The North Face Cat's Meow
Average Rating: 
Reviewed by 37 Trailspace users
Description
The Cat's Meow is a synthetic 3-season (0° to 32°f) bag made by The North Face. It has an average rating of 4 stars (out of 5), based on 37 user reviews.
Here's what other sites are saying:
From Moosejaw:
"Free Shipping. The North Face Men's Cat's Meow 20 Degree Sleeping Bag (Spring 2009) The Cat s Meow Sleeping Bag by the North Face is a classic synthetic twenty-degree, highly-compressible bag for three-season mountaineering. Specifications: [Temp Rating] 20 F/-7 C [Avg Total Weight] 2 lbs 10 oz (1200 g) lng: 2 lbs 14 oz (1290 g) [Fill Weight] 1 lb 9 oz (710 g) [Stuffsack Size] 8in. x 17in. (20 cm x 43 cm) [External Length] reg: 84in. (213 cm) lng: 90in. (228 cm) [Max User Height] reg: 6'0in. (183 cm) lng: 6'6in. (198 cm) [Shoulder Circ] reg: 62in. (157 cm) lng: 64in. (163 cm) [Hip Circ] reg: 58in. (147 cm) lng: 60in. (152 cm) [Foot Circ] reg: 40in. (102 cm) lng: 40in. (102 cm) [Shell Fabric] Firestorm 57% polyester, 43% nylon, BottomLine taffeta 100% nylon Features: Climashield Prism synthetic insulation Overlapping shingle construction Firestorm top shell fabric Soft and breathable silken lining Adjustable synthetic-filled draft collar with micro-fleece cord tunnel Full-length draft tube Welded No-Snag stiffener in zipper column Head level zipper garage with welded reinforced Velcro flap Chest level watch pocket with infusion One-hand pull cord for easy hood adjustments with flat cordlock and Neoprene cover Glow-in-the-dark zipper pull One nylon/mesh storage bag and one compression stuffsack includedThis product can only be shipped within the United States. Please don't hate us."
From RockCreek:
"The Cats Meow Bx 20 Sleeping Bag by The North Face is a classic 20 bag that is highly compressible and is excellent for three season mountaineering. In insulation tests, the Climashield Prism maintained its temperature more easily when wet and lost 15% less heat than other insulations when saturated with water. Prism is also softer to the touch, and in pack and unpack tests it showed to be significantly more resilient. Glow in the dark zipper pulls makes getting out of your bag in the middle of the night much easier and even comes with a compression stuffsack for convenience and better packing."
From Backcountry.com:
"With soft breathable silken lining, The North Face Cat's Meow 20-Degree Sleeping Bag keeps you cozy and warm on those spring nights and crisp fall dawns. Pack this synthetic mummy bag into your backpack and hit the trail. Overlapping shingle construction eliminates cold spots by evenly distributing the synthetic insulation, keeping you warm throughout all your three-season mountaineering adventures. A no-snag zipper column prevents you from spending a ridiculous amount of time trying to zip up the Cat's Meow Sleeping Bag, and the one-hand pull cord quickly adjusts the hood, so you can hop in and get warm quickly. Store your watch in the head-level zipper pocket and wake up on time for your first ascent. Not only do you get a stuffsack with your Cat's Meow Bag, but The North Face also included a nylon mesh bag to help preserve the insulation's loft during long term storage."
From Campmor:
"The North Face Cat's Meow is a synthetic, twenty degree, highly compressible sleeping bag for three-season mountaineering. Climashield Prism synthetic insulation. Overlapping shingle construction evenly distributes insulation for consistent warmth and uniform loft. Prevents insulation from moving and eliminates cold spots. Firestorm top shell fabric. Soft and breathable silken lining. Adjustable, synthetic-filled draft collar with micro-fleece cord tunnel. Full length draft tube. Welded No-Snag stiffener in zipper column. Head level zipper garage with welded reinforced Velcro flap. Chest level watch pocket with infusion. One-hand pull cord for easy hood adjustments with flat cordlock and neoprene cover. Glow-in-the-dark zipper pull. Nylon mesh storage bag and compression stuffsack included. Mateable - order right or left side zipper."
