Kelty Light Year Down 20-Degree Sleeping Bag Review
Kelty Light Year Down 20-Degree Sleeping Bag Feature
- Lightweight 3-season sleeping bag with 20-degree F temperature rating
- Polyester diamond cross-dye ripstop shell with polyester microfiber liner
- 650-fill power down offers the best warmth-to-weight ratio of any insulation
- Ground-level side seams help retain heat; zippered foot vent and form-fitting hood
- Available in regular (80 inches) and long (86 inches) lengths; lifetime warranty
The lightweight Light Year 20-degree sleeping bag is ideal for minimalists who don't want to carry any more weight than necessary. The three-season bag is sturdy and long lasting, with a shell made of polyester diamond cross-dye ripstop and a liner made of polyester microfiber pongee. The fill, meanwhile, is 650-fill power down, a soft, comfortable material that has the best warmth-to-weight ratio of any insulation available. Down is known for its unmatched thermal efficiency, its high compressibility, and its durability. And thanks to the ground-level side seams--which are designed to prevent heat from escaping--you'll stay warm even when camping outdoors on chilly spring evenings.
The Light Year also offers a unique box-baffle construction, which contains the down fill in rectangular chambers with a tricot mesh wall between the baffles. This construction method keeps the down from shifting--helping minimize cold spots--while simultaneously allowing warm air to circulate through the bag. And to encourage better ventilation while you sleep, Kelty added a zippered foot vent. Other details include an efficient, form-fitting hood; a hip-length, two-way locking zipper; a top baffle collar; a zipper draft tube with an anti-snag design; external snap loops that allow the bag to function as a liner; sleeping pad security loops; micro FatMan and Ribbon drawcords; and an ultra-light compression stuff sack. All Kelty bags carry a lifetime warranty.
Regular specifications
- Fit: Up to 6 feet
- Length: 80 inches
- Shoulder girth: 62 inches
- Fill weight: 19 ounces
- Total weight: 2 pounds 6 ounces
- Stuffed diameter: 7 inches
- Stuffed length: 14 inches
Long specifications- Fit: Up to 6 feet 6 inches
- Length: 86 inches
- Shoulder girth: 64 inches
- Fill weight: 22 ounces
- Total weight: 2 pounds 10 ounces
- Stuffed diameter: 7 inches
- Stuffed length: 14 inches
About Kelty
Kelty has been building affordable, reliable outdoor gear since 1952, helping everyone--from the first-time camper to the experienced mountaineer--embrace the outdoor experience with confidence. Dick Kelty launched the company after years of making backpacks in his home or garage for friends, hand forming and welding each of the frames while his wife sewed the pack bags. The original Kelty packs included aircraft-aluminum contoured frames, padded shoulder straps, waist belts, clevis-pin attachments, nylon pack cloth, zippered pockets, and hold-open frames. Dick Kelty quit his carpentry business in 1956 to focus full time on Kelty Packs, and turned an old Glendale, California, barbershop into his first retail store and factory. In the ensuring years, Kelty expanded its product line to include daypacks, luggage, waterproof clothing, child carriers, jogging strollers, and more.
Amazon.com Sleeping Bag Guide
Sleep Well: Finding the Right Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bag technology has come a long way from the days of cowboy bedrolls. These days, there are a number of high-tech materials and designs available to keep you warm during the coldest outings. Here's a short list of things to keep in mind when you're shopping for a bag:
Buy for Cold
It's a safe bet that on at least one of your adventures, the nighttime temperature will drop unexpectedly. That's why it's smart to buy a bag that's rated for the lowest possible temperature you expect to face on your camping and backpacking trips. For summer trips, a bag rated at +35 degrees or higher will likely do the trick. If you like to camp in higher elevations in the summer, or if spring and fall outings are in your future, consider bags rated from +10 to +35. Winter adventurers should look for bags in the -10 to +10 range, while those on serious winter alpine climbs and expeditions will want a bag rated lower than -10.
Keep in mind that sleeping bag manufacturers' temperature ratings only estimate the minimum temperature at which the bag will provide warmth. Take these numbers with a grain of salt, as different folks generate different amounts of heat when they sleep. If you're the type who likes to pile on the covers even on warmer nights, go for a bag that's rated ten degrees colder. The opposite is true for "warm" sleepers--a 35-degree bag will probably work for you on a 25-degree night.
Goose or No Goose?
The most important component of any sleeping bag is its insulating material. Modern sleeping bags offer two choices: goose down or synthetic. While both materials have advantages and disadvantages, down bags are considered superior because of their phenomenal warmth-to-weight and warmth-to-bulk ratios. While providing great insulation, down is extremely compressible and light. There's a reason why geese can fly and stay warm through the winter! Down also boasts great long-term durability and will typically retain its insulating properties after years of use.
All of that said, there are many high-quality synthetic bags on the market and synthetic materials are getting better all the time. While a synthetic bag will weigh somewhat more than a down bag at an equivalent temperature rating, synthetic bags perform better when wet. (Yes, the Achilles heel of down is that it loses all insulating properties when wet.) If your trips take you to wet climates, you may want to consider a synthetic bag for this reason alone. Keep in mind, too, that many people are allergic to down--synthetic bags are non-allergenic. Finally, down is considerably more expensive than synthetic, which might tip the balance for adventurers on a budget.
Bags for All Shapes
Sleeping bags come in two basic shapes that reflect their intended use. Mummy-shaped bags offer the best warmth because they conform to the body's contours. This minimizes the amount of body heat the body must put out to maintain a constant temperature. Many mummy bags are offered in women-specific shapes and sizes, as well. Rectangular bags, while they do offer more room to toss and turn, are less thermally efficient because they contain more open air space. Also, they are typically heavier than mummy bags, and are generally not offered with down insulation, making them best suited for car camping or short backpacking trips.
Pad Yourself
No matter what kind of bag you choose, a sleeping pad is a required accessory. Not only do they provide much-needed comfort when sleeping on the ground, pads also offer crucial warmth for your backside, as the weight of your body compresses--and renders virtually useless--the sleeping bag insulation that lies beneath you.
The Light Year Down 20 degree is a lightweight, three-season bag with a hip-length zipper and zippered foot vent designed for minimalists who prefer to go light.
