Coleman Brazos Sleeping Bag Evaluation

Backside Line

In case you’re in search of an unfussy, reasonably priced sleeping bag with out sacrificing consolation, the Coleman Brazos 30 suits the invoice. This one steals the present with regards to funds buys on our finest sleeping baggage for tenting information. Its comfortable inside, versatile design, and really low value makes it a gorgeous entry-level bag for automotive campers, discount hunters, and anybody needing a number of baggage with out breaking the financial institution.

Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer has examined this bag over 20+ nights. From brief, dry summer season tenting journeys within the Colorado Rockies to late-fall journeys to the Utah desert, our testing finds it’s excellent for heat, delicate climate within the 40s and above. The Brazos’ extensive, rectangular design gives loads of room to roll over. A two-way zipper runs from the highest of the bag to the underside nook for air flow – plus it transforms right into a blanket. This one even has a small inside stash pocket for a chapstick or headlamp.

However, the Brazos has some notable downsides. It’s heavy and hulking in comparison with different artificial baggage, and its stuff sack isn’t our favourite. We discover particles sticks simply to its inside cloth. Regardless of zipper plows, the zippers are inclined to catch on the liner. We don’t suggest it for really chilly adventures – the Brazos lacks a hood and barely-there draft tubes do little to dam chilly air. However for such an especially low value, the Coleman Brazos gives precisely what we want for a gentle evening beneath the celebs: consolation and ease.

Consolation

The Coleman Brazos 30 proves you don’t want bells and whistles to remain comfortable when tenting. The mixture of a luxurious tricot cloth liner and thick artificial insulation makes for a surprisingly cozy really feel that’s inviting and heat. For energetic sleepers this bag has loads of room to maneuver round, too, due to the Brazos’ roomy rectangular form. Gear Analyst Ian Krammer tends to shift round fairly a bit in the course of the evening, switching between his again, facet, and stomach. He had no bother rolling over, as this mannequin permits for straightforward motion regardless of your most well-liked sleeping place.

The Brazos has an L-shaped zipper that absolutely unzips on one facet and the underside, reworking the bag right into a blanket. We love this design for cold nights across the hearth. It’s also possible to zip two Brazos baggage collectively for shared heat with a associate – or a canine bff.

That stated, the Brazos earns solely common scores for consolation. The principle purpose is because of the tricot cloth liner – it collects particles and hair like a magnet. Ian set this bag on the bottom whereas pitching his tent and it instantly picked up twigs, pine needles, and filth, and we bumped into the identical situation with canine hair. Cleansing it seems like a chore. Fortunately, the bag is absolutely mechanically cleanable (entrance loading, over-sized washers solely) serving to eradicate many of the lingering grit.

The tricot additionally tends to catch on baselayer supplies together with nylon, cotton and polyester. Ian finds there’s loads of room to roll over, however the tricot can transfer towards garments inflicting static electrical energy and snagging. We grew accustomed to this sense, however it could miss the mark when you’re delicate to textures.

Heat

The Brazos 30 is reliably heat. In case you’re tenting in temps between 40ºF and 70ºF, the Brazos will get the job performed. Our testing finds Coleman’s artificial fill retains heat in addition to any bag on our record, making it a stable alternative for reasonably chilly circumstances. Throughout three 40ºF nights on a visit to Lake Metropolis, Colorado – a small city buried deep within the distant San Juan Mountain Vary – Ian stayed heat and content material with none points.

The Brazos isn’t water-resistant, although the artificial fibers nonetheless saved us heat when the bag bought moist. On a very dewy evening in Colorado’s Misplaced Creek Wilderness, Ian’s bag absorbed many of the moisture. Nonetheless, the bag stayed impressively heat, even because the water soaked in. It additionally dried rapidly – inside 2 to three hours.

We additionally respect the two-way L-shaped zipper. The footbox unzips so we may stick our ft out and funky down. The Brazos converts absolutely right into a blanket, plus you may zip two baggage collectively to create a double-wide sleeping bag and share heat.

Nonetheless, we don’t suggest the Brazos under 40ºF. Ian’s examined this sleeping bag to its absolute restrict on snowy journeys right down to freezing (32ºF), but it surely required base and mid layers in addition to a really heat sleeping mattress. The Brazos doesn’t have a hood, and there’s no cinching mechanism across the neck to entice heat, which might make for a drafty expertise. Final, Coleman advertises a draft tube alongside the zipper, but it surely’s very minimal and doesn’t forestall the chilly from seeping in. Maintain the Brazos for laid-back, mild-weather adventures the place chilly temperatures and moist circumstances aren’t a priority.