User Reviews
Men's Cat's Meow
Reviewed by Guillaume, Dec 11, 2008
"I have bought this sleeping bag 2 years ago and I am relatively satisfied.
It usually keeps me warm and it is really comfortable. I have slept in many different conditions and was warm most of the time.
My only concern with this sleeping bag is that it appears to have lost a significant amount of its warming potential after continuous use."
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Men's Cat's Meow
Reviewed by Perry Clark, Nov 20, 2008
"The North Face Cat's Meow has been one of the standard bags amongst the three-season sort for quite some time. It has been periodically updated, with alterations in things like zipper lining, draft tube, modifications to shell material, and so forth, but throughout it has remained a solid do-to sleeping bag for three-season use."
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Men's Cat's Meow
Reviewed by pg911a5, Oct 08, 2008
"Great bag. My first trip with it was a trip where it snowed and rained so it was super humid and I was fine, nice and dry. It got down to 15 at night and I was fine but I'm a warm sleeper, so if you sleep cold wear a fleece to bed.
Overall the best bag I've owned."
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Men's Cat's Meow
Reviewed by IcySmooth52, Sep 03, 2008
"This is a very comfy bag with great loft. I bought it to replace my TNF Aleutian to save a pound. It is a lighter tent and noticeably more comfortable but it isn't smaller. When I packed the bag down into its stuff sack it took me a good 3 minutes so I bought a larger compression sack that works fine but like I said it doesn't pack smaller."
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Cat's Meow
Reviewed by S--- Skillet, Aug 11, 2008
"Good price/function/weight ratio; the stated weight matches the actual weight. I've used this bag a lot, though the coldest I've had this bag to was the mid-thirties, moderate humidity, and inside a tent. Performed well, though I suspect that 20 degrees would be optimistic without a liner or some clothes."
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Women's Cat's Meow
Reviewed by Karen Maley, Jun 25, 2008
"I bought this as a replacement for my old Kelty summer bag that is not keeping me warm anymore. I have been using mummy bags for 30 years and have never been unhappy with one before.
THE GOOD:
I immediately took this bag out on a high-altitude June trip in Colorado to hike some snowy 14,000+ -foot peaks."
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Men's Cat's Meow
Reviewed by Russel Limbaugh, May 29, 2008
"We purchased one for me and one for my wife. There were no defects in workmanship in either bag.
Our first use was an overnighter in the Manassas Gap shelter on the AT at the end of October, 2007. It got into the 30's that night and we both froze in these "20 degree" bags."
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Men's Cat's Meow
Reviewed by Carson Kaufman, Apr 07, 2008
"OK, I got this bag Christmas 2007. I have used it at 0 degree weather and I was fine with my Adidas shorts and a white T on. I slept in this bag indoors a couple of times and it was super hot. I know it is a 20 degree bag but I'm just saying. It packs really small and it fits me well. I'm 16 yrs old and I'm 5'6". Great bag so far."
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Men's Cat's Meow
Reviewed by Snow Owl, Sep 05, 2007
"Conscious that several factors influences the system body of each person. I nevertheless confirm that at my own opinion, after five years of using it (30-40 times yearly) under very different conditions, I am fully satisfied by my CAT'S MEOW."
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Men's Cat's Meow
Reviewed by Daniel, Jun 24, 2007
"If temperatures were above 50F this is the bag I'd use, I slept in it last night for the first time at about 40 degrees and I was cold all night long, there was a cold spot running the along the side opposite the zipper, although I couldn't feel any deficient stuffing with my hand I could feel it with my entire body."
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Men's Cat's Meow
Reviewed by Scott Shamrell, Mar 09, 2007
"The quality of materials used in this bag is quite impressive for the price you pay for it. The fill holds its loft very well after having been packed several times. As for temperature, I sleep very warm. Even at 15 degrees I've got the thing unzipped."
