The NEMO Forte sleeping bag.
I proudly identify as an imperfect environmentalist. Meaning, I care about the environment and I do my best to lessen my carbon footprint and make sustainable shopping choices, but I’ll be the first to admit that I’m far from perfect.
For some items, it’s easy to find more sustainable solutions but for others, I just buy traditional because it’s easier, cheaper, you name it. For the longest time, sleeping bags fell into the latter category but recently, NEMO Equipment launched its first-ever fully recyclable sleeping bag, the 2023 NEMO Forte.
Instead of designing an entirely new sleeping bag, NEMO took their popular three-season spoon shaped backpacking bag and gave it a sustainable facelift by using mono-polymer construction and 100% recycled materials. With the release of the NEMO Forte also comes the launch of NEMO’s Endless Promise collection, designed for long lasting durability and total circularity.
Seeing as it’s made from recycled materials, I wasn’t sure how cozy the NEMO Forte would be, but it’s incredibly soft and comfortable. It’s also the perfect size for backpacking, and being based in Hawaii, I love how breathable it is.
The Nemo Forte’s zipper placement make it ideal for lounging, as well as sleeping in. Photo: RP
The NEMO Forte Recyclable Sleeping Bag
NEMO’s most eco-friendly sleeping bag to date, the NEMO Forte is made from recycled materials and is 100% recyclable. When designing the NEMO Forte, NEMO took on the challenge of mono-polymer construction, meaning that the bag is built from a single material, which allows it to be fully recyclable. The sleeping bag is made from 100% recycled polyester ripstop and 20D 100% recycled polyester taffeta. Additionally, the Zerofiber PCR lightweight synthetic insulation is made from 100% post-consumer recycled content.
The NEMO Forte sports a “Classic Spoon” shape, providing more room at the knees and shoulder, allowing you to spread out or sleep on your side. Upgraded Thermo Gill vents and a multistage zipper system allow for customized climate control. The bag features a Blanket Fold draft to keep you warm on extra chilly nights and an integrated pillow pocket to ensure your pillow stays in place all night long. The sleeping bag comes with a compression sack, so it packs down small, and a mesh storage bag for storing at home.
The bag comes in a plethora of different options: A men’s 20-degree (regular/long) and 35-degree (regular/long), and a women’s 20-degree (regular/long) and 35-degree (regular/long).
The lineup. From left to right: the 20-degree long, 20-degree regular, 35-degree long, and 35-degree regular.
My Experience with the NEMO Forte Sleeping Bag
| Pros | Cons |
| Made from 100% recyled materials | Not as warm as rating suggests |
| Fully recyclable at the end of its life | 20-degree bag felt a little large |
| Multiple zippers provide ventilation | No 0-degree option |
I’ve had NEMO sleeping bags in the past and this one delivers in performance like the bags I’ve used before. The bag is super soft and comfy and I sometimes even curl up with it my bed at home because it’s so cozy. It is warm yet breathable and I love the thoughtful features like the pillow pocket and the draft collar. I feel like whenever I camp, my head ends up on the floor, so I really appreciate how the pillow pocket keeps my pillow securely in place.
I live in Hawaii, so most of my camping trips are in warm weather. The ability to control the temperature with multiple zippers and vents was a huge perk for me and something I think I ‘ll enjoy in cold weather as well, as my temperature tends to fluctuate a lot throughout the night. And for those times when I hike to higher altitudes, this bag is plenty warm, too. It’s a best of both worlds sleeping bag.
As a side sleeper, I really appreciate the extra room and the ability to move around a bit even when I’m all zipped in. Another fun feature is that the NEMO Forte can be zipped together with another NEMO bag, so my fiancé and I can cozy up together if we want to. The compression sack is perfect for travel and backpacking trips and it packs down small enough to easily fit into my backpacking pack.
Like most sleeping bags, the rating on the NEMO Forte is more of a survival rating. Meaning if you take a 20-degree bag into 20-degree temps, you won’t die, but you will be cold without additional insulation. As someone who runs cold, I prefer a bag that’s about 15-degree above the temps I’m actually sleeping in. I hope NEMO will consider making this bag in a 0-degree option for super chilly trips.
The NEMO Forte can be zipped together with other NEMO bags for a cozy two-person camping experience.
NEMO’s Recycling Program
At the end of their life, the new line of Forte bags can be sent to NEMO (they cover shipping with a prepaid label) for resale or recycling. Customers will receive a NEMO gift card for the resale value if the bag is in good enough condition for a new owner or, if the bag has reached the end of its adventures, a $20 NEMO gift card as thanks for recycling. NEMO has partnered with Unifi, a leading textile recycler, to turn spent Fortes into Repreve polyester yarns so each Endless Promise product can live on, endlessly, as a new item.
Final Thoughts
I love that this sleeping bag is sustainably made and that it is fully recyclable at the end of its life. And at a price point comparable to traditionally-made sleeping bags, there’s no reason not to make an environmental choice in when it comes to sleeping bags. this is definitely a bag I’ll be recommending to my friends.
CHECK WOMEN'S PRICE ON REI CHECK Men's PRICE ON REIEditor’s Note: For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.
The Best Camping Tents of 2024