Packed Measurement

The Coleman Brazos 30 has a big packed dimension of about 12 inches by 19 inches. It additionally weighs almost 7 kilos, making it one of many heavier one particular person artificial sleeping baggage we’ve examined. The thick insulation does effectively by way of heat, but it surely doesn’t compress effectively, leading to a cumbersome package deal. That stated, the Brazos isn’t that a lot larger than the competitors. We’ve all the time discovered a spot in our gear closet or trunk for this one, and it’s nonetheless pretty straightforward to maneuver between automotive and campsite.

Our greatest gripe with the Brazos is that it’s powerful to pack up. The included stuff sack is small, so mashing the bag again inside requires muscle and endurance. The stuff sack has a lengthwise zipper on the surface to assist compress the width of the bag by a couple of extra inches, but it surely’s much more difficult to shut.

This bag additionally options Coleman’s “Fast Twine” system, with two cords on the underside of the bag. One wire creates a loop, and the opposite is a standalone with a plastic hook on the finish. When the bag’s rolled up, connect the hook to the loop – though we discover the Brazos is much more unwieldy packed this manner. Our resolution? Use the price financial savings to purchase an affordable mesh laundry bag for storing the Brazos.

Options

The Coleman Brazos 30 is a minimalistic design, but it surely does have a couple of standout options. The small pocket with a hook-and-loop closure on the within of the bag is ideal for maintaining small necessities shut at hand while you’re sleeping, like a lighter or headlamp, although it’s a bit tight for many telephones. The L-shaped zipper permits the bag to be reworked right into a blanket or zip along with one other Brazos. Whereas it doesn’t have an adjustable hood, the roomy inside makes it really feel comfy and spacious, permitting for a comfortable evening beneath the celebs.

On the draw back, the Coleman Brazos 30 lacks many of the luxurious options we see in increased high quality baggage. It doesn’t embrace a neck cinch wire, zipper storage, or hook-and-loop closure on the neck to stop the zipper from coming undone when shifting at evening. The Brazos lacks a hood and it’s draft tubes are extraordinarily slim. We additionally discover the zipper system will be finicky and may catch on the liner.

Nonetheless, the Brazos proves that having fun with the outside doesn’t have to return with a hefty price ticket. It delivers all the important thing options we count on from a sleeping bag: heat, consolation, and flexibility for evening after evening of sleep outdoor..

Ought to You Purchase the Coleman Brazos 30F?

The Coleman Brazos 30 is ideal for budget-conscious campers who need an reasonably priced, easy bag for mellow summer season journeys. Its spacious rectangular design gives additional room to maneuver round. In case you’re a first-time camper or solely enterprise out a couple of occasions a 12 months, the Brazos is a sensible, low-cost choice for staying heat in temperatures as little as 45ºF. The power to unzip the bag partially for air flow, or all the way in which right into a blanket, makes it a flexible choose. It’s additionally an excellent choice for households or {couples} who wish to share house, since two baggage can be zipped collectively. The comfortable lining is comfortable towards the pores and skin, and a small stash pocket is useful to maintain monitor of little objects within the evening.

Nonetheless, in order for you high-end options or light-weight portability, the Brazos misses the mark. Its cumbersome dimension, heavy weight, and difficult packing course of aren’t an ideal match in order for you a extra streamlined choice. The tricot liner cloth tends to gather particles and filth, and the exterior cloth isn’t water-resistant. This mannequin additionally lacks a hood, draft tubes, and a cinching mechanism, which might make it really feel a bit drafty and chilly.

That stated, Coleman is king with regards to funds merchandise, and the Brazos is a tremendous bag for infrequent campers, mellow adventures, and worth customers. In case you don’t wish to spend an arm and a leg to sleep exterior, that is the one.

What Different Tenting Sleeping Baggage Ought to You Take into account?

Hike over to our finest tenting sleeping baggage record to see how the Brazos compares to the competitors. And contemplate these different choices: 

The North Face Wawona 20 Evaluation: The Wawona can also be rectangular and has a wrap-around zipper and a comfortable cloth inside. Nonetheless, it weighs much less, is way simpler to pack, and is extra sturdy and cozy – however prices extra.

REI Siesta Hooded 20 Evaluation: The REI Hooded 20 is our prime choose – it has a giant spacious inside, easy cloth, and a cinchable, extensive hood. This one’s bought the next price ticket, but it surely’s value it for superior heat and high quality building.

Teton Sports activities Celsius XXL 0F Evaluation: The Celsius is a giant, comfortable, tremendous heat bag with budget-friendly pricing and an oblong form. It’s a big step up by way of sturdiness and luxury, and now features a hood.