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Kelty Light Year Down 20

rated 4.5 of 5 stars
photo: Kelty Light Year Down 20 3-season down sleeping bag

Pros

  • Quality materials for a bag in this price range
  • Lofts well
  • Hood is easy to cinch up
  • Warm with little to no down shifting
  • Great compression sack
  • Zipper at the foot end

Cons

  • Not the lightest
  • Zipper sometimes snags on the draft tube
  • The shortened zipper restricts venting options

I believe I have the 2010 version. I paid $160 for this bag. I purchased the long for myself and the regular for my wife. It's filled with 600 power goose down.

I've had it down to a temp of 21 deg F. I was wearing a hat, base layer shirt and johns, and merino wool socks. No liner in the bag and I was warm during the night. With my silk liner and similar clothing I could probably squeak out 10 deg but no less than that.

At the time I was in 21 deg temps, I was in a three season, 4 person tent. My solo, four season tent would be a different story because it retains heat better. This bag only has the passive baffle across the chest and it seems the newer models have a full baffle.

I don't like the short zipper. I don't think it really saves that much weight. Also, the baffle could use a bit more down. The baffle in the regular length bag is overstuffed.

The compression sack works great and it doesn't seem flimsy. It's a good bag for the money and it does pack down to a small size. Small enough to fit in the bag compartment of my 60 liter pack.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $160

I have taken this bag backpacking in March when the nights got down in the high 30s. I was nice and warm, but even with the compression bag it only gets down to a soccer ball size. I loved that you could unzip from the bottom or top—was able to air out my feet this way. I'm only 5' 4" and this bag was just my size. Total weight is 2 pounds 13 oz. Overall, a really nice bag.

Pros

  • Two zippers
  • Soft and has good insulation
  • Comes with a storage bag and a compression sack
  • Fairly inexpensive
  • Perfect size

Cons

  • Wish it could be compressed to a smaller size for easier packing

I haven't had an opportunity to test this bag below 38 degrees, but I believe it would do a fine job. I liked that the bag was shaped for a woman with extra room in the hips. The bag was exposed to some condensation from the inside of the tent and did not absorb it. It beaded up on the foot of the bag.

Although the bag doesn't pack down very small, it puffs right back up after removal from the bag. I had a small problem with the zipper at the foot of the bag jumping off of the track, but this was easy to fix. I really like this sleeping bag and am looking forward to using it for many years to come!

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $79.95

This is a great bag overall. I purchased last year's model from REI's outlet and it didn't show up so they gave me the current model.

This bag is very light, very compact, and very warm. It has a great feel. The ripstop fabric is extremely lightweight, relatively soft, and quiet when you move around in the bag. It has a foot-zipper which I love because I like to have my feet out of the covers when I fall asleep, then I usually get cold and drag them in. Once your feet are in the bag they are pretty warm. There is a draft tube on the foot-zipper as well and that is nice if it gets really cold.

I've used the bag in the Smoky Mountains where night temperatures bottomed out around the high 40s and low 50s so I can't say much for the temperature rating, but I stayed warm . The fabric rings for pad straps are nice but make the zipper harder to use that it already is. The included compression sack is awesome and really lightweight. Great colors on the bag as well, let's you see if there are any creepy crawlers on or in your bag before you get in.

There is one complaint about the bag, the zipper gets stuck in the draft tube constantly and is really hard to zip up. On nights when it's not that cold when you first get in the bag and you awake to want to be more covered... it is really difficult to use when you are wide awake let alone half-asleep. Kelty needs to work on this issue. Oh, and the hip-level zipper isn't that great in my opinion... I like the whole length zipper.

Design: Mummy
Fill: 650 fill down
Temperature Rating: 20F
Weight: 2lbs 6 oz
Price Paid: $90

This is a very warm and durable bag!

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Warm
  • Compact

Cons

  • Really ideal at temps around 10-20 degrees

I purchased this bag 5 years ago and it has held up on many trips! With no visible wear and a nice long length of 84" and 34" diameter. I have been very pleased with this bag and would gladly buy another in the future!

This bag compresses down nice and small for my 35L UL pack! I have also used this bag as a TopQuilt while hammocking.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $50 on clearance

This is a great bag. I like Kelty products because they tend to be very sturdy, this bag is no exception. Though it is fairly light the fabric feels strong and light while the down is lofty and compactable.

It is a warm bag with features like a thicker band of down near the neck and different shaped drawstrings so you can tell them apart in the dark. Kelty thought of everything and the result is a great bag.

Design: mummy
Temperature Rating: 20F
Weight: 2.5 or something
Price Paid: $170

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Specs

Men's
Regular Long
Price MSRP: $189.95
Historic Range: $114.95-$248.95
Reviewers Paid: $50.00-$170.00
Total Weight 2 lb 14 oz / 1.29 kg 3 lb 2 oz / 1.40 kg
Fill Weight 23 oz / .64 kg 26 oz / .73 kg
Length 78 in / 198 cm 84 in / 213 cm
Fits to 6 ft / 183 cm 6 ft 6 in / 198 cm
Shoulder Girth 62 in / 157 cm 64 in / 163 cm
Stuffed Diameter 8 in / 20 cm 8 in / 20 cm
Stuffed Length 15 in / 38 cm (Long)Temp Rating: 20° / - 7° C 20° / - 7° C
Shape Mummy Mummy
EN Comfort Limit 32°F / 0°C 32°F / 0°C
EN Lower Limit 21°F / -6°C 21°F / -6°C
EN Extreme Limit -11°F / -24°C -11°F / -24°C
Insulation 600-Fill-Power Down 600-Fill-Power Down
Shell Material 40D Nylon Ripstop 40D Nylon Ripstop
Liner Material 50D Polyester Microfiber Pongee 50D Polyester Microfiber Pongee
Price $189.95 USD $199.95
Women's
Price MSRP: $189.95
Historic Range: $49.95-$239.95
Reviewers Paid: $79.95
Total Weight 2 lb 13 oz / 1.26 kg
Fill Weight 23 oz / .64 kg
Length 72 in / 183 cm
Fits to 5 ft 6 in / 168 cm
Shoulder Girth 58 in / 147 cm
Stuffed Diameter 8 in / 20 cm
Stuffed Length 14 in / 36 cm
Shape Mummy
Temp Rating 20° / - 7° C
EN Comfort Limit 32° F / 0° C
EN Lower Limit 21° F / - 6° C
EN Extreme Limit - 11° F / - 24° C
Insulation 600-Fill-Power Down
Shell Material 40D Nylon Ripstop
Liner Material 50D Polyester Micro Pongee
Product Details from Kelty »

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