REI Sub Kilo +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - '09 Special Buy

Comments about REI Sub Kilo +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - '08 Overstock:

I have owned two Sub-Kilo bags. The original version, purchased in 2003, had 650-fill down. The next one I got had upgraded to 750-fill down. Both of them have performed well for me. My wife now uses the 650-fill bag, which is still going strong.The most important thing to know about this bag before you buy it is that it has a somewhat narrow girth. Anyone with wide shoulders or barrel chest will feel constricted in this bag. Also, the more you tend to toss around at night, the more you will notice the relative lack of room. I am just under 6 feet and 160 lbs, with a fairly slight build, so these are not issues for me. If this is an issue for you, it might be a deal-breaker that renders this otherwise excellent bag unusable for you. This is why I docked it one star in my rating.The next thing to know is that sleeping bag temperature ratings are an inexact science and the 20-degree rating is probably a bit of an overstatement, but overstatements like this are common among bag makers, so it is probably comparable to other 20 degree bags you might consider. Personally, I have slept well in this bag in 20 degree weather, but I was wearing a cap, and a suit of 100-weight fleece inside it - and the hood was cinched down tight so that only my mouth and nose were exposed. This is how a mummy bag is intended to be used on a cold night. If you feel compelled to leave a wide open hood more warm air will escape your bag, you will find it much colder than it is rated.Incidentally, if you are worried because the Sub-Kilo is a down-filled bag and you are afraid it might get wet and lose its insulating ability, my advice is NOT to get a synthetic bag, thinking this will solve the problem. ANY type of bag will be next to worthless if it is wet, synthetic included. The only viable solution is to protect your bag from wetness, which isn't too hard. Plastic bags are both light and cheap.My finding is that down is superior to synthetics by a very large margin. It is warmer-per-ounce, compresses better, lofts better, and regulates your temperature more comfortably over a wider range of conditions. Good down bags usually last longer, too.The bottom line on this sleeping bag is that, if you can fit comfortably inside it, it is one of the best deals going. The construction is good. The materials are high quality. The weight is only a couple of ounces above most of the [$] bags by the premium brands. The Sub-Kilo is REI's gift to backpackers with little to spend. If you are on a tight budget, this bag is just about the wisest gear investment you can make.

Comments about REI Sub Kilo +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - '08 Overstock:

I have used this bag for some time and my grown daugher liked to use it. She claimed it was really warm. She now has her own; I won't tell you how she got it. It is also really light and compresses into a small package. With the pack I am currently using, I use a thermorest ridgerest pad for the frame, and this bag for a base. I can have bag, pad and pack all for under four pounds. If you pick the rest of your components with the same care. You can have a pack weight depending on how far it is between water and what you want to eat. The down side of this bag, (yes they are both down; I should have seen that coming. I am six feet tall and only of normal sholder width and I have just the room I need in this bag. I have a son only slightly larger than me. He found the bag "tight" so after trying it, decided to find something else. I love it, but it is a close fit even for me. Most of the other bags I have tried have a little more space in them, but either weight comparitively a good deal more, half again, or cost four hundred dollars. The seams in my bag have begun to leak a little down; this is the first bag I have seen do this, and it is four seasons old. This is displeasing but not a problem. For those of us who fit, this is a great bag and a great deal. Oh, and the more you take your children with you up the trail the more they discover they neen their own gear. Yes, I would recomend this to a friend if he has tried the bag and it fits.

Comments about REI Sub Kilo +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - '08 Overstock:

I bought this bag five years ago when I decided I was too old to carry 50+# anymore and went to lightweight tent, bag, and pack. I have used it 40+ nights. It has performed well down to 30 degrees. IMO it would be tight for a larger frame person. I am 5'10", 160#, and it is ok, but no extra room. For smaller and medium frames, BUY IT!

Comments about REI Sub Kilo +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - '08 Overstock:

I have had this sleeping bag for about a year and have used it around 20+ nights, from car camping in Yosemite and Death Valley, CA to kayak camping on Cape Lookout, NC. I like how small it packs. The size and weight it packs up into is very hard to beat and it is an excellent value for the money. Additionally, it has never leaked any down on me and the shell has been durable. I don't have much to compare it to for warmth.

I use the compression sack when I'm out with it, never compressing it hard, and always store it in the included storage bag. The sleeping bag has lost a considerable amount of loft from new. I know because I have another to compare it to, I had purchased a second one on sale for my girlfriend, which I will probably be returning because she does not like how tight it fits- which brings me to my next point.

I am a 5'11, 145 lbs and this sleeping bag is very tight. I would not recommend it AT ALL for anyone who does not have a "slender" figure. I cannot roll over inside the bag and often have my knees or hips or arms pressing the sides, creating cold spots. In the end, I would have liked it to be a bit more roomy in exchange for a little more weight and bulk. If you don't sleep well, it defeats the purpose.

Because of how tight it is, it makes it awkward to use. Sometimes I get stuck inside it, and the zipper won't go down, and I end up looking like an odd sea creature just trying to insert one arm out of the opening to do something.