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Men's Cat's Meow
Reviewed by damitchell, Feb 18, 2007
"My gal and I just bought the Cat;s Meow (she got the women's version) and we took them on a overnight camping trip to try them out. We thought it would be a good test since the forecast was clear with a low of 35 degrees. To sum it up. . . I was toasty and she got a little cold."
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Men's Cat's Meow
Reviewed by JOHN HART, Nov 13, 2006
"Up until two weekends ago all my experiences with this bag were in warmer weather and I was too hot in the bag. Well since I have had this bag for awhile, I forgot and thought it was a zero degree bag. Friday night I was slightly cold, and at 5:40 a."
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Men's Cat's Meow
Reviewed by Bill, Oct 12, 2006
"Unlike people who log on just to trash a product they don't really own, I've used both the new and the old NF Cat's Meow and they are well-thought out products that perform pretty close to their temperature claims. Construction quality is good for an import and the zipper works well."
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Men's Cat's Meow
Reviewed by an anonymous hiker, Jul 02, 2006
"Wost bag I ever owned. Freezing cold at 50 degrees. Zipper constantly jams. A real piece of junk."
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Women's Cat's Meow
Reviewed by hlevieux, Jun 22, 2006
"The first night I ever used this bag I fell in love with it. It is very warm and comfortable even in wet and humid weather. The full length zipper is very nice for warm weather and ventalation. Great bag and very good value. Keeps you warm in the low 30s but I would not go any farther than that."
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Women's Cat's Meow
Reviewed by Meredith, Jun 18, 2006
"This bag accompanied me on an 836 mile bike trip from Seattle to San Fansisco and I must say, I liked it very much. It worked well in most of the temperatures I encountered. . . but there were a few nights where I had to bundle up first before going to sleep (ie, long johns, 100 weight fleece jacket, 200 weight fleece jacket and pants, wool socks, wool hat."
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Men's Cat's Meow
Reviewed by jsauri, May 03, 2006
"The coldest I've slept in with this bag is about 35F, which was comfortable. But I don't think I would go much colder than that, certainly not the 20 it is rated for. Definitely a 3-season bag (I split time between mid-Atlantic and upper-NW). Other than that, it is light and compresses well."
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Cat's Meow
Reviewed by J. Cameron, Mar 04, 2005
"If you like to be warm, DO NOT BUY THIS BAG. I was cold at 35 degrees. The bag is light and compresses well, but that is all. It is not a three-season bag, more like a summer time bag. I sold this bag and bought a Western Mountaineering and have never been happier with my sleeping bag."
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Cat's Meow
Reviewed by The Happy Scout, Dec 13, 2004
"It's a light bag and that's it.
You getting freezy at about 4 celcius (crap) and sweaty at 12-13 Celcius.
Not what it promised. But if you need a bag there shall be light, water repelant and it shall be used in the tempatures between warm and cold it's an ok sleeping bag."
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Cat's Meow
Reviewed by Gruenemay, Nov 21, 2004
"Great bag all around. I've used it in Oregon during long, cold, wet nights, and have woken up well rested. To be honest, I was first using it with many layers worn during the night and not being able to warm up. It wasn't until my second weeklong trip that I realized that the less clothes I wore, the warmer I was."
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Cat's Meow
Reviewed by Mark, Aug 30, 2004
"This has been a great bag that has served me well. This is only my second mummy bag though as my first Coleman mummy lasted five years.
The bag has gotten wet a few times and never has it lost its insulating capabilities and never have I gotten wet in it. Great bag and I would definitely recommend."
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Cat's Meow
Reviewed by Shaun, Aug 17, 2004
"I've heard lots of good things about this bag. I've only bought mine today so this is hardly a review. I've been searching the internet for user's concerns about the amount of yellow around the collar/hood as I'm worried it's going to get soiled quickly."
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Cat's Meow
Reviewed by an anonymous hiker, Mar 29, 2004
"What can I say about this bag? Many are praising it for its comfort, compressibility, and ruggedness. However, I haven't seen many complain about the crampedness that this sleeping bag gives. I have been sleeping in mummies for over 7 years and this is the only one that ever made me claustrophobic."
