REI Downtime +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - '08 Special Buy

Comments about REI Downtime +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - Special Buy:

I used the bag in Yellowstone during 32 degrees summer nights in a tent, on a good pad. It always had cold spots at the top and sides that made sleeping uncomfortable. Definitely not for 20 degrees.

Comments about REI Downtime +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - Special Buy:

I just purchased this bag and wanted to try it out the other night in the back yard. It was the end of January in Washington state, low temp that night was 24 degrees. I was sleeping on a Big Agnes inflatable pad(which probably helped a little with the cold) I wasn't sure how warm I would stay thoughout the night so I was wearing thermal top and bottom sweatpants and sweatshirt. It only took about 3 minutes until I had to start taking off layers, by morning I was still comfortably warm and wearing only underwear and socks. This bag WILL keep you warm down to 20 degrees.

Comments about REI Downtime +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - Special Buy:

I have had this bag for about 6-8 months and have used it several times. It is very light and packs great in a backpack. I found it to be quite warm, though not sure I have got down to 20 degrees to test it that cold. Very comfortable for sleep.

Comments about REI Downtime +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - Special Buy:

I have used this sleeping bag for nearly a year. I have done everything from fall camping, hammocking and even winter camping.

I am very happy with this bag. It is small and light, especially for the price. More expensive bags have higher power down fill and are lighter, but you get what you pay for and it is really not that heavy. I got an 11 liter REI ultralight compression sack and with this the bag will compress down to the size of a small cantaloupe (If I take time I can completely cinch down the compressing straps).

During the summer if it gets to warm you just zip open the bag and during the winter I have slept comfortably in a large range of temperatures. I have slept comfortably to 20 degrees with just a thermal layer on. But the real performance is when I combined this thing with a Thermolite Reactor Plus 20 degree liner. With this I have slept to 5 degrees in just my thermal layer and to -5 with a fleece mid-layer and a balaclava. I was comfortable though not quite toasty.

The zipper will snag if you arent careful, there is a reinforced nylon strip alongside the zipper but it can snag beyond that.

Overall I love this bag, it was affordable and it is both light and warm. With my liner it becomes a true 4 season bag. I love the versatility.

Comments about REI Downtime +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - Special Buy:

For the price the bag is good. Things I don’t like; the draft collar is there but it is not all that effective, no pocket, at 28 degrees I was still a bit cold at night and the loft is not wonderful. Things I do like; the price, the weight, and how small it compresses. I was debating taking the bag back after the 28 degree night previously mentioned but I decided for the price the bag did as was stated in the description. I would never trust it on any temp lower than 30 degrees but for a summer, late spring and early fall bag I think it will work just fine.

Comments about REI Downtime +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - Special Buy:

This is a great bag for the price and that is why I scooped it up; I am always one to test things in before I am out in the middle of no-where so I pitched camp in the backyard since it was suppose to be in the 20s. The bag kept me warm until about 26degrees, then I started to become uncomfortable. There were cold spots on my butt and feet, the chest was warm, but not warm. I would have liked to see a neck collar as well, but it was lacking that and a nifty pocket to store stuff in. I returned it and ended up getting a MontBell bag that I love. I would suggest this bag if you are a warm sleeper or will not be expecting it to get too cold. The bag packs small, is light and has the REI quality that you expect, but it did not suit my needs sadly...

Comments about REI Downtime +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - Special Buy:

This is a great bag for the money, I sprang for it when it was cheap and got my money's worth in one weekend. This bag is a general 20 degree down and has no fancy features on it but does include the basics. It's more aimed at the backpacking crowd than anything else with its functional but minimalist setup. No neck collar was the first thing I noticed, not bad, but I always like to have one since you lose a lot of body heat from it seeping out the head opening. It IS a 20 degree bag, realize that this doesn't mean it'll be like a self-adjusting thermostat but it will keep you relatively comfortable while you sleep. I tested this bag on a Wilderness Survival Weekend class I teach, students bring almost nothing and sleep in shelters built from a tarp and whatever they could fine in the woods. I slept on the ground (with my pad) under a tarp with no other insulation and the temp reached a low of 23 degrees, I was warm and comfy with only one or two cold spots which were mostly due to my sweating I had accumulated earlier. The bag does not hold water for long, I had condensation on it (from a lack of air flow in my shelter)and less than an hour later it had disappeared, no worries there. Packs about the size of a big cantaloupe and weighs much less than my 0 degree synthetic bag (which now works only as well as a 20 degree bag). I recommend this as a good first bag for a new adventurer or a backup bag for those who seek a little more in their gear and from their adventures.

Service and delivery comments:

Delivered early, never have any problems with REI shipping!

Comments about REI Downtime +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - Special Buy:

I was looking to upgrade my bag to down and figured for the price I could not pass it up. When I first got the bag was that it was very lofty and it was rather roomy for my taste. I always like to test my gear at home before I use it in the field so I set up camp in the bag yard on a cold (25 degree night). For the first part of the night I was quite comfortable. I camped out a second night where the low was about 20 and I was comfortable for the first few hours, but as the night grew on I did become cold, such was the story on the third night.

Some pro for the bag are that it is rather lofty, comfortable, roomy, light and packs someone small.

Some of the downs: It was warm to about 25 degrees, lots of cold spots and there is not collar around the neck.

Although it is a decent bag for the price, I returned it and got a Mont Bell bag.

Comments about REI Downtime +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - Special Buy:

Wow, for the price you can't beat it. It's fairly lightweight, packs small and is roomy enough for my 160 pound, 5'10" frame. Plus, it actually keeps me warm.

Service and delivery comments:

Perfect delivery

Comments about REI Downtime +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - Special Buy:

I purchased one of these a year ago when they were on special in an effort to take some weight off my back. I had been using a 10 year old REI down bag (0 degree and still lofts great). This bag cut off a bit more than a pound. It packs down nice and small so I can fit my Big Agnes Insulated Air Core pad, backpacking pillow and sleeping bag in the sleeping bag compartment of my backpack without any trouble.

The sleeping bag isn't going to keep you warm at 20 degrees without some minimal clothing on, though that is normal for nearly all bags rated at 20 degrees. I love the bag and use it more than any other.