REI Kingdom +30 Double
Reviewed by
Dale Van Valkenburg
+246
October 13, 2015
A good affordable solution for a shoulder season double sleeping bag.
Pros
- Warm and comfortable for two
- Clever draft collar yoke keeps warm air in
- Down top has good loft
- Synthetic bottom doesn't compress like down while sleeping
Cons
- A bit bulky, especially for backpacking
- No pad sleeves
- A bit snug for two, especially if larger than medium sized
The bag has very good down loft in the top section, and a more dense synthetic fill in the bottom, which I feel is a much better option than the no-insulation-bottom option of the Big Agnes double bags we had been looking at.
The bag is well constructed, a bit on the snug-side for us two medium-sized campers (isn't that the point?), and warm down at least to the temp rating. The draft collar and hood can be adjusted independently on both sides, and each side has a full-length zipper for venting.
The bag has a clever quilted and insulated baffle that hangs from the top of the bag and features two yoke shape openings for necks that it is surprisingly effective at keeping the warm air in/cold air out, which I've found to be the biggest problem with the bigger opening on a double bag. There are also pillow pockets inside the hood that are just the right size for holding a light down hoodie in place.
While the bag is pretty bulky overall, it will fit into a Sea to Summit XL compression bag and can be compressed down to about the size of a large watermelon. It is possible to backpack with this bag on shorter trips if your partner carries the tent, since its weight is comparable to two single bags.
We intend to use the bag primarily for rafting trips and car camping. This is our first dedicated double bag, having previously used two rectangular bags zipped together. The more compact footbox and the hood on the Kingdom Double make it a much more suitable option for shoulder season trips when the temeperatures can drop lower than anticipated.
All in all, the Kingdom Double makes for one awesome camp love nest!
Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $115