All in all, it's worth a try. With REI's wonderful return policy, you can't really go wrong.

Comments about REI Sub Kilo +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - '08 Overstock:

This is an update to an earlier review of this bag. I took this bag out on a maiden voyage to the Smoky Mountains for a news year trip. The temps ranged from low to mid 40's to teens. I slept in a hat, wool socks and silk thermals and had a good sleeping pad...Bottom line I never got cold at all in this bag. The bag packs tiny and weighs almost nothing so I thought that durability might suffer. But on my trip in stuffing and fluffing the bag I saw two feathers floating around but I can't even be sure that they were from the bag and not my coat. This is a great bag and I would get it again!

Comments about REI Sub Kilo +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - '08 Overstock:

I did ALOT of research before buying myself a sleeping bag. Ultimately I narrowed my choices down to 2 sleeping bags, this one, and the REI Downtime +20. I actually ordered them both, and tested them both. After testing, I decided to go with the REI Sub Kilo; here's why.

The Sub Kilo has a great feel to it. The material is very soft, and very very comfortable. There is a zipper guard thing on the inside of the bag, which makes zipping the bag up and down a non-issue. While the REI Downtime +20 was comfortable, the lack of a zipper guard proved frustrating just the one night I used it.

Now here's the big thing, probably the biggest sticking point I had with choosing the REI Sub Kilo over the REI Downtime; the amount of space right around the knees. I measured both bags, with my knees stretched side to side in the Sub Kilo, the bag had a width of 17". With my knees stretched side to side in the REI Downtime, the width was 20". That actually felt like a big difference. Ultimately the comfort and zipper guard on the Sub Kilo led me to choose that one.

Now after having used it for about another 7 nights, I'm glad I went with the Sub Kilo. The lack of room around the knees really isn't that big of deal - after you hike all day, it's not that tough to fall asleep!

All in all this is a really good bag, and you shouldn't be concerned in choosing it. Any qualms you have about little issues are certainly to be overcome with how compact, comfortable, and lightweight this thing is.

Comments about REI Sub Kilo +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - '08 Overstock:

Have to admit I haven't pushed the temp on this bag but the quality is awesome! High loft and low weight. No zipper snagging due to guard strips (and reasonable care)

The bag is definitely snug. I am 5' 9" 160 lbs and wear men's Medium. It is pretty darn cozy. That works for me as I am side sleeper so the bag rolls with me. It is definitely not for the larger folk or those who need to practice their swan dive while in the bag

It will easily stuff to half the the supplied stuff sack's volume.

This model has the pocket on the inside and right at my shoulder so a watch is like a stone under you and glasses would have to be Ti to survive in there if you roll to the left. (The newer bags have the pocket on the outside and more on top... ah hah!)

Too bad they are closing this out. I can't really imagine why. It seems like a rock solid 3 season down bag even at full retail it is an excellent piece of gear. it is a steal in the outlet. Will buy another for my wife and daughter (hmm one each?)

Comments about REI Sub Kilo +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - '08 Overstock:

My wife and I got matching bags and have used them recently on a camping trip in Yosemite to try them out. What lured me in is that the bag is extremely lightweight, especially for the price. Although I live close to the sierras, I rarely backpack while temps are below freezing, so I was fine with some folks reviewing this as not a 20° rating. The temps while camping recently came down to about 35-40° and I had to keep the zipper open most of the night, but when I zipped that thing up all the way, it got toasty in there.

The bag is a little small, so if you are a big guy, then this may not be the bag for you. I am 5'10 175 lbs with a broad back and shoulders and it worked fine for me, but I could see it getting tight on someone with some girth ;)

Comments about REI Sub Kilo +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - '08 Overstock:

I have used this bag many nights from March to October backpacking and car camping and have found it to be very warm. It packs small and is very lightweight. I did a lot of research before buying it and found this bag to have the best price to weight ratio. I have not had any zipper issues that others have mentioned. I find it to be comfortable and not restrictive. But, I can understand others' complaint about not having enough room. I'm 5'7 and 140 lbs and it works great for me. Might want to look elsewhere if you're of a larger stature. Although, my 6'0 tall friend borrowed it for one night and had no complaints, but would have benefited from the long version.

All in all, I love it and will be buying one for my son, as it will even fit in his youth backpack sleeping compartment!

Comments about REI Sub Kilo +20 Sleeping Bag - Regular - '08 Overstock:

This is a great bag -- for a petite teenage girl who sleeps on her back without moving a muscle all night long.

Well-made, good-looking bag that I had to return without using. I am an average built male, 5'10" and 175 lbs., and I could not even move my arms with the bag zipped, for fear of ripping a seam. Zipper-snag not much worse than other bags. I also suspect that the temp.rating is too low -- decent loft but not great. These are probably the reasons why this otherwise excellent '08 bag remains an REI Outlet item. As always, the REI return policy is unbeatable.