Keep your warmth up and the weight, cost, and size down.
Written: Mar 19 '03 (Updated Mar 19 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Cost, weight, compressed size, quality, inexpensive, 32F, 0C
Cons: Hood, 600 Fill power
The Bottom Line: Looking for an inexpensive sleeping bag that offers comfort, compressibility, warmth and a very low weight? Then the Kilo is for you and at $109—it’s a steal.
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| wvabackpacker's Full Review: The North Face Kilo Bag Sleeping Bag: 32 Degree Do... |
~The North Face Kilo Down Bag~
~Introduction-
Looking for an inexpensive sleeping bag that offers comfort, compressibility, warmth and a very low weight? Then The North Face Kilo Down Bag is for you and at $109 for the long version—it’s a steal.
~Compression-
A down bag compresses 100 times better than any synthetic bag. The included stuff sack measures 5” wide by 12” long (-according to me, according to the manufacturer it is 7.5”x15”-not true) and it is very generous on size. The football sized stuff sack could be replaced by something smaller if you wanted! My other sleeping bag filled with Polarguard 3D. Compressed in its stuff sack it is twice the size of the Kilo and barely fits. The Kilo also stuffs easier—meaning it is easy to force into a stuff sack compared to my synthetic bag. Less fighting with the bag means more time on the trail. 5/5
~Sizes, Color & Fit-
Two unisex sizes are available—regular and long. The regular measures 84” and will accommodate a person up to 6’ in height. The long measures 90” and will accommodate a person up to 6Ê” in height. The shoulder (62”), hip (62”), and foot (40”) circumferences are the same for both bags. This bag is a body hugging mummy style bag which saves you on weight and also provides better warmth since your body doesn’t have to heat as much airspace as in a rectangular bag. I’m 5㤓” and I use the long version and find that it fits well enough to where I can move a little and roll over if needed. Perfect fit and the Silken lining feels great on the skin. As far as color goes the top of the bag is purple, the bottom is black, and the inside is grey. I haven’t seen another color scheme available for this bag. 4/5
~Weight-
Another positive attribute of this wonderful sleeping bag. The regular weighs a measly 2lbs 1oz and the long weighs only 2oz more. 5/5
~The Hood-
For many people this feature could be a plus, but for me it’s a negative. Unlike most hoods on sleeping bags, this one is flat. Meaning most bags have a hood shape to their hood—this one is flat piece of down filled fabric. It gets its hood shape after pulling the flat cord that runs through the hood. Due to the flatness of this hood it doesn’t hug your face as well as a traditional hood. This could be a problem for cold sleepers who need all the warmth they can get. For a warm sleeper like myself it’s not the big of a deal. However, my problem with the hood is the adjusting of the hood. It is very difficult for someone with large hands like myself to adjust the cords and move the cord loc. 2.5/5
~Comfort-
The Silken lining makes this bag very comfortable to sleep in. The 32F rating makes the bag ideal for three season use for a warm sleeper. It may be a little warm in the summer but for early spring and fall temperatures the bag is perfect. I’ve slept in the bag in temperatures ranging from 40F to about 60F. Never did I get cold or sweaty. 5/5
~Features-
600 Goose Down Fill--Meaning 1 ounce of down will expand to fill 600 cubic inches of space
Silken Lining—making the bag comfortable to sleep in and breathable
Mummy fit—adding warmth by reducing air space—this bag hugs your body
Pertex Resist Ripstop Nylon shell—this shell material resists water and tears.
Available in two sizes: long and regular
Full length down filled draft tube
BottomeLine tefetta bottom shell
Ripple construction to keep the down from shifting thus eliminating all cold spots
Nylon mesh storage bag
Football sized stuff sack
Shock cord for chest adjustment
Flat cord for hood adjustment
Glow in the dark zipper and pull tabs
A fill weight of 13oz for the regular and 14oz for the long
Protects to 32F or 0C
Right side zipper—good for the left handed person, tricky for the right handed person
4/5
Price paid-
I paid $109 for the long version at http://www.campmor.com on sale. The regular version was priced at $99--not bad for a down bag. Check the http://www.campmor.com website often for another sale. 5/5
~Down vs. Synthetic-
Everyone that backpacks or camps knows that down is useless when wet. But let me ask you, do you think a synthetic bag would be comfortable to sleep in when wet? A synthetic bag is just as useless wet. However, it is nearly impossible to dry a down bag in the backcountry whereas you might be able to dry a synthetic bag in warmer temperatures. In temperatures of 60F or less it is nearly impossible to dry anything without a fire. Now let me ask you another question, if you are an avid camper like myself how many times has your sleeping bag got wet? In my 17 years of camping not once have I ever had a bag get wet—synthetic or down. Down offers more warmth per ounce and compresses better than any synthetic bag. So get a down bag, save yourself some weight and space and get a better nights sleep. If you practice safe camping techniques and know where and how to properly setup a camp you should never have to worry about your sleeping bag getting wet.
~Conclusion-
This bag is inexpensive, lightweight, and an excellent choice for three season use. I would recommend this bag for backpackers wanting a nice bag for spring and fall. I give it an 8/10 docking two points for the hood and hood adjustment and giving it 8 points for price, weight, compressibility, and size.
~Other Backpacking/Camping Reviews by WVaBackpacker-
--Backpacks-
Gregory Shasta Backpack
Dana Design Glacier
--Tents
Mountain Hardware Trinity
Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight CD
--Sleeping Bags
The North Face Thunderhead 3D
--Hydration-
MSR Dromedary Bag
Platypus Big Zip
--Destinations-
Heart Lake, Yellowstone National Park
Keyhole State Park, Wyoming
--Books-
The Backpackers Handbook
Recommended:
Yes
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Member: Jeremy Hays
Location: Columbus, OH, USA
Reviews written: 40
Trusted by: 46 members
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Maybe I'll write another review someday...lots of new gear...
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