Morrison Outdoors Sleeping Bags, Reviewed by an Outdoorsy Mom

morrison baby sleeping bag review

I remember when Morrison Outdoors was still just a concept on Kickstarter. Back then, there weren’t any baby sleeping bags for camping.  So, when an outdoorsy couple wanted to take their baby Morrison camping, they had to make a sleeping bag for him.  They thought other parents might be interested in their sleeping bag.  They were right and the brand Morrison Outdoors was born.

My younger daughter is the same age as Morrison, so I’ve had the privilege of watching the Morrison brand grow over the years. In addition to the original “Little Mo” sleeping bag, Morrison now has a toddler and bigger kid sleeping bag and has made several improvements to their original designs.

I’m happy to say that the brand is still run and owned by the same cool couple that started it.  They donate a portion of profits to outdoor charities and have a trade-in program.

If you are thinking of getting a Morrison sleeping bag for your child, here’s what you need to know about key features and pros/cons.

Check Out Morrison Sleeping Bags Here
***Use discount code Momgoescamping at checkout to get 10% off!***

 

Morrison Sleeping Bag Sizes

Morrison sleeping bags currently come in sizes for babies, toddlers and little kids.  They also have an adult sleeping bag with sleeves called the “Mega Mo” but I’m going to focus on the baby and kid sleeping bags here.Note the sleeping bag lengths are from the SHOULDERS downwards and NOT your child’s overall height.

Bag Age Bag Length Child Height
Little Mo 6-18 months 31” (80cm) 24-34” (61-86cm)
Big Mo 18-36 months 38” (97cm) 30-40” (74-101cm)
Mighty Mo 3-5 years old 46” (116cm) 36-50” (91-116cm)

 

Morrison sleeping bag for toddlers

Baby in the Little Mo sleeping bag

My daughter at 5 years old in the Mighty Mo. Of course she rolled off her pillow :p

 

How Warm Are Morrison Sleeping Bags?

Morrison sleeping bags come in two temperature ratings:

  • Synthetic filling: 40°-60°F (4°-15°C)
  • Down filling: 20°-60°F (-6°-15°C)

I have the synthetic version of the sleeping bags for my daughter. They definitely kept her warm in 40 degree temps.  We haven’t done much cold-weather camping, but she did use the synthetic bag one night when it dropped to below 40.  I just bundled her in an extra layer of jammies and she was fine.

If you camp in very cold weather, then the down sleeping bag is the way to go.  It is also smaller and lighter weight than the synthetic bag, so better for backpacking in this sense.  However, don’t get the down bag unless you actually need it.  The bag is does its job well and your child won’t be comfortable in it in warmer temperatures!

Morrison 20F baby sleeping bag

I’m toasty warm even with snow on the ground!

Check Out Morrison Sleeping Bags Here
***Remember to use discount code Momgoescamping at checkout to get 10% off!***

Key Features of Morrison Sleeping Bags

Sleeves

The key feature of Morrison sleeping bags is that they have sleeves. The sleeves mean your child can still use their arms while inside the sleeping bag, which means they are more likely to stay inside the bag (my older daughter would constantly wriggle out of her sleeping bag, causing all of the heat to escape in the process).

Morrison Little Mo 40F baby sleeping bag

 

Fold Over Hand Cuffs

There are cuffs on the sleeves of Morrison sleeping bags. You can fold them over to keep your child’s hands warm, or unfold them so you child can use their hands.

Before, only the synthetic Morrison sleeping bags had this feature.  The down bags had closed cuffs, so your child couldn’t use their hands.  I’m happy to say that, as of April 2024, all new Morrison sleeping bags have the fold-over cuff feature.  If you are buying one of the discounted Morrison sleeping bags, pay attention to whether you are getting the new or old version of the cuffs!

fold over cuffs on morrison sleeping bag

Fold-over the cuffs to keep your child’s hands warm

baby in Morrison sleeping bag

The old Morrison down bags had closed cuffs

 

Safe for Babies

Another unique aspect of the design is that there isn’t a hood.  This is for safety because you wouldn’t want a baby to slide down inside the sleeping bag.  The collar is lined with soft fleece so it is comfortable around your child’s neck. There also aren’t any drawstrings or other safety hazards on the sleeping bags.

Around the age of 5 years old, my daughter admittedly started to prefer a classic sleeping bag with a hood and arms inside the bag. So, if your child is older and you don’t have to worry about safety features, then a traditional sleeping bag might be better (and, unlike with baby sleeping bags, there are actually more options for 5 year olds!).

 

Lightweight and Compact

I take my daughters backpacking and end up carrying pretty much all of our gear.  So, it is really nice that the Morrison sleeping bags are lightweight and compact.  I have the synthetic bags.  They are larger and heavier than the down bags but I can handle the extra few ounces.

Bag Weight
Little Mo Synthetic 14oz (391g)
Little Mo Down 8.7oz (247g)
Big Mo Synthetic 1lb 2oz (498g)
Big Mo Down 11.6oz (330g)
Mighty Mo Synthetic 1lb 6oz (623g)
Mighty Mo Down 14.6oz (415g)

The Morrison 40F sleeping bag is on the left. The 20F down bag is on the right. It’s compact!

 

Easy Clean Up

Morrison children’s sleeping bags have a water-resistant nylon shell. You can wipe it clean if it gets dirty.  The bags also dry very quickly and are machine washable.  As with any sleeping bag, you should only wash it in cold water.

Apparently you can dry the Morrison sleeping bags in the dryer machine with tennis balls (the tennis balls help keep the bag’s insulation from losing its fluff).  However, I like my sleeping bags too much so always hang them to dry.  Listening to tennis balls banging around doesn’t sound like fun anyway.

