Looking at a Kelty Lightyear +25 650 down bag.

Had the 3D version. Started getting chilled at 27*. Wonder if the down version is a bit warmer?

Or is a bag rating just that down or syn. Someone once told me that down bags tend to reach the comfort rating better.

Is this true at all??

Anyone have this bag in the 650 down?

Thanks

I've read that this is more like a 32-35* bag. Depends on whether you're a warm or cold sleeper. I haven't tried Kelty but found the same to be true of bags from The North Face--about 10 degrees overestimated. It's only the really high quality $$$ bags (such as Western Mountaineering and Feathered Friends) that seem to have reasonably accurate temperature ratings.

Slumberjack (inexpensive) bags have the worst of both claims. The claimed temperatures are exaggerated, and the weights are understated.

You do tend to get what you pay for.


The Western Mountaineering owners that I have met all are very happy with the ratings of their bags.

In addition, there is the factor of personally being a warm or cold sleeper. Metabolism and stuff like that.

I have the light year down bag. I have been fine down to 25 degrees. I do sleep in silk longjohns, and 9 out of 10 times I am in a bivy. I have been in that bag in 20 degrees and it does get a bit chilled, not chilly enough to keep me awake, but chilly just the same.

My wife has that bag. She says it starts getting uncomfortably cold at 32°. She sleeps cold. YMMV.

I used to have one. I start to feel a bit cold at 32F -- not deathly cold, but noticeably cold.

I have been using a Kelty Lightyear Down for the last 2 years or so and the temp. rating is NOT accurate (it's overestimated by at least 10-15 degrees). I just upgraded to a Western Mountaineering Summerlite and shaved a pound off of my bag weight. I haven't tried it in the field yet but am going to this weekend in Rocky Mountain National Park. I got it because everyone says their ratings are conservative. If you want to know how it works out for me, PM me and I'll let you know. I have high hopes for this bag and (even though it's a good price) would advise against the Lightyear.