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Cat's Meow
Reviewed by Heather, Oct 23, 2002
"I was disappointed with this bag. It left me with cold spots, especially at the feet. I froze when it hit 30. It's been awhile since I had this bag- so maybe they've improved it? It seemed to lose loft fairly quickly. Try Sierra Designs if you're a cold sleeper- it's no contest in my opinion."
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Cat's Meow
Reviewed by Sandra, Jun 15, 2002
"I got this bag for Christmas, and just used it on two trips -- 5 days backpacking in South Dakota and 8 days kayaking in the Boundary Waters. This bag performed great. It kept me toasty warm, lofted up great, and packed down fairly small for synthetic fill."
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Cat's Meow (1993)
Reviewed by John, Mar 26, 2002
"I have had this bag for nine years of continuous late-spring/summer/early-fall use. At first it would keep me warm down into the twenties. (Sleeping bag ratings are relative to the individual, humidity, sleep patterns, warm/cold sleepers, and many other factors."
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Cat's Meow
Reviewed by Lav, Nov 19, 2001
"I'm a cold sleeper and unfortunately this bag didn't suit my needs. It was probably 0-5 C at night and I was very cold, even in fleece, hat, socks etc. . . I'm a woman so I think there was too much room around me in the bag, I'm 5'6" and there was lots of room at the feet."
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Cat's Meow
Reviewed by Robert Callaway, Jun 03, 1999
"Overall, this is a good all around synthetic three-season bag. I have had it for over five years now and am happy with how the construction has held up.
However, this bag has lost a LOT of loft. It is not anywhere near its original 15-degree rating."
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Cat's Meow
Reviewed by Jake, Dec 22, 1998
"Here in South Carolina I don't need a warm bag so as long as I stay in-state this bag keeps me toasty. About three years ago I began doing the Appalician trail where the bag was cool, but not uncomfortably cold. I was dissapointed about it until I stuck my head outside the bag where it was below zero."
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Cat's Meow (Long)
Reviewed by Brian Fetterman, Dec 03, 1998
"The Cat's Meow bag is a very good one to say the least. It is comfortable, roomy (I purchased the "long", which fits up to 6'5") and WARM. It packs down to a relatively small size and when damp, holds body heat in effectively (I've never soaked it)."
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Cat's Meow
Reviewed by S2, Mar 10, 1998
"My wife and I each bought one of these bags on sale out of Campmor. Mine was 125. 00 (long) and hers was 115. 00 (regular). I can't remember what the fill is right now but these were last years models and I think they have a different fill now. We bought a right and left zipper so they zip together."
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Cat's Meow
Reviewed by World Traveler, Dec 23, 1997
"For 20 years I have been proud to own the North Face Cat's Meow. It is the best overall spring/summer/fall bag you could want.
Easily compressible, it dries quickly when wet, and re-designed for 1997 it has a new thermo-stat lining. Comes with draft collar and tube lining."
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Cat's Meow
Reviewed by Scalabrino@..., Mar 18, 1997
"This is an a great bag. This bag will keep you warm to 15 degrees a and probably colder. If this bag had a draft collar it would be perfect."
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Cat's Meow
Reviewed by brodnikm@..., Feb 26, 1997
"After I slept in my wife's, I had to have one. The sales guy at REI told us that we could zip them together. Zip two mummy bags together?!?! She had a Right Hand zipper, so I ordered a Left. Combine that feature with Thermarest pads and it's like we never left home."
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Cat's Meow
Reviewed by jkeyes@..., Oct 31, 1996
"I love this bag!! The Polarguard keeps me warm and cozy and is very light weight making it good for backcountry camping. Never use a tent when I with my Cat's Meow. I will probably go for the dryloft version next time around for its waterproof qualities."
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Cat's Meow
Reviewed by mammoth@..., Jul 11, 1996
"This bag is great! I've gone through 2 of these bags... one short and one long. The Polarguard help keep me warm with minimal clothes. I've been at temperatures reached 0 F with this bag and still toasty. Would not recomend this bag for winter trips though."
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Where to Buy
Buy Online We found the Cat's Meow at 8 online stores:
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