 

Two Way Zipper

The two-way zipper means you can open the sleeping bag from the top or the bottom.  This feature is great because it allows:

  • Diaper changes: just unzip the bottom for the change without having to take your child out.
  • Regulating temperature: you can unzip a section of the sleeping bag to allow for ventilation.

 

Several Color Options

Morrison sleeping bags currently come in light blue, green, orange and “black rainbow.”

Even though dirt shows faster on these, I recommend getting one of the lighter color bags.  Why? Because I’m vigilant about ticks. You can see ticks crawling on light colors easier than on dark colors!

 

Trade-in Program

Morrison recently partnered with Rerouted Co-Op for a trade-in programWhen your baby outgrows the Little Mo sleeping bag, you can get cash-back for it PLUS a discount code for the toddler size bag (which will be available starting in May 2020).   The used Little Mo bags will be cleaned and sold at a discount with a portion of every sale going to HikeItBaby.

 

You can Buy Morrison Sleeping Bags Here
***Remember to use discount code Momgoescamping at checkout to get 10% off!***

Cons of Morrison Sleeping Bags

While I love the Morrison sleeping bags, they aren’t perfect. Here are some of the things that might be deal breakers.

 

Slippery Material

Morrison sleeping bags have a nylon shell similar to that used in any adult sleeping bag. The problem is that this material is slippery.  It can be tricky to hold a wriggly baby in a slippery bag!

 

Draft Tubes Get Stuck in Zippers

There are “draft tubes” along the zippers.  This is actually a professional-level sleeping bag feature that prevents warm air from escaping the bag through the zipper area.

The problem is that the draft tube can get stuck in the zipper.  It’s not really a problem with the baby or toddler bags.  But, by the time your child is in a Mighty Mo, they will probably be zipping themselves up.  They will NOT be careful and the draft tube fabric will annoyingly get stuck.

 

Maybe Too Warm

If camping in very warm temperatures, the Morrison sleeping bags will be too warm for your child.  I ended up using one as a blanket for my child during an unexpectedly-warm night.  If you only camp in hot temps, then you’ll want a less-warm bag, like the one by BabyDeeDee. It’s okay to around 50 degrees F.  For more on that, read my guide to baby sleeping bags for camping.

Even the synthetic bag was too warm for this trip. I had to drape it over my daughter like a blanket.

 

Not Stroller or Carrier Compatible

The Morrison sleeping bags don’t have separated legs, so your baby won’t be able to wear it while in a hiking carrier.

Because there aren’t separated legs or a hole for the stroller harness, you also can’t really use it in a stroller.  It is possible to strap your child in from the side (as shown in the picture below). Of course, I can’t recommend that you ever use baby gear in a way other than instructed (don’t sue me if your baby squirms out! 😉 ).

Morrison baby sleeping bag in a stroller

 

Older Kids Might Not Want Sleeves

Around five years old, my daughter started preferring classic-style sleeping bags with sleeves. She likes to bundle her hands inside the bag.  Luckily, the Morrison Mighty Mo is wide enough that she could bring her arms inside it, but a traditional bag would have been better for her.  If your child is older and you want a sleeveless model, check out these sleeping bags for kids.

My daughter with her hands inside the bag. She stopped liking the sleeves.

 

Weird Stuff Sack Dimensions

While the Morrison sleeping bags are compact, I personally don’t like the stuff sacks. They are long and thin (like a hot dog) instead of short and wide (like a marshmallow).  This isn’t a problem for car camping, but the long size makes it hard to get the sleeping bag into my pack when backpacking.   Since I have a zillion sleeping bags, I just put the Morrison bag into another stuff sack.  Problem solved, but worth knowing anyway.

 

FAQs about Morrison Baby Sleeping Bags

Can the Morrison Bag be used with infants?

When the Morrison baby sleeping bag first came out, the company said it was suitable for 3 months to 24 months.  They’ve since updated the sizing to 6 months.   For safety reasons, I can’t advise you to use the sleeping bag with children under 6 months.  However, I did see photos where infants (like the one below) were in the Morrison sleeping bags.  There are snaps so you can wrap the sleeves around the bag so it fits them better.

If your baby could slip into the sleeping bag, such as if they have a tiny head, then don’t use the sleeping bag!

infant in Morrison sleeping bag

This baby definitely isn’t 6 months old 😮

 

What Insulation Does Morrison Use in their Sleeping Bags?

The down bags have 650 fill power down insulation, which is high-qualilty and allows the bags to be very warm yet still lightweight.  The synthetic bags use “Hi-loft” insulation, which is an eco-friendly product but not as warm or lightweight as down.

 

What happens if there are diaper explosions?

Speaking from experience, I’d advise you to put a liner of some kind in the sleeping bag (you can even spread out diapers under your baby in the sleeping bag, or use a folded towel or similar).  This will help catch any leaks.

If the Morrison sleeping bag does get wet though, you should try to blot out as much as you can.  Both versions of the sleeping bag dry quickly.  At home, you can machine wash the bag (even the 20F down bag is machine washable!).

Buy the Morrison baby sleeping bag here

(Remember to use code Momgoescamping at checkout to get 10% off!***

About the author /


Diane Vukovic grew up camping and backpacking in upstate New York. Now, she takes her own daughters on wilderness adventures so they can connect with nature and learn resiliency. With dozens of trips under her belt, Diane is an expert in minimalist camping, going lightweight, planning, and keeping her kids entertained without screens.

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