Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Bags NZ — Down, Synthetic & Expedition Bags for Every Condition
Whether you're sleeping in a DOC hut on the Milford Track, bivvying above the snowline, or setting up camp at a summer DOC campsite, the right sleeping bag makes the difference between a great night and a miserable one. Dwights stocks New Zealand's most complete range of tramping and camping sleeping bags — from ultralight 3-season down bags to expedition-weight bags built for NZ's coldest conditions.
Our Lead Brands
One Planet — Australian-made and designed for Southern Hemisphere conditions, One Planet sleeping bags are our top tramping recommendation. The Nitrous, Sonder, Cocoon, Rumour (seam-sealed), and Bush Lite ranges cover everything from Great Walk hut nights to serious alpine missions. One Planet bags are built for real Southern Hemisphere conditions — not just certified to European EN 13537 norms.
Rab — British expedition heritage with serious alpine credentials. The Neutrino Pro series delivers premium hydrophobic down performance in sustained wet conditions, while the Mythic range (-6°C and -12°C) offers exceptional warmth-to-weight for those who need every gram to count.
Dwights Thermoshell — our house brand sleeping bag for car camping. Reliable, affordable, and well-suited to campground nights where weight isn't a concern.
How to Choose
Match your bag to your coldest expected night, not your average. Temperature ratings are a guide, not a guarantee — personal warmth varies, and damp NZ conditions can make a bag feel colder than its rated temperature. Build in a margin:
- NZ Great Walk huts (3-season): Bags rated to -3°C to -8°C cover most conditions from spring through autumn.
- Alpine routes / South Island winter: -10°C or colder. Down with a hydrophobic treatment (Nikwax Hydrophobic Down or similar) is strongly recommended for NZ's wet alpine environment.
- Car camping: Warmth matters more than weight. The Dwights Thermoshell range covers campground and festival use well at a practical price.
Down vs Synthetic
Down offers the best warmth-to-weight ratio and packs smaller — it's the right choice for tramping where pack weight matters. The weakness is performance when wet: wet down loses loft and warmth rapidly. Hydrophobic down treatments (used across the One Planet and Rab ranges) significantly reduce this risk. Synthetic fill retains warmth when damp and dries faster — a practical choice for car camping or high-humidity environments where the bag may not dry between nights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature rating do I need for NZ tramping?
For three-season tramping on the Great Walks and popular backcountry routes, a bag rated to -3°C to -8°C (comfort/lower limit) covers most NZ hut conditions from October through April. For South Island alpine routes, winter tramping, or any situation where you may be bivvying in exposed conditions, -10°C or colder is the right margin. Always size your bag to your coldest expected night — it's far easier to vent a bag that's too warm than to be warm in one that's too cold.
What's the difference between One Planet and Rab sleeping bags?
One Planet bags are Australian-made and designed specifically for Southern Hemisphere conditions — the temperature ratings and construction reflect the wet, variable climate of NZ and Australia rather than dry European alpine conditions. Rab brings British expedition heritage and serious alpine credentials, particularly in the Mythic range for minimum-weight alpine use and the Neutrino Pro for hydrophobic down performance. Both are excellent; One Planet is our first recommendation for NZ tramping, while Rab suits those prioritising absolute weight savings or expedition-grade performance.
Is down or synthetic better for NZ conditions?
Down with a hydrophobic treatment is the best choice for most NZ tramping — it provides the warmth-to-weight ratio needed for multi-day trips, and modern hydrophobic down treatments substantially address the traditional wet-weather weakness. Untreated down is a poor choice for NZ's wet alpine environment. Synthetic fill is a practical alternative for car camping where drying time between uses is possible, or for situations where the bag may get genuinely saturated. All down bags in our tramping range use hydrophobic down.
What are the One Planet sleeping bag zip styles?
One Planet bags vary by zip design — worth knowing before you buy. The Sonder features an L-shaped zip that opens the bag fully flat, making it easy to air and use as a quilt. The Nitrous and Cocoon have a near full-length side zip that stops short of the footbox — ventilation is excellent, just be aware the footbox doesn't open fully. The Rumour is seam-sealed, making it the standout choice for wet conditions where complete weather resistance matters.
How do I care for a down sleeping bag?
Air your bag after every use — never pack it away damp. Store it loosely in a large cotton or mesh storage sack rather than compressed in its stuff sack; long-term compression degrades down loft. Wash infrequently (once a season at most) using a front-loading machine with a down-specific detergent like Nikwax Down Wash Direct. Tumble dry on low with two or three tennis balls to break up clumps and restore loft — this step is essential. Air the bag fully before storing after washing.
What's the best sleeping bag for the Great Walks?
For DOC hut-based Great Walks (Milford, Routeburn, Kepler, Tongariro, etc.), you're sleeping in enclosed huts with some heating — conditions are more controlled than camping. A bag rated to -3°C to -5°C is comfortable for most trampers across three seasons. The One Planet Nitrous -6°C is an excellent match — warm enough for cold hut nights, light enough to justify carrying, and built for the variable NZ conditions you'll encounter on a multi-day Great Walk.
Do I need a sleeping bag liner?
A liner adds 3–8°C of warmth to your existing bag, extends its cleanliness between washes, and can be used alone in summer hut conditions. For Great Walk trampers who want flexibility across seasons, adding a liner to a -3°C bag gives you effective coverage down to -8°C or colder without buying a second bag. Silk liners are the lightest; merino liners add the most warmth. Browse our sleeping bag liner range.
For detailed buying advice, read our complete sleeping bag guide — covering temperature ratings, fill types, and top picks for every NZ tramping scenario.