I’m Down With Down

Campfire Guy here.  One of the single most important pieces of camping gear you’ll buy is a sleeping bag.  Having spent my share of cold nights in one I’m inclined to agree.  We still have a few old reliable synthetic bags for car camping, but lately, I’ve been on a down bag kick.  For the weight, warmth, and compactability (pretty sure I just made up a new word), down is hard to beat.  The downside is usually cost.  (I’ll wait a moment for the groaning to stop.)

Window Shopping Done Right

I discovered the Klymit KSB 20 Degree down bag last fall doing some window shopping on Massdrop.com.  All the reviews I read were positive enough, so when it dropped to $160, I picked one up as a Christmas gift for our 11-year-old Boy Scout.  His 20-degree synthetic bag worked but was bulky, heavy, and hard to fit in his pack.  Over his past year with his Troop, he’s done a fantastic job of keeping his gear in good shape, so I figured it was time for an upgrade.

First Impressions

Out of the box, I noticed that the 20D rip-stop nylon exterior of the  Klymit KSB 20 feels much tougher than other bags I own.  Only repeated use will tell if that truly ends up being the case.  The beefed up fabric does add some weight.  My Sierra Designs Zissou 23 weighs 2 lbs 3 oz. and the KSB 20 weighs 2 lbs 12 oz.  For the cost difference, though, the Klymit has the edge between the two.  What makes this bag unique is the stretchy baffles.

Campfire Guy Doesn’t Like to Run

Tight fit mummy bags are great for back sleepers.  Crawl in, zip up and prepare to count raccoons.  However, if you are a side sleeper who tosses and turns during the night, a tight fit mummy bag can be a real hassle.  Maybe if I cut down on the nachos and ran I’d have better luck with a tight fit bag.  Since I can’t quit nachos and haven’t been chased by a crazy dude in a hockey mask in a while, I’m out on tight fit mummy bags.

Stretchy Goodness

The Klymit KSB 20 baffles hug you tight but stretch out to allow a surprising amount of movement.  Once complete with your fidgeting, it’s back to snug and warm.  

First Time Use

I first used the Klymit KSB 20 for a few hours on the night I slept in my backyard when the temperatures were hovering just below 20 degrees.  I did experience a few cold spots but had I added another layer, I would have been fine.  To be fair, I was below the bags listed rating.  If I were taking this on a trip, knowing I’d be at the bags comfort limit I’d either layer accordingly, or pick up a Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme   liner just in case.  

I liked that both the hood and the draft collar had draw strings to help trap warmth.  Another thing that impressed me with this bag was the zippers.  They are a decent size and operated smoothly.  I didn’t experience any snags when getting in or out of the bag.

Survey Says

When asked his opinion on the Klymit KSB 20, the man-child of few words, Campfire Boy Scout responded with a, “It was good, I stayed warm, I need something to eat”, then shuffled off to find some cereal.  The challenge with down bags is finding one that strikes a good balance between functionality, comfort, weight and cost.  The Klymit KSB 20 checks all those boxes.  If you are in the market for your first down bag and don’t want to break the bank, this bag is an excellent option.

Right now, Amazon has this bag for $126.87.  Click here to order.

Pros

Tough exterior fabric

Very comfortable

Great price to weight ratio

Bag has a durable water repellent (DWR) treatment to protect from moisture

Cons

Included stuff sack is too small.  Trying to get the bag back into it is like trying to wrestle an angry man-sized caterpillar.

Specs (provided by Klymit)

Manufacturer:  Klymit

Price:  $126.87 on Amazon

Temperature Rating: 20 Degrees

Weight: 2 lbs 12 oz.

Down: 650 Fill


This post contains affiliate links.  Clicking on them and doing some Amazoning doesn’t add cost to you, but does help me offset operation costs.  The Klymit KSB 20 bag was purchased by the author with his own funds.