REI Trailmade 20 Sleeping Bag Review

Bottom Line

The REI Trailmade 20 is a comfy, no-frills mummy bag at the top of our best camping sleeping bags guide. Its time-tested design, inclusive sizing and low price makes it a bullseye for summer campers. Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer has thoroughly tested the Trailmade 20 on dozens of trips, where its smooth zipper, ergonomic footbox, and soft material offer an easy night’s sleep in different climates.

With a compact size and fairly low weight, this model’s a reasonable choice for shorter backpacking trips where a bit of extra weight isn’t a dealbreaker. It dovetails well with other REI Trailmade items too, including the sleeping pad and tent, making the Trailmade line a good place to start for entry-level camping and budget-conscious buyers.

But the Trailmade 20 has some drawbacks. Its narrow design isn’t the best if you’re exclusively car camping and prefer more space to spread out, though it’s does come in wide in every size. We find the long hood cinch toggles dangle in our faces at night. Finally, the 20°F temperature rating can feel excessive in warmer climates.

Still, this thing is an awesome value at $100, and it’s one of our top picks this year for most campers.

Comfort

The Trailmade 20 has all the comfort features we want in a quality mummy bag. Our favorite thing? There’s a size for everyone thanks to REI’s inclusive options, including short, regular, and long, plus wide for each length. We also find the ergonomic footbox gives a bit more room for restless feet to move. Keep in mind this model is a classic mummy shape, which means it may feel a bit tight at regular width. We highly recommend the wide version. 

This fabric makes for a seriously cozy – and quiet – sleeping experience, with no obnoxious crinkling or rustling when you roll over in the night. Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer is a big fan of the soft polyester lining, as it has the feel of a blanket rather than a sleeping bag. We also like the Trailmade’s contoured hood with two different cinch toggles. One tightens the neck, and the other handles the hood to dial in the best fit for you. 

However, the mummy design can feel restrictive if you’re camping mostly in warm weather and eliminating cold spots isn’t a big deal. It does come in a variety of sizes, including wide, although if you truly want more room to roll over, consider a rectangular-shaped bag instead.

Additionally, our testing finds the cinch toggles tend to flop on our face at night. They’re located to the side of the hood for easy access when inside the bag, which is nice – but this caused them to land on our heads and necks. This is minor stuff, though – overall, the Trailmade is a comfy bag we reach for all summer long.

Warmth

When it comes to warmth, the REI Trailmade 20 delivers. Ian’s rigorous testing finds REI’s comfort rating of 31°F is spot on. From a fall car camping trip in Utah’s Goblin Valley State Park to early spring tent camping at 12,300’, the Trailmade is an excellent option down to the low 30’s. It’s a solid performer from spring until fall in most conditions.

The snug mummy shape and ergonomic footbox trapped our body heat effectively and kept us warm. The thick draft collar minimized heat loss around our necks, and the wide draft tube blocked the cold along the zipper. We also appreciated the two cinch cords for a tight fit in the cold, and the two-way zipper to vent heat from the bottom of the bag when it’s warm.

It’s synthetic insulation is good at retaining warmth when wet. In Colorado’s Sand Dunes National Park, Ian camped under a tarp during a rainstorm, and a corner of the Trailmade 20 got soaking wet. He finds the DWR coating was fairly water resistant, and the synthetic insulation kept him warm throughout the night when water penetrated. The next day, it dried fully within 3 hours.

Still, you’ll want to stay in the 30-60°F window. It’s simply too warm above 60°F. On the flipside, 31°F was our limit for cold. Baselayers and a high-R-value pad helped when it was freezing, but when temps dropped into the 20’s, we were shivering

Packed Size

This one earns higher scores for packability from our testers – it’s very easy to carry between car and campsite, and it’s not a bad choice for backpacking, either. The Trailmade 20 packs down to only 10 inches by 13 inches. That’s one of the smallest on our list. It fits neatly into a gear closet, trunk, or the bottom of a backpack.

The mindful construction is why it’s so small: recycled polyester fabric and synthetic insulation are still bulkier than down, but it’s still very compressible. The Trailmade is also on the lighter side compared to many bags we’ve tested, tipping the scales at 3 pounds, 4.6 ounces for the Regular.

Features

The REI Trailmade 20 has a simple but effective feature set that’s functional in the field. Ian’s favorite thing is the single external zippered stash pocket. We rarely see external pockets on bags, let alone with zippers and zipper toggles. This design keeps essentials close at hand without falling out, and we like that it fits most phones.

The smooth two-way zipper has a fabric garage at the top to block the zipper tabs from touching our faces when the bag is closed up all the way. REI also includes a single gear loop at the hood to hang the bag when not in use or for drying and the double cinches and large, camp pillow-compatible hood are the cherries on top. 

This bag is part of a larger line of camping and hiking products in the REI Trailmade collection. It’s a good place to start for budget shoppers, first timers, and occasional campers. Consider the Trailmade Backpacking Bundle, which includes a tent, pad, and the Trailmade bag for less than $400.

That said, we have a few complaints. The single side zipper works well, but doesn’t extend past the footbox. There’s no hook-and-loop closure tab at the top to keep the zipper from unzipping when we move at night. The external pocket isn’t for everyone – this design is a bit of a hassle, as it requires unzipping and reaching out of the bag to access small items, which was a bit annoying. Still, this one has all the features we want in a simple bag.

Should You Buy The REI Trailmade 20?

The REI Trailmade 20 is a straightforward mummy bag for the masses. Its affordable price tag – plus the length and width combinations – make it one of the most accessible and inclusive models on our list. Features like a two-way zipper, double drawstring hood, and a zippered external stash make this one competitive with pricier, premium sleeping bags. The temperature rating is accurate, too, making it a great choice for nights between 30°F and 60°F. It’s light enough to carry for short backpacking trips, but just as cozy when you’re within walking distance of your vehicle. 

There are a few downsides, particularly when it comes to fit and design. Like most mummy bags, this one is a bit narrow through the legs, which might be uncomfortable for campers who like to spread out at night. The cinch toggles are close to the face, making them awkward to adjust and a bit obnoxious when sleeping. The external zippered stash pocket design might not be everyone’s favorite, since you’ll have to reach out of the bag to access it.

We find few faults with the Trailmade. It’s an awesome value for shorter backpacking trips and car campers. At this price, you could easily outfit a group of three for the price of one premium bag. If you’re looking for solid comfort, reliable warmth, and a good packed size, the Trailmade 20 is made for years of use on the trail and car camping.

What Other Camping Sleeping Bags Should You Consider?

Check out our guide to the best camping sleeping bags to see how this one measures up against the competition. And if the Trailmade 20 caught your eye, consider these other top picks:

Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15 Review: Like the Trailmade 20, the Bishop Pass 15 offers a snug mummy design and comfy fabric for cooler weather camping. However, it’s made with 650 fp down instead of synthetic insulation, so it’s lighter, quieter, and warmer – though it costs more.

REI Siesta Hooded 20 Review: This REI model is our number one pick – it has the same temperature rating as the Trailmade, but it’s cozier and roomier thanks to the rectangular shape. It’s heavier and costs more, but if you won’t be backpacking, this one is tough to beat for comfort and value when you’re near your vehicle.

The North Face Wawona 20 Review: The Wawona 20 shares the simple features, warmth rating, and low price tag with the Trailmade 20. It swaps the hood and tight footbox for a cushy rectangular shape, so it’s heavier and larger, but we highly recommend this one as a great alternative for frontcountry camping.