Open main menu

REI Travel Sack +55

rated 2.5 of 5 stars
photo: REI Travel Sack +55 warm weather synthetic sleeping bag

A lightweight, relatively inexpensive "55°F" sleeping bag/liner that provides me with a number of options in summer and winter conditions.

Pros

  • Full length, anti-snag zipper
  • Foot ventilation
  • Arm hole zipper
  • Chest pocket large enough to hold smart phone AND wallet
  • Packs down small
  • Adjustable hood

Cons

  • Not a true 55°F bag (more like 65°F)
  • REI's sizing is questionable

Summary

I have owned and used this sleeping bag for several years for summer camping. I have frozen my butt off in it with a night time low of 60°F, making me question its "55-degree" rating. However, I have discovered several unconventional uses for this bag that made it worth the investment. I've never regretted owning this piece of gear.

Specs

The bag is a mummy design and weighs 28oz with the stuff sack.

The bag is 85" long including the hood, but it is only 75" from shoulder to bottom. REI claims this bag fits someone up to 78" tall, but I don't see how that is possible (The bag only comes in one size. So there's not a long/tall option.).

Width at the shoulders is 27"; 29" at the hip; 20" at the feet.

I am 6'2", 200lbs. My shoulders are 17" across. I wear a 42L sports coat & 34" waist. I find the Travel Sack to be roomy and comfortable. I doubt a 6'6" man, with proportional corresponding measurements would fit this bag.

It compacts down to a mere 6"x6"x10.5", making it ideal for a day pack or bike panniers.


REI-Sleep-Sack-2-.jpg

REI-Sleep-Sack-1-.jpg

A nice feature of this bag is a full length right zipper, with a bottom zipper option. This allows the bag to be fully opened into a blanket/quit or to open the bottom of the bag for foot ventilation. I'm certain such an option ads weight to the bag, but given that it is primarily a summer weight bag, I appreciate the cooling options.


REI-Sleep-Sack-4-.jpg

Additional benefits are 1) a zippered chest pocket, which is large enough to hold both my Galaxy S III smart phone AND my wallet, and 2) a short left zipper, allowing the occupant to ventilate and extend his left arm through the hole.


REI-Sleep-Sack-5-.jpg

Usage

As a Bag

As mentioned previously, I have spent many summer nights over the past few years sleeping in this bag. I like this bag, but the temperature rating is not accurate. After a miserable 60°F night in a tent, I now check the weather forecast and, if warranted, toss in my SOL Thermal Bivvy as backup.

As a Liner

I have used the Travel Sack as a liner with my Marmot 15°F bag on bitterly cold nights (teens-single digits). It has been a cheap alternative to buying another $$$ bag.

As a Warmth Layer

While not the most fashionable thing to wear around camp, the Travel Sack provides additional warmth when the temperature takes an unexpected dip. The picture below shows the advantage of the full length zipper/foot ventilation and the left arm pocket.


REI-Sleep-Sack-8-.jpg
REI-Sleep-Sack-7-.jpg

As a Hammock Sock

I started playing around with hammock camping in the late fall, which moved into the dead of winter. As I continued to experiment with ways to stay cold in winter weather, I discovered the full length zipper allows me to slip my entire hammock through the bag. Using a pad, 15F sleeping bag, and the Travel Sack, I have comfortably slept in temps as cold as 28F.

I have since purchased a Jacks R Better UnderQuilt for my hammock, but I still use the Travel Sack option with my kids on cool spring & fall nights. The love the snug feeling of the "sock."


REI-Sleep-Sack-9-.jpg
REI-Sleep-Sack-11-.jpg

The adjustable hood, allows drafts to be closed up (Note the little nose and eye peeking out at the camera.).

Recap

While I question the temperature and size ratings of this bag, I have found the Travel Sack to be a worthwhile summer weight sleeping bag, with the versatility to use it in multiple ways. Look for it on sale on REI's website.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $50

50 dollar sleeping bag, decent warmth, good liner bag in my opinion.

Pros

  • Light
  • Works well for a liner
  • Comfortable materials on skin

Cons

  • Not really a 55 degree bag

Warmth: The bag does keep you warm, on a 50-60 degree night with a shorts and t-shirt on it is perfect for me. I'm a cold sleeper, so maybe I'm not the best judge for warmth.

Comfort/Enter/Exit: As far as comfort goes, I love the feeling of polyester taffeta, soft smooth nice on the skin. Length is 78, hip width is 53 and shoulder is 60 (all in inches), which happens to fit me perfectly, I'm 6'2" 230 pounds. the hood works well and the dual zippers help for getting in and out of the bag. 

Features I enjoy: The zipper can go all the way down and the sleeping bag can be used as a blanket or quilt, it may not be the warmest, but perfect for summer nights around the fire in my opinion.

My setup: I use this sleeping bag in conjunction with another sleeping bag that is a 25 degree rated bag. It works awesome as a liner, and I have used it down to 0-10 degree nights wearing wool socks, long johns and long sleeve t-shirt.

It's a good setup for me because I use a hammock and being able to shed layers and adjust according to the temperature is easier with two sleeping bags instead of one. The combined weight of my two sleeping bags is just under 4 pounds which is great for backpacking.

Bottom Line: Don't buy this bag expecting it to be your answer for a summer sleeping bag. It's good for what I use it for, but it might not be right for everyone. 

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $50

First of all, the store had this item on sale for $55 so I bought it apparently after the sale. The price on the shelf was still $55 but they charged me $59.

I stayed in Hawaii for the winter and used this bag for the duration. The temperature never fell below 70 degrees but there were times during the night when I felt chilly while using this bag.

I would not recommend this travel sleeping bag. Overpriced and and not reliable.

Price Paid: 59 dollars

Your Review

Where to Buy

Help support this site by making your next gear purchase through one of the links above. Click a link, buy what you need, and the seller will contribute a portion of the purchase price to support Trailspace's independent gear reviews.

You May Like

Specs

Price Historic Range: $34.93-$43.93
Reviewers Paid: $50.00-$59.00
Product Details from REI »

Recently on Trailspace

Call for Reviews: Your Favorite Spring Gear