REI Trailmade 25 Sleeping Bag Review

Bottom Line

A sleeping bag for all body types, the REI Trailmade 25 comes in nine different size options, making it one of the most inclusive bags we’ve encountered. Whether it’s your first foray into the world of camping or you’re an old hand looking for a fresh sleeping setup, the Trailmade 25 is a quality bag that won’t break the bank. 

With its mummy design, the Trailmade stands out as a great crossover option for car camping and backpacking. Lighter weight than its predecessor, the Trailmade 20, it’s even better suited to squeeze into a pack for shorter backpacking trips, while still being soft and cozy enough for more casual ventures. Though not rated for as low temperatures as the Trailmade 20, it still has plenty of features, like a draft collar and hood, to keep you well insulated through conditions dipping into the low 30s. 

The Trailmade 25 comes at an affordable price while still offering lasting comfort and warmth, making it practical for a range of outdoor uses.

Comfort

The REI Trailmade 25 utilizes a mummy shape, which makes the interior easier to warm up and helps reduce the overall weight of the bag. These aspects promote comfort in their own right, but the tapered cut of the Trailmade results in a narrower fit that offers less space for different sleeping positions or for spreading arms and legs. The Trailmade does have a slightly roomier design than other mummy bags, and we found it better accommodated turning onto our side even when fully zipped in the bag. 

The most notable aspect of the Trailmade’s design, though, is that it comes in nine different sizes, making it one of the most body-inclusive sleeping bags on the market. REI makes the Trailmade in long, medium, and short lengths, with all three available in narrow, regular, and wide widths. It may be a narrower mummy shape, but the range of size choices makes it easier to dial in a fit perfect for your body type. 

The Trailmade also incorporates little design elements to enhance comfort. A two-way zipper runs the length of the bag, allowing targeted ventilation, particularly around the feet. The zipper doesn’t have a double-sided slider, so you won’t be able to unzip the bag from the inside, but it moves smoothly without snagging on the bag’s fabric. The Trailmade’s interior liner is also soft on the skin and less crinkly than some sleeping bags’ fabrics, so you’ll have a quiet, comfortable night’s rest.

Warmth

The REI Trailmade 25 proves a comfortable choice across a range of temperatures, thanks to a design that promotes heat retention. REI lists the Trailmade’s base temperature rating at 25°F, and its comfort rating at 31°F. Through our testing process, we found this to be an accurate reflection of the bag’s performance. We used it for both tent camping and in our van. And in our experience, it kept us coziest in temperatures in the low 30s and up. 

Made with a recycled synthetic fill, the evenly distributed horizontal baffles keep filling in place, allowing for complete plush and insulated coverage. A DWR (durable water repellent) finish helps the Trailmade’s shell to wick moisture, meaning you’ll be able to stay warm even in damp conditions. 

Along with its insulating fill, the Trailmade also has several elements that further prioritize warmth. A hood envelopes the head, with an elastic cinch for an even snugger fit to keep heat from escaping. A draft collar for the neck and a draft tube running the length of the zipper also help retain heat, keeping you comfortable in cooler weather.

Weight and Packed Size

One feature that makes the REI Trailmade 25 a better crossover option for car camping and backpacking is its relatively low weight. At 2 pounds, 15.1 ounces, it’s even lighter than its predecessor, the Trailmade 20, and the shaving off of several ounces makes it easier to carry in a pack and take with you further down the trail. REI also developed this bag to be compatible with their Trailmade 60 pack, presenting a streamlined choice for those just getting started on building out their backpacking setup. 

When it comes to transport, the Trailmade comes with a basic stuff sack that squeezes the bag into a fairly compact shape, making it easy to stash in a pack or a loaded car trunk. We tested the Trailmade in one of our personal compression sacks and found it could pack even tighter. The packability of the Trailmade enables it to better split the difference between backpacking and car camping use.

The Trailmade does not come with a mesh bag for loose breathable storage in between trips. We’d recommend investing in a cheap stuff sack to help prolong the bag’s life.

Features

The REI Trailmade 25 is by no means a tricked-out sleeping bag. But it does have several useful features that enhance the experience of using the bag. The Trailmade 20 previously featured an external stash pocket. For this iteration, REI shifts the pocket to the interior of the bag, making it easier to grab items without having to unzip the bag and let in cold air. The pocket is large enough to fit a phone or headlamp — the small accessories you’d want to keep close to your person while sleeping. 

As mentioned above, the bag has a full-length two-way zipper, which allows for greater ventilation and makes it easy to get in and out of the bag. We found the zipper at the bottom of the bag somewhat more finicky, but smooth-functioning pieces generally make the Trailmade 25 easy to use.

Should You Buy the REI Trailmade 25?

The REI Trailmade 25 is the perfect introduction to outdoor sleep systems, particularly for those looking for a more technical sleeping bag or wanting to get started with backpacking. The mummy shape is a lighter-weight design that also makes it easier to stay warm. Weighing just under 3 pounds, the Trailmade 25 is on the threshold of being light enough for a short backpacking trip, and its compact packed size makes it easier to bring with you on the trail. 

The narrower mummy shape may not prove comfortable for all body types and sleep position preferences. However, the Trailmade comes in nine sizes, allowing greater flexibility in finding a fit that suits your body’s needs. 

At $119 for the short version, it’s incredibly affordable, especially for a bag equipped for a range of uses. Comfortable, warm, and well-made, the REI Trailmade 25 is a high-performance, versatile sleeping bag that’s accessible to all bodies and budgets.

What Other Camping Sleeping Bags Should You Consider?

Are you wondering how the REI Trailmade 25 stacks up against our other top picks? Find out on our best camping sleeping bags list. And consider these awesome alternatives:

Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15 Review: Another mummy bag with a versatile crossover design, the Bishop Pass 15 is a comfortable choice for a range of outdoor uses. Made with 650-fill-power-down instead of synthetic insulation, it’s even lighter and built to withstand cooler temperatures. It does come with a higher price tag than the Trailmade 25 and doesn’t offer the same extensive size options. 

REI Hunkerdown 20 Review: Another favorite from REI, the Hunkerdown is a rectangular bag that provides ample space for different sleep positions and for spreading out. The Hunkerdown’s down fill, generously sized hood, and other heat-trapping features offer insulating capabilities similar to the Trailmade’s, just in a less restrictive design. 

Exped DeepSleep 20 Review: Another synthetic-filled mummy bag, the Exped DeepSleep is a great choice for colder climates. Plush filling makes it soft and cozy to sleep in, and thoughtful elements, like a pocket for a hot water bottle or hand warmers at the bag’s foot, maximize its ability to keep you warm. The DeepSleep is narrower than the Trailmade and much heavier, so it won’t be as flexible a fit for all body types.