist, turn over, and toss about, the Backcountry Bed Duo will be your go-to bag from here on out. With an integrated comforter to keep the drafts out, you and your partner will have all the amenities of sleeping like at home, regardless of where your adventure takes you.”
Last November, we built a bed in the back of my Jeep Grand Cherokee (with the help of Rich and Bob at Triple P – thanks guys!), and went Airbnb hopping or slept in the car while exploring.
It was Christmas on the Gulf, New Years in Breckenridge, and a solid 6 weeks out in Scottsdale, Arizona. And while in AZ, the Backcountry Bed Duo arrived.
Most of last season, if I remember correctly, this sleeping bag was SOLD OUT. Sierra Designs was probably revamping and redesigning the already smash hit duo bags after a good season or two of feedback. So I considered myself lucky (thanks Suzanne!) to get my hands on one for our road trip back to Boston!
Our take on the Backcountry Bed Duo 35
I was definitely skeptical about sharing a sleeping bag with my husband because he always runs really hot, but the Backcountry Bed Duo, being zipperless and more like just sharing a blanket, had the perfect balance of ventilation and warmth.
I had a hunch I would really like this bag. Turns out I love it!
The foot vent, the throw blanket like design with bungee cord enclosure, the dual sleeping pad sleeves… it just nailed every mark for what a shared sleeping bag should be.
The Specs
- Specified for sleeping conditions down to 35 Degrees
- Patent pending zipperless design allows for more comfort
- Insulated hand/arm pockets help to seal out drafts
- Patented self sealing foot vent for fast and easy ventilation
- Stretch cord closure system helps to seal out drafts
- Sleeping pad sleeves keep your sleeping pad under you for more comfort & warmth
- Temp Rating: 35F / 2C
- Fill Weight: 23.9 oz / 677 g
- Minimum Weight: 3 lbs 12 oz / 1707 g
Oh, and Sierra Designs also makes a Frontcountry Bed, which is basically the same thing, but synthetic fill instead of 700 Dridown.
The Backcountry Bed Duo is available for 35 degrees and 20 degrees. But like I said in the video, it was close to 20 degrees F when we were sleeping at that Texas rest stop and we have the 35. With the two of us in there, it was perfect. So take shared body heat into account when considering your temperature rating!
Overall, really psyched on this bag and Alex and I will be using it for lots of adventures to come!
